Kim's Famous Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee Review : King of Hokkien Mee?

Chances are, you've recently come across the buzz surrounding Kim's Famous Fried Hokkien Mee.

*Update : The Rolex Mee Master passed away on February 14, 2024. Our deepest condolences to the family.

In a nutshell, the owner Tan Kue Kim, infamously known as 'Rolex Mee Master' or 'King of Hokkien Mee' had announced that he would be selling his business and secret Hokkien Mee recipe. 

In the culinary world, Mr. Tan is a legend. The walls of newspaper publications in his restaurant are a testament to his fame. Even the famed KF Seetoh had heaped praise on the Hokkien Mee, calling it the Gold Standard. Based on his post, Mr Tan was known as one of the "Fu, Luk, Shok" of Hokkien Mee and one of the Hokkien Mee golden trio. The other two were The Cripple at Lavender Street and The Opium King at Lor 29 Geylang, both of whom had since passed on.

If social media were to exist in the past, he would be known as the OG of Hokkien Mee.

The corner restaurant is situated at the intersection of Jln Kechot and Jln Eunos, and it is hard to miss with an enlarged newspaper cutting of Kim fronting the facade.

Stepped inside, and you will feel like it is back to the past in the 2000s. Other than serving Hokkien Mee, there are other items on the menu. The good thing is that the place is airconditioned too.  Interestingly, this is not the only outlet. There is also Kim's Singapore Bistro located at Circular Road.

Hokkien Mee

I had the privilege of Hokkien Mee cooked by the main man during my visit. Despite his age, he is still agile and skilled in his craft. He still cooks in his long-sleeved shirt and Rolex that is was famed for.

At first sight, the Hokkien Mee was well presented. Cooked on the dry side, there are generous portions of squid and prawn for a $6 dish. There are also chunks of pork lard and decent soury sambal chilli. 

As good as it looks, I did expect a little more Wok Hey for the reputation. The overall flavour is milder than I would have liked. Nonetheless, it was a filling meal.

Verdict

It is still possible to savour Mr Tan's famed Hokkien Mee before he sells his business. If you have not tried it before, this may be the time to do so. To have a dish cooked by a living legend is not something you can brag about on an ordinary day.

Disclaimer
The views on this post are based on personal experiences and opinions. The ranking is based on 5 stars. Rankings are based on personal experience and may not reflect the same as what others may have experienced.TWD is not liable for any experiences by the reader at the establishment. #notsponsored

The Rolex Mee Master passed away on February 14, 2024. Our deepest condolences to the family.