Sin Huat Eating House @ Geylang

Think crab beehoon and Sin Huat comes to mind – I say all thanks to the wonderful online reporting on this to-die-for dish and most certainly the silver lining attributed to Anthony Bourdain’s list of Top 30 foods to try before you die and this sits snug in the list.



Chilled towels, so very old school.

Nazi chef it is, just like the famed Wasabi Tei extraordinaire. He supposedly barks at indecisive folks when the going gets tough – read: too crowded so I reckon the Food Gods were shining on me when they decided to bestow showers and possibly chase most of the customers away. Even with the grimy coffeeshop hardly filled – at most 7 tables, we had to wait for a decent amount of time before the chef was free to take orders. The servers were prompt to dish up peanuts and cold napkins that were barely damp, which baffled me quite considerably. Here is why he ends up grouchy – he takes the orders and cooks and tries to mingle with befitting clientele. He faced us glum faced but subsequently was all smiles with a  Caucasian crowd who egged him on to show them pictures of Mr Bourdain and him.

He comes over mumbles something and we make our orders, seek recommendations and he continues scribbling – so there is no menu, all seafood (do not incur the wrath by asking for buttermilk ribs or chicken) and price upon application.

Stir fried Kai Lan ($6)

Flavourful stir fry, I must have been ravenous truth be told.

Crab Bee Hoon ($75)

This heavy weight crustacean came with a sludge of beehoon – thick, gooey and starchy. I was pleasantly surprised by the texture of bee hoon, there was some bite to it at least and it soaked up the flavours of the broth. Yet, the crab was a letdown. Fresh it was but hardly seasoned. Unimpressed I was, more so with a hefty price tag thrown at us. Fair enough, I expected to pay premium for this but it was underwhelming.

Scallops (1 kg, $25)

Hunger must have gotten the better of us to overlook that scallops are sold by weight and the bulk of weight goes to the shell. The thick gooey garlic sauce was the cause of all MSG problems later that day and was in fact too strong for the plump scallops.



Ridiculously expensive zichar.

We were stuffed to the brim, yet not a satisfied note. How many times will I get fooled by Anthony Bourdain? This is the straw that’s breaking the camel’s back. Not trusting him. Ever. Again. Try at your own risk – I would die happy even without trying this.

Sin Huat Eating House
659/66 Geylang Road