Legendary Bak Kut Teh (South Bridge) — Restaurant in Singapore

Bak Kut Teh broth lacked depth of flavour yet was quite oily (look at the layer of oil floating on top of the soup). Side dishes were underwhelming and not done well. Preserved vege had a weird taste to it as if it wasn’t fresh. Tau Kee beancurd skin tasted too salty and texture was inconsistent. Boiled lettuce was a dish that can’t fail, yet they used fried shallots that tasted like it was not freshly made but from bottles. The dishes that passed for a good BKT were the rice, the pork $13.50 prime ribs itself for 2 bones which weren’t meaty. Don’t bother ordering the mix ribs, short ribs or spare ribs as those came out to be not worth it at all.

The sesame oil chicken was the most disappointing dish, which came out watery, bland, lacked the smell of claypot base and chicken was precooked and dumped into the sauce and simply boiled. It was worse than those claypot sesame chicken I had at the hawker centre for $6 per serving.

I had strong expectations for this shop due to the amount of duration it has been around and for how they decorate their shop with the pictures of so familiar faces. But was utterly disappointed. I spent $80 for 2 pax dinner, which wasn’t cheap, and I will not return. My partner said to give 1 star but I decided 2 stars as service and atmosphere was decent.

I can’t help but made comparison as I have recently tried other nearby shops at the 1 Michelin awarded Song Fa and Ng Ah Sio at Clarke Quay.

Song Fa offers a much better overall quality in taste and standard. They are consistent in their standard and every dish they made, tasted right and on point, which really matters.

Ng Ah Sio offers a much better and stronger soup base which packs a punch of taste, and isn’t oily, for those who are into stronger soup broths, the same lettuce dish at Ng Ah Sio wins hand down with minced fried garlic with a lighter and...

Surprised!

Very clean and kind restaurant run by family!

Comparing to the famous bak kut teh chain, it is very clean and nice. The food is great (I wouldn’t say better because it tasted different!)

First, the chopsticks and spoons came out in the hot water... very Chinese tradition! Looked very clean and sanitary! I loved it!

The food came out all at once even though I ordered about five different foods! It was in the right temperature and vegetables were very fresh. I ordered tofu dish and it specially was very tasty!

The place wasn’t so big but tables weren’t arranged so tightly... very comfortable unlike the big chain ones!

The staff... every one of them includeing the owner or manager was super nice and kind!!! Very nice people!!!

I am glad that I found this place so I would come here instead whenever I visit Singapore!

I posted some photos of this restaurant on my IG on the same day and the owner liked my posting! LOL

** I went back this restaurant and I had a bun of food all by myself... when I paid I told the owner or manager that I gave 5stars of google review but she seemed ‘OK.....

Overhyped and premium prices.

Food wasn't terrible, but considering the price we paid, I would say it is not worth coming here. The premium pork ribs (long pork ribs) costs more slightly more than $11 per bowl, and there are only 2 ribs... And not the mention, the pork was not tender at all.

Soup wise, it is more towards the peppery side. The garlicky taste is also very strong, which I didn't mind. However, there are better BKT soups around. The soup is also slightly on the oily side.

We also ordered the large intestines, ngoh hiang, pork trotter, preserved vegetables, oyster sauce vegetables. The others were pretty normal, nothing very outstanding but okay.

But shoutout to the ngoh hiang, that was really good! They used the ribs to make the ngoh hiang, so the meat is fatty and tasty. It is also more tender than the regular ngoh hiang. Dipped in the sweet sauce provided, wow! Really one of the better ngoh hiangs I have ever eaten.

If you were to come here, just order the ngoh hiang. It's really not worth coming here to pay premium prices for...