Dawn Yeo writes about food, travel, and anything her mind conjures up to escape the realities of life. When she's not writing, you can find her struggling through university and eating too much for her own good.
Offering high-quality Hong Kong dim sum at affordable prices, Kun Shu Food Stall (根叔美食世家) is named after its owner, Chef Lam Kun, affectionately known as Uncle Kun. The stall is located about a 10-minute walk from the nearest MRT station, Toa Payoh MRT, with iconic landmarks like the heritage Dragon Playground, and Toa Payoh Town Park and Stadium.
Hailing from Hong Kong, Uncle Kun has been in the F&B business since he was just 13 years old. Now, after 60 years, his passion remains undiminished as he diligently arrives at the stall every day at 3 am to prepare his delectable dishes. Having worked at Shang Palace in Shangri-La Hotel and served as head chef and consultant at Mouth Restaurant for 15 years before retiring, Uncle Kun found himself restless at home. Deciding to venture out on his own, he opened his food stall at Toa Payoh Vista Market (#01-03) in 2003.
Oblong Lor Mai Kai 长形糯米鸡
The first dish I tried was the unique Oblong Lor Mai Kai 长形糯米鸡 (S$4.30), a creation only found here in all of Singapore. This larger-than-usual lor mai kai boasted a delightful combination of chicken, salted egg, Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, dried scallop, and mushroom, expertly balancing savoury flavours with the richness of the glutinous rice.
Hong Kong Glutinous Rice 香港生炒糯米饭
Next up was the Hong Kong Glutinous Rice 香港生炒糯米饭 (S$2.80), served in generous portions and topped with peanuts and spring onions. It featured an abundance of ingredients such as cuttlefish, dried shrimp, mock char siew, Chinese sausage, and mushrooms. The fragrant glutinous rice had a pleasing chewy texture, and the peanuts and large cuttlefish pieces added a delightful crunch to the dish, complemented by the umami of the other ingredients and the savory-sweet dried shrimp chili.
Siew Mai 烧卖
The classic Siew Mai (S$3.60 for three, S$1.20 each) was filled generously with minced pork, prawn, and tiny dried shrimp, all wrapped in a thin and chewy yellow outer layer. The result was a delicious combination of savoury pork and prawn flavours, bursting in your mouth with one bite.
Century Egg & Salted Egg 七彩皮蛋瘦肉粥
True to his Cantonese heritage, Uncle Kun's Congee with Century Egg & Salted Egg 七彩皮蛋瘦肉粥 (S$3.90) originated from Guangdong, offering a simple yet comforting dish topped with fragrant ginger strips and peanuts. The porridge was just the right consistency, with a satisfying blend of century egg and salted egg providing a piquant and earthy taste.
Signature Yam Cake 招牌五香芋頭糕
Finally, the Signature Yam Cake 招牌五香芋頭糕 (S$2.80) is another a popular dish at the stall. Two substantial pieces of yam cake were garnished with spring onions, fried shallots, peanuts, sesame seeds, and a generous amount of sauce. The smooth and well-textured yam cake, though mildly-flavoured on its own, came alive with the savoury sauce, Chinese sausage, and dried shrimp.
Considering that every dish is below $5, this is definitely a strong competitor for restaurant-quality dim sum. Do note that some dishes are available only on weekends, like the Oblong Lor Mai Kai, so arriving early will ensure you get to try their more popular offerings.
Image credit: https://sethlui.com/kun-shu-food-stall-singapore/
*Disclaimer: This article was originally written by Dawn Yeo and is reposted here with explicit permission from the author.
