You Yi Fish Soup 友谊鱼汤 - A nostalgic taste of old school fried fish

• Operating Hours: 10.30 AM - 6 PM
• Operating Days: Closed on Sundays
• Address: Havelock Road Cooked Food Centre, 22A/B Havelock Road, #01-30, S 161022

Havelock road, or old Havelock road to be exact, is a hidden gem with lots of great food. Located within walking distance from Tiong Bahru MRT station, it is not unusual to see many office personnel/students from PSB Academy around this area.

It was lunch hour when we visited this place, and look at the queue! There were at least 10 people in front of me, and a many of them were actually packing more than 1 portion - probably back to their office. 

After waiting for about 25 minutes, it was finally my turn. Most of the people in the queue ordered the signature - Tom Yum Fried Fish, even though the stall offers other items, such as ban mian (板面), sliced fish soup and seafood clear soup, tom yum fried fish soup is the most popular dish that people always order.

There are many combinations you can have when you don't feel like eating rice. Just look at the board and tell the stall owner what you want, and you are done!

Auntie busy cooking my tom yum fried fish noodle.

This portion only cost me $4.00! Look at the generous amount of food given!

The fried fish is the star of this stall. Using an old school type of batter on the outside layer, this bowl of fried fish is golden crispy -- almost as crispy as what you eat at long john silvers! The stall owner insists using fresh fish daily, which means she needs to be at the store from 6 am onwards. Cooking the soup base daily without fail, we were really surprised to know that she is one of the earliest who would open her stall, and leaves only when everyone has left.

Most of the people were queueing for their tom yum soup, and that's no exception for me. Instead of eating rice, I chose ee mian. There are many types of noodle you can choose to mix into the soup. They have bee hoon, ban mian, you mian, Mee Hoon Kuey, Mee sua and of course my favorite ee mian.

That's a mouthful of ee mian with fried egg infused with the tom yum soup. Every mouthful is worth your calories, and the spicy- sour taste from the tom yum soup will make you want to eat more without stopping. 

One bite on the fried fish, you will be amazed by how crispy the crust from the batter is, without comprising the soft and fresh taste of the fish. There is a good balance of flour used and the amount of fish given, which is definitely worth to mention. 

All in all, You Yi Fish soup has won many hearts from people staying/working nearby. It is also frequently patronized by taxi drivers who wanted a nice and filling lunch during their break time.Though they do not operate on Sunday, the stall owner still opens her stall on Sunday to start preparing for the week ahead to ensure every bowl of quality food is served.