Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh [亚华肉骨茶] Winner for Singapore Hawker BKT Master 2012 @ Havelock Road

I am not going to start my usual tirade on bak kut teh (BKT - directly translated as pork bones tea) since many of you are aware of my take on this popular local dish.

What's unusual in this case was that Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh is well known for satisfying Singaporeans' peppery-preferred taste buds and should be the last BKT place to catch me digging into a bowl of hot BKT!

Guess the thought of the "winner" of the recent Singapore Hawker Masters 2012 for the category of Bak Kut Teh managed to excite me a lil bit as i accidentally drove along Havelock road last week.

Chinese doughsticks (youtiao or Chinese crullers) is a necessity in BKT! 

That irritating spicy scent hit my nose as soon as this was served and i was hesitating for that slight moment; thinking if this would be any different from the others in Singapore.

The above was what happened shortly after; i basically downed the whole bowl! 

Fine, i guess i have to eat my own words now. The broth was incredibly delicious; granted it was peppery, it was actually not as overpowering as i expected. Most importantly, there was a subtle flavourfulness that kept me drinking again and again from that tiny bowl! 

Honestly, i find it hard to believe, even right now, that i could actually love peppery style BKT. Two problems were found though:, one, the pork ribs could be more tender and two, the oily youtiaos were way too soggy!!!

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Location

593, Havelock Road, #01-01/02,

Isetan Office Building

Map

As above.

Opening Hours

Mon - Closed

Tue and Thu - 11am to 2am

Wed, Fri and Sat - 11am to 3am

Price

Bak Ku Teh - S$6

Youtiao - S$1.50

[Subject to 7% GST. No Service Charge]

Menu

As above.