Jin Pin Xiang Bak Kwa (金品香肉乾) & its Famous Pineapple BBQ Dried Pork [旺來肉乾] @ Changi Road [Kembangan]

While almost everyone (at least for the local Chinese) recognises Lim Chee Guan, Fragrance, Bee Cheng Hiang, not as many people are aware of this 70-year old bak kwa brand known as Jin Pin Xiang (Kim Peng Hiang).

This is hardly surprising when just a few years ago, it only had a shop in the Eastern side of Singapore. Given its non-centralised location, its queue is said to be as bad as Lim Chee Guan at Chinatown when it comes to the busy Chinese New Year (CNY) season!

Most brands offer similar bak kwa products; Sliced Pork, Golden Chicken Coin, Gourmet but there is nowhere in Singapore you can find Pineapple Bak Kwa except, Jin Pin Xiang.

CNY is a short 17 days away and i thought it would be better for me to take the opportunity today to travel all the way to Kembangan to make my purchase!

At 10.30am, the queue was quite short and i could count around nine to ten persons ahead of me. Two of them dropped out halfway and even then, i have to wait for close to an hour before i can place my order!

To meet the high seasonal demand, more boxes and bags were already catered for. This is just one section, in case you thought "that's it?". By the way, pre-orders are no longer accepted at this point of time and at the moment, there is no limit to the number of boxes you can buy [update on 27 Jan 2013: there is a limit of 1 kilogram per customer for pineapple bak kwa].

There are two ordering sizes for your BBQ dried pork; 500 grams or a kilogram. There is no difference to the pricing and to make sure you are not short-changed, the weight of each pack is clearly displayed on the electronic weighing machine.

My financial situation means i could at most buy three boxes for my family. To be totally truthful, i was craving for bak kwa. This is a seasonal craving; just like mooncakes nearing the mid autumn festival.

Unlike in the past, the wrapped bak kwa(s) are now given an additional protection via a sealed plastic bag!

The extra "security" does not translate into a later expiry date; without refrigeration, the bak kwa in Jin Pin Xiang can only last between two and three days from purchase date. With refrigeration; two weeks to a month.

Pineapple Bak Kwa with 90% lean meat - it may seem funny to have pineapple in sweetened dried pork  even though i found the zesty taste to be a novel innovation. Every slice also appeared to be chunkier than most conventional bak kwa. Sadly, they were not as juicy as i remember them to be; likely the effects of having 90% lean meat! 

Evidence that real pineapples are used! A pity i was not given access to the kitchen; i bet there would be hundreds of pineapple husks!

What's the best way to eat Bak Kwa?

Click HERE for more info.

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Location

465 Changi Road

[Near Kembangan MRT Station]

Map

As Above

Operating Hours

10am till 7pm

Contact Number
6742 6853

Price List of Bak Kwa [500 grams]

BBQ Pork - S$19.00

Chilli Dried Pork - S$19.00

BBQ Chicken - S$21.00

Slice Royal Pork - S$21.00

Chilli Dried Pork - S$21.00

Pineapple Royal Pork - S$22.50

[Note: Prices are likely to increase as we get closer to Chinese New Year with a limit on the maximum boxes a person can buy]

Additional Information

Those who would prefer a central location would be happy to know that there is a second branch at Chinatown. You may find the address as follows:

100 Eu Tong Sen Street,

#01-K4, Pearl's Centre