Tonight I did a little “social experiment” on Snaps and asked how everyone would spend their TGIF. The answers were honestly quite wholesome, some people just want to rest (mood), some want to travel (my dream too), and of course some said eat nice food. I’m team “all of the above” LOL, but since I can’t exactly teleport myself to some overseas getaway tonight, I chose the most realistic option, I went for comfort food, the kind that feels like a reward after a long week.
So I headed to the Aljunied area to visit one of my favorite ban mian places, Food Yo. This stall is already a familiar “safe space” for me, because whenever I don’t feel like gambling on new food, ban mian is the reliable choice. And Food Yo is my go to. If you’ve followed my food cravings long enough, you probably know I usually talk about their Champion Ban Mian, the one that sits at the top of the menu and also the most expensive. It’s like the “special occasion” bowl.
But tonight I wanted something more classic, something that feels like an old time favorite no matter where you eat it, Classic Ban Mian Dry.
There’s something about ban mian dry that just makes sense to my brain. The soup is on the side, so I can choose when I want to sip it, and when I want to focus on the noodles and toppings. It feels more organized this way, and more importantly, it protects the flavor. When the soup is already mixed in, the taste slowly gets diluted as you eat, especially if you’re the type that eats slowly while scrolling your phone (guilty). With the dry version, the sauce stays bold, the noodles stay coated, and you control the whole experience.
The noodles tonight were U mian, and I really like the chew on it. It’s not soft until blur, and it’s not tough until you need jaw workout. It sits right in the middle, springy enough to pick up the dark sauce, and smooth enough that every mouthful feels clean. Then you get the toppings, and this is where Food Yo quietly flexes.
The meatballs were the highlight for me. You can actually feel from the texture that it’s freshly made, not those perfectly round, machine stamped ones. There are tiny imperfections, which to me is a good sign, because it hints that someone actually shaped it by hand. And when you bite in, you get that fresh meat sweetness, slightly bouncy, with a soft crumble at the edges. It’s the kind of meatball that makes you pause for a second like, ok, this is why I came.
I also liked the ratio of noodles to toppings. Balanced, not the kind where you’re digging for “treasure” at the bottom of the bowl. There’s enough greens to make you feel a bit less guilty, enough meatballs to keep you happy, and enough sauce to keep the whole thing flavorful. If I really want to nitpick (very small nitpick), I wouldn’t mind a little more punch from chili or vinegar, but that’s more of my personal preference than a flaw.
And the soup on the side, simple, warm, and comforting. It’s like the supporting actor that still does a great job. A few sips in between bites, and suddenly the whole meal feels complete.
For SGD 5.00, this bowl gave me the exact satisfaction I needed. Not over complicated, not trying too hard, just a solid comfort meal that hits the craving properly.
Bonus TGIF treat, I also grabbed a brown sugar pearl sundae after. Cold creamy soft serve, chewy pearls, and that brown sugar sweetness, it’s basically dessert therapy in a cup LOL.
Happy TGIF!!!
