Let’s check out the Thai-style Boat noodles at the BKK Boat noodles Bistro And Bar. At its core, BKK boat noodles is an authentic recreation of Thailand street side food.
The place located on the road facing side of ORTO recreational park in Yishun. It is directly connected to the pedestrians’ walkway along the MRT viaduct. Parking free, but do expect to hunt for lots on peak weekend periods.
At its core, boat noodles is an authentic recreation of Thailand street side food. Complete with the outdoor seating (and humidity), a rather disorganized table arrangement with no particular packing arrangements coupled with blaring ambient music.
Moreover, part of the premises used to be operated by a prawn fishing area. The establishment reside by one of the ponds. I think that justifies BKK unique selling proposition. Also, and I can guess if you had street side boat noodles in Thailand, the experience is similar. Well maybe minus the occasional smell of street side vehicles exhaust and blaring horns, otherwise it is as authentic as it can get.
80 cents per Boat noodle
The main selling draw here at BKK are their tiny bowls of Boat noodles. Moreover, each bowl of noodles costs 80 cents. It is tiny and you can easily down it with two to three bites if you are a hungry. Additionally, their noodle selection is offered through two choices of noodles (glass and wheat noodles), meats (beef, pork, offal or prawns) and soup bases (herb or tom yum flavors).
Furthermore, you get two choices of soup bases, namely Herb and Tomyam. Also, I found their tom yam soups tad watered down. This is good for those who can’t take spicy foods. Though I would recommend their herb soups. It is flavourful and pretty rich without being too overwhelming. Moreover, a visit here is not without having trying an assortment of combinations of their noodles.
A recommendation is to order a variety mix of dishes. Their prawn dishes are served with one large prawn, the same is so for liver. Also, it even has the authentic musky smell you typical find in street side eateries in Thailand.
Be expected to down a few bowls
Additionally, being open till late at 3am, couple with the small portions does makes BKK boat noodles both a dinner and supper place. Though I would find it more suited as a supper place by nature of the small portions. It allows you to control your intake a bowl at a time.
You place your order via an order sheet. A typical sizable serving per person meal comprises of 4 to 5 bowls. Hence a typical meal with about 4 bowls per person sets you back an affordable $16 or about an affordable $4 per head. Exclusive of GST. Also, BKK also offers regular meal “medium” ($7.80) or “super bowls” ($20.80) instead of the small boat noodles. The super bowl includes all toppings. This is as opposed to ordering multiple bowls but reduces the variety you can have at a seating.
Also, there is a bubble tea store operated by a minor tenant within the same premises. Menu options cost in the $5 range per cup for milk tea with pearls. However, do avoid peak weekends. Queues can be seen snaking up to 50m from the restaurant entrance on peak Friday and Saturdays.
All in all, I would find the establishment worth crediting to the dining experience for a best mix of ambience, crowds and food offerings. BKK Boat noodles Bistro and Bar is largely chaotic, true to how it is in Thailand. If you crave and authentic boat noodle experience, there is quite no other place fitting in urbanized Singapore to effectively and (hygienically cleanly) serve street side style boat noodles to the masses.
Verdict:
Must Go! | Actually pretty Good | Worth Trying | Shortlist Optionally | Should Avoid
BKK Boat noodles Bistro And Bar at ORTO Locality Map
81 Lorong Chencharu, 01-09A ORTO,
#01-09A Next to ORTO Prawning Ponds,
Singapore 769198
Opening hours: 5:00pm- 3:00am
https://shaunchng.com/photos/index/category/761-bkk_bistro_and_bar_orto
[…] The boat noodles are tad reminiscent of the outdoor BKK boat noodle place we visited previously at Orto in the Yishun region. Also, I found the mini bowls useful as a taster. Tad like a beer sampler but for noodles. You […]