Well-Loved Thai Seng Fish Soup Hawker Stall In Ubi Relocating After 16 Years
Fish soup enthusiasts may be familiar with Thai Seng Fish Soup, a hawker gem hidden in an Ubi industrial estate with famously long queues during lunch hour – thanks in part to the media coverage it has received during its 16-year run at the coffeeshop.
It is helmed by husband-and-wife team Henry Tan, 61, and Joanna Teo, 54, both popular for their friendly demeanour despite “consistent queues [at their stall] daily from 10am, all the way until [they] close at 3pm”.
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Thai Seng Fish Soup ceasing operations at current location in December
However, Ubi denizens will soon have to find another stall to get their fix of comforting fish soup, at least for a few months: Thai Seng Fish Soup is ceasing operations at their current location on December 17. “Our landlord’s lease is up soon, so he will be returning the kopitiam to JTC [for open bidding]”, explains Joanna.
They will reopen on February 14 at a nearby kopitiam, also within the Ubi industrial estate area. Their new location is about a ten-minute walk away from their current stall.
Prices might rise due to upcoming GST increase
On why they’ve chosen to stay at their Ubi industrial estate locale, she replies, “My customers are all used to the area – so we’ll just stay put. Two old people, where else can we move to? (laughs)”
The menu will be identical at the new stall, but Joanna tells us that she and her hubby have yet to decide if they will be increasing prices after the move. “It is still hard to say now as it is a few months away, but with GST increasing [from Jan 1 next year], it might affect the cost of our ingredients too,” she says.
Teochew-style fish soup from $5.50
There is still about six weeks to go before their hiatus – ample time to drop by for a visit. Thai Seng’s fish soup is a clear-ish broth (made slightly murky by the hawker’s addition of decadent deep-fried egg floss) simmered purely with fish bones and ti poh (dried sole fish) without “any pork or dried soy beans”. Bowls range from $5.50 to $8.50, laden with batang (Spanish mackerel) slices and soft tofu. The couple also serves a more sinful version with fried dory fish slices and fish head. Carb options include rice, bee hoon, porridge and mee sua.
The details
Thai Seng Fish Soup will reopen on Feb 14 at #01-146, Wong Poh Kopitiam, 3026 Ubi Rd 1, S408719.
Their current location will operate till Dec 17 at #01-99, Bing Garden Eating House, 3024 Ubi Rd 3, S408652. Tel: 9878-0817. Open weekdays 10am – 3pm; Sat, 10am – 2.30pm. More info via Facebook.
Photos: CT Ang, Andrew Lau, Thai Seng Fish Soup
No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg.
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