Kedai Kopi Jin Siang (津香虾面之家) - Damai

Jin Siang in Damai has long been a familiar prawn-noodle favourite for us. On this visit, the signature soup still had the rich, fresh-tasting and full-bodied character we remembered. It was a reassuring bowl, but it was not the only thing worth talking about.

We forgot to specify which noodles we wanted and received a mixture of Mee and Mihoon. That combination was what arrived with our order; we cannot say that it is the shop’s fixed default. The broth was the main attraction, with the familiar flavour that keeps this place in our minds when prawn noodles come up.

The bigger surprise was the Fried Prawn Mee. It carried a strong wok hei, and every strand seemed to hold on to the rich sauce. The flavour was much more than an afterthought beside the soup version. Of the dishes we ate, this is the one we would most strongly urge someone to try.

The Fried Dry Beancurd was another standout. It was crisp outside and tender within, with a texture that made it easy to keep reaching for more. Adding the house chilli made it especially addictive for us. We also really liked the fried eggplant, so the side dishes contributed a lot to the meal.

The menu felt focused rather than sprawling. We took that as a sign of confidence in the core dishes, although that is our reading of the menu rather than an explanation from the business.

The signature prawn soup remains a comforting familiar choice. This visit, though, the fried noodles and fried beancurd were the discoveries we most wanted to tell people about.