Notes:
- Disclaimer: I have not tried any authentic versions of Smelly Tofu. This review is based off my experience at this restaurant only.
- Seats are available by the road for better ventilation.
Details
Address: 795 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389678
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 12noon to 12am, closed on Mondays
Experience at Mini Star (HK) Geylang Smelly Tofu
As a citizen of a nation in love with the Durian, I believe smelly Tofu to be a natural progression in things to try. While a popular street food in China and Hong Kong, Mini Star (HK) is one of the few places left in Singapore selling this pungent dish.
Found at a shophouse in Geylang, right by the road, the place offers up a range of Tofu variants as well as other Hong Kong style snacks and main dishes. Hungry folks will not go amiss with their fried rice, which has a good ‘Wok Hei’ to it and pairs well with the side dishes.
Smelly Tofu
Of the three different Smelly Tofu variations available. Each tofu has been fermented in a brine which includes milk and a blend of spices within. This gives it that distinctive smell.
Fermented Beancurd
A crisp exterior and a juicy inside. The dish is what most people think of when you are talking about smelly tofu. The tofu, prepared specially for this restaurant, holds its shape well. As you bite into it, the soft inside just oozes with the brine, filling your mouth with a burst of umami taking your mind off the smell for a moment.
On the side is a blend of two different chilli sauces and a few slices of cucumber. Dipping the tofu in gives you the additional sweet, spicy, and sour notes that balances out the fermented umami flavour of the tofu.
Fermented Beancurd Slices
Sliced thinly, these beancurd slices is 100% pure crunch. Milder in taste, the cracker-like dish seems perfect with a beer in the other hand.
Mala Fermented Beancurd
Right on the other end of the spectrum from the crispy Beancurd slices is the Mala Fermented Beancurd. The fried Tofu is served in a claypot, stewed in a Mala sauce.