I didn’t know what I wanted for my lunch, so I instinctively chose one of the places I’d been to; a food place that gave me a good impression. I do have many options in my mind and among the choices, I went to Zhong Tai’s Seafood Place. This is a good option because they will cook the food upon ordering and then use fresh ingredients, these are the two combinations that will satisfy any customers (including me).
As soon as I reached the place, I already knew what would I want for this lunch. So, I ordered the Seafood Fried Rice!
I’m not sure if it’s just me or if it’s a common opinion that the best-fried rice recipe is the Chinese cooking style. The technique that uses the wok to stir fry the rice makes it so delectable that I could just the rice alone without any toppings needed.
So I've been comparing the Chinese-style hawkers' food that I've been to and I noticed that Zhong Tai is the only place that adds Lala together with the usual toppings. I like Lala because I was used to eating shell food when I was younger. It's also rich in minerals (i.e. iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium) that are good for our health. I appreciate that they make an effort to source a good size of Lala because it has better flavor and texture than the smaller ones.
The squid and the prawns are also fresh and are cooked perfectly. These are the two ingredients that you can easily mess up with just a minute of extra cooking. The cook at Zhong Tai knows his craft so well.
As soon as I placed my order, I was asked what type of chili I prefer... for me, the best pair to a fried rice is the pickled green chili. The acidity of the pickled green chili compliments the stir-fried flavor of the dish that's why I like it. Also, the spice level of green chili is just right for my preference. It has the perfect balance of acidity and spice.
Zhong Tai Seafood Place is one of the few hawker stalls in the residential area of Woodlands Avenue 1. It's a quiet neighborhood so you could expect a pleasant dining experience. The staff are also friendly and fast with their service which is why I keep coming back to this place for the freshly cooked delicious food.
See you on my next food journey!
My journey to the world of food.
