…not Lim Chee Guan, Bee Cheng Hiang, Fragrance or even Kim Hock Guan. Year after year, only one bak kwa (pork jerky) maker gets business from my family – Kim Hwa Guan (金华源). We swear by the Kim Hwa Guan bak kwa and find theirs to be the tastiest in town! Do you agree?
Each year, around this time, a phenomenon would occur in Singapore. Long queues would form at various bak kwa stalls in the Chinatown district. Never mind the swelteringly hot and wet weather or the fact that dried barbecued pork is available all year round. At Chinese New Year when this popular delicacy is at its priciest and demand is at its peak, people can queue for hours just to get a packet of bak kwa.
Seasonal pricing
Rating:
When it comes to good bak kwa, here’s my list of demands:
Must be tender, man! Bak kwa in Singapore comes in two main forms – minced and sliced. The latter is prepared by slicing off solid blocks of meat and tends to be leaner and tougher. To devour it you really need to work those jaw muscles. I personally prefer the minced version which is distinctly more tender and easy on the mouth.
Slice it thinly, dude! One quality about Kim Hwa Guan bak kwa that I love is how thinly each square sheet is sliced, which contributes to the overall tenderness.
Must taste good, uncle! Every piece of the bak kwa here is well-marinated with succulent sweetness, juicy and perfectly grilled. It has all the makings of great-tasting bak kwa. Having tried all the aforementioned brands, Kim Hwa Guan has what I consider to be the best bak kwa in Singapore.
The plastic packaging has been improved over the years. After opening each packet of bak kwa, you can reseal it using the zipper/slider, ensuring maximum freshness to last you through the festivities.
In your opinion, where can you get the best bak kwa in Singapore? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Chinatown outlet
People’s Park Food Centre
32 New Market Road #01-1022
Singapore 050032
Tel: +65 9006 2026
Toa Payoh outlet
Toa Payoh West Market And Food Centre
127 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh #02-40
Singapore 310127
Jan 26, 2011
https://sparklette.net/wp-content/themes/v3195
Sparklette Digest! The Best Bak Kwa in Singapore Comes from… http://sparklette.net/food/kim-hwa-guan-…
Jan 26, 2011
https://sparklette.net/wp-content/themes/v335
RT @Sparklette: Sparklette Digest! The Best Bak Kwa in Singapore Comes from… http://sparklette.net/food/kim-hwa-guan-…
Jan 26, 2011
https://sparklette.net/wp-content/themes/v331
RT @Sparklette: Sparklette Digest! The Best Bak Kwa in Singapore Comes from… http://sparklette.net/food/kim-hwa-guan-…
Jan 27, 2011
13
I haven’t tried all of the brands you’ve mentioned so I can’t really be the judge of the “best.” I did notice that the price for such goods are “seasonal.” Those smart business people making the best out of every opportunity.
The prices for the jerky here in the US is same year round but I doubt the flavors are on par with the ones in the homelands. I guess the art of jerky making will forever just remain in Asia.
Jan 28, 2011
5
RT @Sparklette: Sparklette Digest! The Best Bak Kwa in Singapore Comes from… http://sparklette.net/food/kim-hwa-guan-…
Feb 1, 2011
10
My mom decided to leave her bak kwa shopping til monday (yesterday) and I asked her to buy Kim Hwa Guan since I had seen your post earlier. She tried the Chinatown outlet but it wasnt open as they were sold out, and had to go to Bee Cheng Hiang instead as the queue at Lim Chee Guan was crazy.
She also decided to leave the grocery shopping for reunion dinner til today. Being the cheeky son, I poked fun at the fact that with her luck, the supermarket would have sold out all the groceries by then. Luckily for our family, the neighbourhood Sheng Siong store did not fail her…
Will definitely try out Kim Hwa Guan after CNY and the prices have returned to normal :-)
Feb 1, 2011
3472
I’m so glad your mom got the groceries after all! I look forward to my family reunion dinner every Chinese New Year, and I’m sure you look forward to yours as well. My mom also did some last minute shopping today for the steamboat dinner we’re going to have :)
As for those bak kwa, I have been telling myself to buy it during the off-peak season. Yet somehow, the only times I ever have it is at CNY!
Thanks for sharing this little story! It put a smile on my face :)
Feb 5, 2011
1
Okay, to be honest, I don’t really go around trying the different bak kwa stores since they aren’t all that cheap. (if you buy like in 500g or a full kilo) And also, being a relatively young foodie fanatic, I didn’t know there were that many bak kwa stores in Singapore! (I am a teen, I am proud to say. bwahaha! :D)
But what I thought of those franchised stores were totally horrible. Having tried three franchised stores, namely Fragrance, Bee Cheng Hiang and Lim Chee Guan, I would say I might be getting my bak kwa from Kim Hwa Guan next time. The bak kwas are either too thin, burnt or hard! Total turn off for meat lovers like me. I won’t really blame them either; you can’t really control the quality when you need to churn them out in large numbers.
P.S: I am really glad I came across your blog!
Dec 31, 2011
1
@ynahmariee @ruthmanlongat @tisaysBBQ http://t.co/7KEjyUjC
Jan 15, 2012
48
Getting a craving for bak kwa already. Kim Hwa Guan bak kwa (http://t.co/SpFrQAlz) is our pick. What’s yours?
Sep 7, 2012
1
At the risk of increased demand from other buyers out there… my vote goes to Sim Heong Kee 新香记肉干! Sale to the public is only once a year, during CNY :)
Feb 7, 2013
14
Have u tried Kim Joo Guan…. i think its pretty smashing. I used to wack 200gm of the premuim bacon-like stuff when they had a branch in taka food court area whenever i was shopping in cold storage. Now they only have main branch at Chinatown facing e indian temple.
As usual, somehow my searches hit yr site time n time again!! haha
Feb 8, 2013
3472
Alwyn, good to hear from you again! :D
Nope, I have yet to try Kim Joo Guan. So far the brands I’ve tasted are Kim Hwa Guan, Bee Cheng Hiang, Fragrance and Lim Chee Guan and I must say that while Kim Hwa Guan may be the least known, it’s the best of the 4!
I should try out Kim Joo Guan soon and give my verdict on that ;)
Speaking of Chinatown, have you seen the larger-than-life yellow lantern snake along South Bridge Road? It’s the décor for Chinese New Year 2013 and looks fabulous!
Feb 10, 2015
1
Hi, have you tried Kim Peng Hiang? The main store is at Kembangan (near MRT), and another one is near Outrum Park MRT. You may try their signature pineapple bak kwa and “fatt-choy” chicken bak-kwa.
Feb 8, 2013
14
Hi Veron,
Kim Hwa Guan humm, maybe i’ll try them 1 day, i do pop by pples park to buy hair care stuff now n then. i remember there is always a ba kwa stall cooking close to the roast duck stall facing OG, maybe thats the 1. Funny thing abt Ba Kwa, its ava whole yr round, but pple seldom eat, come CNY, see the long qs, then the urge to eat ba kwa is there!! hahaha
i think f the moment Kim Joo Guan is still a well hidden secret…. hopefully it will stay that way. btw, they supply to lim chee guan in the past b4 venturing out in retail themselves.
Happy CNY! :)
Alwyn
Feb 8, 2013
14
oh yes…i’ve see the yellow (or is it orange) snake perching overheard! Looks quite friendly. :)
i go to maxwell market quite often due to proximity to my office. Usually to wack Ah Tai chicken rice. Else it zhen zhen porridge for the raw fish! if n only if the qs are reasonable……
Feb 8, 2013
14
Oh just to side track a bit. Last yr i was bored in office and tried looking f a better soya sauce f marinating/ dipping etc. I used to use e kikoman low salt. Then i discovered Kwong Woh Hing soya sauce….. pricy but wow….what a world of difference compared to anything u can buy in the stores. The light soya has a fragrant salted bean scent, n the taste…..wow 3 dimensional!!! Like wine w a good body.
Its not salty at all, in fact i find it a tad sweet. They brew it in sg f 1 yr b4 bottling. The dark soya is v thick, imagine chicken rice dark sauce.
Not ava in any store in sg, u hv to order online/call and they deliver abv SGD 25.00 island wide. U can also go down to their factory in defu to buy direct.
Since my discovery, i have ordered at least 15 bottles for consumption (usually w my cut chilis) n some f give away to friends! I hv seen e light.
Give it a shot if u appreciate good soya sauce. http://www.kwh.com.sg
Alwyn
Feb 15, 2013
1
Do you know how I could buy Bak Kwa online ?
Thanks for your help.
Jan 27, 2014
1
Bought from Kim Hwa Guan after reading your review. However, I am really disappointed with their standard. The bak kwa are not perfectly grilled. There are many burnt pieces in the 3 packs. Felt so bad puchasing it for my folks and in-laws. Definitely my first and last time buying from them.
Jan 31, 2014
3472
Very sorry to hear that. Sounds like their standard has dropped. Thanks for sharing your feedback.