Yuet Loy Cooked Food (悦来熟食) stands as a beloved institution within Chinatown Complex, representing over 40 years of authentic Cantonese zi char tradition. Founded by an immigrant from Shunde, Guangdong, this family-run stall has journeyed through Singapore's culinary landscape from Cook Street in Tanjong Pagar to Maxwell Market, finally settling in Chinatown Complex in 1998. Run by a dedicated elderly couple, Yuet Loy is renowned for its signature Golden Coin Tofu made fresh daily, alongside classics like Beef Sliced Hor Fun, Salted Fish Chicken, and Black Bean Sauce Fish Head. Located in the quiet outer fringe of the complex's Red Zone, this hidden gem operates with a unique reservation system due to overwhelming popularity, often requiring 40-minute waits for their meticulously prepared dishes. Quietly visited by celebrity chefs and overseas food critics, Yuet Loy represents authentic Cantonese cooking at its finest, though its future remains uncertain as the aging owners seek successors to continue their remarkable culinary legacy.
Definitely not the best zi char in Singapore. It could well be the worst. I ordered 4 dishes - the largest size. I was shocked when I saw the food. The portions were very tiny. I wonder what the smaller sizes could be. The taste was mediocre and very salty. A terrible experience.
Positive Reviews
Mantou
It's very home cooked style, rather then the usual Zi char. Very simple but taste good. So far all dishes we ordered were good, the Black bean Fishhead, Tofu coin, Sweet sour pork, Fried pork liver, but the potions really small. You might want to order medium instead if more than 2 persons eating.
Mun Chong
Pre-order required
WhatsApp 80401729 stating the dishes you want, their size S/M/L, and how many pax eating (if possible, they will help to reserve a table for you - this is very helpful for lunch)
Remember to tell them any food allergies they are super helpful but please remember they are also super busy
Golden coin tofu - they season crushed tofu formed into balls n deep fry. Definitely not the tofu rolls in plastic tubes from factory. A lot of work. Unique taste. Contains haebi in its seasoning.
Stir fried liver with ginger and spring onion - just cooked. Gravy goes well with rice.
Kailan with fish slices - generous slices of fish, old restaurant style absolute satisfaction. Comfort food.
Sweet sour pork - crispy, bite sized ensuring each piece is uniform in taste and texture. Tangy and sweet nicely balanced. Great with rice.
Salted fish steam chicken - 咸香 fresh chicken thick bouncy skin, irresistible star with rice, drizzle a little gravy over rice brings back memories to the taste buds. Selection of meaty and bony pieces. Surprisingly it's the bony pieces that really bring out the flavour in this dish.
Afraid I would over order on my first trial lunch at this stall, I brought along a few plastic containers to tapau but we wiped clean every single dish and rice.
A word of caution - their chilli demands respect. I refer to the chilli in soy sauce served as a dip.
Overall I'll be back.
The corner coffee stall deserves special mention. The old boss serves up a unique yuan yang.
Kelvin Wee
So far the best authentic home cooked style Cantonese cuisine. Yummy 😋 max!
6 medium dishes for 5 pax, total $93.
Forgot to take pic of sweet & sour pork.
Better to call up & make booking for your dishes as they sell out daily.
Violet Lum
Good zhichar place to go to. Very homecooked kind of dishes. Ordered 4 dishes comprising of mui heung chicken, fried slice pork liver, kailan fried with fish slices & fried sliced beef. Plus 4 bowls of rice, total cost $72.40 shared by 5 persons.
Kim Wee Soh
Nestled in the corner alley of the red zone in Smith Street Chinatown Hawker Centre is this much talked about Cantonese Zi Char eatery. In fact you need to pre order. Or reserve by phone and whatsapp, what you intended to eat, and how many to feed. Given I fame, I whatsapp ahead and ordered 4 dishes. Mostly what had been publicised as must try, after all its wasn't a Monday and Fried Fish Head Bee Hoon or Fish Head Soup are both unavailable. So we had the much talked about Coined Tofu, Braised Fish Head, Sweet and Sour Pork and Ginger Pork Liver. At the appointed time, the stall looked like they weren't ready for business. But no, they operate as such, signage not turned on, and they will direct you to appointed tables. They only serve the row in front of them, and they do not serve walk-ins. And they do not serve anywhere else so if you want to eat their offerings, you have to sit at their appointed tables set up for you. Also they only have red cut chillies in soy sauce. No other condiments. Alright lets dig in after a 10 minutes wait, the four ordered dishes serve up one by one. The Braised fish head comes in thick pieces with lots of meat. The fish is Flavourful and fresh but we find the sauce a little too salty. Perfect if you're having rice. But a tat salty on its own. Sweet and sour pork on the other hand, is probably one of the best we ever had. Crunchy yet we taste the flavourful pork with bite, unlike many places you are practically eating starchy, sweetened batter with chewy bits inside supposedly meat. It doesn't look as appealing, as probably you get real ketchup rather than sweetened starchy sauce. Coin Tofu on the other hand, the home made daily tofu is fresh and soft, the fried outer crust after frying in the golden sauce is no longer anything near crispy but a spongy sensation. The sauce reminds me of old school hor fun with plenty of wok hei. If you like spongy and soft tofu with wok hei sauce then this is for you. Lastly the thick liver slices with ginger and scallion is cooked just right, nice bite texture and the ginger, scallion adds bite and crunchy texture. Only gripe is the dish could have used more Chinese wine for flavour. On the whole a four star hawker zi char dining experience at superb value. Dishes starts from $5 and most dishes range around the $10 to $15 for small to medium plates