Fishball noodle soup, a reminder of Singapore

Photo by Anamika Anand

Three years ago, my family and I spent time in our old home, Singapore, on our way to India. What I was most looking forward to, however, wasn’t seeing old friends or our old house — it was eating the Singaporean foods that I had missed so much.  

I was born in Singapore and lived there until I was 9. Whenever people ask me what I miss most about it, I’m always quick to say it’s the food. My most vivid memories from that time are of food and, specifically, fish ball noodle soup. 

Allow me to tell you more about this simple but amazingly delicious dish. Steaming yellow noodles, slices or balls of fish cake and fresh vegetables are combined in a bowl with a perfectly salty broth, creating a mouthwatering meal that leaves me satisfied but craving more of that familiar taste whenever I get the chance to eat it. 

When we lived in Singapore, my family and I would often go to a nearby food court to order from the stall selling Singapore-style noodle soup. 

We each customized our bowls with whichever type of noodle and vegetables we wanted. I always chose fish, mushrooms, bok choy and tofu. The blend of flavors and steaming soup would spread a comforting feeling through me without fail, regardless of how hot the days were.

Another dish that I miss a lot is a Malaysian dish called Char Kway Teow. It’s a soupless, sweet and spicy noodle dish with vegetables and eggs, and it is also amazingly delicious. I haven’t eaten any form of this dish since my quick stop at Singapore with my family, but it is another one of the foods that never fails to conjure up nostalgic feelings and memories. 

I recommend these two dishes to anyone who wants a taste of  Singapore. I haven’t found a restaurant in the Bay Area that makes the exact kind of noodle soup I am in love with. Still, every time I eat any kind of noodle soup, I am reminded of the good times I had with my family and of the atmosphere and environment of Singapore. 

Writing this is extremely hard because the food I so desperately want is literally halfway across the world. So please, if you know any restaurants around here that serve fish ball noodle soup the way it’s made in Singapore, let me know!