Popular 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist Revamps OG Outlet And Menu—Here’s Our Verdict

88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist refreshes Lavender outlet

If you’re a fan of char siew and siew yoke, there’s no doubt that you would have heard of 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist. Having ranked second on our recent best roast meat rice ranked, their roast meats are among the best you can find in Singapore.

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First opened in 2018, their original Lavender stall has consistently drawn long queues, eventually leading to the launch of two more outlets in the CBD. Now, regulars of the Lavender branch have something new to look forward to: a refreshed interior boasting a modern, fully air-conditioned space, along with extended opening hours. 

That’s not all—the menu has also been upgraded with a lineup of brand-new noodle dishes under the moniker 88 Specialty Noodle. Eager to showcase both their new look and offerings, the team invited us down for a tasting of their classics and latest creations. Here’s what went down!

Food at 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist

We had to start with the fabled Roast Meat Platter ($20), which comes with Char Siew, Siew Yoke, and Roast Duck. This was great for sharing and best accompanied by a plate of rice. You can also get an individual portion of Roast Pork + Char Siew Rice for $8.

The siew yoke here was out of this world—one bite sent the crisp skin bursting with an audible, crackling crunch. If we had to describe it with one word, it would be “explosive”.

And that was just describing the skin. The meat had a good amount of flavourful fat that melted away easily, and while the lean meat was slightly tough, the contrast of the crispy, fatty, and lean sections more than made up for it.

Each piece of char siew was a chungus—thick and streaked with fat, unlike the often skinny, lean slices that you get at other stalls. We were so impressed by its flavour: a good amount of caramelisation lent a pleasant sweetness that boosted the meat’s incredible tenderness. 

While the char was present but not as heavy, we thought that this was an advantage, as it gave the meat a softly gelatinous, almost gummy-like texture that was soft and fell apart easily. 

The roast duck did not hold up to its roasted comrades. While we enjoyed the fatty, greasy skin, the meat was rather tough and chewy, and the looming presence of bones made each piece difficult to manoeuvre around.

Next, the 88 Signature Noodles ($7.80) made their debut. This was basically a dry mee pok dish with minced pork and other goodies in the mix.

I’m personally a fan of mee pok, and here they had a good al dente chew. They were coated with a good amount of chilli and oil, and each bite had a satisfying spicy kick without being overly heavy. 

We appreciated the variety of ingredients coming in this bowl: a plump shiitake mushroom, large fish cake slices, and a smattering of minced pork.

However, the highlight of this bowl was the two large meatballs, which were made with dried sole fish, fish paste, and pork. These were rather bouncy and light, and possessed a deep, complex flavour that did not just scream “meaty”. 

If you’re feeling peckish, you can also enjoy these Handmade Meatballs as a platter of eight for $7.50. 

We then moved on to the classic Char Siew Wanton Noodles ($7.50). Fans of wanton mee will not want to miss this combination of thin egg noodles with their signature char siew, accompanied by a bowl of wanton soup. 

We already discussed the legendary status of the char siew, but the wanton noodles stood well on their own. While slightly dry, they had a thick flavour that enhanced the experience of the char siew and wanton. 

Each wanton was moderately sized, coming with a decent amount of stuffing. We were slightly disappointed that there were only two pieces, but the generous amount of char siew in the bowl more than made up for this.

If two pieces of wanton are not enough, consider the Fried Wanton, coming at 10 pieces for $7.50. 

While each deep-fried wanton appeared to be rather small, we found them to pack a good amount of filling, and very much enjoyed their crispy, brittle wrapping.

Lastly, for those who wish for some leafy greens to balance out the oily decadence of the roast meats, go for the Nai Bai with Special Sauce and Fried Shallots ($4.50).

These veggies were refreshing and helped cut through the greasiness of the other dishes. Sadly, they weren’t as remarkable as the other standouts when placed on their own. 

Ambience at 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist

A far cry from its humble beginnings as an open-air stall, 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist now boasts a homely, modern interior that stays true to its roots with traditional tiles and rustic chairs. While they claim to be able to seat 100, the air-conditioned section only appears to seat less than half that number, while the rest is probably attributed to seating outside the store, which stretches down the road. The extended opening and roasting hours also mean that you can enjoy their roast meats in the evening now. 

88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist’s refurbished store is located along Lavender Street, a 10-minute walk from Bendemeer MRT Station. 

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88 Hong Kong’s roast meats are fantastic, and loyal patrons can now enjoy these dishes in a much more comfortable setting. While the prices might be on the high end for roast meat rice, the quality you get here is simply hard to match. 

If you’re nearby, do check out Partage Patisserie for French pastries and desserts by an award-winning chef in Lavender. You might also be interested in the crispy fried eggs at Basil King. 

Address: 308 Lavender Street, Singapore 338814
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist is not a halal-certified eatery. 

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Photos taken by Jordan Ong.
This was a media tasting by 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist.