We Tried The Famous Michelin-Approved Curry Fish Head In Jurong Again—Was It Still As Good?

Zai Shun Curry Fish Head is a Michelin-approved stall in Jurong

In case you haven’t heard of Zai Shun Curry Fish Head, this Jurong stall sells Teochew porridge, classic zi char, and a range of fish dishes that have gotten them on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list since 2017, except in 2020. Running the joint is Ong Cheng Kee, with over 50 years of cooking experience under his belt. 

He opened Zai Shun as a hawker stall in the nearby Yuhua Food Centre in 1981, selling much of the same fare he does today. Over forty years later, Zai Shun has expanded to occupy a huge part of the kopitiam under block 253 in Jurong East, where we found ourselves just before the lunch rush.

Food at Zai Shun Curry Fish Head

In Mr Ong’s words, diners visit Zai Shun because the fish is fresh, well-cooked, and sold at extremely competitive prices. 

We paid $30 for a whole fish head during our visit, though it’s worth noting that prices vary with the season. What we got was a sizable head with most of the meat found behind the gills. 

When we placed our order, both of us were presented with a choice of rice or porridge, priced at $1 a bowl. We chose one of each as we figured that curry fish head had to go with rice, while porridge was the logical choice for the rest of the dishes we ordered at this Teochew porridge joint.

We were pleased to find that our fish didn’t flake away into pieces under our chopsticks. The tender white flesh soaked up the curry flavours well. Best of all, it was extremely fresh, with no apparent fishy odour, a firm texture, and plump eyes bursting with umami flavour. 

A small gripe, though, was that there wasn’t as much meat as it seemed at first blush. One whole fish head was just enough for three diners, in case you were wondering.

I liked that we were given a specific condiment concocted especially for the fish, made with what tasted like vinegar, chilli padi, and a wedge of lime. This dip added a tangy, spicy layer on top of the sweet flesh and salty braise.

The curry itself was a bright orange, an aromatic gravy that warmed us down on a rainy noon. The tangy assam flavour was the most prominent—more than anything else.

A generous helping of ladies’ fingers and tomatoes also made it into our serving, but they were soft and bland, likely because they had been cooked in the curry for so long that they leached most of their flavours.

Overall, I’d say you are getting your money’s worth with the quality of the fish and a good amount of curry.

They also have a variety of side dishes on offer, most of which are typical fare you’ll find at a classic Teochew porridge stall. Looking around, we decided to follow the crowd and tried their popular Bittergourd Egg ($12). 

The thin slices of fried bittergourd mixed with the slightly salty scrambled egg went well with the plain Teochew-style porridge, and it wasn’t bitter.

Ambience at Zai Shun Curry Fish Head

Zai Shun Curry Fish Head is located at a kopitiam just a stone’s throw away from Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre. Roomy and well-ventilated, you’re unlikely to feel the heat here even when the kopitiam gets crowded at noon. Still, it’s recommended that you come early to beat the lunch crowd, as it’s nigh impossible to get a seat if you arrive after 12pm on any given day. 

The stall is a 15-minute walk from Chinese Garden MRT Station, which isn’t the most convenient on a hot day, but still accessible enough to get there without much trouble.

Zai Shun Curry Fish Head – Eatbook review

Zai Shun Curry Fish Head’s reputation speaks for itself. Mr Ong insists on ensuring all of his fish is as fresh as possible, and while you may get a different type or size of fish on your table based on the day’s catch, you won’t be disappointed with a subpar fish.

In related content, read our guide to the best fish head steamboat in Singapore. We also have a Jurong East food guide for handmade pasta, Michelin-approved Taiwanese soup and more. 

Address: 253 Jurong East Street 24, #01-205, Singapore 600253
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 7am to 3pm
Tel: 6560 8594
Zai Shun Curry Fish Head is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by Heather Ng.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg