Heard quite a fair bit about Ah Chiang's porridge, which is situated amongst the conservation area of Tiong Bahru and boasts a rich history dating back to 1971. The various media appearances are seemingly testament to its honest to goodness bowls of porridge which are painstakingly cooked over a charcoal stove.

Occupying a corner unit, Ah Chiang's can take about 30 people or so and tables are on a first come first serve basis, very much like any mom and pop coffee shops around. On both occasions that I went, at 1230pm on a Saturday and 1030am on a Sunday, seats were readily available but I understand that long waits are to be expected especially in the morning.

Intestine Porridge with Meatballs & Century Egg Porridge with Chicken - At $5.50, this was a rather expensive bowl of porridge. The focus was undoubtedly on the porridge, which came across as smooth with bits of grains and didn't seem too starchy. The quantity of ingredients were acceptable at best and if it wasn't for the extra meatballs, the intestines alone would have been a sorry sight. Not that the meatballs or intestines tasted fantastic anyways. I could also detect MSG in the porridge, but I guess that's rather common in porridge nowadays.
The bowl of century egg porridge cost slightly lesser, at $4.50 for a sprinkling of century egg and chicken slices. As with the previous dish, the porridge itself was the star while the century egg and chicken slices were merely average.

Honestly, I found the porridge quite decent overall, just that prices are a tad too steep.

See all my pictures here.

Heard quite abit on this place from a friend of mine. Friend did not bother to tell me that it isn't the best place to have congee, other than the fact that it was highly recommened.

Sadly to say, like most stalls that gain fame of some sort, the owners are too often out having conversations with people, and not in the kitchen making sure each bowl of congee would be the same as the first one he had served.

Environment :- The usual old fashioned kopitiam style. It is rather quiet, considering the human traffic flow there is quite high. I got a seat effortlessly, so that's a good thing, without realising that I have to give my order at the counter, and that's a bad thing. (I am not a fan who would "chop place" a table by putting something there)

Service :- it was a good experience, considering that I do not know what I want. The lady was patient enough to wait for my err and ahh orders. Unfortunately the person messed the order up. We have to pick out the ingredients we do not want and exchange with each other. To have do something major like this, when one is barely awake, is a horrible thing to do. I wish I had took time out to go over the order again and again, at least a time more than the two times I did.

They sure clean up the tables fast. When the customers left, the staff was there to clean up all the dishes and getting the table ready for the ones waiting for it.

Food :- Nope, the congee was not up to my expectations. Considering how the friend mentioned how good it was. There was still grains in the congee, it's not teochew porridge, I prefer my congee to be smooth.

I think the fact that I have things in my congee which I do not like, made up my mind about this place. I do not like my orders messed up. I cannot say that I will never step into that place again, but it would not be a special effort to be there just to have the congee.

This porridge stall has been around since 1971, boiling up bowls and bowls of piping hot porridge canto-style. Using the traditional charcoal stove, it's so popular it has recently gone Private Limited. Phoar! Private Limited! That sure says a lot! Plus my family, including your truly, endorse this place with our hearts and souls. *peace* (sorry I can’t import emoticons here lol)

Here our Mr. Ah Chiang cooks with all TLC his signature fish head porridge ($4.50) (my fav :) ), fish meat ($3.50), fish belly ($3.50)(2nd fav), mix pork meat ($3.50), pidan etc. porridge with side orders like you-tiao and their infamous raw fish salad ($2/3 ~ die-die must try!) to go with that soul-warming bowl of porridge...for that cold & chilly morning breakfast or a soothing supper meal, it goes down really well for that calming and sated tummy.

If you are a cheapskate haha, order one bowl of plain porridge ($1.50) (still yummy!! But don’t tell aunty I teach you) and a plate of that crunchy raw fish salad. Dunk those slivers of healthy song he fish into the healthy gruel. And viola! Cheap and Good chow!

Tip: I think Mr.Ah Chiang only cooks in the mornings. At night his stall is tended by a PRC cook, who though certainly doesn’t cook my porridge as well as Mr.Ah Chiang himself…but I swear it’s still good! :) Oh very good! Oh I want it now!!

But please bring your notes you SYTs to mug and your dailies to read those lao a-pehs coz to be able to enjoy a satisfying and yummy bowl of porridge, prepare to wait at least 45 min O_O in the mornings. Neh…those tissue packs don’t work here haha coz if you want a table, you have to hang around and sit your arse immediately when you spot one. :p

ps: I highly recommend you don’t order the fish head porridge here coz that just means one more competitor with mua for that most coveted part of the fish. It’s all MINE!! lol