Tucked in between the Central YMCA and 24-hour diner VQ, Tang is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Singaporean noodle joint specialising in dairy-free broth. You can choose between rice, glass or wheat noodles: a nice touch. Chinese newspapers plaster the walls and chef Chen Ng serves straight to communal wooden tables once diners have ordered at the counter.
The rich, spicy broth in a bowl of ‘prawn tang’ came with a generous dollop of caramelised onions and fat king prawns, though another bowl of gingery ‘chicken tang’ sadly lacked depth. Portions are huge but expensive (around £11 a pop), so it’s best to forgo the pimp-my-soup protein extras (pulled pork ribs, six-minute-egg). If you’re really starving, there are generous starters such as crisp battered black bean tofu, which comes piping hot with a tangy, homemade white miso dip; it’s a moreish combo. On my Wednesday lunchtime visit, the place was deserted, but staff were sweet-natured and more accommodating than that YMCA next door.