If you spot a long queue near Redhill Food Centre in the morning, especially on the first and 15th day of the Chinese lunar calendar, then it's probably temple-goers queueing up for Ruyi Yuan — or one of its diehard fans waiting on a plate of vegetarian bee hoon.
We’ve been patronising this humble stall at Redhill since the 2000s – yes, back when a plate would only set you back $1.50. Now priced at $4, you get the same standard mix of toppings above your noodles. Mushrooms, cabbage, fried soy pieces resembling chicken chop, sweet ‘char siew’ slices, and tofu come together to add different textures and flavours to the mix. As with any plate of vegetarian bee hoon, it's mandatory to add a serving of zai er (crispy soy skin) on top for the extra crunch. Noodle customisations are also available, with options like hor fun, bee hoon, or yellow noodles — all of which have a faint and pleasant wok hei aroma.
The cherry on top is the sweet sambal served on the side, similar to nasi lemak chilli. Granted, this isn't the healthiest plate of vegetarian food around, but with how well all the components go together, you might even forget that it's meatless while you're busy wolfing it down.
If it’s your first time visiting, the queue system is pretty systematic: order on the right, then proceed to the left side to pay and collect your food. The usual wait is around 15 minutes, but do note that the first and 15th day of the lunar month, as well as special occasions like Qing Ming Festival might warrant longer queues of up to 45 minutes.
Fans of Ruyi Yuan's zai er can even order it online — just check its Instagram page for announcements.