Taman Free School Market Pancake

The Taman Free School Market Pancake stall is located in the wet market beside blocks of old low-cost flats.

In local Hokkien dialect, this pancake is called ban chien kueh and it literally means 'slow-fried cake'.

Mr Goh and his wife have been selling ban chien kueh since 1968. These hardworking couple works from 6.30 am to 10.30 am, seven days a week.

The ban chien kueh are being cooked slowly in round griddle pans over a low flame.

The just-out-of-the-pan ban chien kueh are allowed to cool to achieve the much desired crispness.

Mr and Mrs Goh, despite being busy, are accommodating enough to chat with their customers.

They offer the traditional version of this pancake with only white and brown sugar, ground peanuts and sweet corn. To make it more wholesome, we may add an egg too. No fancy add-ons such as cheese, ham or chocolate are available here, just simple ground peanuts, sweet corn and eggs.

The prices for the ban chien kueh depend on the types of simple add-ons we choose.

The wafer-thin and extra crispy type of ban chien kueh. It's a very light and delightful snack. A nice and delightful ban chien kueh must have the quality of having been cooked well enough to be dry and hard in a pleasant way on the outside and yet moist and soft inside.
Personally, Mr Goh's ban chien kueh fits the above description and yours truly enjoyed every bite of it.

Customers waiting patiently for their ban chien kueh at Mr Goh's stall.

*Footnote: Mr and Mrs Goh's son has followed in their footsteps and he operates the very popular Aki Pancake stall in the Super Tanker Food Court in Taman Lip Sin.