Best Satay in Singapore. Ah Pui Tiong Bahru Satay Man @ 195 Pearl's Hill Cafe

And so, from now onwards, I shall measure all pork satay against Ah Pui Tiong Bahru Satay at 195 Pearl's Hill Cafe. It's not that I am a satay bigot, but it's just that I cannot un-taste what I had tasted 😂

Ah Pui is a well known satay legend (his actual name is Ang Boon Ee). He learnt the craft from a Hainanese satay master and plied his trade, pushing a push cart stall in the Tiong Bahru area since 4 decades ago (in the 1970s). He would call out "kueh! kueh!" but Tiong Bahru residents recognised his voice and knew that it was Ah Pui Satay. Ah Pui had to masquerade as a kueh seller to dodge the health inspectors. Too often, he wasn't successful and got into trouble with the authorities for illegal hawking. Unseen/Unsaid: Through Thick and Thin (Episode 9) from Rediscover SG on Vimeo.

Since he was 11 years old, Ah Pui started helping out his mum who worked for a Hainanese satay master. The satay master wouldn't teach anyone his secret recipe. Tasked to buy spices, Ah Pui simply asked the satay master's Indian spice seller to issue him an invoice - and there it was, the exact list of spices and proportions 😂 Ah Pui stuck steadfastly to his master's recipe ever since, changing nothing all these years (source)

So, in the past 3 decades, Ah Pui Singapore's satay legend was rather elusive. Most of the time under the radar and popping up briefly on cameo appearances in restaurants, bars, private home parties here and there. Today, Ah Pui is at 195 Pearl's Hill Cafe. Fans of Ah Pui would be happy to know that this arrangement is not another one-night stand. Ah Pui is a partner in 195 Pearl's Hill Cafe, so he is likely to be here for a relatively longer time. Hopefully.  What makes Ah Pui's satay stand out?

Because in today's fast paced, "high productivity" F & B world, no one makes "low productivity" satay like Ah Pui anymore (except maybe at home).  Ah Pui still hand slices his pork to make satay. With years of experience, he knows how to get the best slices off a slab of fresh pork ham 后腿肉. 

He then marinates the pork slices before hand skewering them with a thin wooden stick. The marinate is given time to penetrate and infuse the pork slices with its mild spice flavours and aromas.

Ah Pui's station is a little yellow push cart, not so different from that which he used to conquer Tiong Bahru during his heydays.

Aromatic white plumes rise from the sizzling trough of charcoal embers as Ah Pui grilled his legendary pieces of marinated pork on wooden sticks.  Golden brown grilled pork. There's a slight sheen from caramelised marinate and a bit of char at the edges.

Ah Pui inserted a thick strip of pork fat between two pieces of lean meat. The pieces of tender grilled meat taste savoury, porky sweet with subtle hints of aromatic spices. There was also a slight toasty taste from the charred edges. The strip of fat is extra juicy and sweeter than the meat. The fat felt like jelly and bursts sweet juices when you pop it with your bite.

Ah Pui's peanut sauce is Hainanese style with grated pineapple. The sauce is sweet nutty with subtle spice hints and a sweet citrusy zest from grated pineapple.

Ah Pui's partner Sebastian Liu has a chicken satay which is also a must try. Chef Sebastian has over 10 years of culinary experience under his belt specialising in Italian, French and Spanish cuisine. He is also well versed in curing Australian meats. Sebastian loves to experiment with fusing Western and local cuisines - this chicken satay is one of the delicious outcomes. 

The tender juicy char grilled chicken was well infused and smothered with savoury flavours which complemented the chicken's natural sweetness. The savoury tangy sauce go well with the grilled chicken.

Pro-tip: Ah Pui's pork satay and Sebastian's chicken satay are all hand made, so volume is limited. It is always best to call ahead to reserve your satay before coming.

Call Ben at +65 9748 9904 to book your satay. Enjoy it with 195 Pearl's Hill Cafe's artisanal Arabica coffee and teas.

Sebastian also serves spaghetti, pizzas, salad etc which I haven't tried but heard much good feedback about. Maybe you can try and share your experience with us in the comments.

195 Pearl's Hill Cafe is located inside the ground level corridors of the former "Upper Barracks" which was home to the Ministry of Home Affairs until 1977 (when it moved to Phoenix Hill).

 The "Upper Barracks" was built in 1934 to house officers and families of the Sikh Contingent of the Straits Settlements Police Force. It's quite an irony that Ah Pui who had to run for dear life every time health inspectors or police appear is now stationed at the former police headquarters.

Note the wartime camouflage pattern painted on the walls of the building. Image credit: National Archives of SingaporePolice & Civil Defence Control Room 1956. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore Restaurant name: 195 Pearl's Hill CafeAddress: 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace, #01-56, Singapore 168976Tel: +65 9676 2079 (best to call ahead to reserve)Hours: 11:00am - 8:00pm (Sun off) Non Halal History of satay 👈 click Date visited: 6 Aug 2020