Peng Jia Zhou - Singapore's First Build Your Own Congee

The local food scene never ceases to amaze with its innovative concepts, and Peng Jia Zhou has introduced something truly unique – Singapore’s first DIY congee experience. This humble food court stall has revolutionized the traditional porridge dining experience by allowing customers to customize their bowls with over 16 fresh ingredients, creating hundreds of possible combinations.

The Concept That Sets Them Apart

Similar to choosing ingredients for mala bowls and yong tau foo, customers can now do the same for congee at this pioneering establishment. The concept is simple yet brilliant – select your preferred ingredients from an extensive display, and the staff will cook them into a steaming hot bowl of perfectly prepared porridge.

Diners can mix and match ingredients ranging from cuttlefish and clams to oysters and snow crabsticks, with fish and meat slices also available. The freedom to customize your bowl makes this experience particularly appealing to picky eaters and those seeking variety in their meals.

Food Quality and Offerings

The heart of any congee establishment lies in the quality of its porridge base, and Peng Jia Zhou delivers admirably. The porridge is starchy and comforting, with the ingredients cooked well and distributed evenly throughout the bowl. The consistency hits the sweet spot – thick enough to be satisfying yet smooth enough to allow the flavors of the various ingredients to meld beautifully.

Main DIY Congee Experience

The star attraction offers 16 different fresh ingredients to choose from. Popular selections mentioned by diners include:

• Fresh seafood options like prawns, fish slices, and squid

• Quality meat choices including beef slices and pork

• Traditional favorites like century egg and salted egg

• Various textures from cuttlefish to meatballs

According to customer reviews, "the beef slices and fried pork are very nice", highlighting the quality of the protein options available.

Signature Side Dishes

Beyond the customizable congee, Peng Jia Zhou offers several must-try side dishes:

Hakka Style Fried Pork ($5.90) - Described as a "must-order" dish, this offering delivers authentic Hakka flavors

Pang's Century Egg ($5.90) - A cold dish with a spicy, gingery, and vinegary kick that provides a refreshing contrast to the warm congee

Golden You Tiao ($0.80) - The ultimate congee companion with its crunchy exterior and fluffy interior, perfectly complementing the soft porridge texture

Fried Large Intestine ($6.90) - For the adventurous, this crispy side dish offers bold flavors and satisfying textures

Pricing That Makes Sense

One of Peng Jia Zhou's most attractive features is its transparent and affordable pricing structure. Ingredients are priced at S$5 per 100g with a minimum order of 100g, while the porridge itself is free of charge and included in the price. This works out to approximately S$0.05 per gram, making it comparable to popular mala hotpot pricing.

Weighing scales are available on the counter, allowing customers to see exactly how much their selected ingredients will cost before ordering. This transparency eliminates any pricing surprises and helps diners budget their meals accordingly.

The establishment also keeps things simple with no GST or service charge, making the final bill exactly what you see on the scale.

Location and Ambience

Peng Jia Zhou is located at ESR BizPark Chai Chee, approximately a 15-minute walk from Bedok MRT Station. While the location might seem slightly out of the way for some, the food court setting provides a casual, no-frills dining environment that lets the food take center stage.

Address: 750 Chai Chee Road, #01-25, Singapore 469000

Operating Hours: Daily 7am to 9pm

Contact: +65 9627 0063

The food court atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming, making it an ideal spot for both quick office lunches and leisurely weekend meals. The stall has already become popular among the nearby office crowd despite being relatively new, indicating strong local acceptance and repeat business potential.