On the Pau trail….
Following our recent feature on Ipoh Handmade Pau, many readers have written in to recommend their favorite pau stalls. This week, we continue exploring the pau scene in Singapore with Zhen Zheng Handmade Pau. Their first location is here at Sims Drive, Aljunied, and they have recently opened another stall in Toa Payoh. While the fillings are prepared in a central kitchen, the skin is made fresh at each stall. Therefore, we can only vouch for the quality of the paus at the Aljunied location.
Char Siu with real Char!
Right from the start, let me tell you that their char siu bao is well worth the trip. It’s been ages since I’ve had a char siu bao with that authentic charcoal-roasted flavor, and I was thrilled when I first bit into the one at Zhen Zheng. The owner mentioned that he still roasts the char siu himself in a central kitchen, ensuring it has that perfect char. It’s the best char siu bao I’ve had in recent memory! 4.5/5
The Secret is in the Quality of the Ingredients
Their big pau is also very good. The meat is well-marinated and very flavorful. I was told that they use top-grade soy sauce, Chinese wine, and sesame oil to ensure quality. Although nowadays they have to use frozen pork to reduce costs, the overnight marination still ensures that the meat is juicy and free of off flavours.
The quality of the pau skin is also very good. It is made from a mother starter that has been going since 2009 when they first opened at the coffee shop, and they have been using the same levain instead of commercial yeast since then. The skin is soft and tender, not too thick, and most importantly, not dry but moist. If the juices had flowed down my hands, I would have given them top marks! 4.25/5
Kong bak (braised pork) pau is not as commonly available, which is why many reviews highlight it as their standout item. Unfortunately, I was not as impressed with their kong bak pau. I found the braised pork too dry when we first had it in the afternoon. When we made a return trip on a Sunday morning when the paus just came out of the steamer, it was better. But it also depends on whether you got one with a bit of belly fat. If it is all lean meat, it is still a bit dry! 4/5
At first glance, I was put off by the lor mai kai. I don’t like the fact that they steam it in one of those plastic containers. Lor mai kai is still best steamed in an aluminum bowl in my opinion. Of course the best is if it is steamed in lotus leaves, but you can only find that in dim sum restaurants. However, the lor mai kai was surprisingly good! The rice grains are moist and flavourful and the chicken is well marinated and tender. 4.25/5
I was a little disappointed with the siu mai. I really love the ones at Chin Sin Huan and since the owner had previously worked there, I thought it would be similar. It was a little dry and starchy. It is still better than the factory-made ones but I was expecting them to be much better. 3.75/5
Since their char siu bao was so good, I was expecting the fan choy to also be excellent. Alas, they are not. I am not sure what happened to that wonderful smokey charcoal flavor that we found in the char siu bao? It almost seems like they use a different char siu for the fan choy! 3.5/5
The Link with Tanjong Rhu Pau
I was fortunate to meet Mr. Chia Chiang Kee, 63, at the stall. He shared that he has been making pau since he was 12 and had spent over a decade at Tanjong Rhu Pau before opening Zhen Zheng in 2009. This explains the similarity in the flavor of the fillings. However, unlike the small paus at Tanjong Rhu, he decided to make his paus larger, like those at most other pau stalls.
Conclusion
I am so glad to have discovered another excellent handmade pau stall. The char siu bao is one of the best I have had in recent memory and has become my go-to place for char siu bao. Their big pau is also very good, with well-marinated, flavorful meat that showcases their commitment to quality ingredients and careful preparation. This stall is a true gem for pau lovers!
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