Old Chang Kee on New Row in Covent Garden is popular for its iconic Singapore curry puffs. These are gorgeous golden, flaky pastries filled with curried vegetables, chicken, beef rendang or sardines seasoned with aromatic spices. This cosy little spot brings Singaporean street food’s bold, comforting flavours to central London, with dishes like coconutty laksa, fragrant nasi lemak and crispy fried chicken. Old Chang Kee is the place to be if you’re searching for Singapore food in London, savoury food in Covent Garden, or a delicious curry puff.
“This is our go-to low-key eatery. We never tire of the vegetable curry puffs; we’ve introduced countless friends, and everyone has loved them. Once bitten, you’ll be smitten,” Homegirl London.
Old Chang Kee Singapore Street Food Menu
Old Chang Kee is best known for its famous curry puffs, dating back to 1956, and from a secret recipe. These look like small Jamaican patties or Cornish pasties with a lightly sweet, golden crust and beautifully spiced fillings. The veggie version, packed with curried potatoes and vegetables, is always my go-to, though there are also options like spicy mala chicken, just chicken, chicken with egg, beef rendang or sardine. It’s worth noting that buying two is not only better value but almost inevitable once you’ve tasted one. They cost £4-4.75 each.
If you’re super hungry, you can eat a curry puff as your starter, then proceed to noodles or fried chicken. Other appetisers include spring rolls, a fish ball skewer or the black sesame balls. Snacks cost £2-3.20.
On our most recent visit, I tried the vegetarian Singapore noodles. I didn’t realise they came with tofu, which I dislike (although it did say so), but my partner happily helped. The yellow noodles are stir-fried with curry spices and served with tofu, chicken or prawns, depending on your preference.
Their signature curries are another highlight, with options like beef, chicken, dry chicken, chicken rendang, jackfruit rendang or tofu with vegetables. My partner always goes for the prawn Singapore laksa. This comforting bowl combines rice noodles, prawns, bean sprouts, tofu, egg and sambal and can be enjoyed as a soup or stir-fried.
Otherwise, you might like to try their nasi lemak, coconut rice, fried anchovies, peanuts, cucumber, boiled egg and sambal chilli, to which you can add a main like chicken. To give you an idea of prices, large dishes (curries, noodles) cost £10.25-13.75. Their other speciality is fried chicken. Purchase three pieces or go for the bucket with six for £7, made from a special recipe. Add a dipping sauce, curry, sambal chilli, sambal mayo, sriracha chilli or sweet chilli.
They offer refreshing drinks like lychee and lemongrass, pandan and coconut, or traditional Singaporean Yeo’s drinks, including flavours such as lychee, grass jelly or sugar cane.
Helpful Information About Old Chang Kee New Row
New Row is a lovely little street tucked just behind the bustle of Covent Garden, and it’s a great place to sit outside and watch the world go by on one of their pavement tables. The indoor space is compact but warm and inviting, with a relaxed, no-fuss vibe. The staff are always lovely, and it’s dog-friendly, which is a bonus for us.
Old Chang Kee is located at 15 New Row, London WC2N 4pd, just a short stroll from Covent Garden or Leicester Square stations. It’s open from 11.30 am to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday, and Sundays from 12 noon to 7 pm. Check out the Old Chang Kee website for more information.
If you want to explore the area, you may find these articles of interest:
Best Savoury Bites In Covent Garden
Ten Things To Do In Covent Garden
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. I only write about eateries where I had a good experience. I recommend you do further research, as standards fluctuate, as do opinions. Please check if the establishment is still in business and what the opening times are before you go. If you discover this restaurant has closed, contact me to remove it from my blog.