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Widely known for his traditional-style Hokkien mee, Ng was regarded by many food lovers as part of one of the pioneering families behind Singapore’s distinctive version of the dish, Channel News Asia reported.

The customer who shared the tribute said they had gone to Chomp Chomp Food Centre hoping to enjoy a plate of Ng’s noodles, but found the stall closed. After asking a neighboring hawker about him, they were informed that he had passed away.

“When I saw the stall closed, I asked the neighboring hawker if Uncle was okay. They quietly told me he had passed away,” the customer wrote.

Ng was the fourth son of Ng Seng, one of the two brothers credited with pioneering what later became Singapore-style Hokkien mee along Rochor Road in the 1950s.

In 1966, he struck out on his own and began selling Hokkien mee in the Serangoon Gardens area. By the 1970s, he had established his stall at Chomp Chomp Food Centre, where it would remain a fixture for decades, AsiaOne reported.

Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Noodles became well known for its traditional version of the local dish, combining yellow noodles and thin bee hoon with prawns, squid, and sliced pork. With prices starting from S$4 (US$3.10), the stall attracted generations of loyal customers and has been featured in the Michelin Guide Singapore since 2018.

Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Noodles. Photo courtesy of Michelin Guide Singapore

The Facebook tribute triggered a wave of condolences from long-time patrons, many of whom said Ng’s Hokkien mee was impossible to replicate.

“This Hokkien mee was unbeatable in its prime,” one commenter wrote. “Even today, I haven’t found another that matches its original taste.”

Another customer wrote: “I loved Ah Hock’s fried Hokkien mee. It is heartbreaking that one of the true masters of fried Hokkien mee has passed away.”