Located in the far west of Singapore at Jurong West 505 Market & Food Centre, Traditional Hakka Lui Cha doesn’t immediately stand out.

BUT it’s the only Thunder Tea Rice aka Lei Cha Fan stall in Singapore recognised by the MICHELIN Guide.

That alone puts it on the radar for anyone interested in trying this humble dish.

Side note: just to be clear, the stall has a Michelin Selected which is different from a star or Bib Gourmand (though many F&Bs and publications use them interchangeably as though they mean the same thing).

The stall is run by Mr. Chang, a Hepo Hakka whose family roots trace back to Jiexi County in Guangdong.

His version of the dish stays close to tradition, with small tweaks that make a big difference.

For the Thunder Tea Rice ($4.50), you choose between white or brown rice (go for brown at an additional $0.50 if you want that slightly nutty bite).

Customers can add other items such as Yong Tau Fu ($1.30), Fishcake ($1), Ngoh Hiang ($1), Chye Poh Egg ($1.20), vegetables ($1.50) or an extra bowl of tea ($1.00).

Each ingredient such as cabbage, green beans, and chye sim are arranged neatly on top of the rice.

Then come the tofu puffs, toasted peanuts, and a generous sprinkle of chye poh aka preserved radish.

I did think that the chye poh taste was quite obvious and a key feature of the bowl. Apparently, that radish is specially sourced from China and follows a special recipe.

The green soup is where things get interesting.

It’s a paste made from Tieguanyin tea leaves, basil, coriander, mint, peanuts, and sesame seeds, thinned out with hot water right before serving.

The colour is a pale jade green. You can drink it on its own or pour it over the rice and stir everything up.

If you’re used to heavy seasoning or rich gravies, this might seem bland at first. But if you let it grow on you, there’s a quiet complexity.

I would rate this among the Top 5 bowls I have had in Singapore in terms of getting the balance right.

Perhaps not love at first bite, but maybe the kind of dish you come back to.

Other Related Entries
The Thunder Tea Story (Alexandra Village Food Centre)
Hakka Thunder Tea Rice 客家佬擂茶 (Margaret Drive Food Centre)
Project Thunder Bowl (ABC Food Centre)

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