$8 giant begedil with minced beef and crispy deep-fried egg takes mee soto to the next level at satay stall

While XXL begedils aren’t new, we still did a double take when we spotted the fist-sized deep-fried mashed potato ball at hawker stall Syifa’ Satay in Makansutra Gluttons Bay. Not only is it enormous, it’s served in a bowl of mee soto capped with decadent frothy deep-fried omelette. Here, it’s christened Kentang Ball (kentang means potato in Malay). 
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Sheila (far left) and Farida (second from right)
While kentang balls (essentially massive begedils) aren’t exactly new – they’ve been spotted at a few other hawker stalls like Rosy & Nora, they’re relatively uncommon.
Deep-fried egg cloaking the large kentang ball
However, Sheila says Syifa’ Satay’s kentang balls are slightly different from those elsewhere. She explains: “We add on the extra egg ‘cap’ on top (deep-fried omelette consisting of two eggs per bowl), and our kentang ball is slightly bigger than those outside. Our [mee soto] broth is different too”.
Compared to a typical begedil, kentang balls are significantly larger, and come stuffed with minced beef. Sheila says a regular begedil at Syifa’ Satay ($1) is the size of a large egg, while her kentang balls ($8) are thrice the size, comparable to that of an orange or baseball.
When they first introduced kentang balls to their menu, Sheila says customers were taken aback by its size: “Their first reaction was, ‘Wow, so big ah!’, and others said it’s shiok”.
She adds that these mammoth potato balls are now as popular as the smaller begedils at her shop. “Most customers who eat mee soto would pair it up with a [regular] begedil, but kentang balls are actually considered a meal in itself [and thus served sans noodles in the soto],” she says.
Syifa’ Satay’s other signature dishes include Satay, of course (from $11 for 10 sticks). The stall will be open throughout the National Day weekend, and is offering a limited-edition Tau Pok Filled Begedil ($5.90), only available till 11 August. 
Syifa’ Satay is at #01-15C 8 Raffles Ave, S039802. Open Tue – Sun 3pm – 10pm. Closed on Mon. Tel: 9234 2340. More info via Facebook and Instagram.
Photos: Syifa’ Satay
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