I found this place quite by accident, actually.
See, what happened was that I'd accompanied an elderly person to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for a regular checkup, and having completed everything, decided that we'd have lunch at the mall next door. So off we went, wheelchair and all, to Novena Square, winding our way through the narrow corridors.
Somehow we found ourselves on the second floor of Square II (I think so), and right there near the lift was this Mr. Youtiao porridge place, which, being with an elderly person, was the perfect place for lunch.
They've got a very simple menu. Nothing too fanciful. There's porridge of a few varieties. There's chicken curry with rice. There's soya bean milk and soya bean dessert. Then there's bak kut teh.
The central offering, however, is the youtiao, or dough fritters as we call them, and they do them really well here. They offer the dough fritters in three flavors- sesame, almond and original. I like the almond one. There's additional crisp to the already-crispy fritter and there really is this bit of extra taste in the fritter... like a bit sweeter, or something. :) It goes well with the thick porridge, the rich curry and the warm, comforting flavors of soya bean.
The elderly person quite fancied the porridge and the soya bean and the softened fritters, I'd say. :) What I liked was that they had this little area where there were small bowls and you could top up just a bit of curry if you wanted. A great idea, honestly, considering that many elderly actually lurrrve their curry but for dietary reasons, are usually permitted no more than a spoonful of two. But a ladle or two of chicken curry to go with their order of porridge and youtiao will not do much harm.. :D
It is a very heartwarming meal, I assure you, and is great for rainy days, as well as days where you don't want to eat alot, but want something fulfilling, cosy and warm in the tummy. Oh, and just in case you're thinking that this is a place only for the elderly at TTSH zone, well, they've got another outlet at Paya Lebar Square too. I don't think there are that many elderly in that area. :)