Crispy Puff with faithful followers

The Aunty at the Basement of Golden Mile Tower

At the basement of Golden Mile Tower, there is an “aunty” who is said to have many loyal “pursuers.” Ten years ago, she started off selling curry puffs from a roadside stall, and eventually moved into Golden Mile Tower.

These people aren’t chasing the aunty herself, but her curry puffs.

The aunty says, “There are often many people lining up to wait for my curry puffs. Some even call ahead to place an order.”

The aunty’s real name is Luo Rui’e, and she is 55 years old, but everyone likes to call her “Aunty.” She honestly admits that she is just an ordinary person. However, from selecting the ingredients to the final preparation, everything is done by her own hands, and the taste is much better than curry puffs made by machines.

She explains: “The biggest difference between handmade and machine-made curry puffs is the crust. Curry puffs made by machines usually have thicker skin, so the filling doesn’t release its flavor easily. The ones I make have a thinner crust, and are crispier and more enjoyable to eat.”

Indeed, after tasting the aunty’s curry puff, it is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with distinct layers of flakiness—definitely a texture that machines simply can’t produce.

The filling of the aunty’s curry puffs is flavorful but not spicy. When asked about her ingredients, she says she mainly uses Indian curry powder, along with a bit of her own specially blended spices. She also reveals that the flavor of the curry puff actually comes from the potatoes. She first steams the potatoes until they become soft, then stir-fries them with curry spices, allowing the curry flavor to better seep into the potatoes.

Because the handmade process is complicated, the aunty can only make about 50 curry puffs per hour, and sells just over 200 a day. She says that many people suggest she sell only curry puffs, but her rice dishes also sell very well. Customers for both the rice and curry puffs are plentiful, and everything sells easily—yet this makes it hard for the aunty to take a break.