Evolution of Singapore Hawkers • From Plying the Streets to Hawkerpreneurs

The hawker profession in Singapore went through three distinct stages, from plying the streets to running a hawker centre stall to being an entrepreneur, dubbed hawkerpreneur.

Ah Tee Ko Ko Mee @ Kelantan Lane • Old School Nostalgic Sauce Noodle 亞弟叩叩面

Ko Ko Mee actually isn't a type of noodle dish. It refers to the knocking sound hawkers make when they strike a broad flat strip of bamboo with a bamboo stick. When I was a child in 1960s Singapore, the ko ko sound made by noodle sellers can be heard all day. 

Stall name: Ah Tee Ko Ko Mee 亞弟叩叩面

Address: Blk 27 Jalan Berseh, Gourmet Street coffee shop, Singapore 200027

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Jalan Besar station

Hours: 5:30am - 1:30pm (Sun off)

632 Yishun Chef Kin HK Wanton Mee • Is it Worth the 2 Hour Queue?

Recently, a wanton mee stall at block 632 in Yishun took the social media world by storm with two hour queues for their authentic Hong Kong style duck egg noodles. Its main selling point is owner chef Kin was formerly with the Crystal Jade chain of restaurants. As a wanton mee lover, I was curious and eager to give it a try.

Stall name: Chef Kin HK Wanton Mee

Address: Blk 632, Yishun Street 61, Singapore 760632

Nearest MRT: 15 minutes walk from Khatib station

Hours: 7:00am - 8:00pm

What is Unique about Singapore Hawker Centre Culture?

In 2018, when Singapore submitted its hawker culture for inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, murmurs were heard questioning "What is so Unique about Singapore Hawker Culture"? Afterall, all of Singapore's Southeast Asian neighbours have vibrant street hawker cultures. Every countryman or woman can rightfully argue that their own country's hawkers are the best, so why is Singapore jumping the gun on UNESCO recognition? Malaysia even proposed a joint submission.

I shall try to answer that question from my own perspective as a Singaporean who also loves the street food of neighbouring countries.

Can Singapore Hawker Culture Survive?

The future of Singapore's UNESCO recognised hawker culture is sometimes doubted and often debated. There are factors for and against its survival - it is good that the issue is often spotlighted, suggestions voiced, solutions implemented and the public engaged.

As Singaporeans are passionate about their hawker food, everyone has opinions on both sides of the fence. The picture is not all doom and gloom. In fact, I am pretty optimistic.

The Fortune Cookie Restaurant 🥠 Muslim Owned HALAL Chinese - Western Fusion @ Kampong Glam

Today's lunch at The Fortune Cookie at the historic Kampong Glam 🥠 TFC serves interesting Halal Chinese & Western fusion dishes. 

Restaurant name: The Fortune Cookie

Address: 11 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199432 (in Kampong Glam)

Nearest MRT: Bugis station

Tel: +65 9009 7345

Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm daily

Pang's Hakka Noodles @ Sprout Hub. The Best Hakka Mee in Singapore? 小彭客家面

As chef Benny slurped up his noodles noisily across the table, I can smell the aroma of the blend of lard, shallot oil and juices from sautéed pork which transported me straight to Seremban, home of my favourite Hakka noodles. Thanks to chef Pang, now we can have it right here in Singapore. Better still, chef Pang's version comes with delicious accompanying yong tau foo and soups.

Stall name: Pang's Hakka Noodles 小彭客家面

Address: 102 Henderson Rd, Singapore 159562 (inside Sprout Hub)

Hours: 10:30am - 7:00pm

Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles @ Golden Mile Food Centre 瓊发海南牛肉粉

Went to Golden Mile Food Centre for lunch after my medical appointment. Famous, old school Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles (established 1978) just opened for the day, so I settled for it.

Stall name: Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles 瓊发海南牛肉粉

Address: Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road, stall #01-89, Singapore 199583

Hours: 11:30am - 7:30pm (Weds off)

HQ Italia Pizza Addiction · Unofficial Embassy of Italy & One of Our Makan Hideouts

You know, all of us have one or a few makan hangouts hideouts which is known among our kakis and not much other people. I share one of these with you - HQ Italia at the roof top of Oxley Bizhub 2 in Kampong Ubi.

Restaurant name: HQ Italia Pizza Addiction

Address: Oxley Bizhub 2, 62 Ubi Rd 1, #11-19, Singapore 408734

Tel: 9383 2649

Nearest MRT: Tai Seng station

Hours: 11:30am - 9:30pm (Sun off)

Guan Hoe Soon Peranakan Restaurant @ Joo Chiat Place. Singapore's Oldest Nyonya Restaurant

Established in 1953, Guan Hoe Soon is one of the oldest and most famous Peranakan restaurants in Singapore, so was I extremely excited about going there for lunch.

Restaurant name: Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant

Address: 200 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore 427764

Tel: +65 6344 2761

Hours: 11:00am - 3:00pm | 5:30pm - 9:00pm

Lao Huang Hakka Niang Tou Fu. Yong Tau Foo Stuffed with Porky Goodness @ North Bridge Road Food Centre

Stumbled upon Lao Huang Hakka Niang Tou Fu stall at North Bridge Road hawker centre and was excited to see that they use pork fillings for their yong tau foo. They also have Hakka style noodles, so yeah, this will be my brekky this morning 😄

Stall name: Lao Huang Hakka Niang Tou Fu 老黄客家酿豆腐

Address: North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre, 861 North Bridge Rd, #01-108, Singapore 198783

Tel: 9652 0395 (Jimmy)

Hours: 7:30am - 1:00pm (Thurs, Fri, Mon off)

Rong Ji Chicken Rice • Porridge 🐔 Longstanding Easties' Favourite @ Dunman Food Centre

As a chicken and porridge lover, I was very excited when I stumbled upon Rong Ji Chicken Rice & Porridge while stalking Dunman Food Centre. So, I quickly joined the line of five people (at 10am on a Monday).

Stall name: Rong Ji Chicken Rice • Porridge 榮記鶏飯 • 粥

Address: Stall #02-13, Dunman Food Centre, 271 Onan Road, Singapore 424768

Hours: 6:00am - 3:00pm (Weds off)

Geylang Serai Chee Kong. Much Loved Cheng Tng in the Malay Heartland of Singapore

You know, the first time I tasted Geylang Serai Chee Kong's cheng tng, it was free of charge 😄 I was sharing a table with a Malay uncle and naturally, we had an unker to unker talk about what to eat. He went to buy cheng tng, and belanja (Malay for treat) me one 😄 The kampong spirit is alive and well in Geylang Serai 💪 

Pakcik was one of Geylang Serai Chee Kong's many life long fans. Now, they added this Chinese unker.

Stall name: Geylang Serai Chee Kong Cheng Tng 清汤

Address: 1 Geylang Serai, #02-149 Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre, Singapore 402001

Hours: 10:00am - 4:00pm (Mon off)

Kansas City Style Smoked BBQ Feast by Chef Jimmy of Smoke House by Esseplore

I have always wanted to try the much acclaimed cooking of smoked BBQ meats maestro, chef Jimmy Cheang. Now that chef Jimmy joined Esseplore, we can order his smoked meats online and have it delivered to enjoy in the comfort of our own homes. We just had a selection of Kansas City style smoked BBQ feast and loved it.

History of Pasar Geylang Serai Market. Enduring Heart of Malay Life & Culture in Singapore

Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre is a hawker centre with one of the longest history in Singapore. Its roots go back to the 1920s, starting life as a street market and then a makeshift hawker shelter in Geylang Serai.

Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre

Address: 1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001

Memories of Taman Serasi Food Centre. Roti John Central of Singapore

Taman Serasi Food Centre was opened in 1975 and demolished in 2001. It was relatively small with just 18 food stalls but it was well loved and fondly remembered by many people.

Canchita Peruvian Cuisine @ Dempsey Hill. Menu & Food Review

Today's lunch at Canchita Peruvian Cuisine at Dempsey Hill.

Restaurant name: CANCHITA Peruvian Cuisine

Address: Dempsey Road, 9A 9B, Singapore 247698

Tel: +65 6232 7895

Hours: 12:00 noon - 2:30pm | 6:00pm - 10:30pm (Mon off |  Sat & Sun 11:30am - 10:30pm)

Sofi Cafe @ The Scarlet Hotel. I was Surprised by how Delicious Keto Dishes can be

This was my first keto meal and I was mighty impressed. I mean, I found it much tastier than expected.

Restaurant name: Sofi Cafe + Pizza

Address: 33 Erskine Rd, The Scarlet Hotel, Ground Floor & Rooftop, Singapore 069333

Tel: +65 6222 0879

Hours: 8:30am - 10:30pm

KL Pork Noodle by Old Village @ Peking Room Kopitiam in Tanglin Halt 老村庄

Singapore foodie social media was recently abuzz with a new stall named Old Village serving Kuala Lumpur style pork noodle at Peking Room coffee shop in Tanglin Halt. As I love KL pork noodle but had no chance to taste it in Malaysia for the past two years, I was excited to try it as soon as possible.

Stall name: Old Village 老村庄

Address: 49 Tanglin Halt Road, #01-265, Singapore 142049 (inside Peking Room coffee shop)

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Commonwealth station

Tel: +65 9388 5288

Hours: 8:30am - 3:00pm (Tues off)

Fine British Cuisine @ JAAN by Kirk Westaway in Hotel Swissôtel The Stamford

Today, we had lunch at JAAN by Kirk Westaway in Hotel Swissôtel The Stamford. We enjoyed the exquisite dishes, warm service, comfortable environment, stunning views of Singapore and great company.

Restaurant name: JAAN by Kirk Westaway

Address: 2 Stamford Road, Singapore 178882 (located at level 70 in Hotel Swissôtel The Stamford)

Nearest MRT: At City Hall station

Tel: +65 6431 6156

Hours: 11:45am - 14:30pm | 18:30pm - 22:30pm