10 Young Hawkers In Singapore Whom You Should Support
While we lament about the dying hawker trade in Singapore and the gradual demise of even ice cream push carts since ice ball sellers disappeared decades ago, passionate Singaporean youths have been entering the scene.
Albeit a small community, they are new blood that we respect for taking up the hard work and long hours that comes with the job along with the noise, the odour of oils, and uncomfortable heat.
From soulful bowls of seafood soup to local favourites such as nasi lemak and bak chor mee, young hawkerpreneurs have been keeping hawker food in Singapore relevant. Here are 10 individuals and groups out of the growing hawker community in Singapore we hope to see thrive and flourish.
Photo Credit: 58mincedmeatnoodle
Known to be one of the best bak chor mee stalls in Singapore, 58 Minced Meat Noodles is helmed by second-generation hawker Mr Ang. The stall has been running since 1973 with him learning the ropes since he was a teen till he finally took over operations over a decade back.
3 Yung Sheng Rd, #03-150
Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre
Singapore 618499
Thu to Mon: 6am – 2pm
(Closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays)
Nearest Station: Lakeside
A NOODLE STORY
A Noodle Story is quite possibly one of the best-known hawker ramen stalls in Singapore. Founded by two chefs—Gwern Khoo and Ben Tham, who both earned their culinary chops working at fine dining institutions of the likes of Waku Ghin, Iggy’s, Jaan par Andre, and St Pierre, their noodles have earned them a spot in the Bib Gourmand list of Singapore’s Michelin Guide since 2016.
7 Maxwell Road
Amoy Street Food Centre #01-39
Singapore 069111
Tel: +65 9027 6289
Mon to Fri: 11:15am – 2pm, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Sat: 10:30am – 1:30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar/ Telok Ayer
Burgs by Project Warung is a stall that is well-known by those familiar with Golden Mile Food Centre for their quality gourmet burgers that are affordably priced. Started by three young chefs, Burgs has been changing the halal culinary scene ever since they opened for business three years back. As an extension of their enthusiasm, they recruit young and optimistic individuals to their team.
505 Beach Rd, B1-24
Golden Mile Food Centre
Singapore 199583
Tel: +65 9114 6072
Daily: 11:30am – 8:30pm
Nearest Station: Nicoll Highway
Photo Credit: Coffee Break at Amoy Street
COFFEE BREAK
Instead of being cafe baristas, siblings Jack, Anna, and Faye run third-generation business Coffee Break which began in the 1930s by their grandfather who later passed the shop down to their father, James Sai. They dole out your traditional hawker cuppas with a twist so expect your kopis, tehs, and toasts to be modernised and trendy.
7 Maxwell Road, #02-78
Amoy Street Food Centre
Singapore 069111
Tel: +65 8100 6218
Mon to Fri: 7:30am – 2:30pm
(Closed on weekends)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar
Photo Credit: peachbunyaphat
FISHBALL STORY
Douglas Ng’s passion was inspired by his grandmother’s handmade fishballs and thus Fishball Story was born with her simple recipe was simple to share what he believes real fishballs should taste like. With that, Fishball Story means more than just a story because it is about touching the lives of others by letting them reminisce childhood through reminding them of their grandmothers in their kitchens.
73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
Singapore 139957
Tel: +65 9800 5036
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
(Closed on weekends)
Nearest Station: One North
Photo Credit: nilalalalalala
HABIB’S ROJAK
Habib Mohamed sells Indian rojak at Habib’s Rojak and, although the stall is named after him, he is a second-generation hawker who inherited the stall because it was always intended to be his career path. His dedication is commendable from how he began peeling potatoes as a child to being a full-fledged seller with this being his only job thus far.
503A W Coast Dr
Singapore 121503
Tel: +65 6873 7010
Daily: 11:30am – 9:30pm
Nearest Station: Clementi
Photo Credit: hippokathy88
RONG CHENG BAK KUT TEH
Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh is a famous name for pork ribs soup for founding the clear peppery broth as well as for its dragon ribs—also known as loin rib—since it started in 1976. It is now run by second-generation hawker Lionel Lim who left the corporate sector after a decade. As a mark of respect to tradition, they still serve customers with traditional Chinese tea—also known as Gongfu Cha.
Blk 26 Sin Ming Lane, #01-114
Midview City
Singapore 573971
Tel: +65 6684 1889
Daily: 7am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Marymount
Melvin used to work part-time in coffee shops back in his secondary school days, and through that, he slowly took interest in traditional delights. From there, he took a leap of faith right after his National Service to start Toast Hut. You’d be surprised to hear that he wakes up at 3.30am in the morning daily to assiduously prepare for the opening of his stall so patrons can get their coffee-fix as early as 6.30am in the morning!
51 Old Airport Road #01-52
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Singapore 390051
Mon to Sat: 6:30am – 1:30pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Dakota
Photo Credit: Wei Ji Braised Duck
WEI JI BRAISED DUCK
Wei Ji Braised Duck was founded by the Ng family in memory of the late Mr Ng Ming Wei to further his legacy. Kennie, who is her early twenties, is the oldest of her siblings and has sacrificed time off her youth to upkeep and expand the business to continue Mr Ng’s traditional braised duck recipes with the rest of her family.
280 Woodlands Industrial Park E5, #01-47,
Singapore 757322
Tel: +65 8749 3515
Mon-Sat: 8am to 3pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Admiralty
XIAO DI FRIED PRAWN NOODLE
Terrence is the young man behind Xiao Di Fried Prawn Noodle where you can catch a whiff of smokey fragrance as you walk up to his stall. He started the shop 6 years ago and he is coming close to only 30 years of age. Expect a version wet from the thick thick prawn stock used to fry his noodles.
153 Serangoon North Ave 1, #01-512
Singapore 550153
Tel: +65 9062 1201
Tue to Sun: 11am – 3pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Ang Moh Kio
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