"Hacker culture holds a special place in the hearts of Singaporeans"
The most authentic cuisine Singapore tasted in their hawkers , base of the culture and gastronomy of the country that will now be preserved between the world intangible heritage . We explore the best hawkers in town in search of their must-have treats , those impregnated by multiculturalism and by the history of the island.
Together with tango in Argentina and yoga in India , the singapore hawkers they have been incorporated into the more than 450 cultural manifestations recognized by UNESCO. The recent unanimous decision comes at a very opportune moment, after the closures suffered by the pandemic that have endangered businesses, and in the form of hope to keep alive a gastronomic heritage that reflects the day-to-day life of a country and its great diversity. cultural.
In the appointment, which took place last December, Edwin Tong, President of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO , highlighted that “ hawker culture holds a special place in the hearts of singapore people ”. That's right, the city has 114 centers that consolidate Singapore as a gastronomic destination.
Hawkers, the new Intangible Heritage of Humanity comes from Singapore
BUT WHAT IS A HAWKER?
Hawker comes to be translated as ' peddling ’, and its origin is closely related to the etymology of the name. The hawkers emerged as large leisure spaces open to the street where you can offer food Y thus put an end to street food to control food hygiene . They are characterized by being very simple centers in which more than 20 food and drink stalls and areas with tables and chairs are distributed. Despite his humility, They offer a wide variety of local proposals: chicken rice, Hokkien Mee, satay, laksa, chili crab, ...
Singaporeans love to eat and often eat away from home, making it one of the favorite activities to socialize and share a special moment with colleagues, family or friends; which is why the city is dotted with food complexes that are packed at any hour. The prices of the products they offer are very cheap. , for less than four Singapore dollars (2.50 euros) it is possible to eat a delicious dish of rice with chicken and, for a little more, accompany it with a delicious freshly squeezed fruit juice. And, in case you were wondering, no, the quality is not at odds with the price . In fact, in Singapore, retail outlets are regulated by the country's Food Agency to ensure they meet hygiene and quality standards . For this they are grouped into categories ranging from A to D according to their score, with A being the best, with a score of 85% or more.
Chinatown in Singapore
The great challenges that these traditional businesses are undergoing in recent years cast doubt on their persistence over time. Fewer and fewer young people are entering the hawker industry , due to factors such as sacrificed hours that entail (many start work at five in the morning and don't leave until eight in the evening seven days a week) or at increase in raw material costs , a fact that has not prevented the prices of the dishes from being kept low so that the entire population has access to them. However, even in difficult times stand out young sellers who abandon haute cuisine and join the world of hawkers to provide new and daring versions of classic dishes and even get Michelin awards.
THE VARIED CULINARY OFFER IN SINGAPORE
Singaporean cuisine is based on its multiculturalism, which is why it is one of the most varied in Asia. Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Indian and even Western flavors star in the country's cuisine, in which ingredients from Sri Lanka and the Middle East . Many of its dishes are influenced by the countries that surround it or are inherited from the occupations by the Japanese and British that it has suffered. The fact of having become the most important port in Southeast Asia has also had a considerable influence on the island's rich cookbook.
Hainan Chicken Rice, Chili Crab, Roti Prata and Katong Laksa They are four star dishes included in the year 2011 in the list of "the 50 most delicious dishes" made by CNN International. Simple but full of flavor dishes that can be tasted among the various stalls of the hawkers. Another of the most popular street vendors is the char kway teow , wok-fried noodles that are usually served on a banana leaf to enhance their flavor.
hawkers in singapore
SINGAPORE'S MOST ICONIC HAWKERS
In the year 2019, 33 hawker stalls made the Michelin guide's Bib Gourmand list , recognition that enhances the quality of the food at an affordable price. Others are even Michelin-starred, making Singapore one of the cheapest Michelin-starred countries in the world.
The first to obtain this world distinction was Liao Fan Hawker Chan at the Chinatown Complex Food Center . He got it only five years ago, but since then, the long queues in front of the stall have followed one another.
The hawkers are part of the essential visits in Singapore to try the cuisines of the world and feel the essence of the country while one feels part of that life full of authenticity. There are some who are authentic architectural symbols Others would not think of going in if we judged them by their appearance, but, on the other hand, all of them have wonderful gastronomy inside and bathe the streets that surround them with joy.
Some of the delicacies you'll find at hawkers in Singapore
LAU PA SAT (18 Raffles Quay)
'old market' is the meaning of this beautiful hawker sheltered by the modern skyscrapers of the business district of Singapore, in the heart of Raffles Quay. The uniqueness of the building, designed on an octagonal floor plan and decorated with wrought iron and glass, makes it one of the favorites of tourists, although perhaps the most striking thing about this Victorian-style food center is the clock tower that crowns its tiled roof Among the culinary proposals, the fried carrot cake, one of the most emblematic dishes of Singaporean cuisine.
Lau Pa Sat
OLD AIRPORT ROAD FOOD CENTER (51 Old Airport Road)
Built on the runway of the old Kallang airport, in the east of the island, Old Airport Road Food Center It is one of the oldest centers in Singapore and the one that has some of the most local flavors in preparations such as Hokkien mee or tofu with soy . It is mainly frequented by locals, although in recent years it has become quite popular among foreign visitors.
MAXWELL FOOD CENTER (1 Kadayanallur Street)
Opposite the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, the Maxwell complex is one of the busiest at lunchtime, with tourists and locals alike. In its four long corridors, Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean cuisines are present in specialties such as Lao Ban Beancurd, Hoe Kee Congee, Fried Sweet Potato Dumplings, Lim Kee Banana Fritters . But it's the stall's Hainan-style chicken rice. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice the one that originates the biggest queues, mainly since it was recommended in the Michelin Bib Gourmand.
hawkers in singapore
AMOY STREET FOOD CENTER (7 Maxwell Road)
Another must-see in the vibrant Chinatown neighborhood is the Amoy Street Food Center, where women and businessmen who work in the area often go to eat. Among the establishments, spread over two floors, several stand out that have been selected as Bib Gourmand by Michelin: Hong Kee Beef Noodle, Hoo Kee Rice Dumpling, J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff, and A Noodle Story. This last one is one of the most valued positions for being directed by two young culinary promises, Ben Tham and Gwern Khoo , who left their careers in haute cuisine to sell bowls to $5.90 . They do not regret it because their success has not stopped growing thanks to their version of Japanese ramen with prawns, dumplings and meat, the Singapore Ramen, which highlights the Asian gastronomic tradition.
CHINATOWN COMPLEX FOOD CENTER (322 Smith Street)
Continuing with the extensive list of hawkers that fill the streets of Chinatown, we cannot ignore the Chinatown Complex Food Center. The old building that occupies it may be unattractive due to its shabby appearance and tangled halls and rooms, but in hawkers you learn not to judge until you savor the delicacies on offer and this one has more options than any other. A total of 260 among which the Michelin star stands out Liao Fan and his chicken with soy sauce , a recipe your vendor learned from a Hong Kong chef and perfected over the years. Xiao long bao and fish cake are also famous.
EAST COAST LAGOON FOOD VILLAGE (1220 East Coast Parkway)
The sea is the setting for this hawker in which several small roofs and umbrellas protect the tables from the sun and monsoon rains . It is also the sea that inspires most of its snacks, mainly made up of seafood and satay (seasoned meat skewer). It is located in the huge East Coast Village park , the perfect excuse to combine it with a relaxed walk on the beach, an option that many locals choose during the weekends.