Singapore is a culinary crossroad, uniting its many cultures through a shared passion for food. This unique hawker culture that celebrates diversity and heritage was added to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Culture Heritage of Humanity in 2020 — a move that clearly recognises the Lion City’s commitment to both cherish and promote this culture for generations to come.
The Bib Gourmand recognition is awarded by Michelin inspectors to venues that offer its diners very good value for money, with a complete and high-quality menu priced at a maximum of SG$45. Bib Gourmands are often described as “personal favourites” of Michelin inspectors, so it's really no surprise to find a huge proportion of Singapore’s well-loved hawker stalls among the Bib Gourmand selection.
This 2021, there are nine new hawker stalls that have made it to the Bib Gourmand selection. According to Michelin inspectors, here’s what you should order from them.
SOH KEE COOKED FOOD
Jurong West 505 Market & Food Centre
An establishment amongst those who frequent the Jurong West 505 Market & Food Centre, decades-old Soh Kee Cooked Food is known for its Cantonese fare. Instead of serving their meats with rice, Soh Kee serves porridge instead with chicken, fish, or cuttlefish. Sets for one to three people are also available.
FEI FEI ROASTED • NOODLE
Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre
Arrive early and expect snaking queues as this local haunt at Yuhua Village is popular for its roasted meat. The owner and his wife have run the stall for more than 40 years and is now assisted by their son. They use charcoal to cook the meats, lending them that smoky and charred flavour. Apart from the roasted meat and dumplings, come here for their duck leg with shrimp wonton noodles. You might end up disappointed if you drop by later in the day as the food runs out fast.
HAINAN ZI
Chong Pang Market and Food Centre
Enter the first floor of the Chong Pang Market and Food Centre, and you’ll be greeted by the wok hei aroma emanating from Hainan Zi. Come here for Singaporean fare such as oyster omelettes, fried prawn mee, and carrot cakes. Not to be missed is their popular fried kway teow, which is cooked-to-order with cockles and Chinese sausage.
JUN YUAN HOUSE OF FISH
51 Old Airport Road Food Centre
With a mission to preserve the taste of traditional fish soup, Jun Yuan House Of Fish is run by its second-generation owners. The sliced fish soup here is sweetened by the addition of seafood, pork, and a combination of Chinese herbs including angelica and polygonatum roots. Usually served with Spanish mackerel, swap it with red grouper if you are willing to pay more.
HENG HENG COOKED FOOD
Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre
Another Bib Gourmand recommended stall that you can check out at Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre is Heng Heng Cooked Food. The prawn noodles and laksa are both cooked-to-order. Worth a mention is the laksa, which is hearty and served with fish slices, deep-fried tofu, and cockles.
JIAN BO TIONG BAHRU SHUI KUEH
Jurong West 505 Market & Food Centre
With its flagship store at Tiong Bahru being a recommended restaurant in the MICHELIN Guide, Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh’s outlet in the West is not one to miss out on as well. Serving its signature shui kueh or chwee kueh since 1958, the savoury rice cakes are laden with a sauce of preserved vegetables, sesame, and dried shrimp. The chilli is spicy and delicious.
JOO SIAH BAK KOOT TEH
Kai Xiang Food Centre
With a history of over 30 years, Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh serves up a Teochew-style rendition of the famed pork rib soup. Compared to the herbal broth, Teochew-style bak kut teh is known for its peppery taste. The pork rib is soft and goes well with the chilli soy sauce.
KWANG KEE TEOCHEW FISH PORRIDGE
Newton Food Centre
Another Teochew dish making it to this year’s selection is Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge. It has been around since the 1960s and is currently being run by the second generation. Come here for their fish porridge and fried fish bee hoon. The porridge is sweet and abundant with fish fillets.
LAI HENG HOMEMADE TEOCHEW KUEH
Yuhua Market & Hawker Centre
A popular place for Teochew kueh in Singapore, Lai Heng Handmade Teochew Kueh in Yu Hua Market & Hawker Centre is known for its handmade Teochew kueh that comes in various flavours. Steamed or pan-fried versions are available.
RELATED: 3 New Bib Gourmand Restaurants in Singapore — What the Michelin Inspectors Said
