Along with 29 dining venues to feature in the new Singapore guide, 2 local hawker stalls, were awarded 1 Michelin Star.
These two local hawker stalls are:
- Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle at Level 2 Chinatown Food Complex
- Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles at Crawford Lane
The Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, at only SGD$2 for a plate, is probably the cheapest Michelin Star Meal you can get in the world.
Mr Chan Hong Meng, the owner of Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle said, “When I received the invitation I was uncertain… why would Michelin come to my stall?… I’ve never heard of Michelin inspectors visiting a street stall …. can even a hawker be nominated?”
“About thirty years ago, when I first became a chef, there were chefs who told me the highest honor you could attain is to be in the Michelin Guide”
“I really think it’s an honour that I can represent every hawker in Singapore internationally”
Mr Chan said that now he opens an hour earlier, at 9am on Friday because crowds at his stall more than tripled after the announcement was made.
Even before winning the award, a queue of between 30 to 45 minutes is normal for this stall, now the wait can be expected to range between an hour to two at least.
Mr Chan Hon Meng helms the stall, and smiles most of the time despite being tremendously busy. He has only two other helpers.
He said that if he prepares more than 150 chickens per day, the food would drop in quality.
So to maintain the quality of the food he serves, he choose to stick to his principles and preparation methods, and hopes that his customers can understand that waiting time might be longer than before.
Soya Sauce Chicken Rice, Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle, Roasted Pork Rice, Char Siew Rice, and Char Siew Noodles are offered at the stall and priced at only $2 – $3 and a whole chicken goes for $14.
Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles owner, Mr Tang Chay Seng said he didn’t know why he was picked.
“I’ve heard of Michelin before but didn’t think it would have anything to do with my hawker business,” he said.
“I am happy to be put with all the expensive and French restaurants … But we are not the same at all, ….can’t compare.”
People used to queue here for 30 to 60 minutes for a bowl of the minced pork noodles and it is likely for the queue to be much longer now.
Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles is now located at Crawford Lane, but its name reveals its past. It was originally located at Hill Street in 1932, in 1986 moved to Marine Square, then in 2005 settled at current location.
