After an extensive two-and-a-half-month campaign, City Energy’s revered City Hawker Food Hunt has culminated, recognizing 12 remarkable hawkers in Singapore. As the longest-running hawker food contest in the country, this year’s competition stands out for not only honoring popular hawker dishes and stalls but also paying tribute to the vanishing hawker foods and young entrants in the last five years.
The esteemed awards ceremony, graced by Member of Parliament Mr. Shawn Huang from Jurong GRC, unfolded this morning at Taman Jurong Community Club. The event commemorated exceptional hawkers in diverse categories, honoring their remarkable contributions to Singapore’s vibrant culinary landscape.
In the favorite hawker food category, eight popular dishes vied for recognition, including beloved choices such as Chicken Rice, Mee Rebus, Biryani, Laksa, Char Kway Teow, Indian Rojak, Nasi Lemak, and Hokkien Mee. The awarded hawker stalls are as follows:
- Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Inspirasi
- Haji Haniffa M-Ansari Eating House
- 传统天香叻沙
- Outram Park Fried Kway Teow
- Fazil Muslim Food Stall
- Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak
- Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Noodles
Among these celebrated hawkers, the Chinese-style mutton soup at Hougang Jing Jia Mutton Soup, owned by Mr. Teo Boon Chuen, has been identified as a cuisine at risk of disappearing. Known for its hearty mutton soups with herbal flavors, this dish, situated at Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre, faces a decline in popularity among Singaporeans, rendering it a rarity in the culinary landscape.
Additionally, the contest paid tribute to three innovative young hawkers: Mr. Jonathan Tan from Kin Men Seng Heng, Mr. Alvin Ng from New World Congee, and Mr. Andy Tan from Lao Chen Ji, acknowledging their enterprising spirit.
Kin Men Seng Heng, the first halal-certified braised Hokkien duck stall in Singapore, located at Amoy Food Centre.
New World Congee at Marine Parade Food Centre, offering delightful Cantonese-style porridge with various toppings.
Lao Chen Ji at Holland Drive Market and Food Centre, specializing in tantalizing meatball and fishball soup and an assortment of noodle dishes.
In its 13th edition, co-organized with Shin Min Daily News and backed by the National Environment Agency, the City Hawker Food Hunt aimed to emphasize Singapore’s beloved hawker culture. Celebrating these culinary treasures was especially significant following a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The winners in each category were granted cash prizes, medals, certificates, and additional support such as gas rebates, highlighting City Energy’s commitment to support the hawkers and Singapore’s culinary legacy. The initiative aims to preserve and promote the nation’s rich culinary heritage while recognizing and rewarding the invaluable efforts of its culinary artisans.
