Feature: Singapore, a Hawker Heaven

Feature: Singapore, a Hawker Paradise★

Exploring the Charm of "Soul Food"──A 3-Day Culinary Journey

Singapore, a nation where Chinese, Malay, Indian, and other cultures coexist. Though small enough to fit within Tokyo's 23 wards, its embrace is vast. While cherishing their roots, its people welcome other cultures within reason. This unpretentious connection between ethnic groups weaves the fabric of the nation. Food, particularly the "soul food" (local cuisine) found in hawker stalls, serves as a microcosm of this. To explore its allure, we embarked on a 3-day, eat-till-you-drop journey through the hawker scene. We hope you'll join us until the end.

Photographs by JAMANDFIXText by JUNKO TANAKA (OPENERS)Special Thanks to Singapore Tourism Board

Hawker Delights from 10 Countries Gathered
Sneak Peek: World Street Food Congress!

Our first day's adventure took us to the F1 Pit Building and Paddock in the Marina Bay area. This venue, usually alive with the fierce battles of race car drivers, transformed for ten days from May 31st to June 9th into the "World Street Food Congress," a celebration of hawker cuisine. After indulging in carefully selected hawker dishes from 10 countries, we participated in the "World Street Food Dialogue" to learn and discuss hawker culture. It was a day completely immersed in this vibrant tradition.

The True Pleasure of Singaporean Hawker Stalls
Hawkers Always Near the Landmarks!?

Strictly speaking, a hawker is a mobile vendor operating from a stall with a roof. In fact, traditional street hawkers are now prohibited by law, and very few exist in Singapore today. Instead, hawker fare is served at hawker centres (hawker villages), which began appearing in the late 1960s. With over 120 hawker centres scattered across the nation, you're bound to stumble upon one, much like "the dog that wanders gets a beating"! On our second day, we embarked on an adventure that felt like an experiment.

Local Chefs' Picks
Must-Try Stalls for First-Timers!

While independent travel and package tours have their merits, there's no experience quite like being guided by locals to their favorite spots for a deeper taste of a destination. This holds true for food as well. Especially with an endless array of choices at hawker stalls, you might be disappointed by a random selection, so caution is advised. Therefore, on our final day, we asked two local chefs to secretly share their favorite dishes. Each was an astonishing gem. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned traveler, these stalls are guaranteed to impress.