Page 110 - Our Hawker Stories

Hawker centres are essential for Singaporeans as they
are places to buy food. The first hawker centre in
Singapore was built in 1971, but the people who make
the food inside the stalls came to Singapore as early as
1819!

My cousins Kayler, Kayvan, and I went to Anchorvale
Village Hawker Centre after our swimming class in the
nearby swimming complex for lunch. Once we reached
the hawker centre, we were caught in a dilemma as
we were spoiled for choice. We eagerly took a stroll
around the hawker centre. There were foods from many
cultures, such as hokkien mee, roti prata, and laksa
noodles, but my cousins and I set our eyes on a nearby
chicken rice stall. There was a beeline at the stall,” That
must be good”, I thought to myself. My cousins and I
quickly queued there. When it was our turn to order. I
asked the uncle for a plate of chicken rice.

Finally, we got our plate of chicken rice and a small plate Finally, I finished my plate of chicken rice and chicken,
of roasted chicken. We raced towards our seats where and, on my way home, I discussed with my cousins how
my grandma, uncle and aunt were waiting for us. We delicious the chicken rice was.
quickly sat down and started eating. When I put the first
spoonful of rice into my mouth, a burst of full flavour
exploded in my mouth and my eyes lit up with joy, “This
chicken rice is the best chicken rice ever!” I told my
cousins as I profusely shoved a spoonful of rice into my “With one bite of that chicken rice, I
mouth. A few seconds later, Kayvan asked me to pour understood why hawker food is more than a
the sauce from the small plate of chicken into the rice. meal — it’s a legacy passed down through
I complied, and I was shocked that the flavour of the generations.”
chicken rice that followed thereafter was spectacular. I
quickly ran towards the hawker in the chicken rice stall,
my mouth still stuffed with rice and asked how he made Chua Assadaruj Jayden
this wonderful chicken rice. He just said that he used P6.3
the original recipe. I was shocked! A bunch of questions North Spring Primary School
filled my mind. Still, after looking at the long queue, I did
not ask any of them and returned to my seat.

106 Our Hawker Stories