Page 135 - Our Hawker Stories

Our Vibrant Hawker Culture

We often enjoy our meals at hawker centres, but do we
ever pause to think about the stories behind the stalls
and the people who keep these culinary traditions alive?

As a group of curious students, we set out to explore
the meaning of hawker culture and its importance in
Singapore. We discovered that hawker centres are not
just about tasty food — they are living symbols of our
community, our multicultural identity, and our shared
heritage.

At the hawker centre, we spoke with customers and stall
owners. A friendly auntie from Toa Payoh shared how
she regularly travels to Tampines to enjoy a variety of
dishes — from kway teow soup and fried chicken to
chicken feet noodles. “There’s so much to choose from
here,” she told us. “But I still love kway teow soup the
most. It’s smooth and easy to eat.”
Hawker culture is a precious part of Singapore’s heritage,
At the dessert stall, another auntie recommended but it needs our care. As young Singaporeans, we must
popular items like jelly cocktail and lychee cooler. She learn about it, talk about it, and treasure it — so that
reminded us that running a stall takes dedication and future generations can enjoy not only the food, but the
heart. “You need to be really experienced and devoted,” stories, values, and love behind it.
she said. “If you don’t love what you do, it’s meaningless.”
Our final stop was a seafood stall, where the owner told
us about their best-selling dishes — shrimp paste and “We learnt that hawker culture is built on
seafood soup, full of prawns, scallops, fish, and clams.
When asked why she chose to be a hawker, she smiled passion, resilience, and pride in sharing our
and said, “I didn’t study much, but I enjoy cooking. This heritage — one dish at a time.”
is my passion.”

Through these interviews, we gained more than just
knowledge — we felt a deep respect for the resilience Emilia Kiong Tian En, Rei Ho Zhuo Xuan,
of our hawkers, many of whom started from humble Soh Rong Xuan Shauna, Quek Ying Xuan Chelsea
beginnings. Despite challenges, they continue to share P5 Care
their love through every bowl, plate, and drink they Red Swastika School
serve.

Our Hawker Stories 131