Page 74 - Our Hawker Stories

My name is Mr Lee, and I own a hawker stall named Lee’s
Chicken Rice. I am no ordinary person. I am Singapore’s
hero and a hawker. In Singapore, hawker food is not just
food – it is our identity, packed with flavour on a plate.
Come with me as I bring you around a day in my life as
a hawker.

Waking up at 5 am is normal for hawkers. To begin the
day, we have to set up our stalls. We start preparing
and cooking our simple meals, but they are steeped in
memories. Visitors from all corners of the globe would
come here to give it a try. Chicken rice is truly the heart
and soul of Singapore, if you ask me.

The breakfast crowd is quickly streaming in. I spotted
one of my regular customers. He always places the same walks of life come together to congregate and discuss
order, so I immediately serve him a piping hot plate local cuisine. How lucky are we to enjoy delectable and
of fresh chicken rice, just as he likes it. We exchanged affordable food showcasing the rich blend of chinese,
smiles. The best part of being a hawker? The moment malay, indian, and other cuisines?
right after I hand over their plate. Their eyes light up,
like they have just unwrapped a present. Sometimes it My final customer ordered four packets of chicken rice
is a quiet smile, other times it is a wide-eyed expression, for takeaway. I packed it neatly, cleaned up the counter,
a “wah!” and a nod of approval before they even and ensured everything was in place before I left. And
take their first bite. And when they do, when the first that’s another day of rescuing hungry Singaporeans
mouthful hits, it is magic. Because in that one look, I see from starvation — and more specifically, chicken rice
everything I need to keep going: satisfaction, surprise, cravings!
and a sliver of gratitude. That expression is my reward.

The queue is getting shorter, giving me more breakfast “Every smile after a plate of chicken rice
time. Before I knew it, it was lunchtime rush hour. A reminds me — hawkers aren’t just cooks,
sea of Singaporeans rushes to the hawker centre after we’re everyday heroes serving Singapore’s
school or work and makes a beeline for their lunch. soul on a plate.”

Despite all the hard and heart work, I come home a
happy and complete man. It is hard to imagine Singapore Aarush Sharma
without its hawker centres. These vibrant spaces are P5.1
more than just places to eat – they are a vital part of North Spring Primary School
our daily life as Singaporeans and reflect the heart
of our nation’s multicultural identity. People from all

70 Our Hawker Stories