Page 83 - Our Hawker Stories

Have you ever wondered what Singapore’s hawker
culture really is? It is not about when or where the
hawker centre opened. There is more to it than you
think.

Let’s begin with some facts. Firstly, did you know that
many people appreciate the vast array of dishes at the
hawker centres? It is not surprising that when you buy
your food and stroll back to the spot where you had
reserved it, you could possibly see someone else sitting
there. So, we can reserve seats, and you can do so by
placing an item like tissue paper on your table.

Hawkers are our unsung heroes. If you do not have
much money in your wallet, you can also go to hawker
centres. The food there is nice and cheap. Hawkers also
pass down their food business to their descendants, but finally decided to settle for the iconic Fried Rice from
since they have to retire. King of Fried Rice. It was not cheap, but it looked and
tasted like it was from a restaurant. The culinary magic
For children, our grandparents were around when from the hawkers had been truly supercalifragilistic.
hawker centres first started. They went to a hawker
centre for the first time before I was born and just wanted Overall, hawker centres in Singapore have many amazing
to savour the food. There was also a wide array of ideal details that reflect Singapore’s culture. After all, the way
choices that they could order. They had also concurred to the heart is through the stomach!
that the food was cheaper then. Nowadays, the prices of
hawker centres have increased slightly.
“Hawker centres may look modern now,
To try the food, I decided to go to a hawker centre that is but every dish still tells an old story —
near my grandparents’ home. Even though it is modern
since it was opened recently, it reflects the hawker of flavours, family, and the heart of
culture in many ways. Our family comes here often. Singapore.”
After all, local delights await us after work and school for
many Singaporeans. You could see the hawkers cooking Chan Wei Siang Dylan
up their gastronomical delights — the lingering scent of P6.1
dishes spread throughout the area. I was spoilt for choice North Spring Primary School

Our Hawker Stories 79