Page 9 - Our Hawker Stories

Hawker Centres: The Heartbeat of Singapore

Step into a hawker centre and you will hear sizzling
woks, clinking plates, and cheerful chatter. Once
roaming the streets with pushcarts, hawkers now
serve iconic dishes like chicken rice, laksa, and satay
under one roof. These vibrant food hubs are more
than just places to eat—they’re where generations
gather, stories are shared, and cultures blend on
every plate. Elderly folks sip kopi, friends laugh
over roti prata, and strangers become neighbours.
Hawker centres are living museums of Singapore’s
rich food heritage. They also provide employment
opportunities for many, keeping culinary traditions
alive. Affordable, authentic, and full of life—they are
treasures we must cherish, celebrate, and pass on.

I got a few minutes to interview this gentleman, who “Hawker centres are not just food places —
has been running a hawker stall for 47 years across they are where strangers become neighbours,
and every dish tells a story.”
generations. While sharing his experience, he also
mentioned that it takes a great deal of hard work
every day to prepare the dishes. Aashvi Renkanathan
P4 Respect
Chongzheng Primary School

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