Last week, two street stalls in Singapore made dining history as the first street vendors to be featured in prestigious Michelin restaurant guide.
The two hawker-style eateries, Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle and Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle were both awarded one star, reports Reuters. This rating denotes dishes with “high-quality cooking, worth a stop”, according to Michelin’s classification system.
Chan Hon Meng, the owner of Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, was both surprised and elated to be included in the reputable guide.
"I’ve heard of the Michelin guide but I never thought they’d come to the hawker centers and give us such an honor," the 51-year-old chef told Channel News Asia.
Less than 12 hours after the stall was awarded the coveted star, Chan’s modest spot in Singapore’s Chinatown Complex was already filled with eager diners hoping to sample the taste of his Michelin-starred chicken rice.
Chan told the news source that he had no immediate plan to increase the price of the signature dish, which is usually served to the lunch crowd for SGD$2.5 (VND41,000). On a typical day, the vendor sells around 150 portions of chicken rice.
Singapore is the first Southeast Asian nation to be rated by the French guide, joining Hong Kong, Japan and China as one of the few Asian countries with Michelin-starred establishments.
A total of 29 dining spots were featured in the Singapore edition of the guide, including one three-star location, French restaurant Joël Robuchon, while six other restaurants were awarded two stars, according to the Telegraph.
[Photo via Daniel Food Diary]
