SINGAPORE

UNESCO-listed Street Food

Singapore’s Hawker Culture has been officially added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In addition, many have earned the coveted Michelin-star recognition. These stalls make them the cheapest and most affordable Michelin-starred eateries in the world.

Hawker food is more than just a meal in Singapore – it is a hallmark of what it means to live there, and is firmly embedded into the culture. 

Evolved from street food culture, hawker centres have become markers of Singapore as a multicultural city-state, comprising Chinese, Malay, Indian and other cultures. Hawkers take inspiration from the confluence of these cultures, adapting dishes to local tastes and contexts.

Some of the oldest hawkers started their practice in the 1960s. Many specialise in a particular dish, refined over many years, and transmit their recipes, knowledge and skills to younger family members or apprentices.

Some of the most popular stalls to check out on your next trip to Singapore: Hawker Chan soya sauce chicken & BBQ pork, Tian Tian Hainanese chicken rice, and Song Fa Bak Kut Teh.

(All images: STB)