Gourmet in the street kitchen

The best street food can be found in Singapore. Period. It's cheap. It's good. It's safe (the country has strict food hygiene laws).

I particularly enjoy the so-called hawker stands in Chinatown, where you can eat and drink to your heart's content for just a few dollars. Especially famous - and delicious - is 'chicken rice', which is simply poached chicken, aromatic rice, and cucumber. It’s almost a national dish. Usually, a clear soup with spring onions is served alongside it.

I drink the homemade iced tea from the restaurants with it. But last night, I felt the need for something stronger after witnessing one of the most beautiful symphony concerts of my life at the Esplanade Concert Hall. On my way home, I stumbled into the area’s equivalent of Visseluller with an impressive selection of gin (yes, what else), rum, and whisky. I ended up having two different versions of the local Merlion Gin (good!) and some rum from Ile de la Reunion. Number of Caucasians: 1 (me!). We won’t talk about the price, but it was all worth it.

For two evenings in a row, I have indulged in several small dishes at the Michelin Bib Gourmand spot Song Fa Bak Kut Teh, just 100 meters from my hotel. It started as a food cart in 1969. The next generations continue the food tradition but now at a permanent location on New Bridge Road/Upper Circular Road.

You enter from the street, are seated where there is space, order via QR code (usually here), and the food arrives in a few minutes. The signature dish is their pork rib soup, and the waiters come around with refills when your bowl shows signs of being low.

If there isn't a free table, you politely stand in line. And if it’s hot in the queue, and it’s long, you are welcome to borrow a fan😁 Michelin has now rewarded them with their almost-star for nine years. The price? Cheap! I have paid 100-125 kroner for each of the sets you see in the pictures.

Tomorrow is my last night here in the Lion City. Then I will return to Chinatown for a round of chicken rice. Naturally.