Name one Filipino trait that everybody does whenever they visit a new place or country. One that is on top of my head is looking for a unique dining experience that is both exceptional and fit for the budget. My friends have been raving about this one restaurant that they frequented in Singapore. Hawker Chan made a name for itself for its great-tasting yet unbelievably affordable food. Michelin’s Singapore Guide recognized it in July 2016 as the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world!
Alright, now that we know all these credentials that the restaurant has, you might be asking, “now what?” Well, I’m not going to keep you waiting. Here is the tea: Hawker Chan is now open in the Philippines. Filipinos will no longer have to fly all the way to Singapore just to experience their best-seller, soy chicken. We attended their media launch last July 25 and here is our early take on the restaurant!
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Chicken That is So-Y Good!
Asian cuisine has several staple ingredients and among of which are rice, ginger, and soy sauce. The internationally-acclaimed Singapore-based restaurant Hawker Chan has one item in their menu that customers are willing to line-up for and it uses soy sauce to its advantage. Their Soya Chicken Rice is promised to delight Filipino’s palate. It hit the right balance of sweetness and saltiness. Tenderness is the best thing about the meat. Chan Hong Mong’s recipe has undergone countless refinement before it hit the recipe that everybody is craving for now.
Aside from the tasty chicken dish, Hawker Chan also offers an assortment of meat that is as equally exciting. During the media tasting, each of us were served a platter of char siew, roasted pork, and soy chicken. We even had the option to pair it with a cup of rice or their freshly-made noodles. While we were waiting for our orders, a server brought a plate of tofu in sweet and spicy sauce. The tofu had this silky texture that served as the perfect canvas for the sauce.
The pork dishes were cooked and seasoned perfectly. I am personally obsessed with the roasted pork. I can tell that it was marinated really well because the flavor seeped into the meat. At the time, I paired my meat with a serving of noodles. There was a certain chewiness to it that I particularly loved. And oh, don’t forget to toss in the sambal that comes with it for the full experience.
Treat for Your Mouth and Your Budget
Behind Hawker Chan’s success is a story of a humble beginning. Malaysian chef Chan Hong Meng founded the restaurant in 2009 and opened a small store at the Chinatown Complex. There he caught the tastebuds of Singaporeans with the ever-famous soya sauce Chicken Rice. It was not long before it earned awards from different organizations. Hong Meng was a son of a farmer but is now the head of a successful franchise.
Foodee Global Concepts recognized Filipino’s love for these flavors and brought Hawker Chan to the country. As Hawker Chan opens its doors at SM Mall of Asia, Filipinos can now grab a plate of Singaporean flavor in a snap. This is not the first time that the Foodee Global Concepts has done this. They are also the team that transformed the Filipino dining scene by bringing offerings such as the Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan, Tsuta Japanese Soba Noodles, and Llaollao’s unique Spanish frozen yogurt to the country.
I will bet that at this point, you can no longer wait to try it yourselves. I know what you are thinking. The restaurant is the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore but how does it fare in the country? You’ll be surprised! Even I was surprised when I checked the menu during the event. You can order a set meal for as low as P100 to P150! Now, isn’t that pocket-friendly? It sure is!
If you are looking for a hearty, great, and yet affordably-priced meal, head on over to Hawker Chan Philippines. They are located at the Ground Floor, Entertainment Mall at SM Mall of Asia Complex. Start binging, Bingers!
