The amazing things you should know about some of our famous hawker centres

1. From the streets (in)to hawker centres

Once upon a time ago, we had a robust street hawker scene (Fun fact: the word hawker refers to a travelling salesperson).

By 1985, all street hawkers in Singapore were rehoused in the purpose-built food centres we now know for good, affordable everyday food.

2. The first hawker centre in Singapore

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Built in 1971, the Yung Sheng Food Centre in Jurong, now renamed Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre, was the pioneering hawker centre.

3. We now have 110 hawker centres

Together they are home to more than 6,000 cooked food stalls selling everything from good ol’ fried carrot cake and BBQ chicken wings to more hipster-fusion fare like grain bowls and craft beers.

4. The cheapest Michelin-starred dish in the world is sold at a hawker centre in Singapore

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And that honour goes to the one-star Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice Noodle at Smith Street where you can get an award-winning meal for only $2!

5. The most “expensive” hawker food is at…

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Drumroll, please – Sengkang. A recent study done by the Institute of Policy Studies found that this neighbourhood offered the priciest hawker fare.

For the cheapest, head to Woodlands.

6. The hawker centre that was a social enterprise

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Opened in 2012, Kampung @ Simpang Bedok was set up to help budding hawkers who had the option of being paid a salary until they could afford the rent.

The concept lasted only a year, due to stiff competition and poor business.

This article was first published in Wonderwall.sg.