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Nearby stalls from Michelin-starred hawkers report brisk business over last year

SINGAPORE – It is the second year running that two hawker stalls have received the coveted Michelin star. But it is not just the lauded hawkers who are celebrating. Many of their neighbouring stalls have also reaped from their success, with a number of them reporting increased business for themselves over the last year.

The queue at the HK Soya Chicken stall at Chinatown Block 335 Smith Street. Photo: Najeer Yusof

The queue at the HK Soya Chicken stall at Chinatown Block 335 Smith Street. Photo: Najeer Yusof

SINGAPORE – It is the second year running that two hawker stalls have received the coveted Michelin star. But it is not just the lauded hawkers who are celebrating. Many of their neighbouring stalls have also reaped from their success, with a number of them reporting increased business for themselves over the last year.

A neighbouring stall to hawker Chan Hong Meng’s Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle at Chinatown Complex said his herbal soup business has seen about five per cent more customers over the last year, since Chan’s stall was first awarded the Michelin one-star rating last year.

The long queues have worked to the advantage of stalls like Grand Stewed Herbal Soup. Owner Francis Lai, 63, said:“When customers are queuing, they will look over to our stall. Most customers buy our herbal soup to accompany the rice.”

Similarly, owner of Western & Pasta Delight, Mr David Chok, 50, said his stall has seen an increase of three to four per cent of customers. “(Chan’s) stall has attracted many tourists here, and some, when they see the long queue, they do not want to queue and will come and buy from me instead.”

The same goes for Mr Wong Kwok Wah, 70, owner of Hua Ji Delights who noticed that more crowds were coming in over the last year.

“Ever since they received the one-star, it has been very crowded at this part of the hawker centre,” said Wong, who added that he has received more customers at his stall as a result as well.

But not everyone’s too pleased with the crowds the two Michelin hawker stalls have drawn.

Seventy-five year-old Teo Sin Tiok, owner of Western stall Happy Chef at Crawford Lane, claims his stall initially suffered almost 20 per cent drop in business when his neighbouring stall, Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle stall owned by 71-year-old Tang Chay Seng, was awarded the Michelin one-star last year.

Teo said: “The problem is, sometimes we don’t have enough tables here because this coffee shop is quite small. Some people who are in line may sit down and wait for an hour or more, and then we don’t have any table (for our customers) to sit,” Teo said.

So, in order to get around the problem, Teo goes the extra mile and helps his customers find seats.

“I will ask people if there is anybody sitting here (at empty seats). One table supposed to take about five, six people, so I shift people in if there’s space,” Teo said. “Sometimes the noodle customers are sitting there and I will ask them to share (the) table.”

“You cannot ‘chope’ a table on your own, especially when some people queue there (and) they put an umbrella on the table. I will tell them ‘you can’t just put (your umbrella), I don’t know how many people are sitting there’,” added Teo.

Although “business is slowly picking up”, Teo claims his stall still is not yet back to levels before his neighbour became a Michelin-starred hawker.

Last year, Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle and Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle were the first two hawkers to be awarded a star in the inaugural Singapore Michelin Guide 2016.

The two hawker stalls retained their one-star in this year’s edition of the Michelin Guide Singapore.

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