Jiak Song

Masterchef Singapore contestant, Aaron Wong, started Jiak Song to help dispel common misconceptions of the hawker trade. At this stall, which specialises in handmade noodles of mee hoon kueh, there are no open flames and the set-up is similar to that of professional restaurant kitchens. “Because a lot of people, especially the younger generation, have this misconception that being a hawker means having to work in an oily, dirty, wet environment,” says Aaron. “But it doesn’t need to be this way.” But while the space gets a snazzy modern makeover, the hawker stall is still dedicated to cooking up an old-school rendition of mee hoon kueh. With each order, a ball of dough is pressed in front of your eyes, then teared, by hand, and cooked in a broth flavoured with soy beans, ikan bilis, and a touch of smoke. And everything in the bowl is made in-house – from the dough to the accompaniments of shrimp ball and pork ball.