How much do you love Singaporean food? Enough to pay top dollar for these mod-Sin dishes?
By now, you might’ve already heard about The Coconut Club. Attracting both praises and eyebrow-raises, this controversial new restaurant at Ann Siang Hill sells the Singaporean hawker comfort food, nasi lemak (read our nasi lemak guide if you’ve no clue what that is), at a price pegged above $12. For a modest dish that normally goes for $4, you’d understand why this alleged ‘rip-off’ would summon the naysayers. But ’til we’ve tasted this upmarket variation for ourselves (hold on for our review!), we’ll continue to reserve our judgment and munch on our popcorn as the keyboard warrior-ism unfolds.
But y’know, hawker classics with jacked-up prices aren’t exactly something new (see our guide to mod-Sin cuisine in Singapore). And to be frank, we’ve had hawker fare at $2 that’s tasted far better than fancy nosh at $52, so who’s to say it’s not worthy of a few extra bucks? If you’re intrigued, here are five more ‘elevated’ versions of hawker food that you can spark a debate amongst your foodie friends with.
ChatterBox – Chicken rice at $27++
Despite not being served on the cheap, this signature from Chatterbox at Mandarin Orchard continues to lure famished diners curious to try this Singaporean classic – even locals! But we can assure you that you’re getting ace quality for that price – intensely flavoured rice, tender steamed chicken drenched in soy sauce, and a potent, thick chilli sauce that packs enough garlicky punch. And you wonder why foodies have been chattering about this rendition for years?
ChatterBox, Level 5 Mandarin Orchard, 333 Orchard Road, Singapore 238867, p. 6831 6288.
Sky on 57 – Hokkien mee at $48
When it comes to mod-Sin masterminds, celebrity chef Justin Quek is one to watch out for. Helming the high-end rooftop restaurant perched atop Marina Bay Sands, Chef Quek has transformed the hawker food classic into a fine dining fixture, using sweet chunks of Maine lobster instead of the usual prawns. Sure, it’s pegged at a whopping $48, but you know you wanna try it regardless, do you?
Sky on 57, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956, p. 6688 8857
The Naked Finn – Prawn noodles at $25
A rule-breaking restaurant that bends the traditional recipe used for prawn noodles, The Naked Finn at Gillman Barracks takes pride in its unorthodox hae mee tng. A complex, piquant prawn stock is derived from three varieties of prawns and shrimps – wild-caught Blue and Red shrimp, Northern prawn, and dried sakura shrimp. The resultant flavours here are so intense in umami, that they don’t even add any MSG – brownie points in our books.
The Naked Finn, Gillman Barracks, 39 Malan Road, Singapore 109442, p. 6694 0807.
Beast & Butterflies – Laksa at $16
While it’s the hawker legends that usually come to mind when laksa is mentioned, this resto has entered the fray with its own slightly upmarket version of the dish. Enter Beast & Butterflies’ Mee Tai Mak Laksa ($16) – a hefty hot stone bowl filled with a satisfying spicy, savoury broth. But this isn’t your average laksa; the dish is chock-full of seafood like fresh, plump cherry stone clams, prawns and fishcake. And instead of the usual soggy tau pok, the dish is topped with crispy, fried beancurd.
Beast & Butterflies, 90 Robertson Quay, Level 1, Singapore 238259. p. 6206 1888.
Loof – Bak chor mee… grilled cheese at $18
Two comfort foods clash and mash in this dream dish recently conceptualised by Artichoke’s Bjorn Shen, who’s revamped Loof’s menu with his “dude-Sin” philosophy. One novel addition that’s come out of this collaboration is this mod-Sin marvel, combining the American grilled cheese sandwich with minced pork and mushrooms commonly found in the local noodle dish, bak chor mee.
Loof, #03-07 Odeon Towers, 331 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188720, p. 6337 9416.
Inspired by these dishes? Check out our full guide to mod-Sin cuisine in Singapore.