Hawker Center Food Tour Notes

Introduction

• Location: Zion Riverside Food Center, Tiong Bahru.
• Well-known for diverse food offerings, not just Newton Food Center.
• Small hawker center with 32 stalls.

$100 Hawker Food Series

• Series making a comeback after a couple of years.
• Previous challenges were difficult to finish under $100.
• Anticipation that $100 may not be enough this time.

Timing

• Arrived at 4 PM, filming starts at 4:30 PM.
• Some stalls closed early; likely to open later due to it being a Friday.

First Dishes

1. Mixed Chicken Rice (Roasted chicken & white chicken)
   • Price: $5.
   • Notes: Affordable, crunchy bean sprouts, but wanted richer sauce.
2. Noodle Dish
   • Price: $8.
   • Ingredients: Noodles cooked perfectly, many fish cakes, needed more vinegar for balance.
   • Overall assessment: Good noodles but other ingredients were average.
3. Duck Rice
   • Price: $9.
   • Notes: Succulent chicken, sweet chili, great atmosphere.

Notable Items Tried

• Soup Dumplings: Flavorful broth, sweet, light.
• Chili Oil Dumplings: Balanced flavors, no extra sauce needed.
• Black & White Carrot Cake: Black one crispy with caramelized edges, very good.
• Duck Rice: Not overly fatty, well-cooked, paired well with rice.

Personal Highlights

• Enjoyed the variety in flavors and freshness of ingredients.
• Acknowledged some dishes may not stand out compared to others but overall very satisfying.
• Spent over $180 in total; felt full but enjoyed the experience.

Recommendations

• Must-try stalls: Duck Rice, Soup Dumplings, and the Carrot Cake stall.
• Future series may shift from a budget-focused approach to sampling everything at a hawker center.