Singapore’s vibrant hawker culture celebrated its best this week at the annual Singapore Hawkers’ Celebration and Awards, where Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre was named the nation’s favorite for 2025 following a public vote, succeeding last year’s winner, Serangoon Garden Market. The popular food destination, located near Sembawang MRT, clinched the top honor while also securing the Healthier Dining Hawker Centre Award, recognizing its commitment to offering nutritionally sound choices. This dual recognition highlights an industry balancing tradition with evolving public health concerns and innovation.
The new favorite, Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre, is frequently lauded by patrons for diverse and accessible options, including well-regarded stalls specializing in nasi lemak, wonton mee, fishball noodles, and unique homemade baked goods. Beyond public preference, the facility earned the Healthier Dining accolade because a significant percentage of its vendors utilize ingredients that support a healthier diet, such as whole grains, reduced-sodium condiments, and healthier cooking oils.
Celebrating Heritage and Innovation
The awards ceremony served as a critical platform to recognize both the longevity and the future direction of Singapore’s hawker scene, famously inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
The Hawker Heritage Award specifically honored three businesses that have maintained operations for over 50 years, ensuring the continuity of traditional culinary arts. Recipients included Warong Pak Sapari and Bahrakath Mutton Soup, both fixtures at Adam Food Centre, alongside Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh from Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre.
While respecting the past, the awards also celebrated forward-thinking enterprises. The Enterprising Hawker Award recognized stalls leveraging innovation within the competitive food landscape. Winners demonstrated creativity in efficiency and menu development:
- Spicelios at Amoy Street Food Centre (biryani)
- Salt.Singapore at Old Airport Road Food Centre (Western cuisine)
- Ah Kiat Wonton Mee at Bedok 538, specifically noted for integrating machinery into preparation processes and introducing novel flavors, such as a salted egg wonton mee variety.
Mentorship Secures Future Talent
A vital component of preserving hawker traditions is nurturing the next generation of culinary entrepreneurs. The Outstanding Hawker Mentor Award recognized established veterans who actively guide aspiring hawkers.
Madam Tee Chun Moy of Rong Xing Yong Tau Fu was highlighted for mentoring nine individuals over the past decade. Other esteemed mentors recognized included Teo Jiun Ming Jimmy of Huang Da Fu Bak Chor Mee in Commonwealth Crescent Market and Xu Can Bin from Long Ding Seafood at Kampung Admiralty. These established hawkers demonstrate a proactive approach to ensuring Singapore’s rich street food legacy endures.
The collective recognition—from heritage preservation to cutting-edge adaptation and health consciousness—underscores the dynamism of Singapore’s hawker environment. As Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre takes the top spot, the focus remains on fostering quality, accessibility, and enduring cultural value well into the future.