Hawker Catering Singapore: Local hawkers & chefs you can hire for your home party

Ever since the circuit breaker happened, food delivery is now the norm across the island. While food delivery apps offer the convenience of a plethora of options on one platform, they also charge eateries extra commission fees.

Want to give your home Christmas party, New Year's Eve countdown, or Lunar New Year CNY reunion gathering a local food & beverage twist?

Consider engaging a real hawker chef to whip up a feast for your guests at your next home gathering.

Content

• Chef Damian D'Silva
• Popiah Party Catering
• Springleaf Prata Catering
• Hawker Catering: Central
• Hawker Catering: North
• Hawker Catering: North East
• Hawker Catering: South
• Hawker Catering: East
• Hawker Catering: West

Chef Damian D'Silva

Enjoy a hearty dose of heritage, history, and Peranakan food? Ask if the Masterchef judge, chef Damian D’Silva might be willing re-create heritage food and almost-forgotten hawker fare in your home.

Damian D’Silva could possibly be considered the most exclusive hawker for hire in town. While he was still operating his former eponymous stall in Timbre+, he was able to do two home-catering sessions a month – nothing more.

“It’s very time-consuming lah,” the 65-year-old says candidly. “I’m a one-man show and have to prepare everything by myself.”

With over 20 years of experience operating a gamut of concepts spanning catering company to casual fine-dining restaurant to gastrobar, D’Silva is happiest running a small food stall and doling out heritage and “lost” dishes both there and in homes.

“It helps to spread the word about our culinary culture and, hopefully, allow it to live on.”

Back then, D'Silva had two menus for his private chef services:

• Heritage food
• "Lost” hawker fare

The heritage food menu highlights traditional dishes from the five major ethnic groups of Singapore: Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian and Peranakan; while the latter features hawker dishes based on mostly forgotten recipes, lost through the generations.

On the lost hawker fare menu, highlights included gai fan (Cantonese for “street rice”) made with char siew, shredded chicken and lap cheong, mixed with rice boiled with chicken stock. This was sold to labourers who worked the wharves in Boat and Clarke quays, but it fell out of favour in the 1960s.

However, the claypot rice on this menu was what stole the limelight. It required firing over a charcoal stove, and an outdoor space for preparation.

He will cook the dish for a maximum of 12 persons because of the limited capacity of the vessel, which comes with a customised cast iron lid on which he places charcoal embers to allow the heat to penetrate from all directions. Even the rice he uses is not ordinary: D’Silva mixes old and new grains in equal parts, for a perfectly moist yet fluffy texture that isn’t too mushy.

“I’m trying to preserve the Singaporean identity. These are dishes that people either haven’t eaten before, haven’t eaten in a long time, or are not available at other eateries.” Think a Peranakan speciality of hati babi bungkus (pork balls wrapped with pig’s caul): a mixture of pork meat and chopped liver marinated with ingredients such as coriander, tamarind and vinegar, then steamed and grilled before being served with Chinese mustard leaves.

Even dishes that you think you know might taste different. D’Silva’s Cantonese-style loh kai yik (braised chicken wings), which takes three days to prepare, is cooked with red and white fermented bean curd, and red sweet sauce. Apart from chicken wings, other ingredients include pig’s kidney and liver, as well as cuttlefish and tau pok (deep fried bean curd).

Clients who opt for the heritage menu can choose to have dishes from one cuisine, or a combination of cuisines.

“My food will take people back to a time when their grandparents, uncles and aunties cooked on special occasions. I want to help revive happy memories,” says D’Silva.

Chef Damian D'Silva is now at Rempapa, Paya Lebar Quarters (PLQ).

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Popiah Party Catering

Want an absolutely fuss-free popiah party? Let the owners of the popular Bee Heng Popiah at Newton Food Centre serve you in the comfort of your home.

Part of the fun of a popiah home party is the DIY experience of assembling your own turnip-stuffed roll. But, if you prefer not to go through the hassle, but still want to have them freshly wrapped, Bee Heng Popiah based in Newton Food Centre is the place to call.

The filling of its Hokkien-style rolls is freshly made at the stall and includes prawns and fish. They are best consumed on the spot. But earlier in 2016, its fourth-generation owner, Marcus Tan, introduced DIY sets after receiving numerous requests from customers. “Since it has garnered good response, we have started offering the popiah private chef service too,” he says.

For a minimum of two hours, Tan, or one of his family members, will go to your home to set up the preparation area, make the popiah, and even clear up at the end of the event. Just inform them beforehand of the quantity you would like, and carve out some space in your entertaining room to lay out the ingredients, utensils (such as spoons and strainers) and portable heating pads for the turnip filling, and – voila! – you have a live popiah station for your home party.

Tan can even teach your guests how to wrap the popiah and, if they are interested, share about the work that goes behind its making and history of the recipe.

Tan says that every component of the popiah is made using the freshest ingredients, following the same traditional recipe that his great-grandfather Tan Choo created more than 80 years ago. “It is very time-consuming and labour-intensive but it is what makes our popiah unique.”

The 29-year-old joined his family’s business two years ago and the private chef service is part of his bigger dream to make popiah become an integral part of Singapore’s dining culture. “I hope one day it can become like pizza or cakes, which people think of immediately when holding gatherings.”

Bee Heng Popiah, #01-12 Newton Food Centre, 500 Clemenceau Avenue.

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Springleaf Prata Place

Hire a private chef from Springleaf Prata Place and he might even dance for you.

What accompaniments do you like with your prata? If you a hire a chef from Springleaf Prata Place for your next home party, he might throw in a dance performance, jiggling to whatever music is playing as he flattens, folds and flips freshly made dough.

This was probably the most “interesting” request by a customer since Springleaf started offering the service in June 2003, says owner Gunalan Subramaniam.

Established in February 2003, the multi-outlet casual family eatery – with branches in Siglap, Upper Thomson and Upper Bukit Timah – specialises in Singaporean Indian street food. It is also the only Halal-certified caterer that offers the live station prata service.

“Everybody was offering the standard catering menus. We wanted to add real life to the party and offer something that differentiates us from the others,” explains Gunalan, 47. He seems to have succeeded.

Weekends for Springleaf’s catering arm are usually fully booked up, with up to 10 events at a time, while weekdays usually see two to three bookings. While most of them are corporate in nature, Gunalan says Springleaf also offers its services on a smaller scale for private functions.

“Once, a customer requested we cater for just 10 persons. So we designed a special menu of our more premium prata, which are stuffed with ingredients such as durian paste and crabmeat.”

Springleaf is also well-known for its “ultimate series of prata”. Examples are the Plaster Blaster, essentially eggs Benedict with prata; Murtaburger, or murtabak in burger form; and the newest, Salted Egg Prata, introduced in August 2016.

Extra space is necessary only to accommodate the griddle and prata flipping table. Otherwise, the standard catering equipment is more than sufficient.

But there is more. If you plan to go full-on with an Indian street food theme for your house party, Springleaf can offer chefs who prepare teh tarik, thosai, satay, burgers, roti jala and kacang putih a la minute.

Reveals Gunalan: “It started as a special request for a corporate customer. Ever since then, others have asked for the same service. Manpower permitting, we will accede to their request. It is also fun to do events with more variety.”

Springleaf Prata Place, Springleaf Garden, 1 Thong Soon Avenue.

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Hawker Catering: Central Locations

Here, we have rounded up local hawkers, restaurants, and bars that offer direct delivery, as well as listed them according to the regions should you want to zip by to pick up yourself.

Wala Wala Cafe Bar

Located at 31 Lorong Mambong of Holland Village, Wala Wala offers bar bites and Western food with island wide free delivery with minimum order of $50. To order, call 6462 4288 or WhatsApp 9057 4225. You will be able to pay by PayNow.

Wala Wala is located at 31 Lorong Mambong Holland Village Singapore 277689.

Deanna's Kitchen

Best known for their halal prawn noodle, Deanna's Kitchen is now located at two locations: their homebase 127 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, and 214 Jurong East Street 21, within the Padi Emas Coffee Shop. Visit the Deanna's Kitchen website, or WhatsApp 9424 5496 to order. While Deanna's Kitchen offers island wide delivery, there will be a delivery fee charged and minimum order of $10.

Deanna's Kitchen is located at 127 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh.

99 Thai Story (Closed)

Once wildly popular for their Thai seafood dishes, 99 Thai Story used to offer island wide delivery with fees ranging from $3 to $10. You could WhatsApp 9773 8887 or DM via Facebook to place your order. However, the popular Thai hawker has since shuttered.

99 Thai Story used to be located at 151 Bishan Street 11 #01-195.

Fish & Chicks

For Asian-infused Western food, try one of the many Fish & Chicks outlets at hawker centres around Singapore. You can WhatsApp 9784 9219 to order. Islandwide delivery is available at a flat fee of $5.

Fish & Chicks is located at 531 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, and has several locations.

Keng Eng Kee Seafood

Keng Eng Kee Seafood, or better known by its acronyms KEK Seafood, is available online for islandwide delivery. Famous tze char dishes include their signature Vermicelli Crab, Claypot Premium Collagen Soup, Claypot Braised Duck with Yam, and Homemade Tofu Loofah with Sliced Fish.

Keng Eng Kee KEK Seafood is located at 124 Bukit Merah lane 1, #01-136.

New Station Snack Bar

Everybody's favourite Far East Plaza Tze Char offers food delivery, too. To order your favourite dish, visit New Station's online website or call 6734 2862 to order. You will be able to pay via cash or PayNow.

New Station Snack Bar is located at #05-95 Far East Plaza.

Yong Kee Seafood Restaurant

Another famed Tze Char restaurant, Yong Kee is famed for their Chao Ta Bee Hoon (charred vermicelli), Crispy Vermicelli (looks like a pancake), Assam Fish Head, and the usual such as black pepper crab, and prawns with salad. WhatsApp 9729 8145 to order, and pay via PayNow. Delivery fee ranges from $8 to $18.

Yong Kee Seafood is located at 43 Jalan Besar within Shing Boon Hwa Food Center.

Grub

The famous Bishan Park Grub has now moved to Novotel @ Stevens. You'll get casual bistro, burgers, fusion fare, such as Har Cheong Kai fried chicken with waffles, Miso Salmon Steak, fish and chips, and their ribeye steaks. Grub offers island wide delivery at $10 fee. WhatsApp 8891 9298 to order.

Grub is located at 30 Stevens Road, #01-06, Novotel @ Stevens.

Old Seng Choong

For light bites, the traditional bakery founded by local pastry chef Daniel Tay offers delivery at a $12 charge (free delivery above $60 order). You'll have to order from the Old Seng Choong website.

Old Seng Choong is located at 6 Eu Tong Sen St, #01-48, 059817

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Hawker Catering: North Locations

Ban Leong Wah Hoe Restaurant

Located along 122 Casuarina Rd, Ban Leong Wah Hoe is another tze char famous for their crab and usual stir fry dishes such as chilli crab, la la, prawn paste chicken etc. The restaurant is available on via Oddle, and delivers to the North of Singapore with delivery charges of approximately $5. You can't just order a braised rice for yourself, there is a minimum order of $20. However, you get free delivery for orders above $100. Payment via PayNow, GrabPay, or cash. Call 6455 4013 or 6452 2824 to order.

Ban Leong Wah Hoe is located along 122 to 124 Casuarina Road.

928 Yishun Laksa

In the past two years, this old-school Laksa hidden away in a Yishun HDB void deck has been crowned the best Laksa in Singapore. The stall only delivers to nearby Yishun and Khatib locations at $5 per delivery. To order, WhatsApp Glen at 9278 8282. Payment via PayNow or PayLah only.

928 Yishun Laksa is located at 928 Yishun Central 1, #01-155.

Beef Bro

For indulgent flame-torched grills and bentos that are also Halal-certified, try Beef Bro. Founded by a young lad named Norvan Tan, Beef Bro is best known for their beef cube rice bentos with mentaiko and other toppings. Founder Norvan Tan was also embroiled in a jail term for alleged sexual assault. Beef Bro offers island wide delivery.

Beef Bro is located at #B2-134 Northpoint (Also at Century Square and Clifford Centre)

Riders Cafe

For contemporary, comfort brunch food such as pancakes, waffles, and Egg's Benedict, look to the beautiful Riders Cafe in the heart of Bukit Timah. Riders Cafe offers island wide delivery with fees starting from $5. Message 9656 6011 to order. However, Riders Cafe is nothing without the sprawling views of the horse stables and the majestic horses on their farrier walks. You're best off dining in.

Riders Cafe is located along 51 Fairways Drive

Red Eye Smokehouse

Authentic American-style BBQ smokehouse lovers rejoice! Try Red Eye Smokehouse in Jalan Besar. They offer island wide delivery with fees starting from $5. You will need to call 6291 0218 to order.

Red Eye Smokehouse is located at 1 Cavan Road, located in the heart of Jalan Besar.

Traditional Wanton Noodles

How fun would it be to throw a wanton mee party? Traditional Wanton Noodles at Sembawang Drive offers island wide delivery with fees between from $3 to $14. No minimum order required. WhatsApp 91551743 to preorder one day prior to delivery. You will need to pay via PayNow before collection or delivery.

Traditional Wanton Noodles is located along 313A Sembawang Drive.

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Hawker Catering: North East Locations

Pow Sing Kitchen

Almost a landmark in the Serangoon Gardens neighbourhood, Pow Sing Kitchen has been around since 1983 and was founded by two men named Mr Lee Chin Soo and Mr Steven Tan. They're known for their Hainanese Chicken Rice and other Peranakan dishes. To order, call 6284 0800.

Pow Sing Kitchen is located at 59 Serangoon Garden Way

Dai Lou Zi Char

Dai Lou Zi Char (or Big Boss Cook and Fry in Cantonese dialect) is located in Marina Country Club in Punggol. Expect the usual Tze Char dishes such as chilli crab, hor fun, pork cubes, and even lok lok. Dai Lou offers delivery island wide with delivery fees. There are minimum order values - but they vary depending on where you are delivering to.

Dai Lou Zi Char is located at Marina Country Club, 11 Northshore Drive #01-0R

Srisun Express

Another mainstay in Serangoon Gardens, Srisun Express offers up Indian Muslim cuisine that is Halal-certified. They offer island wide delivery from their several outlets island wide.

Srisun Express is located at 56 Serangoon Garden Way. Also at Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok and Tampines.

Fat Po

Always crowded over the weekends, Fat Po serves Western-Asian fusion fare. The restaurant delivers to Punggol at a flat fee of $8 with no minimum order. For surrounding areas, you will need to first provide postal code to check if Fat Po delivers to your location. You do get free delivery if you spend above $100. You'll have to order via Facebook messenger.

Fat Po is located at 10 Tebing Lane.

Lola’s Cafe

If you don't want to jostle with the brunch and cafe-hopping crowd, you'd be glad to know Lola's Cafe's casual dining and all-day brunch can be delivered to your doorstep. To check if Lola Cafe delivers to your location, visit their website, enter postal code for availability and delivery fee. You'll get free delivery for orders over $80.

Lola's Cafe is located along 5 and 7 Simon Road.

Pietro Ristorante Italiano

For Italian fare, order from Pietro Ristorante Italiano. The restaurant offers island wide delivery at a flat fee of $8. Minimum order is $50, and you get free delivery with any order value above $60. To order, you'll have to WhatsApp 8688 2798 or 8858 0900. Payment is pretty convenient via Paynow.

Pietro Ristorante Italiano is located along 12 Jalan Kelulut.

Tie Fun Wan

How about fun Taiwanese Asian fusion food like Braised Pork (Lu Rou Fan) Rice and Korean fried chicken? Try Tie Fun Wan (a punny riff of the Chinese term for "Iron Rice Bowl". The cafe offers island wide delivery at a flat fee of $15, or $8. To order, drop a text to 9738 6648.

Tie Fun Wan is located along 89 Rangoon Road.

Whisk & Paddle

Sibling outlet of the aforementioned Fat Po, Whisk & Paddle offers a very similar casual dining, all-day brunch menu. Like Fat Po, Whisk & Paddle only delivers to Pungol at a flat fee of $8 with no minimum order. To order, text them via Facebook messenger

Whisk & Paddle is located along 10 Tebing Lane.

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Hawker Catering: South Locations

Authentic Hock Lam Street Popular Beef Kway Teow

Hock Lam Street Beef Kway Teow is best known for their family fued over the popular business and branding. This beef kway teow (flat rice noodles) has been around since 1921, and dates back to Swatow, Guangdong, China.

Family feud aside, try this beef kway teow as it offers island wide delivery at a $5 flat fee, and free delivery for orders above $60. To order, WhatsApp 8878 6762 before 8pm for next day delivery.

Authentic Hock Lam Street Popular Beef Kway Teow is located along 06 North Canal Road.

Chew Kee Soy Sauce Chicken

Don't need to queue for Michelin soya sauce chicken noodles. Order them online from Chew Kee Soya sauce chicken noodles. There's delivery island wide with fees ranging from $5 to $15, but you need a minimum order of $40. Always pre-order for next day delivery. Payment is pretty convenient via PayLah or PayNow.

Chew Kee Soy Sauce Chicken is located along 8 Upper Cross Street.

Kok Sen Restaurant

Cantonese-style Tze Char that's best known for their Big Prawns Bee Hoon Soup, hor fun, and Claypot Yong Tau Foo. On weekends, you will find a snaking queue along Keong Saik Road waiting to get a table in this popular local restaurant. You can order online via Oddle, and island wide delivery ranges from $8 – $15 with a minimum order of $40. To order, WhatsApp Christ at 9698 4119 one day prior to delivery.

Kok Sen Restaurant is located along 30 Keong Saik Road

The Original Katong Laksa since 1950s – Janggut Laksa

Laksa fans will know that this Janggut Laksa is the oldest and most original Laksa in Singapore. You might know it best as the "Katong Laksa". From their many outlets peppered across Singapore, you can get island wide delivery at a flat $5 delivery fee with minimum order. Order online via Oddle.

Original Katong Laksa is located in Queenstown, and various outlets across Singapore.

BTM Mussels & Bar

How about something a little more fancy and goes with your wine night? Order from BTM Mussels & Bar for European cuisine. The restaurant offers island wide delivery at a fee with a minimum order of $75. WhatsApp 8121 3247 to order.

BTM Mussels & Bar is located at 5 Duxton Hill.

The Masses

The Masses calls themselves Asian-infused French cuisine that "Monsieur, Mademoiselle and Ah Ma will love". Try the Duck Confit, deep fried Camembert, claypot Angus Beef, and you'll get island wide delivery at a $7 fee. There is a minimum order of $25.

The Masses is located at #01-02, 85 Beach Rd.

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Hawker Catering: East Locations

Lemaq

Lemaq Nasi Padang and Kueh serves up both the usual Malay Muslim fare and Halal western food. You get island wide delivery at a flat fee of $5 with minimum order of $10. WhatsApp 9850 5062 to order. Order before 5pm for next day delivery.

Lemaq is located at 511 Bedok North St 3 #01-11.

New Ubin Seafood

Another Singaporean local seafood, Tze Char favourite, New Ubin offers island wide delivery for their massive local menu. You will need to order via their website.

New Ubin Seafood is located at 18 Tampines Industrial Crescent, #01-16.

Quanji Teochew Noodles

With a signature recipe that's been around since 1965, Quan Ji Teochew Noodles now offer island wide delivery with a fee between $3 to $10. For large orders, you get free delivery for orders $50 and above. Whatsapp 9188 2844 to order,

Quanji Teochew Noodles #01-44, 208 New Upper Changi Road.

Xin Lai Lai Seafood Restaurant

Xin Lai Lai is now available on pretty much every food delivery platform - GrabFood, Foodpanda, and they do their own island wide delivery as well at a $6 fee. Call 6404 8021 or order via their website.

Xin Lai Lai is located at 391 Upper Aljunied Road.

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Hawker Catering: West Locations

Ah Boon Drinks Stall & Eating House

Located within TradeHub 21, Ah Boon kopitiam offers you Chinese, Western, Japanese, and drinks. Delivery is available for west locations at a flat fee of $5 and free delivery for orders above $60. Contact Ah Boon at 9797 1799 to order and make payment.

Ah Boon Drinks Stall & Eating House is located at 8 Boon Lay Way.

Al-Azhar Restaurant

Best of the West. Al-Azhar, located opposite Beauty World, is a landmark Muslim Halal store that has the biggest menu in town spanning Thai Muslim, and Indian dishes. Fortunately for those of you living elsewhere, they offer island wide delivery with a $3 to $8 fee, and minimum order of $25. For larger orders, you get free delivery for orders above $150. Otherwise, they do catering packages as well.

Al-Azhar Restaurant is located at 11 Cheong Chin Nam Road.

Encik Heng Cafe

This popular chicken rice in Bukit Batok Street 23 offers free island wide delivery for orders above $50. If you live in the west, you get free delivery with a lower minimum order of $15. WhatsApp 9834 606 to order.

Encik Heng Cafe is located at 2 Venture Drive, Vision Exchange #02-40.

The Carving Board

One of the most popular Western stalls in the West, The Carving Board takes over an entire kopitiam in Jurong East by night. They serve up your usual steaks, chicken chops, fish, sausages, finger bites, and beer. WhatsApp 8108 1052 or 9789 8262 to order.

The Carving Board is located at 252 Jurong East Street 24.

Summer Hill

For a little family-style French cooking, look to Summer Hill in Sunset Way. Delivery comes with a $5 flat fee for locations in the neighbourhood. If you live further out, enquire for your location's delivery fee. WhatsApp 6251 5337 to order.

Summer Hill is located at #01-62, Clementi St 12

Wala Wala Cafe Bar

The landmark of Holland Village, Wala Wala's signature bar bites, and Western food can be delivered to your place. You get free delivery with a minimum order of $50. WhatsApp 9057 4225 to order. Payment is easy via PayNow.

Wala Wala Cafe Bar is located at 31 Lorong Mambong (Holland Village).

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Part of this article first appeared in The Peak.