Food Republic Hawker Kings 2013

“Food Republic Hawker Kings” is an initiative to motivate existing food operators within the Food Republic chain to enhance their offerings to the patrons. It started last year and we have crowned 109 Teochew Yong Tau Foo (Food Republic @ Suntec City), 3rd Generation Laksa & Prawn Mee (Food Republic @ NEX) and Padang Padang (Food Opera @ ION Orchard) as the kings of Hawker 2012. This year, I am very honoured to be part of their judging team again!

How this works is, the public can vote for your favourite hawker in May and propel them to the top 10 list! Following that, we went through a taste test together with Marcus Yeo from Zao Bao, on-air host Anna Lim and Chef Pung Lu Tin. The dishes were scored based on taste (40%), quality (30%), presentation (20%) and service (10%).

The top 10 finalists for Food Republic Hawker King 2013 is: Guan Chee Roasted Meat (NEX), Odeon Beef Noodles (Wisma), Koh Grill & Sushi Bar (Wisma), Fortunate Restaurant (Parkway Parade), Old Days Minced Pork Noodles (St James), Thye Hong Fried Hokkien Mee (Vivocity), Lixin Teochew Fishball Noodle (Food Opera), Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice (I12 Katong), Cho Kee Wanton Noodles (I12 Katong), Fragrant Hot Pot (313@somerset). Apologise for the photo quality, I was using an iPhone.

The 3 winners are: Koh Grill & Sushi Bar (Wisma), Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice (I12 Katong), Fragrant Hot Pot (313@somerset).

We really really love Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice for its succulent roasted chicken rice. Its flagship store is in thomson road, opposite the Novena Church but has now moved to United. If that is too far, you can have your chicken rice fix at I12 Katong’s Food Republic. Here, the rice is cooked just nice to give you a delicious meal and its chilli sauce complements the meal perfectly to give you the best chicken rice you can ever ask for.

Fragrant Hot Pot is also our hot favourite because its Mala sauce which is made from over 20 different herbs and spices and cooked overnight to infuse all the flavours. We felt like a mini buffet where we can choose a variety of meats, vegetables, seafood and other ingredients, and the chefs will stir fry the ingredients together. The hot chilli peppers in the sauce give an extra kick but the recipe has been tweaked to suit the local tastebuds, toning down the ‘numbing effect’ one would normally find in a spicy Mala sauce.

Last but not least, Koh Grill & Sushi is a small Japanese eatery in Wisma Atria Food Republic that serves pretty good Japanese Food at very reasonable prices. We had the Shiok Maki made up of avocado, unagi and aburi salmon, drenched with cheese sauce that is a mixture of mayo and mentai, and completed with a generous topping of tobiko.

It was definitely a enriching experience! Thank you Food Republic and congratulations to all the Hawker Kings!