AUTHOR’S NOTE: Added in Chan Hong Meng’s Malaysian ethnicity, per Eris’ comment below. Timestamp: 28 November 22, 18:15.
Despite having visited Singapore twice, first in 2017 and then in 2019, I was unable to visit Liao Fan Hawker Chan at the Chinatown Food Centre. More popularly known as Hawker Chan, it was originally named Liao Fan Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle when it was first established in 2009.
This hawker stall is known for serving the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in the world. The French tire maker first awarded the famed Michelin Star to the establishment in 2016. However, Hawker Chan lost this commendation five years later in 2021.
Nevertheless, this hasn’t stopped Chan Hong Meng – the Malaysian founder and owner of the hawker stall – from continuing to offer the meal that merited him the much-coveted commendation. Hawker Chan eventually expanded to seven locations, including the Philippines.
I’m no stranger to the joint, having featured it in two triptych posts from 2020 and then a year later. Today’s post, however, will center on a full set I ordered from Hawker Chan. A branch of the famous hawker stall opened up at SM Fairview, a mall less than an hour’s drive away from where I live.
I’ll stop with the introductions to give you today’s set!
I opted to go all-out with my picks since I accomplished several errands on that day of my visit. People would usually order the more budget-friendly options at this joint, but I chose some of the more traditional favorites. It also helped that Hawker Chan had a 50% discount on its Fried Dumplings, which I also availed of.
I ordered a glass of Hong Kong Milk Tea (P88) to start off. This traditional beverage ticked all the boxes – the milk’s sweetness tempered the potency of the black tea used. The sweetness was just enough to cut through the savory menu items I picked. It’s just me though, but I guess sinkers would make this good. Grass jelly, perhaps?
The 2-Meat Combination Platter (P250) allowed diners to choose two proteins – either soya chicken, char siew (barbecued pork) or siew yoke (basic roast pork). I chose the two pork dishes to go with my rice and did not regret doing so. The platter also came with peanuts braised in sweet soy sauce and prawn crackers. The char siew was tender, with the sweet sauce complimenting the meat’s texture. The siew yoke had a rather clean taste and crispy skin. There were times that I would even clean up the char siew sauce using a piece of roast pork!
Hawker Chan‘s Fried Dumplings (originally P140, discounted price P70) were still a good side dish to order even after these years. I ordered them during my 2020 and 2021 forays at the joint – and I’m glad that the establishment did not deviate from the original recipe. These dumplings filled with shrimp and pork came with a black vinegar dip, similar to the one used for xiao long bao (steamed soup-filled dumplings). The dip provided a contrasting tartness that countered the taste of shrimp and pork.
I always make sure to order vegetables to accompany my meal, which I did not forget. The Braised Tofu with Egg and Seasonal Vegetables (P159) fit the bill. It consisted of braised tofu in soya sauce, served with a marinated egg and bok choy with crispy garlic bits. Thanks to the tofu and egg that served as extra protein sources, I no longer saw the need to order an extra cup of rice. The contrasting textures of the bok choy and garlic brightened up my meal. (Mom would often remind us to eat vegetables, so this definitely qualifies!)
I’m glad that Hawker Chan opened up near me as I can simply head over there for a quick meal. Even though the restaurant lost its Michelin Star in 2021, it has nevertheless continued to level up its meals.
Select Hawker Chan locations here in Manila eventually converted into Hawker Chan 2.0 branches, which feature more Singaporean dishes and a setup similar to sit-down restaurants. Basic Hawker Chan branches are set up like fast food counters at hawker centers, which may not be that appealing to those that prefer a homier dining scenario.
Hawker Chan is definitely a must-recommend joint – and I sincerely hope it regains that much-coveted Michelin Star!
Visit Hawker Chan‘s global website and the Philippine franchise’s Facebook page and Instagram profile for the latest news and promotions.
Until the next review, bon appetit!
Hawker Chan
LGF The Parkway, SM City Fairview
Regalado Avenue cor. Quirino Highway
Brgy. Greater Lagro, Quezon City 1100
POSTSCRIPT:
I know this is unrelated to this entry, but permit me to share this instance that happened at the beginning of this week.
Days before this post, multiple sources confirmed on Nov. 20 the passing of actor and MMA fighter Jason David Frank (JDF) the previous day – with showbiz rag TMZ reporting that he died by suicide.
JDF was known for his role as Tommy Oliver, the Green Ranger / White Ranger from the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers TV show of the 1990s. His death occurred 21 years after that of Thuy Trang, who played Trini Kwan (the original Yellow Ranger) in the series. Trang died in a car crash on Sept. 3, 2001 – eight days before the 9/11 attack.
Requiescat in pace, JD.
The Monching's Guide 
looks good!
It sure was. 😁 I can’t exactly compare it with the SG hawker stall since di ko pa napupuntahan, but I can say this one is definitely a favorite now!
Oh, I envy you for having Hawker Chan in the Philippines. Hopefully there’ll be one in Bali one day, too!
Whenever we visited Singapore, we only ate at different Hawker Centers. They have such delicious, freshly prepared and still inexpensive foods. 🤩 We were always very satisfied.
The thing we loved most is that there are so many different food stalls that there’s something for anybody’s taste. 🤩
I sure hope they open where you are! 🙂 As per Hawker Chan’s website, three of its locations outside Singapore are in Sinophone countries — mainland China, Malaysia and Taiwan. Outside of those three, there’s Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and Kazakhstan.
And yes, the variety of cuisines available at hawker stalls there is very admirable! 😀 The new generation of hawkers is much more experimental, adding various twists to hawker center favorites.
Oh wow, I should not have read this on an empty stomach – it sounds (and looks) delicious and it seems like there are many options for everyone!
The items sure were! Though, sticking to the spirit of the home franchise in Singapore — the joint does have a more limited menu despite introducing seasonal favorites. I guess Mr. Chan does stick to the specialties he is more known for.
Thank you for stopping by, Juliette! 🙂
The guy who founded Hawker Chan is Malaysian. He came back here to open an outlet in KL, but apparently a lot of people find it overrated, considering their price point is much higher than the usual char siew/siew yuk stalls here, which are ubiquitous and affordable. Haven’t had the chance to try it out though, I should give it a go so I can make my own judgment call 😛 Glad you liked it though!
Oh, thank you for that bit, Eris! Will update the entry; I thought he was from SG. 😅 I’ll surely wait for you and N’s take on Hawker Chan, as you guys over there in MY have a benchmark for roast pork dishes.
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