Hawkerman

Hawkerman
10 Eunos Road 8
#B1-128 SingPost Centre

https://www.facebook.com/hawkermansg/

Bao Ka Liao (SGD $32.90), Source Credits: Hawkerman

Decent Hawker Favourites Under One Roof

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 5
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 6
Service: 3
Value for Money: 6
Spent about SGD $19 per person.


.....


Spearheaded by Singaporean actor-host Ben Yeo, with support from partners Jimmy Soh of Tenderfresh Classic & Golden Rooster, Yong Tan of Warong Kim's Seafood, and Ah Boy of Good Chance Popiah, Hawkerman was founded in October 2017 as a halal-certified, casual dining eatery, bringing together several Singaporean hawker favourites under one roof. Beyond the individual tasty dishes from each brand, all of which can be found here, Hawkerman also pushes the boundaries of Modern Singaporean cuisine, serving up several experimental fusion flavours.

Ambience at Hawkerman has a rustic industrial feel, with warm, low hanging lights, rough dark wooden furnishings, and exposed metal pipes. The open concept place feels inviting and welcoming, and is decently comfortable. I note that furnishings are closely packed, and ambient noise level can be mid-range. The self-service stations are centrally positioned, and the semi-open kitchen offers a view while queuing.

Service at Hawkerman is completely self-service, with ordering, payment, and collection over the counter. The menu is helpfully detailed, with large, vibrant pictures, so staff aren't required to interact much, or display any product knowledge. I note they're decently efficient at cleaning up when diners leave, but during peak periods, the mess can be unsightly. Generally, I notice cleanliness to be less than thorough as well, with some cutlery stains or bits of food remnants on tables.

Food at Hawkerman is Modern Singaporean, a fusion of Western and Asian influences. A lot of items are produced from the respective brand's central kitchens, so a minimum decent consistency is ensured for taste. Portions are medium to large for individuals, but prices are slightly higher than their regular offerings in hawker centres / coffee shops. Budget about SGD $19 per person for a meal here.


.....

Hawkerman Facade

Cute colloquial name aside, the Espresso Gao (SGD $3.90) is essentially the equivalent of a latte or a kopi gao siu dai. With a strong, robust texture to the body, and a lovely smoky aroma of roasted coffee beans, this has a bitter sweet flavour that may not appeal to all.

Espresso Gao (SGD $3.90)

Espresso Gao

The Tea Earl Grey (SGD $2.90) is fairly straightforward, with a robust earthy floral flavour.

Tea Earl Grey (SGD $2.90)

The Coco Bandung (SGD $2) is a modern take on this popular Malay beverage. Instead of condensed milk, coconut milk is blended with rose cordial syrup, giving this a unique earthy floral sweet flavour. Quite nice.

Coco Bandung (SGD $2)

Coco Bandung

Yes, it's literally listed on the menu as Fake Bird's Nest Drink (SGD $2), with the description as 'At least we dun bluff you hor!" Points for honesty I guess. Quirky name aside, this has an earthy floral sweet flavour, and while we didn't ask if it was made from synthetic bird's nest, it tasted fairly pleasant.

Fake Bird's Nest Drink (SGD $2)

As its name suggests, the Bao Ka Liao (SGD $32.90), or 'All-In / All-Included', is a sampler platter for the undecided, or those who wish to try a bit of everything. It features 4 of the house signature mains, with 3 of the house special appetizers. Can be shared between 2 - 4 people, good value for money.

Bao Ka Liao (SGD $32.90)

Good old-fashioned, traditional Ah Boy Hokkien Popiah (SGD $3.90), made with the famed recipe from Ah Boy of Good Chance Popiah (好彩薄饼). A thin chewy wheat skin Popiah wrap tightly holds 7 generous fillings of tender daikon radish, soft shredded egg, crunchy lettuce, crisp bean sprouts, garlic, coriander, and finely chopped peanuts. Drizzled with a thick sweet sauce, and your choice of add-on chili. This place is halal, so there's no use of pork lard. Has a satisfiying crunch to texture, with bold savoury sweet flavour.

Ah Boy Hokkien Popiah (SGD $3.90)

The classic 60s Hokkien Mee (SGD $9.90) is made with the famed recipe from Warong Kim's Seafood, by the stylish long-sleeve shirt and rolex watch hawker, Tan Kue Kim. Here the legacy is carried on by his son, Yong Tan. The Hokkien Mee has yellow egg noodles and rice vermicelli noodles stir-fried with eggs, squid, deshelled prawns / shrimp, bean sprouts, fish sauce, garlic, and a rich prawn / shrimp stock, served garnished with fried shallots and a lime wedge. A wet, gooey, delicious mess, with easy-to-eat, soft chewy textures, it carries good smoky aroma, and a lovely savoury sweet crustacean flavour.

60s Hokkien Mee (SGD $9.90)

The XO Carrot Cake (SGD $3.50) features a Carrot Cake / Chye Tow Kueh, white version, made with steamed daikon radish stir-fried with eggs. It has a soft, slightly chewy texture, with delicate eggy sweet savoury flavour. The XO, or 'Extra Ordinary' sauce is a piquant, savoury spicy seafood sauce, which usually contains dried scallops, fermented shrimp, white onions, garlic, and chili. Best eaten together for maximum flavour.

XO Carrot Cake (SGD $3.50)

The signature Fried Half Spring Chicken (SGD $11.50) from the main franchise Tenderfresh Classic & Golden Rooster. Coated in a buttermilk batter and deep-fried, it has that lovely crisp texture and bold salty savoury flavour to the thin chicken skin, while the moist and tender chicken meat has a clean sweet savoury flavour. As consistently tasty as before.

Fried Half Spring Chicken (SGD $11.50)

The Double Yolk Chicken (SGD $7.90) is decent enough. Features battered tori karaage / fried chicken chunks, with a bouncy juicy bite, and good savoury salty flavour. Coated in a mix of creamy salted egg yolk sauce along with rough mashed egg mayonnaise, giving it a lovely eggy sweetness that lifts the whole dish.

Double Yolk Chicken (SGD $7.90)

The fusion dish of Kimslaw With Fried Muah Chee (SGD $5.90) features a creamy cool crunchy mix of cabbage and carrot coleslaw, infused with kimchi baechu / kimchi pickled cabbage, giving it a lovely sharp vegetal sour sweet flavour that tickles the palate. Paired with chewy balls of muah chee / glutinous rice cakes, which have a delicate nutty grainy sweet flavour and a sticky texture, but is more dense than I'd like.

Kimslaw With Fried Muah Chee (SGD $5.90)

Loved the Citrus Plum Watermelon (SGD $3.90), with its chilled, fresh, juicy cubes of succulent fruity sweet watermelon, dressed in a sharp sour zesty tangy sauce of sour plum juice. Excellent palate cleanser, so refreshing. I want more!

Citrus Plum Watermelon (SGD $3.90)

Satisfied with the O-Leek Chicken (SGD $12.90). Served with sides of Kimslaw and Taro / Yam Cake Fries, the former as tasty as before, the latter having a satisfiying delicious crunch to the outside, yet remains tender on the inside. Bold savoury salty earthy flavours from the fried yam / taro strips. The star is the Fried Chicken With Soy Onion Sauce & Leeks, the crispy fried chicken skin and tender moist chicken meat is complemented by the richness of the soy sauce, and the crunch of the leeks. Has a robust, full flavoured, salty savoury sweet taste. Can be a little strong on the palate.

O-Leek Chicken (SGD $12.90)

Fried Chicken With Soy Onion Sauce & Leeks

Taro / Yam Cake Fries

Kimslaw

O-Leek Chicken

The Yuan Yang Carrot Cake (SGD $6.90) features 2 Carrot Cake / Chye Tow Kueh, white version, made with steamed daikon radish stir-fried with eggs. It has a soft, slightly chewy texture, with delicate eggy sweet savoury flavour. Each is coated in a different sauce. The XO, or 'Extra Ordinary' sauce is a piquant, savoury spicy seafood sauce, which usually contains dried scallops, fermented shrimp, white onions, garlic, and chili. The Carbonara sauce is a creamy, savoury sweet gravy that is paired with chewy squares of salty turkey bacon. Both are bold in flavour, and tasty.

Yuan Yang Carrot Cake (SGD $6.90)

Yuan Yang Carrot Cake

Yuan Yang Carrot Cake

Yuan Yang Carrot Cake

If you can't decide whether to have their signature fried chicken or their signature Hokkien Mee, then the sexy Hokkien Chick (SGD $8.90) allows you to have the best of both. The Hokkien Mee has yellow egg noodles and rice vermicelli noodles stir-fried with eggs, bean sprouts, fish sauce, garlic, and a rich prawn / shrimp stock, served garnished with fried shallots and a lime wedge. A wet, gooey, delicious mess, with easy-to-eat, soft chewy textures, it carries good smoky aroma, and a lovely savoury sweet crustacean flavour. Because it's served with a medium sized piece of fried chicken, which is tender juicy in texture and savoury salty sweet in flavour, this lacks the garnish of squid and deshelled prawns / shrimp of the regular version Hokkien Mee. Still pretty good.

Hokkien Chick (SGD $8.90)

Hokkien Chick

The Spicy X.O. Hokkien Mee (SGD $12.90) is so named because 'X.O.' refers to 'Extra Oysters'. The dish takes after the famed Warong Kim's Seafood style, featuring yellow egg noodles and rice vermicelli noodles stir-fried with eggs, squid, deshelled prawns / shrimp, bean sprouts, fish sauce, garlic, oysters, and a rich prawn / shrimp stock, served garnished with fried shallots and a lime wedge. Coated in a semi-sweet, semi-spicy chili sauce. A wet, gooey, delicious mess, with easy-to-eat, soft chewy textures. Carries good smoky aroma, and a lovely savoury sweet crustacean flavour, but the sweet spicy chili distracts a little from the overall taste. Would prefer this without the chili over the top.

Spicy X.O. Hokkien Mee (SGD $12.90)

Spicy X.O. Hokkien Mee

Spicy X.O. Hokkien Mee

The Half Spring Chicken Fried (SGD $11.50) from Tenderfresh Classic & Golden Rooster has a juicy, tender texture to the chicken meat, with the fried skin having a lovely crisp savoury salty flavour. Served with a refreshing vegetal sweet coleslaw, and clumpy buttered rice that wasn't that nice.

Half Spring Chicken Fried (SGD $11.50)

Half Spring Chicken Fried

The Half Spring Chicken Barbecued (SGD $11.50) from Tenderfresh Classic & Golden Rooster has a juicy, tender texture to the chicken meat, with the barbecued skin having a nice chewy savoury smoky flavour. Served with a refreshing vegetal sweet coleslaw, and clumpy buttered rice that wasn't that nice.

Half Spring Chicken Barbecued (SGD $11.50)

Half Spring Chicken Barbecued

The Tom Yum Leg Sedap Lemak (SGD $8.90) features fluffy coconut milk infused white rice, juicy cucumber, crunchy roasted peanuts with crisp fried anchovy fish / anchovies, zesty achar / Nonya spicy pickled salad (with pickled cucumber, carrot, pineapple), and half a soft seasoned egg. A huge chicken leg, with tender moist chicken meat and sticky fatty skin, coated in a mild Tom Yum spice, served with a lime wedge and spicy sambal belachan, completes the dish. Rather filling, with complex flavours of zesty tangy earthy nutty eggy sweet savoury salty sour bitter spicy. Overall, not as tasty as it could be, but a decent rendition.

Tom Yum Leg Sedap Lemak (SGD $8.90)

Tom Yum Leg Sedap Lemak

The modern Feesh & Chips Mala Mayo (SGD $9.90) features a medium sized fillet of battered john dory fish, crisp and crunchy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside, with a light sweet savoury oily flavour. Served with creamy coleslaw, and a mound of thin shoestring fries with good potato flavour. But the star that makes this dish is the mala mayo, a sharp spicy concoction of mala Sichuan / Szechuan peppercorn seasoning powder mixed with creamy mayonnaise. Has a quick fiery bite, but luckily, doesn't linger or numb the palate, making it pleasant and enticing to eat. Good!

Feesh & Chips Mala Mayo (SGD $9.90)

Feesh & Chips Mala Mayo

Feesh & Chips Mala Mayo

.....







.....