11 Singapore hawkers to set up shop in New York City this September

By Azhar Aziz September 21, 2022
11 Singapore hawkers to set up shop in New York City this September
Photo: Makansutra
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A food hall modelled after Singapore’s hawker centre — the first of its kind in the United States — is set to open in New York City on Sept 21. Named Urban Hawker, the food market will house 17 F&B vendors, 11 of which hail from Singapore. 

The hawkers were specially chosen and curated by Singapore food guru and restaurateur, KF Seetoh. A wide variety of Malay, Peranakan, Chinese and Indian cuisines will be made available, in an attempt to replicate Singapore’s culinary repertoire more than 15,000km from home.

Laksa
The mouth-watering laksa is part of the Urban Hawker menu. Photo: Makansutra

Among the hawkers featured is Daisy’s Dream Kitchen, which sells home-cooked Peranakan favourites such as laksa and nasi lemak. Part-owned by Singapore actress Selena Tan, Daisy’s Dream Kitchen started out as a hawker stall at Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre in 2011. It has since moved to Temasek Club as a full-fledged restaurant.

Mee rebus and satay
Local favourites mee rebus (left) and satay (right). Photo: Makansutra

Well-known Malay restaurant Padi @ Bussorah is also part of the impressive line-up of hawkers. Branded as Padi D’NYC in the Big Apple, it’ll showcase authentic Malay fare such as mee rebus, satay and beef rendang.

Padi @ Bussorah opened its restaurant at Bussorah Street (outside the Sultan Mosque) selling Malay hawker food such as nasi ambeng in 2015.

Ashes Burnnit burger
One of Ashes Burnnit’s signature gourmet burgers. Photo: Makansutra

More contemporary hawkers from the younger generation will also have a spot at the food hall.

Burger joint Ashes Burnnit serves locally inspired burgers and sandwiches such as the grilled satay chicken burger with marinated chicken thighs and roti john. Known for its charcoal bun burgers, Ashes Burnnit redefined the gourmet burger wave when it opened its first outlet at Golden Mile Food Centre in 2019.

Urban Hawker is a project by Makansutra, in partnership with Urbanspace, a market-maker in New York City. It will be open daily from 8am to 11pm, and the stalls are on a three-year lease.

Below is the full list of F&B vendors available at Urban Hawker:

Daisy’s Dream Kitchen, Padi @ Bussorah and Ashes Burnnit are on the GrabFood delivery service in Singapore. You can also book a ride to the stores.


Azhar Aziz

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Azhar loves to connect with people through his work and stories. After spending almost a decade in the tech start-up scene, he is now ready to share his passion for all things food.

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