CADE RUTKOSKE — Singapore has long been a country known for its diversity. Since its days as a colony in the 19th and 20th centuries, it has been a landing point for Asian immigrants and European voyagers. The arrival of immigrants brought a bursting new culture, and with that came incredible new foods. Thus, Singapore soon became a country with one of the most diverse food cultures in the world. An innovation of this unique food culture is the birth of the hawker markets. The hawker markets have become incredibly popular among tourists and locals, characterized by their delicious food, variety of cuisines, and constant buzz of energy. Featured recently in popular culture–most notably in the film Crazy Rich Asians–the hawker markets have become symbolic of Singaporean culture and social life.
But what if we didn’t have to travel all of the way to Singapore to experience the hawker markets? With the help of Anthony Bourdain, a famous chef who focused on the exploration of foreign cuisine, the markets have been brought to life in New York. Anthony Bourdain traveled the world in search of the best local dishes and restaurants. He dreamt of one day opening a hawker market in America with all of the best stores. Sadly, he has since passed, but his dream has undeniably lived on. As of September 2022, the first Singaporean hawker market in the city, Urban Hawker, opened to the public. Located right in the heart of midtown at 135 W 50th Street, the market is almost always busy with curious customers eager to taste the rich, flavorful dishes. With about 20 stores composed of Indonesian, Singaporean, Filipino, and Indian cuisines, there’s an incredibly wide variety of food to choose from. All of the stores in Urban Hawker originated in Asia, upholding an exceptional authenticity.
One of the reasons why Urban Hawker has become such a hit is because it attracts such a large crowd. For many New Yorkers it’s something completely new, as it’s not only a different taste but also a different cultural experience. For the New Yorkers who share that culture, it’s a taste of home. The market is a place where cultures mix. People unfamiliar with certain dishes are served with new flavors and fascinating history, made possible by the store clerks proudly sharing the traditions of their delicacies. For those of the same culture, they connect over their backgrounds and sometimes even talk in their native languages.
Many people who dine at Urban Hawker can be seen in groups. Something that has made Urban Hawker so popular for groups is that the portion sizes are rather small. With portions the size of appetizers, groups often order a wide variety of dishes and then share, slowly enjoying the different flavors and cuisines.
Since Urban Hawker only opened in September, there are still a few more stores coming soon. Two upcoming additions to the marketplace are a special drinks store and a traditional Singaporean and Indonesian dessert store. The addition of the final few stores will complete the marketplace and present even more options for visitors.
Urban Hawker offers a completely unique dining experience to New Yorkers. The sharing of not just Singaporean culture, but all different types of Asian cuisine in one place is quite unlike anywhere else in the city; it allows one to learn and experience other cultures from across the globe. Urban Hawker offers an incredibly enriching experience and is definitely a place worth checking out.
The Dutch Report 