6 Hawker Stalls with Healthier Wholegrain Options

We grew up eating white rice as our main staple. It’s hard to give up rice but having too much of refined carbohydrates such as white rice and bread can lead to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Thankfully, we have no lack of wholegrain options in Singapore. Consuming a diet rich in wholegrain is good for health as it may lower the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

Wholegrain rice and noodles are now widely available so hawkers can prepare healthier traditional dishes without compromising on the taste. Here are six hawker stalls you should try.

Chow Kee

I remember constantly craving for mui fan when I was growing up. Every time my grandfather asked what I want for dinner from a tze-char store, it’s always, and only, mui fan. There is something about that savoury gravy that I just really enjoy. That was why I was exceptionally excited to try Chow Kee. The owner, Mr Cheong, has replaced white vermicelli with a wholegrain version, and he mixes white rice with brown. The Seafood Mui Fan features a satisfying portion of brown and white rice in a flavorsome gravy. The gravy brings out the flavour and freshness of the seafood. When eaten together with the mixed brown rice, each mouthful is so comforting. They also serve beef mui fan, sliced fish mui fan and sweet and sour pork with brown rice.

Cho Kee Noodle

Cho Kee has been selling wanton mee since 1965 and is now being run by the third generation of the Cho Kee family. What makes them special? It’s definitely their handmade noodles. Besides egg noodle, Cho Kee offers five other varieties of noodles — spinach, tomato, seaweed, multigrain and vegetable — all of which are made in their central kitchen. We went for the multigrain noodles which are very springy and did not have any alkaline taste. The noodles absorbed all the flavours of their specially concocted sauce and paired well with the plump and juicy dumplings. This new-generation hawker definitely deserves our support!

ABC Deji Fish Head Bee Hoon

A bowl of satisfying fish soup from ABC Deji Fish Bee Hoon warms the stomach. The lines here can be massive during lunchtime. But when you finally make it to the front, you will get a light, savoury broth served with a healthy portion of fresh fish. There is fried fish meat, sliced fish, or both, which is known as Double Fish. I like the Double Fish option because you are immediately presented with two different version of fish. Since we are already eating healthier here, we opted for the brown rice vermicelli. The vermicelli turned out to be a lot better than I expected. The delicate bee hoon are served together with slices of tomato, chye sim, and napa cabbage, which added more flavour to the broth. You can also add on tofu or bitter gourd. The chilli sauce is piquant and aromatic too. Nothing beats a bowl of hearty and wholesome fish bee hoon for lunch or dinner.

Hwa Yuen Porridge

There’s nothing more comforting like a hot bowl of porridge to start the day. Veronica’s father-in-law came from Hong Kong and started selling porridge in a pushcart along Kim Pong Road before moving to Tiong Bahru Market. “We mix both white and brown rice in our porridge. It’s healthier,” shared Veronica. The rice in this porridge is cooked down till a very fine consistency so it almost feels like you are drinking a rich, creamy soup. There are seven types of porridge combinations to choose from. If you can’t decide, go for the classic Mixed Pig’s Organ Porridge which has sliced pork, pig’s liver, intestines and more. They also serve fish porridge, frog leg porridge and shredded chicken century egg porridge.

Zhao Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice

Zhao Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice offers something different – Brown Chicken Rice. That’s right. While I was there for lunch, many senior folks ordered this dish. I was pleasantly surprised as I thought they wouldn’t like to eat brown rice. “I cook my brown rice in a pressure cooker, hence it is really soft and easy to chew,” explained Ryan, the owner of Zhao Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice. The chicken is marinated with turmeric and cooked at constant temperature. To ensure that the chicken meat is tender and juicy, he soaks the blanched chickens in ice water. He also cooks the brown rice with his own secret ingredients which makes it tasty and enjoyable! Order the chicken rice set which comes with a generous portion of vegetables to complete the meal.

Healthy Vegetarian

I think that chap cai png, also known as mixed vegetable rice or economy rice, is a reliable go-to for every Singaporean, especially when we are in need of a quick lunch fix. What’s even better is that there are healthier options such as wholegrains. An unassuming stall in Aljunied Market & Food Centre, Healthy Vegetarian is a popular stall amongst my friends who are vegetarians. I like the fact that I can choose what I want from the 10-15 dishes available. We had three different vegetables and a beancurd roll. I skip the gravy most of the time to enjoy the original flavour of the dishes. The unique fragrance of steamed mui choy made us salivate. As always, pair the savoury ingredients with a bowl of steaming mixed brown rice and you have yourself a great meal which makes you feel full longer!

If you dine out in a hawker centre frequently, you may notice that many stalls offer healthier wholegrain versions of the usual refined carbohydrates staples such as white bread, rice and noodles. Keep a lookout the next time you dine at the hawker centre and give the wholegrain options a go. Tasty food can be healthier too!

For a list of eateries on-board the Healthier Dining Programme, go visit www.hpb.gov.sg/hdp.

This post is brought to you by the Health Promotion Board.