Singapore’s Most Taiwanese A Rong Grocery Store – 95% of Goods Imported from Taiwan
▲ The Tiong Bahru Market is not far from the city center, close to both the market and the hawker center, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists to explore local cuisine.
Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Reported and photographed in Singapore
When traveling abroad, if you want to understand the local way of life or discover authentic snacks, traditional markets can be a great choice. Located in the central area of Singapore, the “Tiong Bahru Market” has been a focal point of local life since the 1940s. Although it’s no longer as bustling as it once was, it still retains the charm of old Singapore. What’s more, here you can find a growing number of Taiwanese products and taste the nostalgic flavors of “Taiwanese-style” snacks.
Guide Dick explained that the early Tiong Bahru (Tiong Bahru) area was actually a cemetery. Because the old cemetery had been relocated elsewhere (now the site of the historic Singapore General Hospital), the graves were moved here. In Hokkien, “Tion” means “cemetery,” while “Bahru” is Malay for “new,” so it was once called the “New Cemetery.” It wasn’t until British architect Raffles came and developed the area into a town that it shed its cemetery reputation. Today, it is simply transliterated as “Tiong Bahru.”
▲ The goods on sale in the market are quite diverse, but most of the fresh food is placed on the first floor, where shoppers can easily pick up their desired items. The freshness of the produce is quite high, and you can also find good-quality meat here.
The Tiong Bahru Market is considered one of the more historically significant traditional markets in Singapore. Although its scale is not as large as some modern ones, it has a unique charm due to its environment and architecture. In the past, it was a bustling train station hub, and many residents who used to live nearby have now moved away, but some still return to shop here. The market offers a well-planned layout with shaded walkways, small restaurants, and old-school shops selling daily necessities. The combination of retro buildings and nostalgic eateries attracts many locals looking for a leisurely time.
Walking into the Tiong Bahru Market, whether you’re there for the market itself or just browsing the shops, you’ll notice how neatly the goods are arranged. Different types of vendors are lined up along the walkways, offering everything from fresh produce and seafood to dried goods. There’s even a small section dedicated to traditional snacks. Dick also mentioned that, according to Singaporean government regulations, any vendor selling fresh meat must have refrigeration equipment in place before being allowed to set up a stall, so customers don’t need to worry about purchasing stale meat here.
Among the many snacks available, the “Taiwanese-style” treats instantly caught the reporter’s eye.
And at the very end of the leftmost aisle, a large orange “A Rong Grocery Store” sign immediately captured the reporter’s attention.
The Singaporean owner, known as A Rong, has been running this store for over two years. Because he loves Taiwanese flavors, he came up with the idea of promoting Taiwanese products in Singapore, which led to the plan to open the shop. Since everyone calls him A Rong, his Taiwanese friends named the store “A Rong Grocery Store.”.
A Rong explained that although there are many other similar grocery stores in Singapore, most of them sell a mix of products from China and other regions. Only his store has over 95% of its goods directly imported from Taiwan. Common Taiwanese products such as satay sauce, Kimlan soy sauce, and Guanmiao noodles can all be found here. Especially popular are Taiwanese vinegar, almond powder, soy sauce, and satay sauce, which are favorite items among locals. The store’s strong Taiwanese vibe—from the signage to the products—has attracted many Taiwanese expats living in Singapore who come here to shop and ease their homesickness.
Items such as pickled vegetables, dried tofu, and preserved eggs, which are hard to find in the area, can be easily purchased here.
The second-floor food court is also one of the must-visit spots in the market. Dozens of vendors line the curved walls, offering local favorites such as bak chor mee (minced meat noodles), fish ball noodles, the long-established Jian Bai porridge, Ah Huat kaya toast, 238 Coffee, and more. These are all popular everyday eats often seen in long queues. As the market and food court typically open around 7 or 8 a.m., many office workers stop by for a hearty breakfast or a cup of Nanyang coffee before heading to work. Many foreign tourists also make special trips here to sample authentic Singaporean cuisine.
▲ The hawker center in the Tiong Bahru Market offers a wide variety of local delicacies. The layout is thoughtfully designed, and the standout recommendation is the Hainanese chicken rice, a local signature dish.
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