Available for just $50 SGD (about NT$50)! Singapore street food voted “most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant”

▲ Singapore becomes the only city in Southeast Asia to be evaluated and published in the MICHELIN Guide Singapore.

Reported and photographed by Tsai Wen-Jun, Taipei

The world’s culinary bible, the MICHELIN Guide, this year turned its attention to the diverse cuisines nurtured by Singapore’s multicultural fabric. In July, it released the MICHELIN Guide Singapore, featuring 29 starred restaurants and 34 recommended eateries. Among the starred establishments, two street food stalls made history by earning their first MICHELIN one-star ratings — and you can enjoy them for as little as 2 Singapore dollars (about NT$50), making them the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurants in the world.

Singapore is the only food destination in Southeast Asia to be evaluated by the MICHELIN Guide. Gwendolyn Kwek, Director of the China (East China) Office of the Singapore Tourism Board, said that due to its geography and history, Singapore has become a melting pot of diverse ethnic groups, reflected in its even more diverse food culture. The restaurants listed in the MICHELIN Guide Singapore range in price from 2 to 500 Singapore dollars. Through this guide, the board hopes to attract more travelers to explore Singapore and gain a deeper understanding of the Lion City through its cuisine.

▲ Gwendolyn Kwek, Director of the China (East China) Office of the Singapore Tourism Board (center).

The inaugural MICHELIN Guide Singapore lists 22 one-star, 6 two-star restaurants, and the only three-star establishment is Joël Robuchon Restaurant, opened by celebrity chef Joël Robuchon on Sentosa Island, serving refined French cuisine.

▲ The recently awarded one-star Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle. (Photo / Screenshot fromdanielfooddiary.com/)

Aside from upscale dining venues with elegant settings, the biggest spotlight this time goes to Singapore’s street food, which also made the list. One is “大华猪肉|刻趺妗保located in Kreta Ayer Lane, which has been around for 60 years and enjoys lasting popularity. The other is “Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle” at the Chinatown Maxwell Food Centre, which has an 8-year history. The Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle can be enjoyed for just 2 Singapore dollars (about NT$50). Gwendolyn Kwek noted that these two stalls were already quite famous, but after receiving stars, customers now often have to wait 1–2 hours to get a taste, with some lining up before the shops even open — a true testament to their popularity.

Another highlight in the MICHELIN Guide reviews is Taiwanese chef André Chiang, whose restaurant Restaurant ANDRE was awarded two stars, making him the first Taiwanese chef to receive such a distinction.