Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, an unassuming street vendor in a Singapore open-air food court, has officially been crowned the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant.
Chan Hon Meng, the Malaysian operator of a chicken rice and chicken noodle street vendor in Singapore, clearly had no idea his tiny, no-frills stall, serving out of the corner of a typical open-air food court in Singapore, would ever be considered for a Michelin star.
In the video below, Hon Meng seems adorably awestruck and disoriented as he attends the 2016 Michelin Guide Singapore Gala dinner and award ceremony, asking a guide if his was the only Chinese restaurant in the guide. At one point, he says he even asked a Michelin Guide representative if the news of his Michelin star was a joke.
Probably, the owner and chef’s initial incredulity is due to the fact that Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle – a mouthful of a name, to be sure – cranks out dishes for massive lines of hungry diners at prices that clock in even cheaper than a fast food burger set. In fact, Hon Meng’s stall’s cheapest item comes in at just US$1.50, making it the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world.
Admittedly, 10 years ago it would have been unthinkable for a restaurant like Hon Meng’s humble stall to land a spot on the venerated Michelin Guide, but it seems in recent years the guide’s operators have been attempting to shed their stuffy, old-money image (a somewhat incongruous one, considering the guide’s mascot is a giant marshmallow man made of old tires). The guide is famous for featuring highfalutin venues requiring reservations months in advance and dress codes that we’re sure necessitate at least one monocle; but this year’s Singapore guide actually features not just one, but two street stalls.
Still, Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle handily beats out Singapore’s other Micheline-starred stall, Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, as the cheapest Michelin Guide restaurant in the world.
We’d love to go give it a try, but waits at Chan Hon Meng’s establishment were reportedly thirty minutes or longer even before the Michelin star announcement, and have swelled to multiple hours now. At least you’ll have Pokémon Go to keep you occupied if you do decide to brave the daunting lines.
Source: Michelin Guide Singapore
Feature Image: YouTube/Michelin Guide Singapore
Insert Image: Uncle_sim123/Tripadvisor
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