All reviews
Review Author: JL
Review Date: 06 Aug 2026
Review Body: AMAZING!! Chef Jenny is so passionate about hawker culture and we learnt a ton from her. It was a super interesting morning learning about Singapore's hawker policies and how it has evolved over the years.
I've lived in Singapore my whole life and didn't know most of what she was telling us. It's really vital for us to understand this because if we don't understand it, we cannot protect it for future generations.
Chef Jenny knows a lot and she's also a highly engaging speaker so we were riveted the whole time by what she was telling us. It's incredibly rare to find an experience with this much depth and personality. Would recommend it to families, travellers, people living in Singapore and anyone who's interested in going deeper on local food culture.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Lina
Review Date: 06 Aug 2026
Review Body: We did this as a team and it was super interesting! Jenny, who is a food researcher has been immersed in the world of hawker life, culture and policy for the last few years, is a true wealth of information. Even though we have all been in Singapore for a long time or were born here, we learned so much!! I went to a dinner party later that night and my friends were properly intrigued with all the hawker facts I had to dish out. Such a worthwhile experience for anyone that appreciates the unique the hawker culture of Singapore!
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Winna
Review Date: 06 Aug 2026
Review Body: What an eye-opening experience learning from Chef Jenny about the evolution of Singapore's hawker centres. There was so much to learn about how policy-making has shaped the way we perceive and value hawkers and hawker food. After our discussion, I really think there's so much more we can do to support our hawkers to ensure this unique institution continues to thrive in Singapore.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Lara
Review Date: 20 Sep 2026
Review Body: Such an interesting and engaging experience, my daughter and I truly enjoyed this and learned so much about the context, history and current challenges in the hawker community. We appreciate this unique Singaporean phenomenon so much more now. Highly recommend!
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Claudia
Review Date: 26 Jun 2026
Review Body: Great insights from a real expert in hawker culture, and we had a great conversation. As a local, I'd highly recommend it.
Review rating: 5
Itinerary
Itinerary Day 1
Itinerary Summary: Explore the evolution & future of hawker centres with a food studies expert
Itinerary Description: Meet at Golden Mile Food Centre
Learn about the history and development of Singapore's hawker centres over a local beverage
Have brunch while learning about the public policies that have given rise to today's hawker scene
Walk to Albert Centre
Have sweet & savoury snacks while discussing the future of hawker centres
1 / 15
The Secret Lives of Hawkers in Singapore
The most fascinating walk through hawker culture with Chef Jenny. A must-do!
5.0
|5 Reviews
Group size
Up to 5 guests
DURATION
2 hours
Booking type
Join-in trip
MEET UP
At location
Group size
Up to 5 guests
- Experience highlights
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Availability
- More Info
- Host
- Reviews
Should chicken rice really cost $3.50 in the world's most expensive city?
Should chicken rice really cost $3.50? In one of the world’s most expensive cities, we still expect chicken rice to be as cheap as it was a decade ago - even as rents, ingredients and wages rise. At the same time, many hawkers are growing old, while younger people struggle to make the trade financially viable. So what is really keeping hawker food cheap, and can hawker culture survive for another generation?What looks like a simple place for an affordable meal is actually a living story about Singapore: one shaped by decades of policy, migration, economics and the everyday people who keep our hawker culture alive.Led by chef, food studies researcher and Fulbright-National Geographic Fellow Jenny Dorsey, you'll uncover the hidden forces behind one of Singapore's most iconic institutions. Along the way, you'll discover surprising stories hiding in plain sight, like why two neighbouring stalls can pay vastly different rents ($200 vs $5,000!), or how government decisions made decades ago still shape why we expect a plate of chicken rice to cost just $3.50.This isn't a food tour about finding the best dishes. It's about asking the questions most of us have never stopped to consider. Why is it so difficult for young people to become hawkers? What do we lose when the hawker culture we know disappears altogether?By the end of the experience, you'll leave with a much deeper appreciation for the people behind every stall and the complex realities they navigate every day. More importantly, you'll begin to see that hawker centres are a reflection of the choices we make as a society: what we're willing to pay for a meal, how we value the people behind it, the conversations we have, and the policies we support. It's an invitation to look beyond what's on your plate and discover how every Singaporean has a part to play in the future of our hawker culture.What to ExpectLearn about the history and development of Singapore's hawker centresLearn about the public policies that have shaped the hawker sceneDiscuss the future of hawker centresYou will be observing, learning, and discussing with Jenny throughout the tourGood to KnowThe tour includes $10 per participant to enjoy a hawker brunch of your choice
Experience highlights
What You’ll be Doing
Explore the evolution & future of hawker centres with a food studies expert
Show Details
What’s Included
Expert Guide
$10 to purchase your brunch at the hawker centre
Sweet & savoury snacks
Not included
Available Add-ons:
Who you’re supporting
Women-led Wonder
Show Details
Next Available Dates
Prices shown in USD
Select Time for 26 Sep 2026
Additional Information
Where we'll meet
Start Point
Meet-up at Golden Mile Food Centre(Golden Mile Food Centre, Beach Road, Singapore)
- 15 mins before selected timeslot
- Notes: We will meet by the ATM machines.
End Point
- End at Albert Centre (Albert Centre Market & Food Centre, Queen Street, Singapore)
Start & Ends
Select your preferred date to see timings.
Suitability / Accessibility
- Vegetarian food available
- Halal food available
- Recommended Age: 18+
Cancellation & other policies
Cancellation
Cancel 24 hours before activity for a full refund
From
$87.98 SGD
/person5.0(5)
Show Prices
Meet your host
Jenny is a professional chef, food writer, and researcher who studies food as the foundation for human meaning-making and identity formation. She holds a Master of Education from Harvard University and just finished her Fulbright-National Geographic Fellowship in Singapore, researching food policy in the context of hawker centres. Jenny is an IACP-winning photographer, James Beard Awards-nominated writer, and has been named an industry Game Changer by Food & Wine and a Trailblazing Activist by the World’s 50 Best. Her full biography, food portfolio, awards, and bylines are available at www.jennydorsey.co.
Experience: 12 years
Speaks: Fluent English
Acceptance rate: 100%
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