Lunar New Year is just around the corner and it’s time to buy and order your favourite Bak Kwa if you haven’t already done so.  Bak kwa, commonly referred to as rou gan, is our all-time favourite CNY snack and essentially, it is a thin slice of barbecued pork characterized by its sweet, smoky, and savory taste.

We are not sure about you, but Bak Kwa is a snack that we crave all the time and not just during Lunar New Year. We really can eat it all year round!

Century Bak Kwa is a local artisanal bak kwa shop that offers charcoal-grilled Bak Kwa handmade using Spanish pork. Their Bak Kwa is marinated in house with precision, batch by batch, and grilled on charcoal on premise in small batches to ensure the consistency and quality.

Century Bak Kwa has perfected the craft of making Bak Kwa, turning it into not just a festive delicacy during Lunar New Year but a year-round treat for those who crave a slice of tradition, perfectly charred and packed with flavor.

Fans of Century Bak Kwa call it the Hermes of Bak Kwa, and that is the best testimony of where they stand in terms of taste and quality.

Unlike most Bak Kwa chains in Singapore that produce their Bak Kwa using machines, Century Bak Kwa is an independent shop and the handmade Bak Kwa is grilled at their shop in small batches.

The Bak Kwa slices are thick, juicy and tender. Other than the original flavour, they also offer an array of modern flavours including lychee, yuzu, pineapple, hawthorn and black truffle. Once you’ve tried their premium Bak Kwa, everything else pales in comparison.

And don’t miss out on their homemade Golden Pineapple Tarts—available in original, ondeh ondeh, prune, strawberry—which are super addictive. These are made using premium French butter, so every bite is luxurious, decadent and oh so satisfying. Totally worth the calories, we would say!

There may be no lack of brands out there offering CNY goodies, but Century Bak Kwa has won our hearts for their dedication to perfection. Apart from the taste, can we also say they have the best-looking packaging?

They nailed the aesthetics part, making their goodies an ideal gift for that someone special. Truly the best Bak Kwa in Singapore, and if you haven’t tried, you are missing out.

They have limited slots available from until the start of Lunar New Year, shop for your Bak Kwa online at Century Bak Kwa.

Century Bak Kwa
30 Dunlop St
Singapore 209358

This post was brought to you by Century Bak Kwa.

New Eastern Kim Tee—a traditional Bak Kwa shop in Serangoon Gardens—is now selling Bak Kwa Fries. The popular Bak Kwa shop has created the Bak Kwa Fries using its popular signature recipe.

Unlike their usual Bak Kwa slices which are made considerably thinner than most Bak Kwa that you get in Singapore, they have made the Bak Kwa Fries thicker, chunkier and juicer.

Forget about spam fries, you need to try this new Bak Kwa Fries!

Starting out from humble roots, turning his interest into passion and passion into a business, founder, Mr Teo Kim Tee began his own signature brand—New Eastern (Kim Tee) Dried and Minced Pork—back in 1976, setting up shop in the heart of Serangoon Gardens. They’ve remained at the same location ever since and have now grown to become a popular name among many.

Their bak kwa is unique in that it is made considerably thinner than most, allowing the complex smoky aromas and sweet, porky flavours to melt on the tongue. Priding themselves on producing bak kwa that is 100% hand-made, their products begin the traditional way, cooked in a charcoal oven before subsequently grilled over a charcoal stove.

Now, back to the Bak Kwa Fries. It is available at an introductory price of S$6 and they are freshly prepared at New Eastern Kim Tee at Serangoon Garden (22 Maju Ave) and Chinatown (22 Sago St).

And from 22 to 26 Dec 2020, New Eastern Kim Tee is offering free delivery with no minimum order for the Bak Kwa Fries!

New Eastern Kim Tee Bak Kwa
22 Maju Avenue
Serangoon Gardens
Singapore 556695
Tel: +65 6283 2829 / 9138 6665
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Read our post to find out how bak kwa is made at New Eastern Kim Tee.

We all know that Singapore is undisputedly one of the safest and cleanest countries in the world—home to the best airport in the world as well as cheap yet amazing hawker food, our Little Red Dot is indeed a country that easily piques one’s interest.

Yes, many of us agree that the temperatures here can drop by 10 degrees or so, but there are so many reasons to love Singapore that we endure our all-year-long summer. Besides being famous for the banning of chewing gum and our seemingly animated colloquial slang, Singlish, there are plenty of reasons for us to be oh-so-proud Singaporeans.

Here are 13 Homegrown Brands That Will Make All Singaporeans Proud of Our Little Red Dot—we bet you didn’t know that half of these are homegrown brands! #majulahsingapura

AWFULLY CHOCOLATE

What started as a statement to tackle dessert vendors everywhere, home-grown Awfully Chocolate has successfully established itself as one of the best and most popular chocolatiers around the world. Famed for its variety of chocolate-laden desserts, we absolutely go mad for their All Chocolate cake, that sees a simple chocolate cake between layers of dark chocolate fudge.

BANYAN TREE HOLDINGS

Established in 1994, Banyan Tree Holdings is founded by Singaporean businessman Ho Kwon Ping. In 1995, Ho and his wife Claire Chiang chanced upon an empty plot of land on the western coast of Phuket which was soon after developed into Banyan Tree’s first resort.

Since then, Banyan Tree has grown to be Asia’s premier luxury hotel and resort brand with close to 40 properties internationally. It now has hotels as far apart as Mexico and Seychelles.

Photo Credit: Bee Cheng Hiang

BEE CHENG HIANG

Bakkwa—an all-time favourite snack amongst Singaporeans that is enjoyed particularly during the Chinese New Year period. For the uninformed, Bakkwa is essentially smoked and roasted pieces of pork with a consistency similar to jerky.

Founded in the 1930s by Singaporean businessman Mr Teo Swee Ee, Bee Cheng Hiang started out as a humble stall in Chinatown. Today, Bee Cheng Hiang sees over 260 retail outlets serving their famous bak kwa in 13 other countries across countries including Vietnam, South Korea and Cambodia.

BREADTALK

You’ve probably had a few of Breadtalk’s ever-popular Floss buns for breakfast if you grew up in Singapore. Founded in 2000, BreadTalk has expanded rapidly within the past 2 decades, establishing a distinctive presence in 18 locales across Asia, the Middle East, and most recently Europe.

Other brands that are under the Breadtalk Group include Din Tai Fung, Food Republic and Toast Box, which would probably sound very familiar to Singaporeans as well as those living in our neighbouring countries.

Photo Credit: Visit Singapore

BENJAMIN BARKER

An esteemed purveyor of smart-casual attires for men, Benjamin Barker is a home-grown fashion label founded by Mr Nelson Yap, who—you’d be surprised to hear—is a film graduate from the University of Melbourne as he had the intention to pursue a career in film-making.

The brand’s first store opened in Marina Square in 2009 and now sees retail stores in Melbourne, Seoul, Malaysia and a flagship store in Los Angeles.

Yap says that he intends to develop Benjamin Barker into a lifestyle brand by combining retail, F&B and hospitality—they even have a Benjamin Barker Café located in Cathay Cineleisure Orchard now!

Photo Credit: Miss Valerie Tan

BROWHAUS

One should never underestimate the importance of eyebrows in changing your image. Many of us, image-conscious or not, would be familiar with the brand Browhaus, which is a one-stop salon dedicated to perfect your lashes and brows.

Browhaus was established in 2004 under the wings of Spa Esprit Group, a homegrown brand founded by Singaporean businesswoman Cynthia Chua. The brand now has outlets all over the world, including stores in London and New York City. What more can we say? Browhaus is on fleek!

Photo Credit: Charles & Keith

CHARLES & KEITH

Set up by sibling duo Charles Wong and Keith Wong in 1996, Charles & Keith is a Singaporean fast-fashion footwear and accessories retailer which now has over 600 stores worldwide, including locations in Africa and Latin America.

It is amazing to see a 100% Singaporean brand grow from being a humble shoe shop in Amara Shopping Centre to venturing internationally and imprinting their global footprint across regions in Asia, the Middle East and Europe alongside Latin America and Africa!

OLD CHANG KEE

Lo and behold, the ultimate go-to for curry puffs and giant fishballs. Old Chang Kee started out as ‘Rex Curry Puff’, an assuming stall situated near the then Rex Cinema along Mackenzie Road.

Old Chang Kee has expanded expeditiously to opening franchises in Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. Just weeks ago in June 2018, they officially launched the opening of an outlet in London where guests can get their hands on Singapore’s famous curry puffs.

OSIM

OSIM would probably be first to come into your mind when luxurious massage chairs are mentioned. With brand ambassadors including Korean superstar Lee Min Ho and Chinese actress and model Fan Bingbing, OSIM has managed to climb its way to becoming a top-tier global brand.

Originally starting out as an electrical and household appliance company in 1980, founder Ron Sim saw an opportunity to bloom in Singapore’s healthcare products industry and thus started OSIM to advocate for a healthy lifestyle.

Credit: Razer

RAZER

Razer is a global gaming hardware manufacturing company established in 2005 by Singaporean entrepreneur Min-Liang Tan and Robert Krakoff.

Step into any IT retail store such as Challenger and COURTS and it would be hard to miss the bright green triple-headed snake logo that dons the front of every Razer product. They offer a wide range of products in the likes of gaming equipment and wearables including smartwatches.

Photo Credit: Skin Inc.

SKIN INC.

The homegrown skincare brand is founded by Sabrina Tan, an IT-expert-turned-skincare-guru who took the leap of faith to step into the beauty industry after having worked in IT for 11 years.

Skin Inc. offers a range of skincare products that combine technology and beauty, providing customers with customisable skincare products. The brand has been a winner of over a hundred beauty awards and their products are now sold in over 20 countries in Asia and Europe.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES

Awarded ‘The World’s Best Airlines’ by Skytrax World Airline Award in 2018 is Singapore Airlines, which has constantly been on the list for the world’s top 10 airlines for the past decade.

SIA has 26,000 group employees who are dedicated to making all traveller’s experience the most comfortable and pleasant experience with their impeccable service. Oh, how lucky we are!

TWG TEA

Short for The Wellbeing Group, TWG Tea is a brand that offers fine harvest teas since its founding in 2008. In a short span of 6 years, TWG Tea has vastly expanded to having outlets in countries such as Canada, Korea, Germany and Australia.

Its parent company is OSIM International, so you can be sure that it is not any atas tea brand from Europe!

The coming of the Lunar New Year marks the start of many things for the Chinese, with excessive feasting and snacking ranking the highest among our list of priorities. Among the popular mainstays such as pineapple tarts, love letters and other confectionery delights, the one we always go berserk for, is bak kwa—otherwise commonly known as rou gan or barbecued pork jerky.

Starting out from humble roots, turning his interest into passion and passion into a business, founder, Mr Teo Kim Tee began his own signature brand—New Eastern (Kim Tee) Dried and Minced Pork—back in 1976, setting up shop in the heart of Serangoon Gardens. They’ve remained at the same location ever since and have now grown to become a popular name among many.

Their bak kwa is unique in that it is made considerably thinner than most, allowing the complex smoky aromas and sweet, porky flavours to melt on the tongue. Priding themselves on producing bak kwa that is 100% hand-made, their products begin the traditional way, cooked in a charcoal oven before subsequently grilled over a charcoal stove.

As of today, the family heirloom that is Mr Teo’s bak kwa is run by his two grandchildren who not only aim to ensure that his legacy lives on but to give the brand itself a breath of new life through contemporary approaches—all while maintaining the stellar standard of their traditional handmade bak kwa.

OVER 40 YEARS OF TRADITION

Boasting more than 40 years of tradition in the way that they select and prepare their barbecued pork jerky, one can expect nothing short of pure deliciousness from its lovely sweet glaze, to the smoky and charred exterior that gives the bak kwa its signature taste.

Every batch of fresh pork undergoes a careful inspection process to ensure that only the best quality products are used. In addition, they also take the extra step in trimming off excess fat, making sure that their bak kwa is kept fairly lean—great news for all of you health conscious folks.

No preservatives are added, which also means that the average shelf life of their bak kwa is only about 1 to 2 weeks if stored properly. Although, if you’re a sucker for bak kwa like us, chances are they won’t last more than 5 days.

SLICED BAK KWA

If you’re new to their products, then you surely won’t go wrong with their Sliced Bak Kwa. Considerably thinner and sweeter than other brands, every strip melts delightfully on the tongue, creating a different experience altogether.

Allowed to roast in a massive charcoal oven, their bak kwa is laced with a strong smoky aroma as well as a crispy, char-grilled exterior. We particularly enjoyed this version as it has a nice chew to it, a vital quality when it comes to any meat jerky.

SIGNATURE BAK KWA

If you prefer an alternative with a little less chew, we highly recommend their Signature Bak Kwa that features finer bits of minced pork.

This version is much softer and pulls apart much easier, which is also great for the older folks or even young children who struggle with chewing. Boasting the same aromatic qualities of its chewier counterpart, one will find it hard to stop at just one piece.

CHILLI BAK KWA

Fancy a bit of heat? Their popular Chilli Bak Kwa comes with a decent amount of spice that does well to tease the tongue without leaving you sweating buckets. Speckled evenly throughout with chilli seeds, every bite promises a sharp kick of chilli that nicely complements to sweet barbecue flavour of the jerky.

GOLD COIN BAK KWA

Designed to look like coins, these bite-sized discs of bak kwa are especially good for kids who are never able to finish one whole square of bak kwa on their own. Think of them as little edible coins packed with smoky, meaty flavour that not only bring luck but serve as a tasty treat on-the-go.

A savoury-sweet snack that resembles the texture of cotton candy—if cotton candy were made of dry, fluffy, finely shredded savoury-sweet pork—is pork floss. A versatile product with several applications, we absolutely love this atop a bowl of congee, in a salad or simply scattered over buttered toast.

The folks here specialise in two varieties—crispy and soft. The crowd-favourite crispy version delights with the crunch that it gives, especially when some of the pieces clump together and get even crunchier.

The soft one takes on a much lighter hue and is much fluffier in comparison. Just as delicious, the soft pork floss melts easily on the tongue and, like a fine powder, delivers a massive flavour punch that coats the entire mouth.

Sweet, savoury and oozing with a flavourful barbecued pork aroma all in one, we can already see ourselves piling this onto everything.

New Eastern Kim Tee Bak Kwa (Flagship)
22 Maju Avenue
Serangoon Gardens
Singapore 556695
Tel: +65 6283 2829 / 9138 6665
Daily: 10am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

New Eastern Kim Tee @ Toa Payoh
210 Toa Payoh Lorong 8, #01-69
Singapore 310210
Tel: +65 9738 8458
Nearest Station: Braddell

New Eastern Kim Tee @ Old Airport Road
51 Old Airport Road, #01-112
Singapore 390051
Tel: +65 9028 4606
Daily: 7am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

New Eastern Kim Tee @ Potong Pasir
147 Potong Pasir Avenue 1, #01-85
Singapore 350147
Tel: +65 8783 5762 / 9011 7743
Nearest Station: Potong Pasir

New Eastern Kim Tee @ TANGS Orchard
310 Orchard Road
Singapore 238864
Tel: +65 9138 6665
Daily: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post was brought to you by New Eastern Kim Tee Bak Kwa.

Lunar New Year is just around the corner and you know what that means—the bak kwa season has arrived!

Among the many festive snack foods available, this sweet barbecued pork delight remains one of our top few must-haves. Sure, there are loads of brands out there selling the same thing and often we find ourselves returning to same old few.

Whether you’d rather go for the cheapest option or the best quality product out there, here we have compiled the price index of the most popular bak kwa stalls around for 2019 to give you the most bang for your bak.

BEE CHENG HIANG

A household brand that most of us are no strangers to, Bee Cheng Hiang is the go-to for delicious bak kwa. Priding themselves on using only the highest quality when it comes to their ingredients sans any artificial add-ons, this is definitely one brand you can count on to make your guests (and yourself) satisfied.

Sliced pork: S$56/kg
Minced pork: S$54/kg
Chilli pork: S$58/kg
Golden coin: S$56/kg

Bee Cheng Hiang
Multiple outlets islandwide
Tel: +65 6500 0888
Website: http://www.beechenghiang.com.sg

BEE KIM HENG

Occupying just a small unit in People’s Park Food Centre, Bee Kim Heng is one of the most underrated bak kwa stalls in Singapore. Unknown to many, this humble stall has actually been around for over 50 years and the owner, Mr Teo Ah Thin, grills the bak kwa himself so as to ensure quality and consistency of his products.

Sliced pork: S$55/kg
Chilli bak kwa: S$58/kg

Bee Kim Heng
Blk 32 New Market Road
#01-1010 People’s Park Food Centre
Singapore 050032
Tel: +65 6535 0735
Daily: 9.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

FRAGRANCE

Having started out in the late 1960s, Fragrance is one bak kwa brand that needs no further introduction. The award-winning brand is one of Singapore’s fastest growing chains who pride themselves on using the highest quality of ingredients to maintain customer satisfaction.

Sliced bak kwa: S$56/kg
Chilli bak kwa: S$58/kg
Gold coin bak kwa: S$56/kg
Honey bak kwa: S$56/kg

Fragrance
Multiple outlets islandwide
Tel: +65 6257 8608
Website: http://www.fragrance.com.sg

Photo Credit: Kim Hock Guan

KIM HOCK GUAN

What sets Kim Hock Guan apart from the rest of the brands is their consistency in using only sliced lean meat instead of minced meat, resulting in a chewier texture and sliced bak kwa that isn’t too heavy on the oil—perfect for the health conscious!

BBQ sliced pork: S$53/kg
Spicy sliced pork: S$58/kg

Kim Hock Guan
180 Bencoolen Street
#01-25 The Bencoolen (adjacent to OG Albert)
Singapore 189646
Tel: 68357118
Nearest Station: Bugis

KIM JOO GUAN

Kim Joo Guan’s bak kwa is well sought-after for good reason. Said to be made using a secret recipe that has been passed down over 4 generations, their bak kwa originates from Fujian and retains its traditional taste till today.

Traditional pork slice: S$55/kg
Chilli pork slice: S$57/kg

Kim Joo Guan
257 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058806
Tel: +65 6225 5257
Daily: 9.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Photo Credit: chooyutshing

LIM CHEE GUAN

Known for perpetual queues throughout the year and insanely long ones when the Lunar New Year approaches, Lim Chee Guan serves one of the most consistent and delectable renditions of the well-loved barbecued beef jerky. The queues can go up to an hour long so do remember to head down early before the crowds gather for some last-minute New Year’s shopping!

Currently, the retail prices for their bak kwa are as follows:

Normal: S$52/kg
Chilli: S$54/kg
Mini BBQ pork: S$48/kg
Beef: S$52/kg
Fish: S$48/kg
Prawn: S$50/kg
Gold coin: S$48/kg

Lim Chee Guan
203 New Bridge Road
Singapore 059429
Tel: +65 6933 7230
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

NEW EASTERN KIM TEE

Starting out from humble roots, turning his interest into passion and passion into a business, founder, Mr Teo Kim Tee began his own signature brand—New Eastern (Kim Tee) Dried and Minced Pork—back in 1976, setting up shop in the heart of Serangoon Gardens. 100% hand-made, their bak kwa is made considerably thinner than most, allowing the complex smoky aromas and sweet, porky flavours to melt on the tongue.

Signature bak kwa: S$50 – S$58/kg
Sliced bak kwa: S$54 – S$62/kg
Chilli bak kwa: S$52- S$60/kg

New Eastern Kim Tee Bak Kwa (Flagship)
22 Maju Avenue
Serangoon Gardens
Singapore 556695
Tel: +65 6283 2829
Daily: 10am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Photo Credit: Lemon Film

SANG HOCK GUAN

A hole-in-the-wall shop in Ang Mo Kio, Sang Hock Guan is easy to miss but one we promise you should keep a lookout for. They are a family-owned business which, though may not be as recognised as the big brands, have their own pool of loyal customers purchasing their products yearly. In fact, their bak kwa is said to be comparable to the famous Lim Chee Guan! Well, you would try it to believe it!

Sliced pork bak kwa: S$53/kg
Chilli bak kwa: S$55/kg

Sang Hock Guan
Block 163
#01-446 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4
Singapore 560163
Tel: +65 6458 7374
Daily: 9.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Yio Chu Kang

Photo Credit:Siang Ge

SIANG GE

Siang Ge takes pride in creating their own bak kwa recipes that will leave you satisfied till the very last bite. The company imports their meat all the way from Brazil and the kitchen is helmed by their head chef who has more than 20 years of experience in this industry, so you know you are in for the real deal. Besides, their bak kwa is one of the cheapest you can find in Singapore!

Classic bak kwa: S$42/kg
Chilli bak kwa: S$50/kg
Chicken bak kwa: S$50/kg

Siang Ge
275 Jalan Kayu
Singapore 799503
Tel: +65 6483 3368
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Sengkang

TUNG LOK

Most of us only know Tung Lok for their mouthwatering Chinese specialities, but did you know that they actually flame-grill their own Pork Bak Kwa in very limited quantities? Their classic bak kwa boasts sweet and savoury succulent meat that has enough bite and pleasant hints of smokiness.

Sliced pork (Honey-glazed / Spicy): S$70/kg

TungLok Group
Multiple restaurants islandwide
Website: www.tunglok.com

Bak kwa—also known to many as rou gan—is a snack that has gained worldwide popularity. What it is is essentially a thin sheet of barbecued pork that boasts sweet, smoky and savoury flavours.

An essential snack and one we see in almost every household during the Lunar New Year, many of us indulge in this sinful treat without fully knowing what goes into it and how it’s made. Ever wondered how bak kwa gets its signature smoky flavour, or how it achieves its thin yet robust structure? Here, we delve into how bak kwa is made—the traditional way.

MINCE OR SLICE, THEN MARINATED

Bak kwa exists in two forms—either it is made using minced pork or sliced pork. The type of pork that’s used varies as well. Generally, choosing meat with higher fat content results in more flavourful and succulent bak kwa whereas those with a lower fat content will probably taste just as good sans the excess grease.

The only key difference between sliced and minced bak kwa is the texture. Minced bak kwa is generally softer and easier to tear apart and bite into whereas its sliced counterpart often comes with a bit of chew.

The pork undergoes several hours of marination in a mixture of ingredients with the common culprits being sugar, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, fish sauce and herbs and spices such as ground pepper—of course, this varies depending on who makes it.

SMOOTHENED OUT ONTO A SHEET

Once marinated, the flavourful mixture is spread out carefully onto a rattan sheet using a spatula or a roller to achieve the desired size and thickness.

ROASTED IN A CHARCOAL OVEN

After the meat has been marinated and smoothened out onto a rattan mesh, the individual slices are then placed inside an oven where they are cooked through and through. This process is also what imbues the smoky flavour into the meat.

This process usually takes slightly over an hour. After which, what you get is a bright red sheet of meat jerky that has been evenly dried, smoked and properly cooked.

GRILL IT OVER CHARCOAL FOR THE SMOKY AROMA

Alas, the final process would be grilling the meat over charcoal—the most crucial and essential step to ensure a that there is caramelisation of the meat jerky as well as a slight char around the edges, resulting in a more intensified smoky fragrance—the signature taste of a bak kwa.

The meat is flipped over several times over the charcoal so that it is evenly cooked, yielding the most succulent, juicy bak kwa pieces.

Ideally, the burnt bits are removed to make it more presentable (and less cancerous). Voila! fresh bak kwa is made.

Thank you to the good folks at New Eastern Kim Tee for giving us an insight on how traditional bak kwa is made.

For many Singaporeans, Chinese New Year is just not the same without bak kwa. Originating from China, bak kwa is essentially barbecued meat slices that are extremely fragrant and come with a hint of smokiness from the fire that is used to grill the meat jerky.

While we certainly do not need any special occasion just for eating bak kwa, this Chinese snack is especially popular during the Lunar New Year and that is when you will see long queues forming outside popular bak kwa shops such as Bee Cheng Hiang and Lim Chee Guan.

Confused about all the prices? Our Bak Kwa Price Index 2018 will give you an overview of the more popular Bak Kwa brands in Singapore. Happy feasting!

Photo Credit: Bee Cheng Hiang

#1 BEE CHENG HIANG

No doubt one of the more well-known bak kwa brands in Singapore, Bee Cheng Hiang is a household name many Singaporeans would recognise. Using only the highest quality when it comes to their ingredients sans any artificial add-ons, one can trust Bee Cheng Hiang to deliver scrumptious bak kwa all the time.

SLICED PORK – S$55/KG

MINCED PORK – S$53/KG

CHILLI PORK – S$57/KG

SLICED CHICKEN – S$55/KG

Bee Cheng Hiang
Multiple outlets islandwide
Tel: +65 6500 0888
Website: http://www.beechenghiang.com.sg

#2 BEE KIM HENG

Operating a small shop in People’s Park Food Centre, Bee Kim Heng is an underrated bak kwa shop to visit for the same festive treats without the snaking queues. The owner, Mr Teo Ah Thin who is in his early 80s has been running the stall for almost five decades. Till today, he grills the bak kwa himself to ensure the same level of consistency.

SLICED PORK – S$50/KG

CHILLI – S$60/KG

Bee Kim Heng
Blk 32 New Market Road
#01-1010 People’s Park Food Centre
Singapore 050032
Tel: +65 6535 0735
Daily: 9.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Photo Credit: Fragrance

#3 FRAGRANCE

Fragrance started off with humble beginnings in 1965 as a humble bak kwa stall. Since then, the brand had grown to be now of the largest bak kwa chains in Singapore with outlets all over the island and even in Malaysia. Their bak kwa comes with a mixture of marinades made from Chinese herbs to produce what they are best known for—a fragrant aroma.

HQ Prices

SLICED PORK – S$42/KG

MINCED PORK – S$24/KG

CHILLI – S$35/KG

SLICED CHICKEN – S$44/KG

Fragrance
Multiple outlets islandwide
Tel: +65 6257 8608
Website: http://www.fragrance.com.sg

#4 HU ZHEN LONG

There are currently two Hu Zhen Long outlets in Singapore—their main shop is conveniently located at Sago street while another branch can be found along South Bridge Road. This family business is managed by the founder’s descendants so the traditional recipes are kept to preserve the taste.

SLICED PORK – S$54-58/KG

MINCED PORK – S$45-50/KG

CHILLI – S$56-58/KG

SLICED LOBSTER – S$80/KG

Hu Zhen Long
14 Sago Street
Singapore 059015
Tel: +65 6324 5825
Daily: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Photo Credit: Kim Hock Seng

#5 KIM HOCK SENG BAK KWA

The success of Kim Hock Seng is largely attributed to the owner’s persistence in using only charcoal fire for grilling, which makes their bak kwa more aromatic and fragrant. Run by a couple, Kim Hock Seng has been in operations at Keong Saik Road for decades and they are still committed to offering only the best to keep loyal customers coming back for more.

SLICED PORK – S$48-54/KG

MINCED PORK – S$44-48/KG

CHILLI – S$52-58/KG

SLICED CHICKEN – S$56/KG

Kim Hock Seng Bak Kwa
570 Geylang Road
Singapore 389515
Tel: +65 6221 4882
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Aljunied

Photo Credit: Kim Hua Guan

#6 KIM HUA GUAN

Ranking among the bak kwa greats in Singapore is a name that is not unfamiliar to the locals—Kim Hua Guan. Having been around for more than 50 years, Kim Hua Guan is one of the top picks when people think of bak kwa. Do not be surprised to be greeted with a queue if you are intending to make our way down for a bag of their savoury bak kwa.

SLICED PORK – S$58/KG

MINCED PORK – S$58/KG

CHILLI – S$64/KG

Kim Hua Guan
32 New Market Road
#01-1022, People’s Park Cooked Food Centre
Singapore
Tel: +65 9006 2026
Daily: 5am till sold out
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Photo Credit: Kim Joo Guan

#7 KIM JOO GUAN

You may have heard of bak kwa specialist Kim Joo Guan but did you know that they actually supplied five well-known bak kwa brands for more than 30 years? The family business kicked off in 1977 and you can find the usual bak kwa suspects such as traditional pok slice, chili pork slice and pork floss.

SLICED PORK – S$50/KG

GOLD COIN – S$48/KG

CHILLI PORK SLICE – S$52/KG

PREMIUM PORK BELLY – S$72/KG

Kim Joo Guan
257 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058806
Tel: +65 6225 5257
Daily: 9.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Photo Credit: chooyutshing

#8 LIM CHEE GUAN

Lim Chee Guan’s winding queue is legendary—it is almost as if getting in line for their savoury bak kwa is a rite of passage you have to go through before Chinese New Year. The bak kwa slices are cooked as you queue so you get them fresh and piping hot off the grill. Waiting time could be as long as 30 minutes or longer during peak hours so remember to get them early!

SLICED PORK – S$56/KG

GOLD COIN – S$50/KG

CHILLI – S$58/KG

SLICED CHICKEN – S$50/KG

Lim Chee Guan
203 New Bridge Road
Singapore 059429
Tel: +65 6933 7230
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

#9 NEW EASTERN KIM TEE DRIED AND MINCED PORK

Residents of Serangoon Gardens would probably have tried the bak kwa from New Eastern Kim Tee. Their method of preparing bak kwa remains unchanged since the 1970s when the business first took off and the secret to their popularity lies in using charcoal ovens and stoves to achieve that char-grilled exterior.

SLICED PORK – S$52-60/KG

GOLD COIN – S$56-60/KG

CHILLI – S$54-60/KG

New Eastern Kim Tee Dried And Minced Pork
22 Maju Avenue
Singapore 556695
Tel: +65 6283 2829 / 9138 6665
Mon to Fri: 11am – 7pm
Sat: 10am – 5.30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Photo Credit: Lemon Film

#9 SANG HOCK GUAN

An unassuming bak kwa shop in Ang Mo Kio, Sang Hock Guan is a family-owned business that may not be as recognised as the other brands but has their own pool of loyal customers. In fact, their bak kwa is said to be comparable to the famous Lim Chee Guan! Well, you would have to make that judgment for yourself.

SLICED PORK – S$52/KG

CHILLI – S$54/KG

SLICED CHICKEN – S$54/KG

Sang Hock Guan
Block 163
#01-446 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4
Singapore 560163
Tel: +65 6458 7374
Daily: 9.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Yio Chu Kang

Photo Credit: Siang Ge

#10 SIANG GE

Siang Ge takes pride in creating their own bak kwa recipes that will leave you satisfied till the very last bite. The company imports their meat all the way from Brazil and the kitchen is helmed by their head chef who has more than 20 years of experience in this industry.

SLICED PORK – S$42/KG

CHILLI – S$46/KG

SLICED CHICKEN – S$46/KG

GOLD COIN – S$46/KG

Siang Ge
275 Jalan Kayu
Singapore 799503
Tel: +65 6483 3368
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Sengkang

#11 TUNG LOK

Many may not know, but TungLok flame-grill their own Pork Bak Kwa in very limited quantities. The sweet and savoury succulent meat has enough bite that comes with pleasant hints of smokiness. The all-time popular Classic Bak Kwa comes with an option of honey-glazed and spicy flavours (S$35+ per 500 grams).

SLICED PORK (HONEY GLAZED / SPICY) – S$70+/KG

TungLok Group
Multiple restaurants islandwide
Website: www.tunglok.com

Chinese New Year is one festival that all of us Chinese people look forward to the most every year. It is an occasion of feasting, non-stop celebration and sheer exuberance; Lunar New Year is a time for a reunion with family and loved ones.

This joyous occasion is ultimately a celebration of family, hence gatherings with family and relatives around the dining table are a common sight. While it is commonplace for families to slug it out days before through the preparation and actual cooking, it definitely draws out the joy out of the festivities. This year, save yourself the trouble and effort of preparing everything from scratch by indulging in TungLok’s takeaway offerings.

What you can expect from the colossal brand this year is nothing short of grandeur for your family to luxuriate in—minus the hassle of cooking and washing up, of course. Their competitive prices make them a distinguished option for all home parties but rest assure that the quality of their food goes above and beyond their price point.

PROSPERITY YU SHENG

Simply put, Chinese New Year just would not be the same without the iconic yu sheng for lo hei. This dish that traditionally consists of shredded vegetables, various sweet and savoury condiments and fresh raw salmon is an auspicious staple that can be seen at almost every reunion meal.

TungLok’s magnificent and picturesque yu sheng comprises fresh vegetables, mushroom, yam, sweet potato shreds and a drizzle of TungLok’s healthier yu sheng sauce and it stays true to tradition by using fresh salmon instead of anything fancy.

TungLok scored yet another first as Health Promotion Board (HPB) has endorsed TungLok’s Yu Sheng Sauce for its lower sugar content, making this popular festive dish a perfect choice for a healthier celebration.

The Prosperity Yu Sheng is priced at S$48++ for 6 persons and S$78++ for 10 persons. *For takeaways, only Smoked Norwegian Salmon is available.

TUNG LOK PEN CAI

Pronounced as ‘poon choi’ in Cantonese, this one-dish item has come a long way from being served in wooden washbasins during the Song Dynasty to sturdy clay pots in modern times. Now, it is commonly enjoyed at reunion dinners.

TungLok Treasure Bowl (Pen Cai) is a wonderful pot full of premium delicacies ranging from abalone, dried oyster, scallops, prawns, slices of smoked duck and a variety of stewed vegetable and beancurd delights—all beautifully coated with a rich and thick gravy. Be prepared to dig deep to get every morsel of delicious goodness in this luxurious treasure bowl.

TungLok’s Treasure Bowl comes in 2 different variations, but every one boasts only the finest ingredients and homemade abalone sauce. The Heavenly Treasure Bowl that contains 16 ingredients is the most luxurious treat, and comes in two different sizes—S$388++ for 6 persons and S$588++ for 10 persons. The Royal Treasure Bowl contains 13 ingredients and is priced at S$288++ for 6 persons and S$388++ for 10 persons.

FRIED GLUTINOUS RICE WITH ASSORTED PRESERVED MEAT

Forming the bulk of your reunion dinner is the Fried Glutinous Rice With Assorted Preserved Meat that features fragrant rice fried with bits of roasted pork and mushrooms. The mixture is wrapped in a leaf for that extra boost of aroma.

As simple as it looks, we love this wholesome dish for its addictive chewy glutinous rice that is packed with flavourful waxed meat with every bite. The distinct umami taste and texture easily won us over.