Blackgoat: 23 year-old opens Muslim-friendly hawker stall with huge burgers & briyani at Mountbatten

I’ve always had admiration for young owners who decide to make their dreams into reality. One perfect example is the owner of the new hawker stall at 4A Jalan Batu Hawker Centre.

The sibling-run stall, Blackgoat, was originally a home-based business that started out on Instagram in 2020. By experimenting from nasi briyani to burgers to grilled meats, @blackgoatprojects has finally opened up their stall not too far off from where they originally did pick-up delivery in Mountbatten.

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Blackgoat is the brainchild of Fikri, the main chef and facilitator of the business. A 23 year-old that has been long in the kitchen, Fikri first started out helping his grandpa in the kitchen as his datuk loved cooking himself. He then pursued making burgers and briyani on the sidelines while working as a chef at the 3 Michelin-starred restaurant, Zén.

The home based business then took off with the help of family and friends in the setting of a home kitchen, and finally, he opened a brick and mortar stall of his own while pursuing his studies.

Since its opening on 19 Feb 2023, their menus have alternated between selling briyani and Western food during weekdays, and their signature burgers during the weekends. Currently, they are Muslim-friendly but not halal-certified.

What I tried at Blackgoat

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As I dined in on a weekend, I managed to try their signature burgers. And I’ve got to say… they were huge.

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I made an order for the White Pepper Fried Chicken Burger (S$14) and a Black Pepper Beef Burger (S$15). Both sets came with fries.

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Well, this is the famed and well-hyped burger that I’ve seen all over my Instagram stories time and time again.

The White Pepper Fried Chicken Burger has been a staple in their menu ever since they started— famed for its gigantic piece of protein in the centre, I think it’s only natural for people to say that the burger is worth the money.

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They use 200g of chicken thigh, which is marinated in a smoked paprika, garlic and white pepper concoction, and then cooked until the chicken is moist and tender in the middle.

As it is topped off with chipotle (my favourite spice-neutralising sauce), this burger immediately differs from the usual kinds that utilise the common sour cream or mayonnaise as their pairing condiments.

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On top of that, they’ve added za’atar on top of their burger. If you’re unsure of what it is, it is a Middle Eastern herb that makes an excellent complement to dry meats and buttered breads. This pairing is uncommon in Singapore but they went ahead to experiment and perfected their rendition of the popular fried chicken burger that everyone loves.

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For all the cow lovers out there, the Black Pepper Beef Burger will probably be the one you’d opt for.

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Finished in a pan of cream sauce, the burger surprised me as I never thought that they’d make a cream pairing with a peppery savoury meat.

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One thing I’ve realised with Blackgoat though, is that they really like heavy flavours. The pepper component did not really differ much from the chicken, but the addition of caramelised onions did a pleasant job in bringing hints of sweetness into a whole bite. They cook this into a jam-like consistency, which thickens the texture of the original onions.

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The meat is cooked to medium well, though you can opt for them to cook it to your ideal doneness. Albeit on the pricier side as compared to most offerings in the setting of a hawker centre, they do compensate with how they keep an eye on detail and taste when it comes to what they serve.

Further, the quality of the beef burger is comparable to cafe or restaurant standards— just that you’re getting it in a more humble setting.

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Thankfully, the strong flavoured hamburgers were neutralised by their brioche buns. Buttered and seared to a golden brown, the buns were like pillows sandwiching the meats— they were not at all dry or unsavoury, and had a good ratio of bun to beef.

The fries, however, could’ve been better. They are slightly bland as they are frozen ones, but the taste of the burgers does make up for it.

Final thoughts

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All in all, the burgers from the newcomer at Jalan Batu Hawker did hit the spot for spices and portion, just that maybe they were be on a pricier side.

One thing I did notice was an old lady ordering from them, and that caught me off guard. Gourmet burgers are not everyone’s cup of tea, but the addition of Blackgoat in the area really allows for us to transcend from our typical understanding of hawker food. It’s clearly shown from the different types of people that are open to trying them out as well.

Anyway, if you’re nearby, be sure to try out their weekday menu as well! They have much more affordable offerings that are more wallet friendly on weekdays.

Expected damage: S$7 – S$15 per pax

Other articles you might like:

The Burger Coy: Gourmet quality burgers at an affordable price in Amoy Street Food Centre

Ggoburger: Self-taught chef serves up honest & handmade burgers for delivery

Price: $ $

Our Rating: 4 / 5

Blackgoat

4A Jalan Batu, Jalan Batu Hawker Centre, #01-05, Singapore 432004

Price
Our Rating 4/5

Blackgoat

4A Jalan Batu, Jalan Batu Hawker Centre, #01-05, Singapore 432004

Telephone: +65 8383 5982
Operating Hours: 11am - 2pm (Tue to Thu), 5pm - 8pm (Wed to Fri), 1pm - 7pm (Sat & Sun), Closed on Mon
Telephone: +65 8383 5982

Operating Hours: 11am - 2pm (Tue to Thu), 5pm - 8pm (Wed to Fri), 1pm - 7pm (Sat & Sun), Closed on Mon

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