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Situated on the 1st floor of Hong Lim Market & Food Centre is Fivestones, an under-the-radar hawker stall dishing out rustic country-style bakes and samosas. The 9-month-old business is run by a chirpy mother-and-son team — 56-year-old Serene and her son, Lyonson, 28.
Serene isn’t new to the F&B scene. 15 years ago, she ran a hawker stall selling cream puffs before moving on to a social enterprise in Tanjong Pagar, where she worked with youths with autism and mental illness. When the lease ended, she dabbled in backend production, crafting cookies for corporate pantry needs.
Serene started Fivestones as an experimental kitchen to allow Lyonson to hone his culinary skills. The ‘AI-POWERED’ branding on their signboard isn’t just for show; they leverage artificial intelligence to drive operational decisions and conduct deep research — right down to perfecting their samosa recipes.
They invested in a noodle making machine to help them roll out the samosa dough. Why samosas, you might ask? The pair lives near Little India and are obsessed with Indian cuisine. Both of them shared, “Our favourite restaurant is Gandhi Restaurant at Chander Road!”
Because of the stall’s size and electrical configuration, the pair constantly faces power trip issues, which means they can only do one thing at a time. “If Lyonson is frying the samosas, I need to wait for him to finish before I can use the oven.” Serene said. “I really must get an electrician to solve this issue fast,” she added with a laugh.
Serene blatantly told me that she and Lyonson are hopeless with numbers. To keep things simple, she prices all her cakes and pastries at S$3.50 each. “From a business point of view, I know this is very bad, haha!” she admitted.
The business started with Lyonson focusing on samosas while Serene did the cake baking. These days, they’ve begun exchanging skills so that both are able to handle everything in case one of them is overseas or falls sick.
What to order at Fivestones
The mainstays for the samosas are Chicken (S$2) and Cheese (S$2.50), though the menu occasionally offers mutton or smoked duck potato options, depending on availability. To me, the Chicken looked like the lovechild of a curry puff and a samosa.
The skin was crisp and light, hugging a rich, tender chicken filling with clouds of fluffy potato. With an 80:20 chicken-to-potato ratio, you’d think it might be overwhelming — but miraculously, it all hits just right. If I didn’t have any food lined up for me to taste, I would’ve devoured a second one on the spot! With its gentle flavour profile and minimal heat, this dish is an excellent choice for children and guests who prefer non-spicy fare.
The Cheese samosa, basically a curry puff in disguise, is stuffed with a gooey mix of cheddar, potato, and mozzarella. The first bite unleashed a glorious cheese pull — creamy, luscious, and silky smooth. It gave off off a totally different vibe from the Chicken version.
The Dark Choc Brownie (S$3.50) was decadently fudgey, melting on the tongue with every bite. It had the perfect level of moistness and sweetness, and I didn’t feel jelak after eating it — no wonder Serene said this is their crowd favourite!
I was amazed at how crumbly and buttery the tart base of the Apple Tart Country Style (S$3.50) was. It was filled with an apple compote that Lyonson made in front of me in the morning, before he layered thinly-sliced green apples on top.
Serene beamed as she showed me her packet of brown sugar — a specific brand from India — before lightly sprinkling it over the top as a finishing touch for the bake. The combination was light, slightly tart and sweet.
If you’re looking for a little vibrant dessert to perk you up after a post-lunch food coma, then the French Lemon Tart (S$3.50) is your best bet. Bright, tangy, and refreshingly zesty, it jolted my taste buds awake in the best way.
For those who love airy sponge cakes, the Lemon Curd Cake (S$3.50) and Apple Yoghurt Cake (S$3.50) are excellent options.
Who Fivestones is best for
Great for those who are looking for a light snack in the afternoon or dessert after meals. The samosas will be great for breakfast and will suit any age group since it’s hardly spicy.
How to get there?
Fivestones is located within Hong Lim Market & Food Centre. The nearest MRT station is Chinatown (NE4/DT19) and you can head towards exit E. Alternatively, you can take a bus and alight at these bus stops: Opp One Upp Pickering or Chinatown Station Exit E
Do we recommend Fivestones?
Absolutely! I enjoyed their samosas and both the Chicken and Cheese variety didn’t disappoint. As for the bakes, you can taste the love and effort that goes into making each variety. The Dark Choc Brownie is great for chocolate lovers while the French Lemon Tart is unapologetically bold.
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