Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
I don’t know about you, but I enjoy patronising hawker centres for the diverse food options. At a time when many are lamenting the decline of Singapore’s hawker culture, modern stalls like Kine — a new kid in town at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre — offer a glimmer of hope.
The 37-year-old owner, Ray, is a former fine dining and pastry chef with experience in hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants like Les Amis.
However, midway through his culinary journey, he developed severe lactose intolerance and FODMAP sensitivity. That forced him to step away from the joy of creating and tasting pastries — a tough but necessary step.
Kine spots a minamalist, metallic signboard similar to Tesla’s Cybertruck. Here, Ray aims to serve burgers that people with lactose intolerance can enjoy without worry.
The menu features 2 main proteins — shrimp and beef — with 3 pricing tiers for each item: Burger, Burger w/ Basic Fries, and Burger + Crunchy Fries with Dip + Salad.
The unique Signature British Curry Crunchy Shrimp Burger (S$9.20/S$11.90/S$12.70) consists of deep-fried golden-brown pieces of breaded shrimp, tau geh and curry sauce.
For the beef options, Ray serves up a pounded beef pattie, offering either a Single (S$7.10/S$9.90/S$10.70) or Double (S$8.90/S$11.70/S$12.40) American Smash Burger.
Just 2 weeks in, Ray has received several positive comments and words of encouragement from netizens, praising his unique burger options and welcoming him as fresh blood in the scene.
On the other end, some have commented that for mature estates like Bukit Merah, offering burgers at such a high price isn’t suitable. The QR code ordering system has also raised concerns, as many seniors living in the area aren’t tech-savvy. Luckily, Ray accepts cash payment as well, though he prefer the former.
This is where I’m a little torn. While I do agree that prices here are slightly steep, I also understand the challenges hawkers face — high rental, rising ingredient costs, and more.
Ray is aware of the comments, and has released a Small Single American Smash Burger (no cheese) (S$5.70/S$6.90/S$7.90). He’s also currently working on a chicken burger that will be even cheaper.
So, what do you think? Should we welcome new stalls like Kine, which bring vibrancy to food centres in mature estates, or are they better suited for newer areas, where the residents are willing to fork out more?
Zhong Pin Noodle House: Springy kolo mee & flavourful Sarawak-style laksa in Bukit Merah
