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With price increments happening all across SG, even the most quiet and serene coffee shops feel the heat. We recently went down to ‘Nameless’ Bak Chor Mee stall in Upper Aljunied Road and were surprised to find out it will be closing at the end of Jul 2023.
This news was shared by an online foodie who recently patronised the stall through a recent Facebook post. The person who made the post said that the stall would be remembered fondly and expressed his respect for the hardworking elderly staff.
The sudden closure is due to a S$3,000 price hike in stall rent. At this juncture, I cannot help but display my shock at the unrealistic price tag.
With only 3 simple items on its menu, the 20-year-old hawker stall is best known for its cheap and delicious bowl of Dry Bak Chor Mee (S$4/ S$5). With its signature ketchup and vinegar sauce base, the tangy seasoning can be a hit or miss among customers.
Yong Xin 永薪: One of the best bak chor mee & dry noodles in Ang Mo Kio
Coupled with their generous amount of minced meat, bouncy fish balls and peppered soup, this is a hearty meal indeed. The masses seem to enjoy this unique combination and have shared their heartfelt respect for the stall operators and sorrow for the upcoming closure of this hawker gem.
The stall’s odd opening hours also draw attention— they apparently open as early as 4.30am. For countless of hawkers, the tough reality of having to operate for long hours with a strenuous workload becomes unbearable. Thankfully, the noodle dishes here usually sell out by 1pm, proving that their food does garner appreciation from the public.
It is with a heavy heart that I learnt about multiple small but noteworthy hawker stalls facing such challenges. Let us hope that the team enjoys their well-deserved retirement after the stall’s closure.
Until then, customers and devoted fans, let us show some support to the iconic ‘Nameless’ Bak Chor Mee by heading down to visit them!
Hock Lai Seng (福来成): 23-year-old hawker whips up solid bak chor mee at Maxwell Food Centre
