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Hawker Chan (formerly Liao Fan Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken Noodle Soup) was founded by chef Chan Hong Meng and became world-famous for its very affordable soy sauce chicken noodles - only $2.50 (approximately 50,000 VND).
However, since 2016, after unexpectedly appearing on the list of Michelin 1-star restaurants, the eatery has received a great deal of attention. It can be said that the Michelin star changed the restaurant's career. From a humble stall in Chinatown, Hawker Chan has become a symbol of success for the hawker culture in the area. To the point that the Hawker Chan brand has been franchised in many places around the world, such as Thailand and the Philippines. However, the name Hawker Chan is no longer included in the Michelin Guide Singapore published on September 1st.
The reason Hawker Chan lost its Michelin star remains unclear. Insider suggests the reason may be related to the restaurant's menu no longer meeting Michelin's five evaluation criteria: ingredient quality, flavor and cooking skill, chef's integrity, value for money, and consistency across visits. Many also agree with Michelin's decision, believing that the restaurant's food quality has declined since the opening of several new Hawker Chan locations.
The Michelin-starred restaurant evaluations are carried out by numerous "inspectors" from the culinary industry. These individuals must dine there twice a day, five days a week. They must remain anonymous and pay for their own meals and travel expenses to maintain the secrecy of the Michelin star rating system.
KF Seetoh, a Singaporean culinary expert, shared: "I think Michelin is standing firm to protect the prestige of its stars." He also believes that the future of Singaporean cuisine does not depend on just one restaurant or one chef.
A representative from Hawker Chan responded: "Chef Chan Hon Meng has been creating his own recipe for chicken rice and noodles with special sauce since 2009, and it remains unchanged to this day. He always believes that his food is made fresh every day. We understand that everyone has their own opinion when it comes to food. We continue to serve delicious and affordable dishes because that is our vision and mission. We sincerely thank our customers for their support over the past 12 years and will do our best to regain that star next year."
Hawker Chan is not the first restaurant to have its Michelin stars revoked. Previously, French chef Marc Veyrat filed a lawsuit against Michelin in 2019 for downgrading his restaurant's rating from 3 to 2 stars. Veyrat demanded greater transparency in Michelin's evaluation criteria and the public disclosure of their inspection team.
Additional information
The Michelin star in the culinary world is likened to the Oscars of film or the Grammys of music. Michelin stars are awarded on a scale of 1-3:
- 1 Michelin star: The restaurant is very good compared to the average.
- 2 Michelin stars: the restaurant has excellent cooking quality.
- 3 Michelin stars: a restaurant with a distinctive culinary style, representing the pinnacle of gastronomy.
