For those whose lucky stars have aligned — and who’ve had the privilege of traveling to the super city of Singapore — they know what it’s like to witness urban electricity running through its veins: streets powered by the seasoning of woks, the invitation of vendors and the quiet efficiency that hums beneath its high-speed pulse.
This was the scene 2016 knew all too well — the same year the Michelin Guide decided to do something it had never done in its 116-year history then. The brand finally came to terms with the fact that culinary excellence doesn’t always come from silver spoons, but could very well be crafted by the calloused hands of a devoted hawker.
Hawker Chan, a modest food stall in a Singapore hawker center, was awarded one Michelin star for its Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle — a meal that would’ve cost a fellow Pinoy just a little over a hundred pesos. It was a business formula that proved wildly successful, fueling expansion beyond the Lion City — and more specifically, setting up its second Philippine branch in the Queen City of the South in 2025.
What’s more, this second Hawker Chan finds its home in TOPS Cebu, the world-class observation deck offering a 360-degree view of the metropolis from roughly 600 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level.
Imagine enjoying a bowl of steaming laksa in that cool, open-air setting. There’s also the option to slow down with some roast duck, capped off with sweet and savory buchi. And of course, the signature soya sauce chicken and the popular char siu are bound to win over the city’s dining public.
Hawker Chan’s arrival in Cebu brings a globally recognized street food experience into a setting that feels distinctly local. There’s something uniquely rewarding about savoring Michelin-starred chicken while gazing out over the Cebu skyline — high above the everyday noise, yet grounded in flavor and familiarity.
It’s a reminder that food, like travel, doesn’t always have to be extravagant to be exceptional. Sometimes, the most memorable meals come served on simple trays, in places where the breeze is cool, the view is endless and the stories unfold one bite at a time.