Michelin Guide S'pore 2021: Hawker Chan loses One Michelin Star

Chan has been selling his affordable chicken rice at Singapore's Chinatown Complex Food Centre since 2009.

Siti Hawa | September 01, 2021, 06:42 PM

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Michelin Guide Singapore's much-awaited Michelin Star restaurant selection took place on Sept. 1 at 3pm.

The selection was announced in a virtual Michelin Star Revelation ceremony streamed via Michelin Guide Singapore’s official Facebook page and Michelin Guide Asia's YouTube channel.

Here's the programme:

Photo via Michelin Guide Singapore

Michelin Star explained

For the uninitiated, a Michelin Star is awarded when the respective establishments "use quality ingredients and serve carefully prepared dishes with distinct flavours".

Two Michelin Stars are awarded when the personality and talent of the chef are "really evident" in their dishes.

Three Michelin Stars, the highest award, is given for the cooking of chefs at the peak of their profession. According to the website, their "cooking is elevated to an art form and some of their dishes are destined to become classics".

Michelin Star Revelation 2021

During the Michelin Star Revelation 2021:

  • One restaurant was promoted to Three Michelin Stars
  • One restaurant was promoted to Two Michelin Stars
  • Five restaurants were promoted to One Michelin Star
  • Seven restaurants have been newly awarded One Michelin Star

Three Michelin Star Restaurants

Zén, a restaurant serving European Contemporary fare, was promoted to Three Michelin Stars in 2021.

According to a press release, each creation at the restaurant "has a unique character and the dining experience is thoughtful".

It had previously been awarded Two Michelin Star in the 2019 edition.

Chef Tristin farmer from Zén

Singapore is now home to three 3 Michelin Star restaurants including Les Amis and Odette.

Les Amis French
Odette French Contemporary
Zén European Contemporary

Two Michelin Star Restaurants

Jaan by Kirk Westaway, which serves British Contemporary fare, has received a second Michelin Star for its "modern reinterpretation of British gastronomy through an innovative culinary lens".

Chef Bartek Cwinski from JAAN by Kirk Westaway

Four other restaurants have also been awarded Two Michelin Stars in Singapore: Saint Pierre, Shisen Hanten, Shoukouwa, and Waku Ghin.

Jaan by Kirk Westaway British Contemporary
Saint Pierre French Contemporary
Shisen Hanten Cantonese-Sichuan
Shoukouwa Sushi
Waku Ghin Japanese Contemporary

One Michelin Star Restaurants

In total, 12 new restaurants have been awarded One Michelin Stars.

The Song of India which was formerly awarded One Michelin Stars is no longer on the list.

Hawker Chan, previously known as Liao Fan Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle, also lost its One Michelin Star accolade.

Photo via Hawker Chan/Facebook

The stall's owner, Singapore-based chef Chan Hon Meng, was one of the two hawkers in Singapore who had been awarded a Michelin star in July 2016.

Chan had begun perfecting his craft by selling his affordable chicken rice at Singapore's Chinatown Complex Food Centre in 2009.

Here's the full list of One Michelin Star restaurants (the 12 new restaurants to make the list have been bolded):

Alma European Contemporary
Art Italian
Basque Kitchen by Aitor  Basque
Béni French Contemporary
Braci Italian Contemporary
Buona Terra Italian Contemporary
Burnt Ends Barbecue
Candlenut Peranakan
Chef Kang's Cantonese
Cloudstreet Innovative
Corner House Innovative
Cut Steakhouse
Cure European Contemporary
Esora Innovative
Garibaldi Italian
Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle Street Food
Iggy's European Contemporary
Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine (Orchard) Teochew
Jag French Contemporary
Labyrinth Innovative
Lei Garden Cantonese
Lerouy French Contemporary
Ma Cuisine French
Meta Innovative
Nouri Innovative
Oshino Sushi
Putien (Kitchener Road) Fujian
Rhubarb French Contemporary
Shang Palace Cantonese
Shinji (Bras Basah Road) Sushi
Shinji (Tanglin Road) Sushi
Sommer European Contemporary
Summer Palace Cantonese
Summer Pavilion Cantonese
Sushi Ichi Sushi
Sushi Kimura Sushi
Table65 European Contemporary
Terra Italian Contemporary
Thevar Innovative
Whitegrass French Contemporary
28 Wilkie Italian Contemporary

Michelin Guide Young Chef Award

To celebrate the fifth edition of the Michelin Guide Singapore, a new award, the Michelin Guide Young Chef Award, has been introduced.

The Michelin Guide Young Chef Award recognises a young chef of a Michelin starred restaurant with "exceptional talent and great potential".

The winner of the Michelin Guide Young Chef Award is Chef Mark Tai from Cloudstreet.

Tai is a graduate of the Culinary School of America, with more than several years of professional experience in the hotel and restaurant industries.

Michelin Star Revelation 2020 was cancelled

Michelin Guide Singapore had cancelled their Michelin Star Revelation for 2020 as many restaurants had remained closed for extended periods due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The closures affected Michelin's evaluations and the guide extended their inspecting period on the field.

For the full list of the Michelin Guide Singapore 2021, visit the official website here.

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Top photos via Hawker Chan