Joo Chiat,the schizophrenic food hotspot

Having grown up in the East, Joo Chiat has always been one of my favourite makan places for cheap and good food. But recent years have seen many more upmarket restaurants popping up in the area. TWG wondered if the cheap hawker centres were being driven out by the “atas” eateries, so a walk around Joo Chiat was in order.

Photo: Private Affairs

First, TWG looked at why the new fine dining places chose Joo Chiat to set up shop. One of the most posh restaurants to make its name in Joo Chiat is Private Affairs, a kitchen-and-bar restaurant specialising in modern European cuisine. Its management felt that the charm of Joo Chiat made it slightly different from restaurants in the usual fine dining enclaves like Holland Village and Dempsey.

Photo: Smokey's

However, Rob Szepvolgyi, executive chef and owner of Smokey’s BBQ at Joo Chiat Place, said that the restaurants there succeed because of food first and location second. Szepvolgyi mentioned that many of his clientele come from other ends of Singapore such as Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris and Jurong.

For Joo Chiat’s hawker centres, it seems to be business as usual. Thomas Gan, 50, owns Hagashi Nishi Cuisine, a Japanese and Western stall at the popular Dunman Food Centre (Dunman). Gan told TWG that hawkers in Joo Chiat are aware of the new presence of gourmet eateries, but that it does not affect their businesses. In a mix of Mandarin and English, he said, “We are able to survive because of our regulars. Most of them are from around here and have known us for a long time.”

He also added that a good number of backpackers staying at nearby hostels, like Betel Box, visit Dunman and its neighbouring hawker centres. “They come from overseas, but they are like us. They also enjoy cheap and good food, so they will not eat at the restaurants either.”

So, coffee shop lovers have no cause for concern, Joo Chiat’s cheap treasures will not disappear. Joo Chiat evidently suffers from, or rather is blessed with, multiple personality disorder. The food on offer really depends on which part of the area one visits.

It is along the places closer to Katong like Joo Chiat Place, Still Road and Joo Chiat Road near the junction of East Coast Road, that most of the restaurants and gourmet eateries can be found. Private Affairs, Smokey’s, Everything With Fries, Astons and Wahiro Japanese Restaurant are just a few examples.

Walk down Joo Chiat Road in the other direction, toward the junction of Geylang Road, and a good number of Malay stalls can be found, such as Hilal Indian Muslim and Hjh Maimunah Restaurant. A comprehensive directory can be found at Joo Chiat’s community website www.myjoochiat.com.

Joo Chiat, then, is somewhat of a rarity in Singapore’s food scene. How many areas will offer a $2 plate of wan ton noodles next to a $100 champagne brunch?

Do you eat at Joo Chiat?
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	Now and then
	Hardly
	Never
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