If you stay around the Eunos area, you may have seen a man dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and wearing a gold Rolex frying up plate after plate of Hokkien Mee.
Well, appreciate the sight because he may disappear from the scene soon.
Here’s what you need to know.
This Hokkien Mee Stall Owner is Famous for Wearing a Gold Rolex to Cook
Mr Tan Kue Kim, 78, is the owner of Kim’s Famous Fried Hokkien Mee.
He has been frying the delicious noodle dish since he was 13 years old, and he opened his first stall at 17 years old.
It may have been 65 years since his first plate of Hokkien Mee, and he has since expanded to his own seafood eatery at Jalan Eunos, but Mr Tan is still cooking the Hokkien Mee himself.
Not only is he still cooking, he does it in style.
Mr Tan had adopted this dressing since the 1980s, he told Shin Min News Daily.
Back then, hawkers were considered as “blue-collar workers”, unlike the “white collar workers” in office jobs.
In order not to be looked down upon, he decided to wear a long-sleeve shirt and a branded watch while at work.
Looking to Sell his Business & Recipe as He’s Getting Older
Mr Tan is now looking for a successor to sell his business and recipe to.
He is getting older as the year passes, he said.
He has been looking for a successor since a few years ago as he wanted more Singaporeans to taste his food.
It’s a waste if his recipe isn’t passed down.
Mr Tan has three children, and his eldest son is in the catering business.
He had wanted to learn to cook Mr Tan’s Hokkien mee too.
However, Mr Tan felt he wasn’t good enough and decided to look outside the family for a successor.
Be Prepared For Strict Standards
If Mr Tan manages to successfully sell off his business and recipe, he is willing to stay for another one to two years as a consultant.
This way, he can ensure that the taste of his food is preserved.
However, if you’re interested in becoming his successor, know that it may not be as easy as you’d hope.
Mr Tan reportedly has strict standards, and his day starts at 5am at the Geylang Serai market.
He insists on buying fresh ingredients from the market every day.
In addition, be prepared for long hours. Mr Tan reportedly starts frying his first plate of Hokkien mee at 11am and will only close the shop at midnight.
The only break within the day is from 3-5pm.
Will Remain Open as Long as He Possibly Could
Despite getting older, Mr Tan remains steadfast in keeping his shop open.
Mr Tan will keep the shop open and work the same long hours.
He has no plans to retire within the next three years, nor will he close the business after the successor is found.
Cooking is a form of exercise, and he will continue to fry up Hokkien mee until he’s not able to do so.
Curious about his Hokkien mee? You can find him at this address below.
Kim’s Famous Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee:
- Address: 62B Jalan Eunos, Singapore 419510
- Opening hours: 11am to 12am, daily
- Nearest MRT: Eunos
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