Popular Chinatown Cai Png Stall Babas Peranakan Said To Be Closing As Owner Is “Old Already”
Well-loved heritage hawker stalls close for many reasons, but an increasingly common one is when the pioneer generation of hawkers reach retirement age and decide to shutter their longtime businesses. 
Photo: Facebook/ Mark Tan Popular Chinatown stall Babas Peranakan is also said to be closing by the end of this year, according to a member on Facebook foodie group Hawkers United. It is famous for its Peranakan-style cai png, where you can order a selection of dishes like fried chicken, ikan assam pedas, deep-fried prawns, chicken satay and chap chye to go with rice. 
Photo: Facebook/ Joanne Lim-Tang
Photo: Facebook/ Rose Peh The stall is run by snowy-haired former hotel chef Edwin Tan, who has cooked at illustrious places like Raffles Hotel and Shangri-La. Edwin did not respond to 8days.sg’s attempts to contact him. According to Joanne, Edwin’s reason for closing was apparently retirement. “Old already, want to retire,” she quoted him as saying. 
Photo: Facebook/ Mark Tan
Photo: Facebook/ Mark Tan Popular Chinatown stall Babas Peranakan is also said to be closing by the end of this year, according to a member on Facebook foodie group Hawkers United. It is famous for its Peranakan-style cai png, where you can order a selection of dishes like fried chicken, ikan assam pedas, deep-fried prawns, chicken satay and chap chye to go with rice. Photo: Facebook/ Joanne Lim-Tang
“Haven’t decide exact date”
In a Nov 4 post, Facebook user Joanne Lim-Tang wrote: “Babas Peranakan closing for good in Dec 2022. Hawker uncle says haven't decide exact date, ‘maybe around Christmas’ [crying emoji]”.
Photo: Facebook/ Rose Peh The stall is run by snowy-haired former hotel chef Edwin Tan, who has cooked at illustrious places like Raffles Hotel and Shangri-La. Edwin did not respond to 8days.sg’s attempts to contact him. According to Joanne, Edwin’s reason for closing was apparently retirement. “Old already, want to retire,” she quoted him as saying. Photo: Facebook/ Mark Tan
There’s always a long queue
Even without a closure announcement, Edwin typically sells out at his stall early. There is often a queue there, and we have shown up several times just to face a metal shutter. You snooze, you lose here. Regulars have shared that one has to drop by before lunchtime if they want to try Edwin’s food (the stall closes at 1.30pm).
Babas Peranakan is at #02-225 Chinatown Complex Food Centre (Blue Zone), 335 Smith St, S050335. Open daily except Wed, 9am-1.30pm.
Source: TODAY
