Latest news with #MunchiPancakes
Business Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Munchi Pancakes modernises traditional min jiang kueh as a ‘national snack'
Heritage foods are finding new life through two Singapore family businesses: Lee Wee & Brothers and Munchi Pancakes are reinventing traditional snacks – otah and min jiang kueh, respectively – with modern flavours and updated formats, going beyond hawker centres to reach younger consumers. [SINGAPORE] Munchi Pancakes is jazzing up traditional min jiang kueh, aiming to raise the pancake's profile as a national snack, and to become the region's go-to brand. In 2014, during their retirement, Calvyn Ng's parents started a min jiang kueh stall in a coffee shop in Yishun. But within a few years, they started looking for someone to take over the physically demanding business. In 2018, Ng and his friend Au Wei Sheng stepped in and took over, managing the stall alongside their day jobs. The stall originally served the traditional pancakes filled with coconut, peanut or red bean, in a folded half-moon shape. But when Ng and Au took over, they introduced a round version which they later dubbed the 'Munchi pancake'. 'From an operational and employee perspective, the traditional shape of min jiang kueh was tiring to make because one would constantly have to clamp it,' said Ng. 'The Munchi pancake is more costly, but easier and less tiring to produce.' A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up He added: 'It also allows more room for fillings, which customers like.' Munchi Pancakes' traditional min jiang kueh. PHOTO: TAY CHU YI, BT A modern round take on min jiang kueh, which has been christened the 'Munchi pancake'. PHOTO: TAY CHU YI, BT These fillings have evolved as well. Chocolate rice was replaced with Belgian chocolate, and crushed peanuts, with peanut paste. Both these tweaks were aimed at improving quality and aligning with what customers wanted, said Au. In 2019, the duo began experimenting with new flavours. Some were based on customer suggestions, such as black sesame, and others came from suppliers such as Biscoff. One new flavour was introduced each year, with the line-up now including kaya and hazelnut. Some flavours are available for both the Munchi pancakes and the traditional min jiang kueh, which the brand still offers today. Others, such as custard, are only available in Munchi pancakes, which are suitable for such cold fillings. The idea was not to reinvent the traditional pancake completely, said Ng, but to introduce a new version that would appeal to younger customers while improving operational efficiency. Surviving the pandemic and scaling beyond The Covid-19 pandemic hurt many food and beverage businesses. But Munchi Pancakes, which was takeaway-only, weathered the storm. This resilience prompted Ng and Au to consider expansion. In 2021, they opened a second outlet in a hawker centre in Fernvale. With sales staying strong, the pair quit their day jobs in 2023 to commit fully to the business. However, it was difficult to find workers willing to put in long hours at a hawker centre; the hawker stall format also had limited economies of scale. Ng observed broader shifts in consumer behaviour as well: 'Coffee shops used to be the main hangout spots. But now shopping malls are where people go.' Shopping malls also house new, attractive concepts from overseas, he noted. So in 2024, Munchi Pancakes opened its first outlet in a mall: City Square Mall. Today, its 26 outlets are split fairly evenly between malls and hawker centres, which enables the brand to reach a broader audience while retaining its roots. To maintain customer interest, Munchi Pancakes also introduced a 'limited-time offering' model. Since 2021, it has launched a seasonal flavour every three months, from pineapple cheese to bandung. If a flavour proves popular, it is added to the permanent menu, with blueberry being an example. Said Ng: 'This keeps customers coming back and gives us a chance to try out new ideas.' The menu today reflects a mix of traditional and modern flavours. Around 60 per cent of sales still come from traditional min jiang kueh, with the rest split between Munchi and mini Munchi pancakes. Future expansion Munchi Pancakes' revenue doubled from 2023 to 2024, enabling the brand to expand. Ng and Au aim to open 20 more outlets by the end of 2025, most of them in malls. While the business remains fully consumer-facing, the team may consider business-to-business sales once it hits about 80 outlets in its local network. Another idea being considered is having a central kitchen to improve consistency and efficiency. However, Ng and Au are cautious, noting that others in the industry have faced significant losses due to high costs and underused space. Branded merchandise – starting with tote bags – will be launched later this year, and a dine-in Munchi cafe concept is being explored for 2027. The company is also looking to collaborate with polytechnics to find ways to vacuum-pack or package Munchi Pancakes so that foreign tourists can bring them home – though these efforts will be costly, said Ng and Au. A regional vision Beyond Singapore, Munchi Pancakes is eyeing neighbouring markets such as Malaysia and Indonesia. There, traditional snacks such as apam balik and martabak are similar to min jiang kueh, which may make the local market more receptive to Munchi. Ng and Au's long-term goal is for Munchi to become the go-to brand when people think of pancakes – not just in Singapore, but eventually across South-east Asia. To build brand awareness among overseas consumers, Munchi Pancakes has opened outlets in high-traffic tourist spots such as Lau Pa Sat in 2023 and Jewel Changi Airport in 2025. As for the risk that their pancakes might be a passing trend, Ng acknowledged the concern, but said the team is always innovating to 'maintain that hype'. 'Some snacks never go out of style,' he added, pointing to household name Old Chang Kee and its curry puffs. Au echoed this: 'So as long as we continue to provide consistency, customer service, fair pricing and something new, we are here to stay.'
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
12 best stalls in Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre for F&B options besides Le Quest
The newly opened Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre by Fei Siong Group in Harmony Village is Bukit Batok's first and only proper hawker centre. As such, it's almost always teeming with people eager to tap into the wide range of food resources in the area, even during off-peak hours. While considered relatively small for a hawker centre, it's still pretty impressive. It's built with over 80 tables, 22 food stalls and more than 400 seats, and boasts multiple cuisines from Western to Indian, and even Vietnamese. Hungry diners need not rely only on Le Quest for F&B options from now on, given the centre's convenient location next to the condominium and shopping mall! Here are 12 Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre stalls you can consider checking out during your next Bukit Batok trip. El Brasa is currently applying for a halal certification, which means you'll be able to enjoy Western food from yet another Muslim-friendly gem! The stall specialises in crispy golden thick-cut fries, which are available in toppings like SeaSalt (S$3.50), Spicy Seaweed (S$4.50), Mentaiko (S$5) and their prized Pulled Beef (S$5.50). El Brasa's main dishes include the Signature Chicken Chop (S$7.90), Samyang Prawn Pasta (S$8.50) and Pulled Beef Burger (S$12.90). Having tried the Samyang Prawn Pasta, I can safely say it has an indulgent creamy gochujang (Korean red chilli paste) spiciness. The Pulled Beef is also juicy, tender and addictively savoury. The charcoal buns don't contribute much taste-wise but have an interesting aesthetic. Order Delivery: Daily: 11am – 9.30pm The famous halal min jiang kueh (traditional pancake) chain Munchi Pancakes has an outlet in Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre! It's not a strange name to most; Munchi's well-known for its fluffy pancakes, which come in unconventional flavours as well as traditional ones. The price of each big slice of Min Jiang Kueh varies from S$1.60 to S$2.50 depending on the choice of filling flavour. You can select one from options like Peanut, Red Bean, Coconut, Hazelnut or Biscoff, and the pancake skin comes in Original, Charcoal and Green Tea flavours. Munchi Pancakes, which are softer, cost S$1.80 to S$2.20. Mini Munchi (S$4.90/S$5.90 for 6 pieces), the smaller version of Munchi Pancakes, are also a popular choice for many. The flavour choices for these are more vast and include Earl Grey, Thai Milk Tea, Oreo Cheese and more. For more delivery options, click here. Order Delivery: foodpanda Deliveroo +65 8312 6203 Daily: 8am – 8.30pm | | Pork or Prawn sheng jian bao? It might be uncommon for these juicy hot treats to come with fillings other than the default pork, but Xiangyu Pan-Fried Bun serves both! Its other outlet in Jurong West's JW50 Hawker Heritage (formerly Jurong West Hawker Centre) has been well-known for a while now for its good-quality fare. It's no wonder that customers feel the same about the food from this new outlet. The Pan Fried Pork Buns (S$4.50 for 3pcs) and Pan Fried Prawn Buns (S$5.50) are meaty and bursting with flavour and soup. If that isn't enough to fill your tummy, you can order the Noodles (Dry) (S$4.50) or Spiced Beef Noodles (Soup) (S$5.50) to complete your meal. Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 3pm & 4.30pm – 8.30pm Closed on Sun There are so many mala xiangguo lovers in Singapore that it'd be absurd not to include a mala stall in the new hawker centre lineup. Mala Master is for those looking to add some spice to their visit to Bukit Batok, with a huge range of ingredients to choose from. First, select your preferred ingredients from the chillers provided. Next, select a category from Dry (S$2.60 per 100g), Soup (S$2.60 per 100g) or even Sauerkraut Fish (S$13.80). Each category also has its own unique flavours aside from classic Mala, for instance, Spicy Pepper (Dry), Tomato (Soup/Sauerkraut Fish) and Spicy Pickled (Sauerkraut Fish). Don't forget to choose your Spiciness Level before paying at the counter for your complete customised dish! Go for Mild for a slight heat, or crank it up to Inferno if you dare! Order Delivery: foodpanda Daily: 11am – 9pm There isn't a unit number stated for Long Cheng Bakery/Traditional Snack, but you won't need one to spot it in Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre. It's an open-air bakery occupying 2 units' worth of space nearest to the tray return area. It's not very common to see this large of a bread and cake stall in a hawker centre! That's probably why it has attracted much attention from the diners visiting the newly opened food hub. Based on observation, they come mostly for the fluffy buns like the choco-chip studded Chocolate Boom (S$1.60), savoury Vienna Cheese Hotdog (S$1.80) and Chicken Polo Char Siu (S$1.80). Like any neighbourhood bakery, it sells freshly cooked Waffles with fillings from S$1.70 and assorted traditional . It's also a great spot for last-minute birthday surprises, as there's a gorgeous selection of colourful cakes available as well! Order Delivery: foodpanda +65 8042 3280 Daily: 8.30am – 8.30pm | | Obviously, this stall specialises in Fried Hokkien Noodles. The name is as straightforward as its menu; every dish is a variation of Hokkien Prawn (S$5/S$6/S$8). While off-peak hours are peaceful for the stall, things (not just the wok) can get pretty heated up during dinner time past 7pm, especially with the high demand. The best seller stated on the signboard is the Roasted Pork Hokkien Noodle (S$8), which has roast pork belly alongside the usual seafood. In my opinion, it was pretty simple compared to the reference image. There was a nice prawny flavour with roasted meat pieces and a rich zhup, but the sotong was honestly pretty tiny. Other than this, you can also order Lala Hokkien Noodle (S$8), which contains clams, prawns and sotong. Daily: 10am – 8pm Jue Yan Lor Mee is one of those stalls that are gifted with success from Day One; the business has been booming ever since Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre's opening! Customers have already given positive comments on the flavourful, vinegary and thick lor mee gravy and generous meat servings. The Signature Lor Mee (S$5.50/S$8) is a go-to for many visitors. It contains thick fish chunks, shredded meat, a braised egg and bouncy noodles, making it a hearty meal for rainy days. Want something else? Try the Fried Yam Lor Mee (S$3.80), Chicken Cutlet Lor Mee (S$4.50) or Fish Bee Hoon Soup (S$3.20). Order Delivery: Daily: 8am – 8pm 11 best stalls at Zion Riverside Food Centre for a scrumptious bite by the Singapore River There's never a moment you'll find the front of Eng Kee Chicken Wings empty. It makes sense since the brand is one of Singapore's most well-known chicken wing chains with 9 other outlets across the country. Reviewers have even claimed that it sells 'hands down one of the best fried chicken wings in Singapore'. Chicken Wings (S$1.60 per pc) aren't all that Eng Kee offers, as it also sells mainly economic Bee Hoon or Kway Teow Mee from S$1.20/S$1.40. Add on more ingredients from the trays displaying the available choices for the day, from Otah Otah (S$1.40) and Fish Fillet (S$1.40) to veggies like Long Bean (S$0.90) and Cabbage (S$0.80). Order Delivery: foodpanda Deliveroo +65 8826 6687 Tue to Fri: 11am – 7.30pm Sat & Sun: 9am – 6pm Closed on Mon | | Urfan's Rojak & Prata Paradise is a Muslim-owned Indian stall that serves mainly prata, and the menu features over 15 variations. It also serves rojak and nasi briyani, but most customers make a beeline for the Prata (from S$1.30), Thosai (from S$2) or Murtabak (S$8/S$10/S$12). Plain costs S$1.30 per piece for a minimum of two pieces, but other flavours like Egg (S$2) and even Blueberry (S$3) or Cheese (S$2.50) are available. Vegetarians can inform the staff of their dietary preferences, and they'll offer alternative options like curry without meat. According to the hawkers running Urfan's, the stall opens daily but takes a break once every 2 weeks on either Tue or Wed. Daily 6.30am – 10pm Golden Wok Fried Rice was just okay for me, but it is worth a shot if you like egg fried rice and are visiting Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre. It serves the classic dish in two main variations, Original (from S$4.20) and Tom Yum Fried Rice (from S$5.20). The fried rice can either be ordered on its own or paired with an extra ingredient. The Pork Chop Fried Rice (S$6.90) had a meaty piece of pork chop topping the golden grains. It was a decent portion and wasn't too greasy but the rice was slightly hard and lacked wok hei, though it had a prominent eggy fragrance. Other combinations include the classic Egg Fried Rice with Shrimp (S$6.90) or Pork Luncheon Meat (S$6.20) and Tom Yum Fried Rice with Chicken Cutlet (S$7.90). Daily: 10.30am – 8pm The first sight of Ju Xing Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice might puzzle you. Why on earth are fake plastic chickens hung up instead of the real things?! I didn't manage to get a proper answer when I asked, but I observed that they kept the chickens inside the kitchen. Despite this peculiar detail, Ju Xing in Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre seems to be doing decently well. It owns another outlet in Geylang Bahru which has loyal regulars from the area as well. The Chicken Breast Rice Set (S$4.90) and Chicken Thigh Rice Set (S$5.50) are the most popular options. However, Ju Xing does serve Shredded Chicken Macaroni (S$3.30) as well. The chicken is praised for being succulent and silky, and the portions are satisfactory. +65 9006 8600 Tue to Sun: 8.30am – 8pm Closed on Mon Westies, fret no more about curing your Vietnamese food cravings. Petit Saigon is now open in Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre, serving popular Vietnamese delights like banh mi and pho. Its signature is the Beef Special Pho (S$7.80), but you could specify your choice of Beef Shank (S$6.80), Slice (S$6.80), or Beef Balls (S$5.80) Pho if you're more picky about your cut. Who doesn't like a hearty bowl of noodles? The Traditional Banh Mi costs S$7.20, but there are several options for this dish as well. There's Banh Mi Beef (S$8.20), Pork (S$6.20), Chicken (S$6.20) and Eggs (S$5.20). Other available dishes include either Chicken or Pork Grilled Rice (S$5.80) as well as sides like Fresh Spring Rolls (S$4.50) and Mango Salad (S$5.80). Order Delivery: Mon to Fri: 9.30am – 8.30pm Sat & Sun: 9am – 8.30pm 13 best food places in Westgate to eat from when visiting Jurong The post 12 best stalls in Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre for F&B options besides Le Quest appeared first on
