In my quest to explore the different ethnic and global influences on the development of food, I felt the need to include Arab street as part of my heritage trail. Arab street used to be owned by an arab merchant known as "Syed Ali bin Mohamed Al Junied". It was also the site of an arab kampong hence the name Arab street.
Arab Street today remains a key Muslim centre in Singapore, with Sultan Mosque at the heart of Kampong Glam. The history of Sultan Mosque dates all the way back to 1823, when the Sultan wanted a mosque near his residence at Kampong Glam. Raffles made provision for the mosque to be built near the istana with funds allocated towards the construction of the mosque. Back then the mosque was a brick structure with a three tier tiled roof serving the community for a century. However in 1900s it was deemed inadequate to meet the growing Muslim population and thus was rebuilt in January 1924. The Mosque was built in phases over a few years to enable funds to be raised and to allow devotees to continue performing their prayers in the mosque.
When war broke out in Malaya in 1941, people of different ethnicities and creeds sought shelter at the mosque and one of its minarets served as an observation post to look out for enemy aircraft. Masjid Sultan was gazetted as a national monument in 1975 due to its rich history and unique design. The base of the dome incorporated glass bottles donated by the local community.
Arab street is home to many chic shops and eateries, beside the traditional textile and handicraft shops. People from all walks of life gather here to savour its culture, colour and cuisine. Today, there is an eclectic mix of the old and the new in Arab Street. If you are craving for good old local Malay, Indonesian and Indian cuisine as part of your heritage food trail, you can get them from eateries like "Hajah Maimunah Restaurant and Catering" ,"Rumah Makan Minang"and " Zam Zam Restaurant" just to name a few.
Hajah Maimunah Restaurant for one is well known for serving traditional Malay and Indonesian cuisine such as Tahu Telur, Siput Sedut and Ikan Bakar. It was awarded the Bib Gourmand Rating by Michelin Guide Singapore 2019. This award is given out to restaurants serving good food at affordable prices.
Apart from Hajah Maimunah Restaurant, we have Rumah Makan Minang which is located at the corner of Kandahar Street and Muscat Street. They serve delicious Indonesian dishes like Ayam Belado Hijau, Tahu Telur as well as Beef Rendang.
For those who prefer spicy Indian food can head on over to Zam Zam Restaurant well known for its murtabak. Having been around since 1908, Zam Zam has been serving delicious food with Murtabak as one of the most popular food that people go for when they are in Arab street. Zam Zam Murtabak has remained a local favorite and a recommended Indian food to eat in Arab Street. Originally an Arab food, varying versions of murtabak are commonly found throughout Southeast Asia. The Singapore version of the murtabak is a combination of Arab and Indian flavors, spices, and cooking techniques.
We would assume that Arab street is an enclave filled with eateries serving only Malay, Indian or Middle Eastern Food. Surprisingly there are many other well known eateries in Arab Street that caters to differing taste buds such as Italian, French as well as Japanese restaurants.
Due to urbanization and globalization, the food culture scene in Singapore has seen a gradual shift in taste and preference to include international food fare into its palate. This can be seen from the myriad hippie and indie restaurants sprouting in and around Arab street to cater to the taste of the younger generations.
Haji Lane well known for its western food culture is filled with cool boutiques, cafes, restaurants and shops offering quirky items that screams hip and happening. Not only that some of these restaurants do serve authentic fusion food in order to maintain some elements of Asian identity.
There are also many beautiful murals located around Haji Lane that reminds me fondly of the street art found along the back alleys of Hosier Lane and Caledonian Lane in Melbourne. Frankly I prefer the murals on the back alleys of Arab street as it is definitely much cleaner and bearable for anyone to take a photo there. All I can say is that Haji Lane is one of the most instagrammed place in Singapore for many of the tourists.
The memories and relationships formed while hanging out a hip and trendy cafe in Arab street can last a lifetime and continues to shape the precinct in the present.
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