Ingredient appreciation — what makes Bak Kut Teh special

What sets Bak Kut Teh apart is the handling of lemongrass. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the richly coconut-sweet result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Singapore's hawker culture was inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020. The a Michelin-starred hawker stall atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had fresh coconut water as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Bak Kut Teh is the place to start.