Kampung@ Simpang Bedok

Kampung @ Simpang Bedok

"Let's go to a kampung today!" 


It was a lazy Sunday afternoon. We were all famished after our church services, and Daddy decided visiting this 'new' place might be interesting. Kampung @ Simpang Bedok.

Food Options

We read about this place back in January. Set up by a social enterprise by some friends, the concept is to help hawkers, youths and immigrants to set up their own stores. It is the first privately owned hawker centre in Singapore.

Simpang Bedok - Source Straits Times

The Kampung is located on the second floor above Shop and Save.


Actually, Simpang Bedok had been our parent's favourite haunt. They had previously stayed on the same street for over 5 years in 2 different locations. I have been visiting here till age 3. This is Didi's first visit to Simpang Bedok.


Kampung @ Simpang Bedok is a hawker centre. However, their exciting touches make it different from a typical hawker centre.
Check out the old-style amusement rides. Very 1980s.

Soccer

There is a modern soccer table on the premises as well.
Interestingly, odd sections within the Kampung give it an old-style video. For example, the 1970s Kopitar tables are at one end of the hawker centre.

Old Style Kopi table and chairs

However, the oddities do not extend throughout the hawker centre. There are conventional seatings found in most hawkers at another section.

New seats

There is also a mini flea market selling old books and toys. It is an exciting idea, but we are still waiting to see people browsing the section while we are there.

The Kampung had been open for over 4 months. Like every hawker centre, the food usually draws the crowd. However, from what we saw, the big bowl chicken rice is the most popular store in Kampung.

Other options include prata & briyani, western food, jap food, prawn noodles, Vietnamese food and more. The hawker centre is rather significant, and not all food stores are open. From what we see, it is operating at 50% capacity. The crowd was relatively thin, and finding a seat there should be no problem. We think the more established prata joints and food options on the ground floors are taking away the lunchtime crowd as they are usually packed to the brim on weekends.

Food Options

We decided to try the prawn noodles and have a Vietnamese side dish.

Prawn noodles

The prawn noodles had a generous serving of prawns and pork ribs. The Vietnamese side dish was well presented as well. The food options had no central wow, but there was no disappointment either. Interestingly, new immigrants manage both stores, giving the dishes a slight twist to the usual hawker fare.

Vietnamese spring roll

We like the concept, but the novelty of the place is not taking off. There is still more room to evolve. Given its theme, it could be an ideal place for families to gather. With time and better marketing, this place could be on the food radar of the Easterners.
In addition, we learn that the Kampung does give back by organising Hawker Sessions for aid families with immediate needs. It is a refreshing and encouraging initiative by Kampung @ Simpang Bedok.

From Kampung@ Simpang Bedok Facebook

If you are around Simpang Bedok and decide to try a new place, why drop in at the Kampung for a meal?
The Little Details
Kampung@Simpang Bedok
348 Bedok Road
Singapore 469560