What it’s like
Located in Redhill and known for its somewhat misleading moniker (the ABC reportedly comes from the former Archipelago Brewery Company – not a brickworks factory, though there were some in the area – which stood at the junction of Bukit Merah nearby, now the location of Anchorpoint mall), ABC Brickworks opened in 1974 and currently houses a whopping 96 food stalls. It’s a popular supper spot, with several stalls opening past 11pm, but also does brisk service during weekday lunchtimes – though it’s not as densely packed as central hawker centres like Maxwell (which is roughly the same size).
What to eat
With nearly a hundred stalls to choose from, all your basic hawker staples are covered, from Penang assam laksa to hokkien mee, prawn noodles and oyster omelettes. Must try highlights include Bao Zai’s (#01- 135) bite-sized char siew baos ($0.70) with their juicy pork insides – best eaten while hot – as well as Fatty Cheong (#01-120), which offers the bu jian tian (literally ‘doesn’t meet light’) cut of meat ($4/slice) – a sinful, fatty treat that almost dissolves in your mouth. Wow Wow West’s (#01-133) is notable for giving ex-convicts a second chance as employees; their crispy chicken chop with black pepper gravy ($6) also reflects their generosity.
Stop by Y.R.A North India Pakistani (#01-12), which has a meaty, juicy chicken tikka ($3), while Habib’s Mee Stall (#01-08) offers spicy mee goreng and mee hoon goreng (both $3). There’s also a nice variety of halal food stalls and a few vegetarian stalls, which makes ABC Brickworks a good destination for those with dietary restrictions.
For dessert, Jin Jin Hot and Cold Dessert (#01-20) has risen to fame with its own sweet creations, with Power Chendol ($1.50) being a crowd favourite due to its thick gula melaka helping. Die-hard durian lovers should try their slightly pricier Gangster Ice ($2.50), topped off with a scoop of pure durian flesh. Chen Ting
