Fatty Cheong

Fatty Cheong is a Cantonese roast meat stall at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre on Jalan Bukit Merah. It is best known for char siew, the sweet, glossy barbecued pork that Singaporeans love to eat over rice. The stall has served customers at this hawker centre since 1992.

The stall takes its name from its founder, Chan Tuck Cheong, whose nickname was Fatty Cheong. He learned to roast meat from a Hong Kong chef and built a loyal following over more than three decades. Mr Chan died in October 2024. His two sons, Lachlan and Lachron, learned the trade from him as teenagers and now carry on the stall.

What to order

Start with the char siew rice. The pork is roasted over charcoal, which gives the edges a smoky char. Many regulars ask for the bu jian tian cut. The Chinese name means "never sees the light", because the meat comes from the pig's armpit, under the foreleg. It is more tender than other cuts, with a thin layer of fat that melts as you eat. The rice comes with a thick, dark and sweet sauce.

The pork sits in its marinade overnight and is brushed with sauce while it roasts, which keeps it moist. Beyond char siew, the menu covers other roast meats and noodles:

• Roast pork (sio bak): pork belly with a crisp layer of crackling.
• Roast duck: served over rice, with a duck leg option for bigger appetites.
• Pork ribs rice: a good pick if you want to try something beyond the char siew.
• Wanton noodles: thin egg noodles with wanton dumplings.

You can also ask for char siew and roast pork together on one plate. This is the easiest way to try both on a single visit.

How the stall works

This is a hawker stall, so you order and pay at the counter, then carry your food to a shared table. Queues often form at busy times, as the stall has a strong local following. Plan a little extra time if you come at lunch.

If you are new to hawker centres, read our guide on how to order at hawker stalls. Our tips on how to chope a seat explain the local way of saving a table.

The setting

ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre is a neighbourhood hawker centre in the Bukit Merah area. It is used mainly by people who live and work nearby, so it feels like an everyday part of Singapore life rather than a tourist stop. As in most hawker centres, there is no table service and seating is shared.

Nearby

Our page on ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre covers more stalls under the same roof. In the same part of town, Tiong Bahru Market is another well-known hawker centre. Pair it with a stroll around the Art Deco flats of Tiong Bahru Estate. For more ideas, browse restaurants in Tiong Bahru and Alexandra, our hawker favourites and our list of Chinese restaurants in Singapore.