Iconic fish head porridge hawker stall Hong Kee Porridge in Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre may pull its shutters down for good after Chinese New Year 2026. The reason? Nobody is willing to pick up the torch.
Almost every resident and regular of the Commonwealth area knows this place, and by extension, the person behind it. 80-year-old Mr Xu Shouhong has been serving traditional Cantonese porridge to loyal customers for over 40 years, waking up every day at 2am to start stirring his pots.
Despite still being relatively healthy, Mr Xu admits that age has caught up to him but he did not elaborate on how.
The most tragic twist is that Mr Xu cannot find anyone to succeed him. His 2 sons have shown no interest in inheriting the stall, and his 60-year-old wife is unable to run the stall on her own.
But why is Hong Kee Porridge so beloved by many? There’s their Sliced Fish Porridge (S$6), which is thick yet smooth and served piping hot. So hot that some recommend waiting for a few minutes for the porridge to cool down before you slurp it.
The sliced fish has a slightly sweet quality to it, which really enhances the entire bowl. There’s even a Fish Head Porridge (S$6) if you’re daring enough.
Their Pork Porridge with Century Egg (S$6) is no slouch either. Patrons recommend ordering it without pork liver, as it may result in an iron-like taste if left in. But if you like that, then more power to you.
I do wonder if Mr Xu has ever considered hiring kitchen hands to assist him and his wife, but something tells me he’s the type to only take on those who are fully committed. Hopefully, someone steps up eventually, because it’d be a shame to lose yet another gem.
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