Hakka Yu 客语 has made its debut in Singapore, opening its first and only outlet at Jewel Changi Airport. This authentic Hakka restaurant, originally founded in Guangzhou in 2013, has over 80 outlets across China and has been featured on Dianping’s Must-Eat List in 2022 and 2024. Known for its signature dishes like Hakka Salt-Baked Chicken, Hakka Stuffed Tofu, and Traditional Cantonese Claypot Rice with Cured Meats, Hakka Yu aims to bring greater awareness and appreciation for Hakka culture through its culinary offerings.
Hakka cuisine is deeply rooted in tradition, with dishes like Salt-Baked Chicken reflecting its history of preserving food with salt to enhance flavor and longevity. This method results in tender, juicy meat with rich natural flavors. Other menu highlights include Abacus Seeds dumplings—chewy yam and tapioca flour creations stir-fried with seasonings—and Hakka-style stuffed tofu, which uses a unique mixture of minced fish and pork for a thicker, meatier bite compared to its Teochew and Cantonese counterparts. The opening of Hakka Yu provides a rare opportunity to experience authentic Hakka dishes in Singapore, where such representation is limited to a few establishments like Plum Village Restaurant in Jalan Leban.
This venture is a collaboration between Hakka Yu founder Xu Ke Peng and Fong Chi Chung, founder and chairman of the Putien restaurant chain. While Hakka Yu will operate under Putien, the two brands are not positioned as competitors. Instead, this partnership aims to cultivate a deeper understanding of Hakka culture and cuisine among Singapore’s residents, where the Hakka community forms 11.4% of the Chinese population but often lacks mainstream representation outside of lei cha hawker stalls.
