United States Ambassador to Singapore, Anjani K. Sinha, has finally had his first taste of Singapore hawker food, almost two months after arriving in the country. The experience took place at the well-known Tiong Bahru Market, one of Singapore’s most iconic hawker centres, and was shared in a Facebook post by the U.S. Embassy Singapore on Wednesday, December 31.
As 2025 came to a close, Dr Sinha said he was “grateful” to share his “first hawker experience in Singapore” with his family and colleagues from the embassy. Photos posted online showed the ambassador smiling as he explored the market and posed at various spots around the hawker centre. He also shared that he had a “wonderful time” visiting one of the city’s “iconic” food locations.
Hawker Stall Visit
During the visit, Dr Sinha stopped by Tiong Bahru Lee Hong Kee Cantonese Roasted, one of the most established stalls in the market, and took photos in front of the well-known eatery. The visit highlighted his interest in learning more about local culture through food, something Singapore is widely known for.
Of course, the main highlight of the visit was the food itself. Dr Sinha described the hawker dishes as “amazing food”, with a wide spread laid out on the table. Each dish was clearly labelled to help the diners identify what they were eating. Among the dishes spotted were Hainanese chicken rice, fried Hokkien mee labelled as “fried sotong prawn mee”, black and white fried carrot cake, lontong, and curry rice.
In a light-hearted local touch, the group was also given packets of tissue paper printed with the word “Chope!”, a familiar sight to Singaporeans who use tissues to reserve tables at hawker centres. Another photo showed Dr Sinha holding a spoon over a bowl of ice kacang, appearing ready to enjoy the popular local dessert.
Why did he arrive in Singapore?
Dr Sinha officially arrived in Singapore on November 6 to begin his tenure as the US Ambassador, following his swearing-in ceremony in October. His appointment had earlier drawn attention in Washington after a viral video showed him being questioned at a Senate hearing by Senator Tammy Duckworth, who raised concerns about his readiness for the role.
Despite the scrutiny, the India-born orthopaedic surgeon said he was “deeply honoured” to take on the role. He described Singapore as a “friend of the United States that is a leading hub for American business and a pillar of regional stability”. In a separate interview with The Straits Times, he also commented that the US had played “an important role” in Singapore’s economic miracle.
In the same U.S. Embassy post, Dr Sinha added that beyond enjoying hawker food, he appreciated meeting locals and celebrating the holidays together, saying, “Cheers to a joyful end of the year and looking forward to what’s ahead in 2026!”
