Union Farm’s chee pow gai is sold at a minimum of five pieces ($12), 10 pieces ($24), 20 pieces ($47) and 40 pieces ($92).

Dine-in customers can also order Kar Wing’s signature Egg Noodle/Beehoon with Oyster Sauce ($3 for small; $8 for big) and Baby Kailan with Oyster Sauce ($9) to go with the chicken.

While he no longer serves his tofu and soup side dishes, Kar Wing still offers a whole Quail ($8), Fried Ngoh Hiang ($10) and a takeaway-only Pig Trotter Vinegar ($13).

When his original Clementi eatery closed in 2017, Kar Wing told The Straits Times that he was open to selling his brand and recipe. Since then, he has been approached by investors and even people who offered to partner him “to do frozen chee pow gai to sell in supermarkets.”

However, he has not inked a deal so far to expand his biz like opening a chain of outlets, the way his fellow famous hawker brand Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle did. 

“It’s not that I’m selfish about sharing my recipe. It’s just that — what if they don’t do it justice?” he points out. “We are family-run, so we want to preserve our father’s recipe. If you increase your quantity, your quality might drop and with expansion stalls, the taste will be slightly different.”

The youthful Kar Wing has also worked at the stall for so long, he reckons his familiar presence is required to attract business. He jokes: “My customers must see me at the stall then they will know we’re from [the original Union Farm] at Clementi!”

Union Farm Chee Pow Kai is at 267A Toh Guan Rd, S601267. Open Thur-Sun, 11.30am-4pm or until sold out. Call 8811-1616 at least one day in advance to order.

Photos: Facebook/ Kenneth Chai8days.sg is now on #tiktok! Follow us on www.tiktok.com/@8dayseat

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