Maxwell Food Centre is home to many iconic stalls, but few have an origin story quite like that of Mr Appam. Though it is a relatively new entry to the hawker centre, the tale of its Vietnamese owner who accidentally won a bid for an Indian stall—but was unable to change the stall type afterwards—was reported by news outlets such as TODAY.
Owner Nguyen Thi Kieu Hanh turned adversity into an advantage, as she mastered not only the classic appam—a type of South Indian pancake made with fermented rice batter—but also created inventive spins on the dish.
The Original Appam ($3 for two pieces) is the most basic version you can get here, but it’s a good introduction to the stall’s fare. Like any good appam, it has those crispy edges and a soft, fluffy centre, where the flavours of fermented rice flour are most prominent. Each piece is notably more sour than your usual appam, and goes great with the orange palm sugar and grated coconut provided on the side.
As for the more unique flavours, the Princess Appam ($3.30 each) comes highly recommended. Egg and melted cheese are infused into this crispy snack, which makes this pancake’s core even fluffier than the original version’s. And thanks to the cheese, there’s a savoury kick here that works well with Kieu Hanh’s slightly tart batter.
The Pandan Brown Sugar Coconut Appam ($2.80 each) has the combined fragrance of the three ingredients mentioned in its name. It’s a delicious treat with a rich depth of sweetness that never tips into the saccharine, allowing the aroma and texture of the pancake to shine.
For more great food at Maxwell Food Centre, have a look at our Maxwell Food Centre guide. If you’re looking for other delicious Indian eats, read our Bismi Briyani review.
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-99, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 8am to 8pm
Website
Mr Appam is not a halal-certified stall.