Get $1 Handmade Ang Ku Kueh By 73-Year-Old Uncle In Maxwell

Ri Xin Snack Delights has $1 ang ku kueh at Maxwell Food Centre

Making traditional kueh by hand is slowly becoming a dying trade, as hawkers have difficulty finding successors to continue their businesses. One of the few handmade kueh stalls left is Ri Xin Snack Delights in Maxwell Food Centre. This family business has been around for around 70 years. 

The stall is solely owned and operated by a 73-year-old uncle, who is still using the original recipes that he inherited, along with the stall, from his father.

He sells ang ku kueh, wa kueh, and huat kueh, of which the latter two are becoming increasingly harder to find in Singapore.

The ang ku kueh here are filled with either peanut or salted mung bean, and sold at $1 apiece—an affordable price considering their location in the CBD. We’re surprised that the price of these delights has not changed over the years, even after the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Each ang ku kueh has a thin layer of smooth, mochi-like skin, and is jam-packed with fillings. The peanut ang ku kueh was soft and crumbly, but we felt like its savoury flavours were remiss. We still felt that its textures were enjoyable, though, and for $1, this ang ku kueh has unbeatable value. 

The mung bean ang ku kueh, on the other hand, was lightly salted, which enhanced the earthy flavour of the beans. While the filling was a tad too dry for my taste, we felt that this was a much more enjoyable offering from the stall.

Image credit: CK Loh 

The Wa Kueh ($2), a steamed rice cake that bears similarity to chwee kueh, is generously doused in black bean sauce to serve.

Despite its messy appearance, we found that the cake was soft and smooth, while the black bean sauce packed a heap of savoury flavours. Alongside the dried shrimp, we were impressed by the depth of this dish. As it comes in a plastic bag, you might need to source your own plate when eating it, though!

Image credit: CK Loh

Huat kueh, otherwise known as ‘fatt koh’, ‘fa gao’, or fortune cake, are Chinese steamed sponge cakes that are often used as prayer offerings. Ri Xin Snack Delights sells huat kueh in different sizes, starting from $2.50.

The stall previously gained some online traction when netizens posted about Uncle’s difficulty in trying to keep up his business during Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) last year. Given Ri Xin Snack Delights’ lack of presence on online delivery platforms, as well as the fact that most office workers were working from home, it was hard for Uncle to maintain his sales. 

If you’re planning to head down to support Uncle, do note that the stall is only open from 6pm to 9pm daily, and is closed in the event of wet weather. 

While you’re in the area, check out our Market At Maxwell feature for quality Niko Neko matcha lattes and waffles. Otherwise, read our guide to the best cafes in Singapore that accept CDC Vouchers if you need some inspiration on where to spend your new SG60 Vouchers!

Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-55, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Daily 6pm to 9pm
Ri Xin Snack Delights is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Nabila Malek.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.