Foreign-born hawkers in Singapore serve food from home

SINGAPORE – Foreign-born operators are making inroads into Singapore’s hawker scene, bringing flavours from their home towns. At Golden Mile Food Centre, Algerian hawker Yahiaoui El-Hani, 33, opened MareMyst in December 2025, serving North African dishes such as chermoula-spiced chicken and mutton stew rice. In Joo Chiat, Iraq-born Omar Alnaimi, 55, also known as Peter Omar, runs Pete’s Mediterranean Grill at AlibabaR The Hawker Bar, a hawker-style concept that marks its 10th anniversary in November. Here are their stories of how they are winning over local diners with the food of their home countries. From Bejaia to Beach Road When…