Owner of “the best lei cha in Singapore” loses brave battle with cancer
With a heavy heart, I come bearing solemn news. Mr Ang Geok Koon, owner of Hakka Thunder Tea Rice at Margaret Drive Hawker Centre has passed away after his brave fight against pancreatic cancer.
He was 52 years old.
For the past 13 years, Mr Ang has helmed the beloved hawker stall together with his wife, Mrs Ang. Unfortunately, his health began to decline in August 2023, which led to several sudden halts in operations.
By December, his condition worsened significantly with symptoms such as insomnia, poor appetite and sharp back pains. Mr Ang lost 10kg.
Given a maximum of 1 year to live, his diagnosis of end-stage pancreatic cancer initially showed some promise after chemotherapy treatments. However, things took a bad turn and he was admitted to the hospital again.
According to Death Kopitiam Singapore, Mr Ang had a “quiet and unassuming love of a father and husband.” His final moments were solely filled with concern for Mrs Ang and his 4 children.
News of his passing was met with sadness and well wishes for the grieving family. In memory of Mr Ang, let’s look back at his thunderous mark on Singapore’s 擂茶 scene.
To start, the Angs were invited to serve their signature Thunder Tea Rice at the 2018 National Day Rally.
If the stall’s name rings a bell to you, yes, it is the same famous lei cha which used to be situated at the former Tanglin Halt Food Centre. Never without an extremely long queue, Hakka Thunder Tea Rice is also referred to by customers as “the best lei cha in Singapore“.
Selling Hakka Thunder Tea along with their handmade Yong Tau Foo, they have always created food that is worth the wait.
The herbaceous and pleasantly astringent tea broth features a rich mixture of ingredients that include beancurd, chye poh, chye sim, mani cai, ikan bilis and toasted peanuts. Customers can choose between the option of White Rice or Brown Rice (S$5.50), with the latter more popular.
The assorted Yong Tau Foo (S$1.30 per piece) is generously filled with fish, pork and anchovy filling, and regulars swear by their thick slices of Bittergourd stuffed with juicy meat.
During my conversation with Mrs Ang, who will now run the store while caring for her children, she revealed that the hawker stall will reopen after a break at the end of June. As we await the return of Hakka Thunder Tea Rice, our heart goes out to Mr Ang’s family and friends.
May they find solace in these trying times.
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