Stinky Tofu Takes Hougang by Storm
What Happened at the July 21 Night Bazaar
When the passar malam opened on the 21st of July, the buzz was all about street food surprises—and one of those surprises was a stinky tofu stall that turned the neighbourhood into a fragrant little fiasco.
Who’s Saying “Ugh!”
- Yang of Block 522—just 300 m from the bazaar—swears the tofu fumes drift straight into her kitchen. She’s had to shut her windows 11 am‑11 pm every day, burning scented candles to keep the smell at bay.
- Another resident (anonymously) confessed she thought it smelled like a carcass at first. Once she heard neighbors gasping about tofu, she realized the real culprit.
- That resident’s little ones now have to power up the AC to sleep without the stink assault.
Why It Happened
The stall, Man Kou Xiang, is tucked into the bazaar’s corner. The organizer, Wayne Lim, said he had the airport’s stinky tofu vibe in mind:
“Going to a Taiwanese night market? Stinky tofu is a must‑have. We want Hougang folks to taste it without flopping over to Taipei. And honestly, stinky tofu isn’t easy to find around here.” – Wayne,
To tackle the olfactory onslaught, a special exhaust pipe was installed.
What the Organizers Really Think
Lim, who’s been running night bazaars since his early 30s, admits that not everyone can be satisfied with the aroma:
“There are all kinds of people around, and some complain the food isn’t up to spec. In the end, you can’t please everyone.” – Wayne
He added that vendors, familiar with each other’s smells, are usually fine–this isn’t the first time a tofu stall has made a splash.
Bottom Line
Stinky tofu made waves, literally. Whether you’re a fan or a nostril‑naïve resident, the buzz is all in. The night market keeps evolving, and the scent is just part of the adventure—one sniff, one laugh, and hopefully one big bang of wings or something more acceptable… maybe a tofu‑less version in the future.
<img alt="" data-caption="The exhaust pipe behind Man Kou Xiang. PHOTO: AsiaOne/Claudia Tan” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”467e8d79-e82c-4de7-b972-86027fbe29ca” src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/010822_exhaust%20pipe_asiaone.jpg”/>
Stinky Tofu Smells Keep Visitors Fleeing
The Battle of the Aroma
Raju, a 43‑year‑old vendor who keeps his full name under wraps, confessed to AsiaOne that he’s been “sitting on the smell since the bazaar opened.” The stench is so potent that even a customer dared offer him some stinky tofu, only to be repelled by the odor and tossed aside. “I just couldn’t take it,” he said, brushing off the fragrant disaster.
According to Raju, the smell has chased some customers away. “When people come in, smell the stinky tofu and then walk out,” he explains. Picture this: a full queue in front of the stall, air drifting away from the output, and a solitary electric fan fighting a losing battle against the aroma.
On Monday, August 1, the stall’s fan was in full swing, trying to keep the faithful crowd from turning into a temporary evacuation zone. While the fan spun, Graphic designer Jenn Tan (25) stuck around. She chuckled, “I kinda like stinky tofu, so the smell’s bearable to me. But a bunch of aunties were backing away, rubbing their noses, asking, ‘What’s that smell?’”
Key Takeaways
- Stinky tofu aromas can be intense enough to deter customers.
- Some vendors employ fans to improve ventilation, but the issue persists.
- Personality differences affect tolerance levels—where some love it, others can’t stand the scent.
Overall, the bazaar’s attempt to coax cravings into the market has hit a smelly snag. Whether a single electrical fan will be enough to keep the crowd from fleeing remains to be seen.
