Having served aromatic “Rou Gu Cha” (also known as Bak Kut Teh in the
Hokkien/Teochew dialect) for over 40 years, Founder Rou Gu Cha Cafeteria has
established a reputation as one of the best Rou Gu Cha in Singapore.
The customers come first and foremost for the Bak Kut Teh, and hail from all
over Singapore as well as the regional countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand,
Hong Kong, etc.). The multitude of celebrity photographs that fill the walls of the
eatery and the crowds that throng the restaurant during its opening hours are
proof of Founder Rou Gu Cha’s appeal and the authenticity of the food served.
The secret to the quality of Founder’s Bak Kut Teh is in the insistence of its
founder, Mr. Chua Chwee Whatt, in using only the freshest meaty pork ribs,
simmered in a specially formulated broth of herbs and spices. In fact, Founder’s
broth is created using a recipe created by Mr. Chua himself, and perfected over
many years of serving the wonderfully peppery dish. Hence, the naming of the
business as “Founder Rou Gu Cha”.
The flagship outlet is located in Balestier (operated by Mr Chua’s son), by
embarking on franchising, the Company aims to bring the Founder Rou Gu Cha
dining experience closer to its loyal customers as well as new fans in various
countries throughout Southeast Asia and beyond.
Mr. Chua, 67, was a pig farmer in Seletar - one of the last of a dying breed - who
enjoyed patronizing bak kut teh stalls. He tried many places but felt that most of
them were lacking in quality, mainly due to poor raw ingredients. So he decided
cook the dish himself, using his own pigs. Mr. Chua was born in the Choa Chu
Kang area, and he felt comfortable testing his recipes out on friends from the old
neighborhood. His recipes were self-taught, so he called himself Founder. By the
late 1970s, he had started a small shop there, and business was good. Later,
government redevelopment meant he had to move from Choa Chu Kang, and he
also had to give up his farm. By 1988, he had reinvented himself as a full-time
restaurateur. Meat from seven-month-old pigs is the best for pork rib soup, says
Mr. Chua, whose father was also a pig farmer from Fujian province. If the
animals are slaughtered too young, the meat is less tasty; too old, and the color
of the meat will be a little too dark, he says. He is also adamant that drinking tea
before consuming bak kut teh enhances the flavor of the soup. Not surprisingly,
the pork ribs at Founder are tasty, if a little less tender than at other places, while
the soup is clear and light, sweet and less peppery. Mr. Chua is still a permanent
fixture at Founder, which he runs with son Chua Cheah Koon. The pork rib soup
business is rewarding but hard work, says Mr. Chua. "As a pig farmer, I had more
free time in the evenings - with bak kut teh the hours are a lot longer.

Local

Eat and Drink

• Founder Bak Kut Teh - Singapore (0.0 miles) - Having served aromatic “Rou Gu Cha” (also known as Bak Kut Teh in the Hokkien/Teochew dialect) f...
• Tandoori Corner - Singapore (0.1 miles) - Established in year 2008, Tandoori Corner is well-known for serving authentic North Indian food to a...
• Lai Wah Restaurant - Singapore (1.1 miles) - Since 1963, Lai Wah Restaurant was the world's first restaurant to bring you famous dishes such ...
• Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant - Singapore (1.3 miles) - Named after the famous Tang Dynasty Poet, Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant is renowned for its Cantonese ...
• Tolido's Espresso Nook - Singapore (1.5 miles) - A casual, cosy cafe serving great artisan coffee with fresh food ranging from all-day breakfast to p...

See and Do

• LOST SG Singapore (1.6 miles) - WHAT IS IT ABOUT? LOST SG is a high-tech, top-rated 60 minutes escape room where players have to put ...
• travel delightfully pte ltd Singapore (1.6 miles) - customized tours in singapore, malaysia, indonesia, hong kong, thailand
• Escape Hunt Singapore Singapore (1.8 miles) - For a little something different in Singapore, grab your family or friends for Escape Hunt Experienc...
• Raffles Singapore Singapore (2.1 miles) - Raffles Hotel Singapore is the flagship property of Raffles Hotels & Resorts. Opened in 1887, it is ...
• Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre Singapore (2.2 miles) - Suntec Singapore is the World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre located at the heart of Singa...

Shopping

• Songs of the Sacred Self - Enchanted Shop - Singapore (1.7 miles) - For anyone who loves beautiful fantasy art related to magical and mythical (or are they?) dragons, a...