It represents a community dining space for everyone , and a reflection of Singapore's multicultural society and a thriving culture in an urban environment.

Hawkers first arrived in the 19th century with the influx of immigrants to the Malayan Peninsula. Street hawkers appeared in Singapore almost immediately when the British established a port on the island in 1819.

The British colonial government felt that hawkers were nuisances and had to be controlled. In 1913, the Municipal Health Officer described street hawkers to be obstructing streets in the cities and have unhygienic conditions, even making a proposal to eradicate street hawkers in Singapore

75% of the population were crammed into the city centre where street hawkers congregated in hotspots. Their unsanitary food preparation and improper waste disposal aroused concerns.