The most popular bak kwa people queue for and other fun facts about this essential CNY snack

The most popular bak kwa stalls

According to Vincent Ong, co-founder of task outsourcing app LaborMe, these are the most popular stalls that their pool of taskers are roped in to queue for:

Also read: REVIEW: 18 most delicious Chinese New Year snacks for 2017

The biggest single order of bak kwa

The largest purchase made through LaborMe tallied up to almost $2,000 for the bak kwa alone – that’s a whopping 30kg – commissioned by a corporate client. For regular customers, the average order is between 3 to 10kg.

Photo: LaborMe

The waiting time for bak kwa

With Chinese New Year looming so close, these two weeks were the peak season for bak kwa purchases. Queues for the popular stalls now hover around 6 hours.

Also read: RECIPE: Turn leftover bak kwa into bak kwa maple cookies

How much it’ll cost to outsource your bak kwa shopping

You would probably realise by now that it’s quite foolhardy to try to brave the queues yourself, unless you’ve time to burn. Oh, and don’t forget this week’s never-ending wind and rain too.  

Over at LaborMe, instead of fixed hourly rates, customers decide how much they are willing to pay for a task. It is then up to the taskers to decide which jobs to take. For bak kwa, the average rates you’re looking at right now is $8-$10/kg. Delivery is inclusive, and there are no hidden charges. This means that if you’re ordering 3kg of bak kwa, you should expect to pay between $24 and $30 for the task.

Unusual bak kwa flavours to try

While the traditional flavours are always the most popular for the season, you may also want to consider switching things up and try these unusual riffs on bak kwa.

Turkey bak kwa, from  Fragrance

First things first, no they're not halal. After all, they're made in the same factories as regular pork bak kwa. But it's worth trying if you like more chew, or if you find regular bak kwa a tad too fatty.

Beef bak kwa, from DenDeng House

Okay, this one is halal. Dendeng is Indonesian for meat jerky in general, and Dendeng House on Changi Road has built up a loyal following for their jerky ─ we hear the Beef Chilli version is quite popular.

Pineapple bak kwa, from Kim Peng Hiang

This old stalwart is possibly the only bak kwa purveyor in Singapore to mix pineapple bits along with the sliced pork. Besides lending a zesty fragrance, the pineapple also serves to tenderise the meat.

Duck bak kwa, from Xi Shi Bak Kwa

If wacky twists are your idea of fun, Xi Shi has quite a number. One of their more popular items is the duck bak kwa, and they claim that their special mix of herbs and spices helps to counter the gamey flavour of the dark meat.