The Coco Rice

The CoCo Rice was created by Aries Chan, founder of Nasi Lemak Indulgence, bringing his expertise to Tiong Bahru Market where he operated for three years before ceasing hawker operations in March 2024. The halal establishment earned recognition as a Singapore Food Master 2021 winner, validating their approach to reinventing traditional nasi lemak.

Their signature offering featured blue pea rice instead of conventional coconut milk and pandan rice, creating visually striking plates that photographed beautifully while maintaining authentic flavours. An enormous fried chicken thigh anchored each plate alongside fried tempeh and flavourful sambal chilli. This aesthetic presentation aligned with contemporary food culture's emphasis on visual appeal without sacrificing substance.

After closing both the Tiong Bahru and Punggol locations in late March 2024, the brand evolved into Coco Indulgence, taking the concept to the next level by combining strengths and offerings. This transition represents common trajectory for successful hawker brands, graduating from stall operations to more comprehensive business models with potentially wider reach. While physical hawker presence ended, the legacy of introducing blue pea nasi lemak to mainstream audiences and demonstrating that traditional dishes could be reimagined successfully continues influencing Singapore's evolving food scene. The brand's competition success and three-year run validated market appetite for innovative takes on heritage dishes.