Dabao Singapore team at the Metreon food court in San Francisco, offering Singaporean hawker-style food together with Chef Emily Lim.

About Dabao Singapore

Founded by Singaporean chef Emily Lim, a James Beard nominee and Food Network alum, Dabao is rooted in nostalgia, bold flavors, and the joy of sharing. Whether we’re hand-delivering meals to homes, offices, and weddings or just delivering on the flavor and feeling of a true hawker center our goal stays the same: Singaporean food that hits the spot, every single time.

Emily Lim cooking laksa from home kitchen in San Francisco during Dabao Singapore’s early days

From Home Kitchen to San Fransisco Staple

Singaporean laksa meal kit with noodles and toppings, broth served separately in Dabao Singapore packaging

Inception Amid the Pandemic

2021–2023

Emily Lim serving chili crab cocktails with Singaporean catering dishes including laksa cups, vegetable spring rolls, and curry puffs in San Francisco

2020

  • Founded during COVID‑19: Emily Lim launched Dabao Singapore when she and her industry peers lost their jobs due to pandemic-related shutdowns. She started from her apartment, initially paying collaborators “under the table,” and only formalized the business by May 2020

  • Read Article

  • Initial concept: It began as meal‑kit deliveries of Singaporean street‑food classics like curry puffs, laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, and chili crab with garlic noodles to fill a void in the Bay Area’s culinary scene

    Read Article

Rising Recognition & Community Engagement

The pop‑up grew its reputation through Bay Area delivery, catering and rotating menus. Although not every specific milestone each year is documented online, Dabao built momentum by spotlighting authentic Singaporean flavors and building a following in the local community.

2024

James Beard Nomination & Permanent Plans

April 2024: Emily Lim was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Emerging Chef category, marking Dabao's increasing national recognition

Read Article


She began scouting spaces for a permanent location, aiming to recreate a true hawker‑stall experience in the Bay Area

Read Article

Emily Lim holding vegetable curry potato puffs at Dabao Singapore’s hawker-style stall in the Metreon, San Francisco

Fall 2024

Brick & Mortar Debuts

  • October 2024: Dabao Singapore opened its first permanent location inside the Metreon food court in downtown San Francisco’s Yerba Buena district

    Read Article

  • Nov 14, 2024: The opening was formally marked by a grand opening event

    Read Article

  • End of November 2024: Additional coverage detailed the menu and ambiance-serving laksa, curry puffs, Hainanese chicken rice, and more in a hawker‑style setting; a six‑hour rempah base with 21 ingredients noted as a standout

    Read Article

  • Meal kits and catering continued, alongside the new stall operations

    Read Article

Dabao Singapore team at their hawker-style stall in the Metreon food court, San Francisco

2025

Continuation & Growing Presence

As of early 2025, Dabao Singapore continues operating at the Metreon, offering lunch (and post-Grand Opening, expanding into dinner) with staple dishes and aspirations to expand further. The meal kit delivery and catering services are still active as well

Read Article

Dabao Singapore website for Singaporean catering and meal kits in San Francisco

Winter 2026

A New Digital Home

After five great years on our first site, we’re excited to welcome you to our brand new digital home. It’s faster, easier to navigate, and built with more features to better serve you - our growing community of hawker food lovers.

Soon, we’ll be rolling out our blog Hawker Stories, where Emily will share kitchen adventures, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on the flavors and culture that fuel everything we do.