Overview: Former Singapore Airlines air stewardess who left the aviation industry to pursue entrepreneurship in Singapore’s hawker scene with her husband, bringing authentic Taiwanese teppanyaki to locals.
Industry: Food & Beverage (F&B) / Hawker Culture
Professional Experience: Cherry previously worked as a Singapore Airlines cabin crew member for about six years before transitioning into the hawker business. She also has experience in hospitality, customer service, marketing, administration, and operations management through running her food business.
About her: Cherry Tan is a Singapore-based entrepreneur and former Singapore Airlines air stewardess who made a bold career switch from aviation to hawker entrepreneurship. Together with her Taiwanese husband Duncan Hsu, she co-founded Kiang Kiang Taiwan Teppanyaki, a hawker stall specialising in Taiwanese-style hotplate dishes inspired by Taiwan’s night market culture.
Known for her strong customer service skills and positive personality, Cherry combines her airline hospitality background with the realities of Singapore’s demanding hawker culture. Her journey has inspired many people online due to the contrast between the glamorous airline lifestyle and the physically demanding life of a hawker.
Turning point: A major turning point came when Cherry realised she wanted a different long-term future beyond the airline industry. Although becoming an SIA stewardess had been her childhood dream, she began questioning whether it aligned with her long-term aspirations.
At the same time, her husband wanted to start his own food business, which motivated her to leave aviation and support the venture. The transition into hawker life became a life-changing experience that allowed her to explore entrepreneurship, customer engagement, and business ownership.
What she does now: Today, Cherry co-runs Kiang Kiang Taiwan Teppanyaki in Woodlands and Bedok with her husband. She manages customer service, cashier duties, administration, marketing, and business operations while helping to grow the brand’s online presence through social media content. She also shares her entrepreneurial and hawker journey online, where her videos documenting daily hawker life have gained significant attention on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
SGVisionaries interview: Meet Cherry Tan: Ex-SIA Air Stewardess Who Goes From Flying to Frying
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