A Singaporean hawker was left overcome with emotion when an American visitor presented him with a detailed Lego replica of his former business, featuring a miniature figure of his late mother.
A Tribute to Family and Hard Work
The model was gifted to 42-year-old Melvin Soh, the owner of Toast Hut. The diorama recreates the stall’s original layout at the Vintage Airport Road Food Centre, where Mr. Soh operated the breakfast business with his mother for 17 years.
The tribute holds deep personal significance, as it includes figurines of both Mr. Soh and his mother. His mother, who helped him brew coffee and tea and toast sandwiches day and night, passed away from melanoma in 2024.
Mr. Soh, who reopened his business in Bukit Merah in 2025, expressed that the figurines glance just like them. He noted that the model symbolises his mother’s efforts in setting up the stall and serves as a reminder of her.
Precision in Miniature
Matthew Hine, a 48-year-old engineer from Dallas, Texas, focused on extreme detail to ensure the models were authentic. The Toast Hut replica includes a dark blue ice bucket, a drink blender, and various bottles of condiments.
Hine similarly created a model of the Rahmath Cheese Prata stall in Toa Payoh. This version features the stall’s signature red cup hanging in the background and was gifted to the stall’s recently retired owner, Shahul.
Hine has visited Singapore regularly since 2005, as his wife has family in the city. He resumed his childhood hobby of building Lego three years ago as a way to relax, inspired by miniatures of Japanese ramen and sushi shops he saw online.
Connecting Through Culture
Hine described his admiration for Singapore’s multiculturalism and its collective obsession with food, which he believes converges perfectly in hawker centres. He noted that the level of detail hawkers bring to their craft is comparable to that of high-end restaurants in the U.S.
The models were given to the owners in March 2025 and gained wider attention after Hine posted photos of them on Reddit on April 21. In gratitude, Mr. Soh met Hine on his day off to give him coffee drip bags.
Hine, who has also documented Lego models of tea shops and wet markets in Hong Kong on Instagram, may create more hawker stall replicas in the future. However, he noted that he first needs to find more room at home to display them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created the Lego replicas of the hawker stalls?
The models were created by Matthew Hine, a 48-year-old engineer living in Dallas, Texas, who has been visiting Singapore regularly since 2005.
What specific details were included in the Toast Hut model?
The model includes a brick-by-brick recreation of the original layout, featuring a dark blue ice bucket, a drink blender, condiment bottles, kaya toast, and figurines of Melvin Soh and his late mother.
How did the creator design these miniatures?
Matthew Hine used the Lego Studio app to design the sets, drawing reference from Google Images and his own personal photo archives to ensure accuracy.
Do you think art and miniatures are effective ways to preserve the memory of local cultural landmarks?
