Somewhere in his forties but reluctant to give his exact age (he’s actually in his thirties!), Richard has many years of experience behind him when it comes to the food and beverage industry.

One day his brother Victor called him, ranting and raving about an awful lunch he’d had and started talking about wanting to set up a place serving the best steak. This got Richard excited, a self-confessed steak addict who has eaten more than 500 different types of steak in many countries. After some tries, he whipped up a recipe which focuses on “simplicity” - just perfect the sauce + grilling and you’ll get a “gem”.

So in 1997, the Lee brothers acquired an idyllic al-fresco dining area in the heart of Pasir Panjang for this very purpose.

“Our primary objective was to provide the best possible food, steak in particular, at reasonable prices. There was little preparation aside from putting together what would make a good steak. We source for high quality raw meat, the best spices for the sauce, and so on. We’re using one of the best meat from New Zealand for our tenderloin steak, which is essential to make sure we’ve got consistent meat quality. A lot of restaurants neglect this, thinking all they need is a good chef. I don’t compromise on quality, taste and consistency. I always say, in cooking, like in all else, you need passion, lots of it.”

“Since we started, we‘ve captured the hearts of many expats and locals alike These people are our best marketers; they swear by our steaks and have brought almost every friend they could, helping us to seriously expand our business.”

However, Hooha is not just about good food and the great ambience. What sets it apart is the many friendships made throughout the years.

“We have many friends who started as customers, like the Norwegians who frequented us from Day 1 when they were on an oil project here. Can you beat that? They left about a year but have made at least ten visits in between. They’ve never stopped telling their friends about us, and even insist on us opening another Hooha! in Norway. One of them, Torstein, and his wife Randi, have even succeeded in relocating their business here and moved in right across the road from the restaurant so that they’re closer to their favorite steak and friends.”

Success is not an accidental word. Richard attributes Hooha’s success to not just the food but also the wonderful staff they have.

“Our staff know most of our customers by name, what they like to eat and drink, their favorite table, so on. So you see, anybody who steps in to eat does not only get the best steak, but also personalised service.”