9 Best Hawker Centres in Singapore

Before we embark on an overseas trip, we will always do some research on where to find delicious eats. Likewise, if you’re coming to Singapore, we’re pretty sure you’ll be spoilt for choice the moment you google “what to eat in Singapore” or “hawker food in Singapore”. Singaporeans typically have their meals in an open-air building, known as hawker centres or food centres, that houses several food stalls. It is inexpensive to have a meal in hawker centres and it is also where you can have a taste of Singapore’s local street food.

There are over a hundred hawker centres in Singapore, but, how do you know which ones are worth your visit, especially when the time is very limited? Well, look no further as we’ve shortlisted 9 of our favourite hawker centres to satisfy your palates!

• Old Airport Road Food Centre
• East Coast Lagoon Food Village
• Tekka Market & Food Centre
• Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre
• Changi Village Hawker Centre
• Maxwell Food Centre
• Amoy Street Food Centre
• Timbre+
• Golden Mile Food Centre

Old Airport Road Food Centre

Accessible by Dakota MRT (Circle Line), this hawker centre offers a wide array of food to tickle your taste buds. You can go for light bites such as kaya toasts from Toast Hut, chee cheong fun from Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun, porridge from Xin Mei porridge, and the famous soy beancurd from either Lao Ban Soya Beancurd or 51 Soya Bean for breakfast. For a heartier meal, there is Singaporeans’ favourite Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee, Dong Ji Fried Kway Teow, roasted meats from Roast Paradise, a couple of wanton mee stalls, rojak, and more.

If you’ve already tried our local hawker fare at other food centres, you can opt for Unkai Japanese cuisine for fresh seafood, which ranges from grilled scallops to shucked oysters.

For our recommendations on what to eat, check out our article on the 17 best hawker stalls at Old Airport Food Centre!

East Coast Lagoon Food Village

If you happen to be basking in the sun or participating in some recreational activities at East Coast Park, you might want to drop by East Coast Lagoon Food Village for a meal. Opened since 1977, this food centre features many long-standing hawker stalls. You will find that many of them are now run by 2nd generation hawkers.

The curry fish head from Eastern Red Seafood stall and Popiah from Lagoon Carrot Cake stall are good for sharing. The curry is thick, with just the right amount of punch, while the popiah is generously filled. Every bite consists of a great combination of textures.

On rainy days, you can savour Bak Kut Teh and Pork Trotters from Han Jia Bak Kut Teh. The latter is so tender that its meat will melt in your mouth. Supper-goers can share a plate of satay. Remember to dip the succulent meats into their homemade satay sauce for that nutty oomph!

For our recommendations on what to eat, check out our article on our 5 favourite dishes at East Coast Lagoon Food Village!

Tekka Market & Food Centre

One of Singapore’s greatest assets is its wet markets which are full of exotic and authentic food. They are also where some of the nation’s oldest butchers and fishmongers chop and scale fresh food any way you desire. Besides the market, Tekka Centre in Little India has a food centre that offers delightful dishes like nasi briyani from Allauddin’s Briyani, prawn noodles from 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles and duck rice from Heng Gi. The chicken briyani is excellent. The Dhalchat and the chicken curry complement the rice very well. It might be a tad spicy for some of you though.

Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre

Here, you can find a wide variety of scrumptious hawker food that are familiar to long queues on weekends. Ask any Singaporean and they can name you at least 2 dishes worth trying at this food centre. Our favourite is Jian Bo Shui Kueh. The firm and moist kueh is topped with fragrant chye poh. There are two lor mee stalls serving different variations of lor mee (Tiong Bahru Lor Mee & 178 Lor Mee). You can also find Lee Hong Kee Roast Meat, Tiong Bahru Fishballs and Tiong Bahru Pau (buns and dim sum items). Don’t forget to get some desserts from Liang Liang Garden to put a sweet end to your feast.

For our recommendations on what to eat, check out our article on our 11 favourite hawker stalls at Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre!

Changi Village Hawker Centre

Changi Village is a historical spot for Singapore. Learn about our past at Changi Chapel and Museum or take a stroll along Changi Boardwalk. Hungry from your adventures? Head to Changi Village Hawker Centre for a tasty meal. Locals who frequent Changi Village would know about the nasi lemak served at Mizzy’s Corner, and at Sri Sujana Muslim Food. Beware of the sambal chilli which gives a fiery kick. Up for something more exotic? The mushrooms and chicken feet noodles, soaked in their special sauce is an option! You can find this at Jia Mei Wanton Mee. There is also seafood white bee hoon from Woon Woon Pek Beehoon.

Maxwell Food Centre

Maxwell Food Centre is always crowded as it’s located near Chinatown. You will spot two stalls that always have a line forming – Tian Tian Chicken Rice and Xing Xing Tapioca Kueh! The former has been in business since 1986 and defeated Gordon Ramsay at the Hawker Heroes Challenge. That already speaks a lot about their food. The latter serves steamed tapioca cake which is absolutely delightful and lovely. However, our favourite is ondeh ondeh! The best part about these coconut-coated glutinous rice balls is definitely the filling inside, which literally explodes in your mouth with a burst of gula melaka.

Amoy Street Food Centre

Built in 1983, this hawker centre faithfully serves the Central Business District lunch crowd. During peak lunch hours, queues are long and it’s difficult to find a seat. However, at other times, it’s pretty much a ghost town. Food choices range from Thai cuisine from SAP Thai Food to Western cuisine from Taste Affair, to fusion food from A Noodle Story. It’s a perfect idea to grab a cup of traditional Nanyang coffee with kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs from Ah Seng (Hai Nam) Coffee to perk you up in the mornings.

For our recommendations on what to eat, you definitely have to check out our ultimate guide to Amoy Street Food Centre!

Timbre+

Timbre+ (Timbre Plus) has transformed the old Ayer Rajah hawker centre into a gastropark. Graffiti and spray paint art are splashed all over shipping containers and vintage Airstream travel trailers that have been transformed into food trucks. Timbre+ is home to 21 hawker stalls that usually close around 6 pm, and 15 restaurant brands that serve you till late. Some recommended stalls are Wong Kee Wanton Noodles, Fishball Story, Nora Nasi Padang and Roxy Laksa. The atmosphere here is great and there’s live music every night after 7.30pm.

Golden Mile Food Centre

This place is ideal if you’re taking a weekend trip to Malaysia, as coaches often depart from Golden Mile Complex, which is opposite the hawker centre. Perhaps, you might want to pop over to the hawker centre for Hainan Hokkien Mee, and 91 Fried Kway Teow Mee, before catching your transport to Malaysia. You can also check out the interesting army market located at a level above the hawker centre.

For our recommendations on what to eat, you may wish to check our article on the 10 best stalls which you should try at Golden Mile Food Centre!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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