Top 10 Must-Visit Hawker Centres in Singapore

Singapore is famous for its vibrant hawker centers, and if you're a food enthusiast, you absolutely have to check them out. These bustling spots offer an incredible variety of local and international cuisines, all at wallet-friendly prices.

Want to know the top 10 hawker centers in Singapore? Keep reading to find out why these places are a food lover's paradise!

Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

The place offers two floors of hidden culinary gems, delivering a variety of unique food and drink experiences. With prices ranging from just $1.50 to $12, there's something for every budget. To snag a seat and dodge the crowds, be sure to arrive as early as 11am.

Recommended stalls at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre:

• Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee: This stall offer Unique Chinese-Teochew style curry with handmade sambal chilli that is umami and adds a bit of spice to the dish. Starts from $5.50.
• Tai Wah Pork Noodle: A Michelin Bib Gourmand stall, serving fresh noodles made daily with minced and sliced pork and handmade wonton. Starts from $5.
• Generation Coffee Roasters: Known to bridge the gap between traditional kopi and specialty coffee using a proprietary pioneer blend of Brazilian Arabica and Indonesian Robusta. Starts from $1.50.

Lau Pa Sat

Located in the heart of the CBD, Lau Pa Sat holds the distinction of being Singapore's first wet market before its transformation into a vibrant hawker centre in 1972. Today, it stands as an iconic destination for local cuisine in Singapore. For the best experience, you can visit after 7pm when Boon Tat Road is closed off and transformed into a lively satay street.

Recommended stalls at Lau Pa Sat:

• Golden Shoe Hokkien Mee: This stall packs a load of fresh seafood ingredients and a large spoonful of lard into their Hokkien Mee. Mastering the wet version, their broth is rich and tasty which leaves consumers wanting more!  Starts from $7.50.
• Ipoh Hainanese Chicken Rice: A plate of juicy chicken doused with savoury soy sauce, fragrant jasmine rice and a plate of oyster sauce vegetables. A balanced meal that comforts your soul. They’re also famous for their Ipoh Curry Chicken Noodles. Starts from $5.50.
• MaFe Tacos: MaFe Tacos takes fusion food to the next level, serving tacos inspired from different countries. Try the Singapore Taco (S$10.90), made with chilli crab, coriander, red onion, tomatoes, hard boiled egg, toasted fried bun bits and lime. Starts from S$8.90 for 3 pieces.

Amoy Street Food Centre

The two-storey food centre offers an exciting mix of hawker choices, from established, well-known stalls to innovative next-gen vendors. For a more comfortable dining experience, head to the second floor where it's less stuffy and you can truly enjoy your meal.

Recommended stalls at Amoy Street Food Centre:

• A Noodle Story: A Michelin Bib Gourmand stall, famed for their Singapore-style ramen. Go for their best-selling Regular Singapore Style Ramen Set ($12.80) that features a bowl of springy noodles topped with a jammy ramen egg, Hong Kong-style wonton, a unique crispy potato-wrapped prawn, and tender pieces of chashu.
• Han Kee Fish Soup: Enjoy a hearty bowl of fish soup for lunch! Their Sliced Fish Soup has broth that is simple and light, yet brimming with umami. The slices of fish have a slight springiness as you chew. Starts from $5.
• J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff: A Michelin Bib Gourmand stall selling the classic curry, sardine and potato puffs. The crusts of their puffs are thin and flaky, stuffed with generous fillings. Starts from $1.50.

Maxwell Food Centre

The place offers a wide variety of food options, making it an excellent spot for tourists, especially given its proximity to Chinatown. Although the hawker center is technically open until 2am, it's important to note that most of the stalls close by 10pm.

Recommended stalls at Maxwell Food Centre:

• Tian Tian Chicken Rice: A Michelin Bib Gourmand stall, famed for Gordon Ramsay and Anthony Bourdain having dined here. Succulent chicken and fragrant rice, it’s definitely worth the hype and long queue. Starts from $5.
• Xing Xing Ondeh Ondeh & Tapioca Cake: Being in the business for over 40 years, this stall opens at 7am and sells out way before its closing time at 1pm. They are well known for their ondeh ondeh that is soft and slightly chewy with sweet gula melaka sauce in the middle and topped with fresh grated coconut. Starts from $3.20.
• The Green Leaf: Comforting Malay dishes such as Mee Rebus and Laksa. They keep their prices below $5 here, and it is probably the cheapest Malay food stall in Maxwell Food Centre. Starts from $3.50.

East Coast Lagoon Food Village

Located in East Coast Park right next to the beach, this spot offers a variety of options from BBQ seafood to satay and chicken wings. To truly enjoy dining by the beach, pair your meal with a refreshing glass of iced sugar cane. It's an experience you won't want to miss!

Recommended stalls at East Coast Lagoon Food Village:

• Lagoon Carrot Cake: Serving both white and black carrot cakes with a strong ‘wok hey’ taste and smell. Starts from $4.
• Stingray Forever BBQ Seafood: Many different BBQ seafood options but they’re famous for their fresh and succulent Hottest Stingray wrapped in a banana leaf and smothered with a glorious amount of sambal. Starts from $13.
• Ah Hwee BBQ Chicken: Ah Hwee has been in business since 1979, serving up juicy BBQ chicken wings off the grill. Squeeze a little bit of lime for a splash of freshness. Starts from $1.40 per wing.

Tekka Centre

Experience the lively atmosphere of this unique destination, where a hawker centre, wet market, and retail complex come together in one lively space. Spend a delightful day exploring the bustling wet market and retail shops, before or after savoring delicious meals at the hawker centre.

Recommended stalls at Tekka Centre:

• Temasek Indian Rojak: Crispy battered cuttlefish, prawn fritters, potatoes and other rojak ingredients served with sweet dipping sauce and chilli. Starts from $1.
• Raja Bojun Sri Lankan Food: Serving up multiple kinds of curries - cashew nut, prawn and mango, jackfruit and lamb, with fluffy rice and coconut sambal. Starts from $6.
• Delhi Lahori: Featured in the Michelin Guide, this stall serves Pakistani and northern Indian classics cooked in a tandoori oven. Famed for its fragrant garlic naan and butter chicken. and Starts from $6.

Newton Food Centre

Featured in Crazy Rich Asians, this iconic hawker centre is a must-visit for tourists and newcomers to Singapore. Open 24 hours, it offers an array of mouth-watering dishes, but be sure to arrive before 11pm when most of the stalls close.

Recommended stalls at Newton Food Centre:

• Hup Kee Fried Oyster Omelette: Serving fried omelette with juicy big oysters, this stall always has long lines. You’re in for a crispy indulgent treat. Starts from $8.
• Newton Old Signboard 25: If you like your Hokkien Mee with lots of wokhey, this is the stall for you. Each plate is smokey and fragrant, with a generous amount of pork lard. Starts from $5.
• Kwee Heng: This Michelin Bib Gourmand stall is a braised duck and roast meat specialist. Try out their braised duck rice, porridge or noodles, all guaranteed to please your taste buds. Starts from $4.

Tiong Bahru Market

Tiong Bahru Market, highlighted in the Michelin Guide, is a haven for food enthusiasts. This two-storey complex not only offers an array of delectable dishes but also features floral stalls and a wet market on the first floor. Be sure to explore it all!

Recommended stalls at Tiong Bahru Market:

• Lor Mee 178: Join in the long queues to enjoy a bowl of thick yellow noodles drenched in a full-bodied, viscous gravy, paired with braised pork belly, crispy battered shark nuggets, and a boiled egg. Starts from $5.50.
• Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice: This long-standing curry rice stall is famous in Tiong Bahru Market. Choose from various menu items to add to your curry rice, such as braised pork, curry chicken, and squid. Starts from $5.
• Teck Seng Soya Bean Milk: Nothing is more satisfying than a bowl of cold beancurd in the hot Singapore weather. Apart from beancurd, you can order the popular Michael Jackson drink, a beloved combination of soya bean milk and grass jelly. Starts from $1.

Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre

Featured in the Michelin Guide, this hawker offers a wide variety of delicious food at wallet-friendly prices. Just a heads-up: it can get pretty hot and stuffy, so bringing a portable fan might be a good idea.

Recommended stalls at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre:

• Ann Chin Popiah: One of the hawker’s most popular stalls. Get their popiah packed with turnip, carrots, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, and hard-boiled egg, all rolled up in their house-made popiah skin, drizzled with garlic and sweet sauce. Starts from $2.
• Hawker Chan: Hawker Chan is the first hawker stall to be awarded a Michelin star and was the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in the world. Their soya sauce chicken rice and noodles are a must-try. Starts from $4.80.
• Old Amoy Chendol: Beat the Singapore heat with this traditional dessert. Creamy coconut milk and gula melaka syrup poured over a mountain of shaved ice, topped with red beans and pandan jelly. Starts from $2.50.

Old Airport Road Food Centre

If you’re looking for a taste of classic hawker favourites, head over to Old Airport Road Food Centre, one of Singapore’s oldest and largest hawker centres. It’s super easy to get there—just hop on the MRT and get off at Dakota station.

Recommended stalls at Old Airport Road Food Centre:

• Minced Pork Bros: Levelled-up renditions of bak chor mee, from their Seafood Minced Pork Noodles, which comes with prawn, scallops, ikura, pork slices, fish dumpling, and a hanjuku egg. Starts from $6.
• Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun: Many varieties such as prawns, charsiew and mushrooms, wrapped in an almost translucent rice roll, and drizzled with light soya sauce and sesame oil. There’s also otah, century egg, scallop, and even pig liver chee cheong fun. Starts from $2.50.
• Dong Ji Fried Kway Teow: Penang style fried kway teow that’s fried-to-order and comes out savoury, slightly spicy and full of wok hei. Starts from $4.

Exploring Singapore’s food scene is truly a culinary adventure, from traditional desserts and elevated hawker favourites to innovative dishes that blend flavours from different cultures. As you savour these gastronomic delights, don't forget that comfort and convenience are key to making your stay enjoyable.

If you're looking for a place to stay, consider exploring Cove for rooms rental in Singapore. We offer rooms in strategic locations, fully furnished, and with an awesome community. Many of our locations are conveniently near vibrant hawker centers, so you can enjoy delicious local cuisine right at your doorstep!

Bon appétit and happy house hunting!