What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?

Food is something Singaporeans and expats here both share a passion for. And why not? Singapore as a multicultural nation offers a variety of unique delicacies, from Michelin dishes to local cuisines, including food served at well-loved hawker centers.

Singaporeans are passionate foodies who enjoy a broad variety of delectable dishes at reasonable prices. Hawker Centers, which are an important aspect of Singaporean culture, offer a wide variety of cuisines. You’ll be able to live like a local and have access to the best eateries in town if you read this list all the way to the end.

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits: aussieassault / Flickr

Best Food Hawker Centers When in Singapore

What Singapore lacks in land space, it makes up for a diverse cultural legacy, which is most evident in the food it offers. If you’ve never visited this bustling city-state island, you should know that there are various hawker centers throughout the country where you may have a unique culinary experience. According to residents, the following are some of the most popular sites in the major city districts:

Central

Adam Road Food Center

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits: Tusnaeni Sahir / Google Maps

The Singapore Botanic Gardens, whose tranquil trails pass by swan lakes and lead to award-winning eateries such as Corner House and The Halia, are just a short walk away from Adam Road Food Centre.

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak (fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, complemented by a variety of side dishes like as omelette, fried fish, and anchovies) and Bahrakath Mutton Soup King (mutton soup) are two of Adam Road’s famed hawker centres.

If you’re curious about the dining experience in this place, here’s what Md Zulkifli Aziz has to say: “The best place for your goreng combos here is at a stall named Al Sheik. Look them up! Won’t disappoint you!”

Opening Hours: 7am-10:30pm daily.
Address: Adam Road Food Centre (Beside Botanic Gardens MRT station).
2 Adam Rd, Singapore 289876.
Google Map Location:

Amoy Street Food Center

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits: P C / Google Maps

Amoy Street Food Center is a popular lunch destination for professionals and white-collar employees from the surrounding area, offering both traditional hawkers and trendy fusion fare at reasonable costs.

While traditional hawker stalls serve classics such as fish porridge (#02-100) and lor mee (#02-79), yellow noodles in a deep, savory gravy, you might like to try some of the more innovative cuisine offered. A Noodle Story (#01-139) is a Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded noodle dish that blends Japanese ramen with shrimp, roast pork, and dumplings.

As for C Pang, dining here has been nothing but a treat. They said: “This place is full of nice local foods. Why pay more for ATAS eateries when you got your UNESCO listed hawker food culture to support without breaking your bank.”

Opening Hours: 6:30 am to 9 pm daily.
Address: Amoy Street Food Centre (Near Telok Ayer and Tanjong Pagar MRT stations).
7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111
Google Map Location:

Lau Pa Sat

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits:  Lau Pa Sat / Google Maps

George Coleman designed this historic market in the 1830s, and it has been lovingly repaired since then. Lau Pa Sat is the go-to spot for good hawker fare in the Central Business District, with local favorites and international cuisines like North Indian, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Stalls 7 and 8, which run parallel to Lau Pa Sat on Singapore’s famous Satay Street, offer the best version of the street’s namesake grilled beef and chicken skewers (satay).

Opening Hours: Select stalls are open 24 hours daily.
Address: Lau Pa Sat (Near Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, Telok Ayer and Downtown MRT stations.)
18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582.Maxwell Food Center
Google Map Location:

Newton Food Center

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits:  Rafael Navarro / Google Maps

If you’ve seen the Hollywood film Crazy Rich Asians, you’ll recognize Newton Food Center. With over 100 hawker stores and a major appearance in one of the film’s early scenes, this bustling hawker Center has long been one of the island’s most popular eating destinations.

It can be difficult to choose a dish to try with the variety of options. Among popular favorites though are Guan Kee Grilled Seafood’s (#01-53) barbecued sambal stingray, or Kwee Heng’s (#01-13) savory duck noodle.

Here’s what Michelita Sorvida thinks about her dining experience in this hawker center: “If you’re looking for a lively food market with lots of food stalls and hawkers to choose from, NEWTON FOOD CENTRE is for you! They offer delicious seafood and hawker specialties…and the prices are budget friendly. Most of the stalls are Halal. The ambiance is also relaxing and fun at the same time.”

Opening Hours: Noon-2am daily
Address: Newton Food Center (Near Newton MRT station).
500 Clemenceau Avenue North #01-05, Singapore 229495.
Google Map Location:

·         Tekka Center

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits:  nicTG y21 / Google Maps

Tekka Centre,  located at the heart of Little India’s bustle and was once known as “Kandang Kerbau” because of its buffalo pens, is now known as “Tekka Bamboo” because of the bamboo that once grew here. The upper floor sells traditional clothing and accessories, while the food stalls below sell some of the greatest dum briyani (an Indian spiced rice dish with meat or vegetables) and Indian rojak (mixed dough, potato, and shrimp fritters).

As for Hamzah Daud’s experience, dining here has been worth it. “Always crowded. But a lot of stall and food to choose from. Best bryani and local Indian cuisine. Best price in town. Worth the travel.”

Opening Hours: 5am-1pm daily.
Address: Tekka Centre (Above Little India MRT station)
60 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229900.
Google Map Location:

South

ABC Brickworks Food Center

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits: S W Oon / Google Maps

ABC Brickworks Food Centre is named after the Archipelago Brewery Company and the brickworks factories that used to populate this neighborhood and is located within walking distance of HortPark, Henderson Waves Bridge, and the various art galleries of Gillman Barracks.

Built in the 1970s, ABC Brickworks Market is still a modern and popular destination for foodies around the country, with dishes like claypot rice (chicken, preserved sausages, veggies, and rice charred and served in a claypot) and Bib Gourmand-winning Ah Er herbal soup.

Here’s what Kamarulzaman Kamarudin has to share about their experience dining here: “Cheap and delicious food here. Lots of varieties and definitely worth the $$. Do come by to show support and keep the hawker culture alive!”

Opening Hours: 8am-11pm daily.
Address: ABC Brickworks Food Centre (Near Redhill and Queenstown MRT stations)
6 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150006.Tiong Bahru Market
Google Map Location:

Tiong Bahru Market

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits:  Soo Hin Yeoh / Google Maps

Tiong Bahru Market is located in a historic neighborhood with Art Deco style apartments and delicious restaurants. Don’t miss the famed roasted pork buns at Tiong Bahru Pau, as well as exquisite wanton mee (egg noodles with dumplings) and chwee kueh (steamed rice cakes topped with preserved radish). Then, for coffee and dessert, visit one of the numerous modern cafés in the vicinity.

Despite the community restrictions, Avan Chua was able to make their experience taking out food frmom this hawker place. They said: “Due to the current Covid Situation, about 50% of the stalls are closed, but you’ll still find enough variety to satisfy your cravings. The Grilled Fish that I took away was amazingly grilled, soft and tender. No regrets buying from there.”

Opening Hours: 9am-8pm daily.
Address: Tiong Bahru Market (Between Outram and Tiong Bahru MRT stations).
30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898.
Google Map Location:

East

Chomp Chomp

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits:  matthew song / Google Maps

Chomp Chomp, in the Serangoon Gardens residential neighborhood, is a must-visit for scrumptious cuisine before visiting Coney Island or Seletar Aerospace Park. Satay bee hoon (thin rice noodles with satay sauce) and Hokkien mee (fried prawn noodles) are popular items at this market. Sugar cane juice is supplied in an extra-large glass to wash down your food.

According to Harsh Saxena, dining here again has brought back great memories. They said: “Always fun to be back. Good food, relaxed ambience …can chill with friends. Getting a table is a whole other thing though. Come early if you are a big group. Also got safe distancing ambassadors making regular rounds with camera. Have fun!”

Opening Hours: 4pm-12:30am daily.
Address: Chomp Chomp Food Centre (Take a bus from Serangoon MRT station).
20 Kensington Park Road, Singapore 557269.
Google Map Location:

Golden Mile Food Center

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits:  cse1217 / Google Maps

Kampong Gelam, which is home to chic cafes and bars, is adjacent to Golden Mile Food Centre. The two-story Golden Mile Food Centre sells good sup tulang (mutton bone cooked in gravy), Peranakan cuisine, and Ah-Balling (glutinous riceballs with peanut, sesame or red bean filling, in a peanut soup).

User W8ll8amS8m moneygrow38gmail shares their experience dining here, saying: “Many nice and delicious food stall , 2 levels selling all kinds of traditional foods. From Indian to Chinese to Western. I especially like the Hokkien Prawn Noodles. Fantastic and Yummy!”

Opening Hours: 11 am – 9:30 pm daily.
Address: Golden Mile Food Centre (Between Nicoll Highway and Lavender MRT stations).
505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583.
Google Map Location:

The Bedok Marketplace

What Are the Must-Visit Hawker Centers in Singapore?
Credits:  The Bedok Marketplace / Google Maps

The Bedok Marketplace, formerly known as Simpang Bedok Marketplace, is a popular hawker center where East-siders have long congregated for good mee pok (flat egg noodles with fish balls and minced meat) and Indian Muslim cuisine. This prestigious hotel is a ten-minute walk from Tanah Merah MRT station and a fifteen-minute cab ride from Changi International Airport.

Young chefs and restaurateurs now operate the hawker centre, and their home-baked bread, ramen, and seafood are must-tries. The Wagyu steaks at The Burning Oak (#02-16) and the Japanese delicacies at KoKoRo Ramen (#02-22) are highly recommended.

Opening Hours: 11:30am-10:30 pm daily except Mondays.
Address: The Bedok Marketplace (Take buses 2, 9 or 48 from Tanah Merah MRT station).
348 Bedok Rd, Singapore 469560.
Google Map Location:

Indeed, there’s no shortage of mouth-watering dishes you’ll find in any of the hawker centers included on this list. And while restrictions are temporarily set in place, visiting these dining spots are a must when you’re visiting Singapore! Hopefully, things will settle down soon so that more people can enjoy these excellent cultural locations in the country.

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