Categories > Guides and Tips
Wok and Roll: Best Hawker Centres in Singapore
- Lau Pa Sat
- Hong Lim Market and Food Centre
- Maxwell Food Centre
- Tiong Bahru Market
- Amoy Street Food Centre
- Old Airport Road Food Centre
- Ayer Rajah Food Centre
- Chinatown Complex and Food Centre
- Tekka Centre
- Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre
- Newton Food Centre
- Chomp Chomp Food Centre
- Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre
Hawker centres in Singapore are the best way to get a taste of the island’s food scene. These establishments aren’t merely glorified food courts; they’re an integral part of Singapore’s culture and an icon in their own right!
Savour Michelin-approved, budget-friendly delights spanning Indian, Mediterranean, Chinese, and Indonesian cuisines. Crafted by generations of hawkers, each dish carries a rich story behind it that you might not find in other restaurants.
So, if you have an appetite for quality food and a palate for different flavours, here are the best hawker centres in Singapore you must visit before your trip wraps up!
Lau Pa Sat
Address: 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582
Contact Details: +6562202138
Operating Hours: Open 24/7
Also known as Telok Ayer Market, Lau Pa Sat remains one of the most world-renowned hawker centres due to its abundance of Michelin-starred stalls and rich heritage. It’s an icon in Singapore, especially in the local food scene.
The hawker centre is also Singapore’s oldest wet market, with its cast-iron building dating back over 150 years. It has been beautifully restored and gazetted as a national monument in 1973.
From morning until late afternoon, the street beside Lau Pa Sat turns into a food enclave called Satay Street. The street will be closed and then stalls of barbecue pits and all sorts of hawker fare like noodles, chicken, char siew, and more will be sold.
| Best Stalls To Visit: Satay Street, Boon Tat St, Singapore (Open on Mondays to Fridays, 7:00 pm to 3:00 am, Saturdays and Sundays, 3:00 pm to 3:00 am) Hua Dee Hong Kong Roasted Delights, 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582 Seng Kee Local Delights, 18 Raffles Quay, Stall 10, Singapore 048582 Golden Shoe Hokkien Mee, Lau Pa Sat 18 Raffles Quay, 8, Stall 26 Street, Singapore 048582 Ipoh Hainanese Chicken Rice, 18 Raffles Quay, Stall 14 Lau Pa Sat, Singapore 048582 |
Hong Lim Market and Food Centre
– From cupoftj
Address: 531A Upper Cross St, Hong Lim Complex, Singapore 051531
Contact Details: +6562255632
Operating Hours: Open 24/7
Hong Lim Market & Food Centre emerged as one of the initial hawker centres in the Chinatown vicinity and has been a household name in the district since 1978. People come here for soup and noodle dishes like bak kut teh (pork soup) and laksa.
The hawker centre accommodates more than 100 cooked food stalls on its two levels, predominantly catering to office goers and tourists staying in the city centre. Its popularity is due to the several award-winning stalls.
A few notable mentions are Michelin Plate awardee Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist, Michelin Guide inductee Hokkien Street Bak Kut Teh, and Michelin Bib Gourmand award winner Outram Park Fried Kway Teow.
| Best Stalls To Visit: Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist, 531A Upper Cross St, #02-48/49, Singapore 051531 Hokkien Street BaK Kut Teh, 531A Upper Cross St, #01-66, Singapore 051531 Outram Park Fried Kway Teow, 531A Upper Cross St, #02-17, Singapore 051531 Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon, 531A Upper Cross St, #01-58, Singapore 051531 Eddy’s, 531A Upper Cross St, #02-13, Singapore 051531 |
Maxwell Food Centre
– From tiantianchicken
Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184
Contact Details: +6562255632
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 2:00 am
Maxwell Food Centre has been on every foodie’s bucket list after late culinary legend Anthony Bourdain and world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsey praised one of its homegrown stalls for their Hainanese chicken rice.
If two food icons have great things to say about the food here, then you can safely bet that a trip to Maxwell Food Centre is well worth the money, effort, and extra calories. Expect reasonable prices, but brace yourself for potential queues.
Maxwell Food Centre is famed not only for its Hainanese chicken rice but also for nasi lemak, porridge, soup dishes, and fried noodles. Also, the noteworthy dim sum stalls make it a hub for delightful afternoon snacking.
| Best Stalls To Visit: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184 Lao Ban Soya Beancurd, 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-91, Singapore 069184 Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum, 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-92 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184 Zhen Zhen Porridge, 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-54, Singapore 069184 Fu Shun Shai La Mian Jia, 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-71, Singapore 069184 |
Tiong Bahru Market
Address: 30 Seng Poh Rd, Singapore 168898
Tiong Bahru Market’s history dates back to the 1950s when it was called the Seng Poh Road Market. It used to be a small market that catered to the then-growing population of the Tiong Bahru enclave and even served as the town’s Town Hall for a time!
Today, the Tiong Bahru Market stands as one of the most visited hawker centres in Singapore, particularly for its multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winning stalls, serving chicken rice and assorted Chinese breakfast foods and snacks.
There are over 250 stalls in the market, including a ground floor dedicated to selling wet and dry produce. The second floor is where the hawker stalls are located, catering to tourists and locals in need of a spacious and breezy dining area to enjoy their meals.
| Best Stalls To Visit: Min Nan Pork Ribs and Prawn Noodle, 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-31, Singapore 168898 Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee, 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-01, Singapore 168898 Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice, 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-82, Singapore 168898 Hing Hing Soup Republic, 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-48, Singapore 168898 Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup, 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-29, Singapore 168898 |
Amoy Street Food Centre
– From natgeotravel
Address: 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111
Contact Details: +6562255632
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 6:30 am to 9:00 pm
Are you an early bird who likes to start your day with a big and hearty breakfast? If so, consider getting up before 6:00 am to travel to Amoy Street Food Centre to get your early morning food fix.
The hawker centre is open as early as 6:30 am, but don’t be surprised to find hawker uncles already working their magic behind their stalls. The Amoy Street Food Centre is known for its coffee, hot noodle dishes, congee, and traditional fare like nasi padang.
If you’re not an early bird, we recommend dropping by before noon. Bigger crowds flock to this hawker centre during lunch break hours (usually at noon), so still try to get there as early as you can; “the early bird gets the worm” truly applies here!
| Best Stalls To Visit: A Noodle Story, 7 Maxwell Rd, #01-39, Singapore 069111 Ah Seng Hai Nam Coffee, 7 Maxwell Rd, #02-95, Singapore 069111 Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodles, 7 Maxwell Rd, #01-14, Singapore 069112 J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff, 7 Maxwell Rd, #01-21, Singapore 069111 Han Kee Fish Soup, 7 Maxwell Rd, #02-129, Singapore 069111 |
Old Airport Road Food Centre
– From sgfoodonfoot
Address: 51 Old Airport Rd, Singapore 390051
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:30 pm
Another hawker centre for early birds is Old Airport Road Food Centre. Renowned for its snaking lines, the food centre has been a cherished hawker destination in Singapore despite its small size.
Many of its long-time hawkers have been selling lor mee (gravy noodles), char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles), and rojak (fruit and veggie salad) for over 40 years. Other highlights include rice cakes,
Locals of the older generations still frequent this hawker centre, braving the heat and queues just to get their favourite meal. If it’ll be your first time here, we highly recommend dropping by for breakfast or dinner to avoid the simmering heat at noon!
| Best Stalls To Visit: Xin Mei Xiang Zheng Zong Lor Mee, 51 Old Airport Rd, #01-116, Singapore 390051 Roast Paradise, 51 Old Airport Rd, #01-121, Singapore 390051 Dong Ji Fried Kway Teow, 51 Old Airport Rd, #01-138, Singapore 390051 Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun, 51 Old Airport Rd, #01-155, Singapore 390051 Famous Old Airport Fried Oyster, 51 Old Airport Rd, #01-101 Food Centre, Singapore 390051 |
Ayer Rajah Food Centre
– From hijabfoodie
Address: 503 W Coast Dr, Singapore 120503
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 6:00 am to 1:00 am
Built in 1979, Ayer Rajah Food Centre is one of the most popular hawker centres in the Western Region of Singapore. You’ll find a lot of students from the National University of Singapore dine here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
One of the main highlights of this hawker centre is that the stalls mainly serve halal-friendly food. Star fares here include ayam penyet (Indonesian spicy chicken), rojak, mutton or lamb stew, and halal fried noodles.
There are also a number of seafood stalls that sell fried oysters, stingrays, prawns, and fish ball-based dishes. If you’re trying to cut down on pork or beef, Ayer Rajah Food Centre is the hawker centre for you!
| Best Stalls To Visit: Uncle Noodle, 503 W Coast Dr, #01-04, Singapore 120503 N.M. Abdhul Rahim Mee Goreng, 503 W Coast Dr, #01-60, Singapore 120503 Allauddin’s Briyani, 503 W Coast Dr, Singapore 120503 Hong Kong Yummy Soup, 503 W Coast Dr, #01-06, Singapore 120503 Joo Chiat Prawn Mee, 503 W Coast Dr, #01-35 Ayer Rajah Food Centre, Singapore 120503 Habib’s Rojak, 503A W Coast Dr, Singapore 121503 |
Chinatown Complex and Food Centre
– From liaofanhawkerchan
Address: 46 Smith St, Singapore 058956
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
We can’t forget about Chinatown when it comes to narrowing down where to find the best hawker centres in Singapore! The Chinatown Complex and Food Centre is one of the largest on the island, with over 200 stalls serving hundreds of hungry foods per day.
The hawker centre is also famous for housing the world’s first Michelin-starred food stall (also known as the cheapest Michelin-starred food). Yep, you read that right––an actual starred stall and not just featured on Michelin Bib guides and awards!
Signature dishes here include claypot chicken rice, soya chicken rice and noodles, char siew rice, popiah (Teochew spring roll), and yong tau foo (tofu-filled fish cakes or meatballs). The menu seamlessly blends Singaporean and Chinese cuisines.
| Best Stalls To Visit: Liao Fan Hawker Chan, 78 Smith St, Singapore 058972 Ann Chin Handmade Popiah, 335 Smith St, #02-112, Singapore 050335 The 1950s Coffee, 335 Smith St, #02-048, Singapore 050335168 C.M.Y. Satay, 335, Smith Street, #02-168, Chinatown Complex, Market & Food Centre, Singapore 050335 Lian He Ben Ji Claypot, 335 Smith St, #02-198/199, Singapore 050335 |
Tekka Centre
– From sgheritagefest
Address: Tekka Lane, Aya Shop, Singapore
Operating Hours: Open 24/7
When you’re exploring Little India, don’t forget to check out Tekka Centre for its hawker fare offerings. The centre is a mixed-use shopping complex and market, so not only will you find a busy food court but also retail stores selling Indian knick-knacks.
As the main dining complex in Little India, you can already guess what kind of food they mainly sell here. Indian cuisine is widely sold and enjoyed in Singapore, and the Little India community has their fair share of noteworthy hawker culture.
You’ll find lots of stalls selling biryani, Indian rojak, prata (flat bread), tandoori chicken, kebabs, chicken tikka masala, and curry. Some hawkers also serve popular Singaporean fare like laksa, noodles, and Teochew-style duck if you’re into that!
| Best Stalls To Visit: Chuan’s Ladle, 665 Buffalo Rd, #01-317, Singapore 210665 Raja Bojun Sri Lankan Food, 665 Buffalo Rd, #01-280 Tekka Centre, Singapore 210665545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles, 665 Buffalo Rd, #01-326 Tekka Centre, Singapore AR Rahman Cafe and Royal Prata, 665 Buffalo Rd, #01 247 Tekka Centre, Singapore 210665 Delhi Lahori, Buffalo Road #01-266, #665, Singapore 210665 |
Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre
– From otak2kampungsingapore
Address: 1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001
Operating Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 6:00 am to 9:00 pm, Wednesday, 24 hours, Saturday and Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:00 pm
Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre has undergone several renovations over the years since its establishment in 1964, but many of its loyal hawker stalls have remained and adapted in order to keep serving hungry locals for generations to come.
It’s also another halal-friendly hawker centre to consider if you’re around Joo Chiat. The hawker centre is relatively small compared to other places on this list, but the food here is freshly made and the hipster atmosphere is a huge bonus.
Some notable halal fare they sell here are Malay desserts like kueh or cake, otak otak or fish cakes, satay, biryani, and ayam penyet. A lot of these stalls serve their dishes at high spice levels, but you can ask them to adjust the spiciness for you!
| Best Stalls To Visit: Nasi Ayam Sambal, 1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001 Geylang Briyani Stall, 1 Geylang Serai, #02-146, Singapore 402001 Otak-Otak Kampung, 1 Geylang Serai, #02-165, Singapore 402001 Kueh Talam Asli, 1 Geylang Serai, #02-148, Singapore 402001 AlRahman Kitchen, 1 Geylang Serai, #02-139 Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre, Singapore 402001 |
Newton Food Centre
– From smine27
Address: Newton, Singapore
Operating Hours: Open 24/7
If you’ve ever seen the film Crazy Rich Asians, then you’ve probably wondered which hawker centre Rachel and Nick went to at the beginning of the film. Well, it’s no other than the Central Business District’s Newton Food Centre.
Located just a short walk away from Orchard Road, this hawker centre is probably one of the few dining establishments where you can get good food for cheap. We know how swanky the Orchard area is, so hawker fare within a stone’s throw away is a huge save.
Plus, it’s a great place to grab some local delicacies, especially if you’re a first-time traveller to Singapore. There are curry fish heads, chilli crabs, fried oysters, chicken satay, buttered tiger prawns, and other quintessential Singaporean delights.
| Best Stalls To Visit: Alliance Seafood, 500 Clemenceau Ave N, #01-27 Circus Food Centre, Singapore 229495 Guan Kee 53 Halal Seafood, Newton Food Centre, Singapore 229495 Heng Carrot Cake, 500 Clemenceau Ave N, #01-28 Newton Food Centre, Singapore 229495 Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge, 500 Clemenceau Ave N, #01-20, Singapore 229495 Hup Kee Fried Oyster Omelette, 500 Clemenceau Ave N, Newton Circus, #01-73 Food Centre, Singapore 229495 |
Chomp Chomp Food Centre
– From singapore.foodie
Address: 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 4:00 pm to 12:20 am
Chomp Chomp Food Centre is a more underrated option on this list, but its reputation for being one of the best hawker centres for satay and barbecue makes it worth a mention. No need to rent barbecue pits along the East Coast; just drop by here!
The food centre has limited indoor seating due to the numerous stalls grilling barbecue meats and seafood, thus requiring ventilation. Still, a little al fresco dining never fails, especially if you don’t want to smell like smoky meat after.
Indulge in a diverse selection of satay and barbecue options, ranging from chicken and beef to stingray, prawns, cockles, and pork. Conclude your meal with refreshing sips of freshly squeezed sugar cane juice!
| Best Stalls To Visit: Good Luck BBQ Chicken Wings and Satay, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269 Chomp Chomp Satay, Kensington Park Rd, 20号#01-34, Singapore 557269 Traditional Hai Nam Fang Yuan Satay, 20 Kensington Park Rd, #01-04 Chomp Chomp Food Centre, Singapore 557269 Ang Sa Lee Oyster Omelette, 20 Kensington Park Rd, #01-33, Singapore 557269 The Warung, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Stall 15 Chomp Chomp Food Centre, Singapore 557269 |
Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre
– From singapore.foodie
Address: 20 Ghim Moh Rd, Singapore 270020
Contact Details: +6562255632
Operating Hours: Open 24/7
Here’s a local gem for you: Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre, still under the radar for many tourists, offers a lesser-known experience for food enthusiasts. As a bonus, the prices here are generally more budget-friendly!
The hawker centre features 70 stalls offering local delights such as satay bee hoon, yong tau foo, roasted duck, fried carrot cake, and more. Given its largely local clientele, the stalls prioritise tradition over modern or touristy influences (goodbye fusions!).
For lucky tourists who chance upon this local secret (including you), Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre offers an authentic Singaporean community experience without any gimmicks—just people quietly savouring the essence of hawker culture at its best.
| Best Stalls To Visit: Kong Shang Hua Wanton Noodles, 20 Ghim Moh Rd, #01-05, Singapore 270020 Ghim Moh Carrot Cake, 20 Ghim Moh Rd, #01-16 Market & Food Centre, 20, Singapore 270020 Ah Seng Durian, 20 Ghim Moh Rd #01-119 to #01-122, Singapore 270020 Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh, 20 Ghim Moh Rd, #01-54, Singapore 270020 Chuan Kee Boneless Braised Duck, 20 Ghim Moh Rd, #01-04, Singapore 270020 |
