First Timers Guide to Singapores Hawker Centres
Singapore’s street food scene is a vibrant and essential aspect of the city’s culinary culture. The hawker centres, like Tiong Bahru Market and Old Airport Road Food Centre, are where the magic happens, with many food stalls offering various local delicacies. This article has everything from the best food stalls to the best dishes to try on your visit to Singapore.
Exploring these hawker centres is not just about satisfying your taste buds; it’s a journey through the heart and soul of Singapore, where flavours and aromas intertwine with the spirit of travel, inviting you all to embark on a delectable adventure.
Singapores Hawker Centres
Important Information When Visiting a Hawker Centre
- Bring along tissues to put on a chair or table to hold down a spot; it can double as a serviette as most places do not offer them.
- Generally, Singaporeans LOVE good food, so if there is a line at one of the stalls, it generally means it will be a good stall.
- The touristy spots will always be more expensive than the lesser-known food centres; it doesn’t mean the food is of lesser quality, but it means the area is a tourist hot spot.
- Check the centre times before you arrive, because opening hours differ from centre to centre.
- Try to avoid the busy lunchtime crowd. If you opt for a late afternoon or an early dinner, you will be fine finding a table and spending less time lining up.
Best Hawker Centres In Singapore
The History of Singapore Street Food
The origin of Singapore’s hawker centres can be traced back to the 19th century when street hawkers roamed the city, selling a variety of local dishes to passersby.
As urbanisation took hold, the government recognised the need to regulate street food vendors to maintain cleanliness and public health standards. This led to the development of hawker centres as designated areas for street food vendors to operate more organised and hygienically.
The concept gained momentum in the 1970s, and today, hawker centres are an integral part of Singapore’s culinary landscape, offering a diverse range of affordable and delicious local cuisines in a vibrant and communal setting.
Best Hawker Centers in Singapore and What to Eat There
1. Old Airport Road Food Centre
Old Airport Road Food Centre is one of the most renowned hawker centres. It has been around since the 1970s and is known for its rich history, variety, and quality of local delicacies.
- Address: 51 Old Airport Road, Singapore 390051
- Opening Times: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM (hours may vary by stall) – currently closed for renovations October 2024
- Why It’s the Best: One of the oldest and most renowned hawker centres, known for its variety and quality.
- Specialty Dishes: Char Kway Teow, Lor Mee, Wanton Mee.
2. Maxwell Food Centre
Maxwell Food Centre has a rich history. Since the 1950s, it has served diverse local dishes to locals and tourists, making it a must-visit hawker centre in Singapore.
- Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184
- Opening Times: 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM
- Why It’s the Best: A must-visit for tourists, located in Chinatown with diverse local dishes.
- Specialty Dishes: Homemade Dumplings, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, Fish Soup, Fuzhou Oyster Cake.
What Is The Biggest Hawker Centre in Singapore?
3. Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Chinatown Complex Food Centre is the largest hawker centre in Singapore, with over 260 food stalls, offering a wide range of specialty dishes such as Soya Sauce Chicken Rice, Claypot Rice, and Barbecue Skewers.
- Address: 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335
- Opening Times: 800 AM – 9:00 PM
- Why It’s the Best: The largest hawker centre in Singapore with over 260 food stalls.
- Specialty Dishes: Soya Sauce Chicken Rice, Claypot Rice, Barbecue Skewers.
What is Singapore’s Most Famous Hawker Centre?
4. Telok Ayer Market (Lau Pa Sat)
Lau Pa Sat, established in 1824, is a historic hawker centre renowned for its vibrant night scene and famous satay street.
- Address: 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582
- Opening Times: 24 Hours
- Why It’s the Best: Historic architecture and vibrant night scene with satay street.
- Specialty Dishes: Satay, Indian Roti Prata, Laksa.
What Are Other Hawker Centres to Consider?
5. Tiong Bahru Market
Tiong Bahru Market Food Centre, located in a trendy neighbourhood, is known for its delicious food. It offers affordable local dishes in a vibrant and communal setting.
- Address: 30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898
- Opening Times: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Why It’s the Best: Located in a trendy neighbourhood known for its cleanliness and delicious food.
- Specialty Dishes: Chwee Kueh, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Fried Kway Teow.
6. Adam Road Food Centre
Adam Road Food Centre, established to serve the Malay and Indian Muslim communities, is renowned for its rich culinary heritage and traditional specialties.
- Address: 2 Adam Road, Singapore 289876
- Opening Times: 7:00 AM – 02:00 AM
- Why It’s the Best: Famous for Malay and Indian Muslim food.
- Specialty Dishes: Nasi Lemak, Mee Soto, Roti John.
7. Amoy Street Food Centre
Established in 1975, Amoy Street Food Centre is famous for the CBD crowd. It is known for its rich history and diverse range of delicious dishes.
- Address: 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111
- Opening Times: 6:30 AM – 8:00 PM (various times and may change)
- Why It’s the Best: Popular with the CBD crowd, known for its lunch options.
- Specialty Dishes: Fish Soup, Lor Mee, Teochew Fish Cake.
8. Newton Food Centre
Newton Food Centre, established in 1971, is a famous hawker centre known for its vibrant atmosphere and wide array of local delicacies.
- Address: 500 Clemenceau Avenue North, Singapore 229495
- Opening Times: 24 hours
- Why It’s the Best: Featured in “Crazy Rich Asians” and known for its seafood.
- Specialty Dishes: BBQ Stingray, Oyster Omelette, Sambal Kang Kong.
9. Timbre+ One North
Timbre+ One North is a famous open-air hawker centre and live music venue with a great food selection and a lively atmosphere.
- Address: 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, JTC LaunchPad @ one-north, Singapore 139957
- Opening Times: 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM (times vary on weekends)
- Why It’s the Best: Timbre+ is perfect for those who love listening to live music. It’s a great place to experience Singapore’s unique food culture and indulge in some of the best dishes in town!
- Specialty Dishes: There are no speciality dishes here, but the bar has specials on during the weeknights
10. Tekka Centre
Tekka Centre, located in Little India, has been a vibrant hawker centre since the mid-20th century. It offers diverse Indian and Malay cuisines.
- Address: 665 Buffalo Road Zhujiao Centre, Tekka, Market, Singapore 210665
- Opening Times: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Why It’s the Best: This place is essential for anyone exploring and indulging in authentic Singaporean and South Indian street foods.
- Specialty Dishes: Chicken Biryani, Roti Prata, Mutton Soup and Teh Tarik
Singapore Food to Try
- – Char Kway Teow at Old Airport Road Food Centre
- – Lor Mee at Old Airport Road Food Centre
- – Wanton Mee at Old Airport Road Food Centre
- – Homemade Dumplings at Maxwell Food Centre
- – Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre
- – Fish Soup at Maxwell Food Centre
- – Fuzhou Oyster Cake at Maxwell Food Centre
- – Soya Sauce Chicken Rice at Chinatown Complex Food Centre
- – Claypot Rice at Chinatown Complex Food Centre
- – Barbecue Skewers at Chinatown Complex Food Centre
- – Satay at Telok Ayer Market (Lau Pa Sat)
- – Indian Roti Prata at Telok Ayer Market (Lau Pa Sat)
- – Laksa at Telok Ayer Market (Lau Pa Sat)
- – Chwee Kueh at Tiong Bahru Market
- – Hainanese Chicken Rice at Tiong Bahru Market
- – Fried Kway Teow at Tiong Bahru Market
- – Nasi Lemak at Adam Road Food Centre
- – Mee Soto at Adam Road Food Centre
- – Roti John at Adam Road Food Centre
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous hawker centre in Singapore?
Lau Pa Sat is the most well-known. However, Newton has become a tourist hot spot since Crazy Rich Asians were filmed there.
Do I need Cash at the Singapore Hawker Centre?
I will say, “Most places only take cash.” The more tourist places offer “pay now” options, and very few offer card transactions. I would bring some to be safe!
Which is the Oldest Hawker in Singapore?
Lau Pa Sat, which means “old market” in Chinese, is, by chance, the oldest market in Singapore.
How Many Hawker Centres in Singapore?
There are many Hawker Centres around the island city, from small ones in HBD community areas to many around office buildings. When this article was written, there were over 120, with over 13,000 Hawker Stalls currently registered.
Which is the Best hawker Centre in Singapore?
This question is more challenging to answer because it depends on what you are looking for! Is it a type of food? Is it the ambience? Is it the convenience of location?
Klook.comThanks for taking the time to read this article. I hope this post has given you the information you need. If you have any recommendations, tips or advice, I would love for you to share them in the comment section below!
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