A tour of Singapore hawker centers and their noteworthy offerings

When in Singapore, it is a must to dine at a Singapore hawker center to get an authentic taste of their cuisine. For those who don’t know what it is, it’s essentially a food court or open-air market where tourists and locals alike head for delicious and satiating meals. 

At hawker centers in Singapore, you will find a variety of food items and dishes that are all affordable. Each stall features food from different cultures and uses recipes that have been passed down from one generation to another. It has become an important part of Singapore’s culture and we’re taking you to the most famous ones here. 

Maxwell Food Center is one of the popular Singapore hawker centers and we suggest hitting this place early as the queues could get long. It’s home to two of the country’s acclaimed Hainanese chicken rice stalls, Tian Tian Chicken Rice, and Ah Tai Chicken Rice. For dessert, you can try out Xing Xing’s tapioca cakes which are handmade daily. 

Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184

Opening Hours: 8am – 2am (Daily)

Also known as Telok Ayer Market, Lau Pa Sat is a must-visit for foodies who are fond of historical sites. A clock tower sits atop this Singapore hawker center where you can try local and international food. You can’t come here and not try one of the satay stalls like AZ King Satay or Fazlink Satay. Our vegetarian friends can check out NoBak which offers plant-based meals like the No Meatball Curry Rice Bowl. 

Address: 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore

Opening Hours: Open 24 Hours

The already famous Newton Food Centre gained even more attention after being featured in the Crazy Rich Asians film, consequently making this Singapore hawker center a new tourist attraction. Among the almost 100 vendors to choose from are Michelin-rated stalls such as Alliance Seafood that’s known for its signature BBQ Stingray and Heng which specializes in Black Carrot Cake.  

Address: 130A Clemenceau Avenue Newton Circus, Singapore 239928 Singapore

Opening Hours: 12pm – 2am

Tekka Center is one of the oldest hawker centers in Singapore. The complex has a rich history and offers a lot of Indian food as well as other cuisines, which makes sense as this is situated in Little India. If you’re coming here for breakfast, you can start your day with a Peanut Porridge from Zhu Jiao Shu Shi or order at Allauddin’s Briyani for a Chicken biryani set that’s served with egg and papadum. 

AddreSiss: Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore

Opening Hours: 5am – 1pm (Tue-Fri) 5am – 12pm (Sat-Sun)

Many excellent food stalls can be found at Golden Mile Food Centre. We don’t even know where to start because there are two floors worth of options at this Singapore hawker center. But some of the eye-catching booths include Ashes Burnnit which sells a juicy Truffle Mushroom Burger, Ah Xiao Teochew Braised Duck, and the smoky Hokkien mee at Hainan Hokkien Mee. 

Address: 505 Beach Rd, Singapore 199583

Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Sat-Thu)

Finding your new go-to lunch order won’t be much of a fuss because the Singapore hawker center near Raffles Place MRT accommodates 56 food stalls. Busy bees can pop in for a quick caffeine fix at Sunrise Traditional Coffee & Toast, while those who have more time can find a table and slurp on a signature bowl of prawn noodles from Tian Ci Traditional Prawn Noodles. 

Address: 505 Beach Rd, Singapore 199583

Opening Hours: 6am – 9pm (Daily)

If you’re visiting Chinatown, make sure to drop by the largest hawker center in Singapore. The dishes available range from noodles to seafood and the prices are not too high for the quality of food you get. Satisfy your dumpling cravings at China La Mian Xiao Long Bao, devour a plate of char kway teow at Hill Street Fried Kway Teow, then cool down with a cup of chendol at Old Amoy Chendol. 

Address: 335 Smith Street Chinatown Complex, Singapore 050335, Singapore

Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Daily)

Whether you want a full meal or just a snack to keep you fueled for your shopping trip at Bugis, head to the Singapore hawker center nearby. The options at Albert Center Market are plentiful, with a good choice of Malay and Chinese cuisine. A bowl of Yong Tau Foo from Bai Nian Niang Dou Fu, Ma Bo Laksa from Ma Bo Lor Mee, and a refreshing glass jelly drink from Whampoa Soya Bean should do the trick. 

Address: 270 Queen St, Singapore 180270

Opening Hours: 7:30am – 9pm (Daily)