Singapore Hawker Centers Guide: 20 Must-Visit Food Centers

Singapore Hawker Center Guide: Exploring Singapore’s Intangible Cultural Heritage

To understand Singapore is to eat in its hawker centers. These bustling, open-air food courts are the heart of Singapore’s culture and culinary scene. More than just quick, affordable meals, Singapore’s hawker centers are a defining feature of the island’s food culture, with their presence spread across the island and serving as daily gathering spots for all. Recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, hawker culture embodies Singapore’s unique culinary and social history. Here, you’ll find a vast array of dishes reflecting Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan flavors.

For food lovers, exploring these culinary institutions is essential to experiencing Singapore’s renowned food scene. Each center has unique character, history, and legendary stalls with perfected recipes. From Michelin-starred chicken rice to fiery laksa, the quality and variety are astounding. This Singapore Hawker Center Guide by Bites and Travel will help you navigate 20 of the best Singapore hawker centers to discover the most delicious local foods this food paradise offers.

A Food Lover’s Tour of 20 Essential Singapore Hawker Centers

Get your appetite ready. If you love food, you should visit Singapore for its vibrant hawker centers. We are diving into a comprehensive list of hawker centers that define Singaporean cuisine, from iconic hawker hubs to beloved neighborhood gems, showcasing the best stalls and a variety of hawker food that reflects the city’s rich hawker culture. A Singapore trip is the perfect opportunity to explore these centers, where eating local dishes is an essential part of the experience.

1. Maxwell Food Centre: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

• Location: 1 Kadayanallur Street, Chinatown / Tanjong Pagar
• Why It’s Special: A must-visit spot and legendary hawker center located in the heart of Chinatown, Maxwell Food Center is famous for housing some of the most iconic stalls in the country, including the Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, a favorite of Anthony Bourdain. Maxwell Food Center is also known for its long lines at popular stalls, and visitors often have to wait to get the best dishes.
• Must-Try Dishes: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, Zhen Zhen Porridge, Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake, and kaya toast for a sweet start to your day. When I ate at Maxwell Food Center, the chicken rice was definitely worth the wait.

2. Old Airport Road Food Centre

• Location: 51 Old Airport Road
• Why It’s Special: Consistently ranked by locals as one of the best Singapore hawker centers, this sprawling complex is a foodie paradise with fresh produce and a massive selection of stalls, many of which are considered legends in hawker culture. Visitors can choose between two stalls offering similar or complementary dishes, adding to the variety and authentic experience.
• Must-Try Dishes: Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow, Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee, Xin Mei Xiang Zheng Zong Lor Mee.

3. Tiong Bahru Market

• Location: 30 Seng Poh Road
• Why It’s Special: Located above a bustling wet market, Tiong Bahru Market serves the charming and historic Tiong Bahru estate. The food center is clean, spacious, and home to several heritage stalls offering authentic local foods.
• Must-Try Dishes: Jian Bo Shui Kueh (a classic dish of steamed rice cakes), Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice, Tiong Bahru Hokkien Mee.

4. Chinatown Complex Food Centre

• Location: 335 Smith Street, Chinatown
• Why It’s Special: The largest hawker center in Singapore, with over 260 food stalls, Chinatown Complex is home to the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred meal and a dizzying array of other options reflecting the best of hawker food. Street food vendors here play a key role in offering affordable, diverse local cuisine, continuing a rich tradition in an open-air food market setting.
• Must-Try Dishes: Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle (Michelin Star), Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao, Jia Ji Mei Shi (fried bee hoon).

5. Tekka Centre

• Location: 665 Serangoon Road, Little India
• Why It’s Special: Tekka Center is a vibrant hub in Little India, offering an incredible selection of Indian food and other stalls. The atmosphere is loud, colorful, and wonderfully chaotic, showcasing Singapore’s multicultural hawker culture. Tekka Center is also a popular food destination for both locals and tourists due to its variety and cultural significance.
• Must-Try Dishes: Allauddin’s Briyani, Temasek Indian Rojak, Sri Tiffin Stall (fresh dosa), and roti prata served with teh tarik. Don’t miss desserts or snacks featuring peanuts, such as peanut mochi soup or popiah with crushed peanuts for extra flavor and texture.

6. Chomp Chomp Food Centre

• Location: 20 Kensington Park Road, Serangoon Gardens
• Why It’s Special: A supper institution famous for its smoky, grilled delights, Chomp Chomp opens only in the evening and is always packed and buzzing with energy.
• Must-Try Dishes: BBQ Sambal Stingray, Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Mee, Sugarcane juice to cool down from all the spicy food. There is also a wide variety of drinks available, including fresh juices, soft drinks, kopi, and teh tarik, to complement your meal.

7. Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market)

• Location: 18 Raffles Quay, Downtown Core
• Why It’s Special: Housed in a stunning Victorian-era structure, Lau Pa Sat is arguably the most beautiful hawker center in Singapore. At night, Boon Tat Street becomes “Satay Street,” known for the best satay in the city.
• Must-Try Dishes: Satay from any of the stalls on Satay Street (Stalls 7 & 8 are famous), Indian and Turkish stalls inside offering a variety of spicy and flavorful dishes, and a selection of noodles such as classic stir-fried flat rice noodles and savory noodle soups.

8. Amoy Street Food Centre

• Location: 7 Maxwell Road
• Why It’s Special: Popular with the Central Business District lunch crowd, Amoy Street Food Centre features a great mix of traditional hawker fare and modern, “new-gen” stalls.
• Must-Try Dishes: A Noodle Story (Singapore-style ramen), Piao Ji Fish Porridge, Han Kee Fish Soup.

9. Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre

• Location: 20 Ghim Moh Road
• Why It’s Special: A classic neighborhood hawker center serving Holland Village and Buona Vista residents, known for consistently high-quality food across most stalls.
• Must-Try Dishes: Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh, Thye Hong Handmade Fishball Noodle, Hin Fried Hor Fun.

10. Hong Lim Food Centre

• Location: 531A Upper Cross Street
• Why It’s Special: Near Chinatown, this two-level food center is packed with Michelin-recognized stalls and other hidden gems.
• Must-Try Dishes: Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee, Tai Wah Pork Noodle, Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee.

11. ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre

• Location: 6 Jalan Bukit Merah
• Why It’s Special: Beloved by locals for its wide variety of delicious and affordable food, especially soupy dishes.
• Must-Try Dishes: Wow Wow West (Western food), Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Mee, Fatty Cheong (roasted meats).

12. Golden Mile Food Centre

• Location: 505 Beach Road
• Why It’s Special: Known for its Thai influence and legendary dishes.
• Must-Try Dishes: Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee, Ah Baling Peanut Soup (tang yuan) – a popular dessert, Chung Cheng Chilli Mee.

13. East Coast Lagoon Food Village

• Location: 1220 East Coast Park
• Why It’s Special: The only beachfront hawker centre in Singapore, offering a relaxed seaside ambiance and excellent satay and barbecue seafood.
• Must-Try Dishes: BBQ seafood, Haron Satay, Song Kee Fried Oyster.

14. Whampoa Makan Place

• Location: 90 Whampoa Drive
• Why It’s Special: Split into two buildings, with a morning market famous for breakfast and lunch, and an evening market lively after dark.
• Must-Try Dishes: Fish Head Steamboat, Balestier Road Hoover Rojak, Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee.

15. Adam Road Food Centre

• Location: 2 Adam Road
• Why It’s Special: Near Botanic Gardens, famous for Malay and Indian Muslim food.
• Must-Try Dishes: Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak, Adam’s Indian Rojak, Bahrakath Mutton Soup.

16. People’s Park Food Centre

• Location: 32 New Market Road, Chinatown
• Why It’s Special: A bustling food court known for northern Chinese cuisine and spicy Sichuan hotpot.
• Must-Try Dishes: Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo (spicy numbing stir-fry pot), Yong Xiang Xing Tou Foo (silky tofu).

17. Newton Food Centre

• Location: 500 Clemenceau Avenue North
• Why It’s Special: Made famous by “Crazy Rich Asians,” Newton Food Centre is popular for grilled seafood and lively atmosphere.
• Must-Try Dishes: Hup Kee Fried Oyster Omelette, Alliance Seafood (chilli crab), Kwee Heng Duck Noodle.

18. Geylang Serai Market

• Location: 1 Geylang Serai
• Why It’s Special: The cultural heart of the Malay community, offering authentic Malay food.
• Must-Try Dishes: Hajjah Mona Nasi Padang, Geylang Briyani Stall, Cendol Geylang Serai.

19. Pasir Panjang Food Centre: Char Kway Teow/Carrot Cake

• Location: 121 Pasir Panjang Road
• Why It’s Special: Near the Pasir Panjang wholesale market, known for fresh ingredients and quality.
• Must-Try Dishes: Yusoff Haji Jalal Satay, which is best eaten hot off the grill with a rich peanut sauce, Meng’s Char Kway Teow, Ivy’s Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup.

20. Zion Riverside Food Centre

• Location: 70 Zion Road
• Why It’s Special: A smaller hawker center by the Singapore River with a few superstar stalls.
• Must-Try Dishes: No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow, Boon Tong Kee Kway Chap Braised Duck, Lau Goh Teochew Chye Thow Kway (black carrot cake).

Your Culinary Adventure Begins