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No trip to Singapore is complete without gorging yourself on the incredible food you’ll find in basically every square foot of this city, and no food tour of Singapore is complete without a trip to some hawker centres.
Hawker Centres are basically ubiquitous among guides for what to do in Singapore, and for good reason, they’re part of the lifeblood of the city! When we went to Singapore we tried to eat as much as possible, and hit as many hawker centers as we could so I could tell you all the good, bad, and the ugly for your trip! Keep scrolling & get ready to start planning.
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What is a Hawker Centre?
Singapore’s hawker centers are an essential part of the city’s food culture. They’ve grown out of the past tradition of street food vendors (hawkers) who sold food without much oversight into hygiene or regulation. In the 1960s and 70s the government attempted to centralize them into open air food centers, so that there would be a bit more oversight and safety.
Today there are over 100 hawker centers in Singapore, with over 6000 food stalls operating within them. They offer affordable and delicious food all over the city, and are meeting places for Singaporeans and tourists of all ages. It’s one of those seemingly few and far between things to do in Singapore that feels quintessentially local, but also worthwhile as a tourist.
Hawker centers offer the best affordable, high-quality Singaporean dishes in a buzzy, communal setting. These open-air food courts house a variety of stalls, each specializing in a particular dish—ranging from Hainanese chicken rice and char kway teow to laksa and satay.
Today, hawker culture is so ingrained in Singapore’s identity that it was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020.
How to Eat Like a Local at a Hawker Center
The Best Hawker Centres in Singapore
Real Talk:
Singapore – while less affected than some of its Southeast Asian neighbors – is not immune to overtourism, gentrification, and environmental damage. So please: don’t be an asshole when you travel here (or anywhere).
If you’ve made it to my blog, I’d like to think you too care about preserving the integrity of the places you visit – but I’ve seen enough disrespectful behavior from Western tourists to know it’s worth saying out loud:
If you’re going to make locals’ lives harder, just stay home.
1. Maxwell Food Centre
📍 Location: Chinatown / Tanjong Pagar
🕒 Hours: Most stalls operate from 8am – 10pm, but individual stalls may have different hours.
Maxwell Food Centre is one of the most famous and iconic hawker centers in Singapore, largely due to the Michelen starred Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall (#10/11) which Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay have both visited.
When we visited we were sadly not able to get the Hainanese Chicken Rice because of the line, but we tried Roti Prata instead (and loved it, obviously). Another alternative would be Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice (#7), which is run by a former Tian Tian chef – there are usually shorter wait times here.
Maxwell Food Centre’s location between Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar makes it a perfect place to stop for a refresh between exploring.
Insider Tip
Try to plan your visit to the Hawker Centres before or after the lunch rush (usually between 12pm–2pm) to avoid massive lines and a potential lack of seats.
2. Lau Pa Sat
📍 Location: CBD (Central Business District)
🕒 Hours: 24 hours, but individual stalls have their own hours, and Satay Street opens from 7pm until late.
Lau Pa Sat (“Old Market” in Hokkien) is one of Singapore’s most famous hawker centers, in part due to its unique colonial-era architecture and its central location. It’s most popular among business people on their lunch breaks – so much so that when we visited on a weekend it was basically completely closed!
To be honest, it was a bit of a blessing in disguise because we’d already heard that Lau Pa Sat isn’t the best hawker center, and when it was closed we ended up going to Maxwell Food Centre instead.
The main reason to visit Lau Pa Sat is to visit Satay Street, just outside the hawker center on Boon Tat Street. Every evening (7pm onward) the space becomes a little strip of different Satay stalls, where they have arguably the best Satay in the city – specifically you should try #7 and #8.
Also, some of the other stalls at Lau Pa Sat are open 24 hours a day, so it’s a good option for late night food stops.
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3. Chinatown Complex Food Centre
📍 Location: Chinatown
🕒 Hours: Most stalls operate from 8am – 10pm, but individual stalls may have different hours.
The Chinatown Complex Food Centre is where we had the most meals out of any other hawker centre. We also generally had a really lovely experience here, so I highly recommend it. It’s Singapore’s largest hawker center, with 260 stalls, and also boasts having the cheapest Michelen-starred meal in the world.
There’s a huge amount of variety here, from Hainanese Chicken Rice to Laksa. It’s a bit of an assault on the senses, but everyone here was really nice. We actually ended up sharing a table with an older Singaporean woman who struck up a conversation with us about our time in Singapore as well as her experiences. It was a really great example of how the hawker centres really are a community meeting spot in Singapore, and in a world where we have fewer and fewer of these, it was refreshing and sweet.
You should make an effort to try Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle (#02-126), which was the first Hawker stall to be awarded a Michelin star, Terry Katong Laksa (#02-004), and Smith Street Taps (#02-062), which has craft beer!
4. Old Airport Road Food Centre
📍 Location: Geylang
🕒 Hours: Most stalls operate from 6am – 10pm, but individual stalls may have different hours.
Old Airport Road Food Centre is one of Singapore’s most beloved hawker centers, known for its long history (it’s been around since the 70s!), legendary stalls, and some of the best local dishes. It’s a favorite for those who prefer a more authentic experience away from tourist-heavy spots. It’s pretty easy to navigate and isn’t too far away from Katong, so it would be smart to combine these activities.
Be sure to try the Hokkien Mee at Nam Sing (#01-32), the Wanton Mee at Hua Kee Hougang (#01-02), and the Rojak at Toa Payoh Rojak (#01-108).
Insider Tip
Don’t forget to bring cash if you head to more of a locals-focused hawker centre! You’ll likely find that fewer stalls take card here.
5. Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre
📍 Location: Tiong Bahru
🕒 Hours: Most stalls operate from 6am – 10pm, but individual stalls may have different hours.
Located in the heart of Tiong Bahru, one of Singapore’s trendiest and most historic neighborhoods (and also one of my personal favorite neighborhoods in Singapore), Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre is a local hawker spot that serves some of the best traditional Singaporean breakfast foods. Much like Old Airport Road, It’s a great place to experience authentic hawker culture that’s a bit off the beaten track.
The Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre is one of the cleanest and best organized hawker centers in Singapore, due to a recent renovation. The best way to visit the Tiong Bahru Food Centre would be to go in the morning, and then once you’ve had a nice breakfast you can explore the rest of the neighborhood!
If you’re looking for the best breakfast stalls you should try the chwee kueh at Jian Bo Shui Kueh (#02-05), and just generally you should try Tiong Bahru Pau (#02-18) for their char siew bao buns.
The Best Foods in Singapore: 15 Unbelievably Delicious Dishes & Authentic Places to Get Them
The Best Foods in Singapore: 15 Unbelievably Delicious Dishes & Authentic Places to Get Them
6. Newton Food Centre
📍 Location: Newton (near Orchard Road)
🕒 Hours: Most stalls operate from 12pm – 2am, but individual stalls may have different hours.
Newton Food Centre is one of Singapore’s most famous hawker centers, partially due to its proximity to the glitzy Orchard Road shopping street, but also due to being featured in Crazy Rich Asians. It’s a great late night spot and pretty popular with tourists, so don’t be surprised if you’re surrounded by tourist crowds. Things also usually run a bit more expensive here than at the less touristy hawker centers.
One nice thing about Newton Food Centre is that there’s a large outdoor area, which is much appreciated when you’re feeling a bit stuffy in the cramped hawker centres! It comes alive in the evening, so it’s best to try for dinner or late night snacks.
Be sure to hit Alliance Seafood (#01-27) for their chilli crab, and Kwee Heng (#01-13) duck noodles!
7. East Coast Lagoon Food Village
📍 Location: East Coast Park
🕒 Hours: 5pm – 11pm on weekdays, 12pm – 11pm on weekends (individual stall hours vary)
East Coast Lagoon Food Village is the only beachfront hawker centre in Singapore, which makes it a pretty attractive spot even before you consider all the stellar hawker stalls to choose from – it’s not often that you can get a cheap, high quality meal and a beachfront view.
If you find yourself at the East Coast Lagoon Food Village you should try the BBQ stingray at Stingray Forever BBQ Seafood (#01-44) and Haron Satay (#01-55, Michelin Bib Gourmand) especially if you don’t make it to Satay Street at Lau Pa Sat.
I recommend trying to get there in the early evening so you can stake out a good waterfront seat to watch the sunset.
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8. Tekka Centre
📍 Location: Little India
🕒 Hours: Most stalls operate from 6:30pm – 9pm, but individual stalls may have different hours.
Located in the heart of Little India, Tekka Centre is one of Singapore’s most vibrant hawker centers, known for its incredible Indian, Malay, and Chinese food. This is the must-visit spot for authentic South Indian cuisine, like biryanis, murtabak, and roti prata. It’s also home to a wet market and textile stalls, making it an interesting cultural experience beyond just food.
You’ve gotta try Allauddin’s Biryani (#01-232, Michelin Bib Gourmand), and Prata Saga Sambal Berlada (#01-258) for roti prata and murtabak.
FAQs about Singapore Hawker Centres
What is the most popular hawker food in Singapore?
It’s hard to say what the “most popular” hawker food is given how many stalls (over 6000) there are on the island, but it’s safe to say that there are a few staples that you’ll see most frequently.
If you’re new to Singaporean hawker food, start with:
1. Hainanese Chicken Rice (a must-try staple)
2. Chilli Crab (for a seafood feast)
3. Hokkien Mee (for noodle lovers)
4. Roti Prata (for a delicious, crispy breakfast)
5. Laksa (for a comforting, spicy bowl of noodles)
Are hawker centres cash only?
Traditionally, cash has been the preferred payment method at Singapore’s hawker centres. However, like so much of our world, in recent years, many stalls have started accepting digital payments to make transactions more convenient and to boost business.
That being said, while Singapore is becoming more cashless, many hawker stalls—especially older, family-run ones—still prefer or may only accept cash transactions.
Additionally, the ones that do take digital payments may require Singaporean bank accounts or mobile wallets like Alipay and WeChat Pay that are less ubiquitous for Western travellers.
In general, it’s best to always be prepared with smaller bills.
How much is a meal in a hawker centre?
A meal at a hawker centre in Singapore typically costs S$3–S$8. Cheap meals like this are usually things like Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and Hokkien mee.
Special things like BBQ stingray can go up to S$10–S$15, or chilli crab, which is pricier at S$25+ per crab. Drinks and snacks on the other hand usually only cost S$1–S$3, which is a steal!
Planning Cheat Sheet: Every Link You Need in One Place
P.S. When you book using my links, you help support Rachel IRL at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Are you ready to explore the best hawker centres in Singapore?
I hope that this post about Singapore’s hawker centers has been helpful in planning your trip to Singapore! As I said before, Singapore is literally teeming with mouthwatering food that, in my opinion, you really can’t get enough of.
Plus, if you’ve been around here much before, you’ll know how much I value tasting local foods while exploring a new destination.
If you have any feedback or want to share your experience with Singapore Hawker Centers, please leave me a comment!
As always you can always find me on Instagram (tag me in your travel content!), Youtube, or Pinterest.
Happy traveling!
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