Food is one of the pillars of Singapore culture, which is why Singaporeans welcomed the news that hawker culture was added to Unesco’s list of intangible cultural heritage. Although hawker culture is said to be dying out, hawker centres have long played a vital role in the food scene in Singapore.
To celebrate hawker culture in Singapore, a 3-week HawkerFest was launched on 26 December. Participants can take part in online activities and games to win vouchers, which can then be used at 29 hawker centres across the island.
We all have our favourite hawker stalls to visit, but if you’re looking to spice things up a little, here are 7-must visit hawker stalls from the Monster Day Tours team!
1. Allaudin’s Briyani (#01-232, Tekka Market & Food Centre)
Pic credit: DanielFoodDiary
If you’re looking for some of the best Indian food in Singapore, Tekka Market and Food Centre in Little India is the place to visit. Hidden among the many stalls there, is what is said to be the best briyani in Singapore!
Allaudin’s Briyani has been serving up its delicious food for more than 40 years, and the stall has even earned itself a Michelin Plate with the Singapore Michelin Guide. Choose from mutton, fish or chicken briyani, and add additional ingredients such as fried fish or mutton cutlet. For those who can’t handle spicy food well, the briyani is flavourful but not overly spicy.
The stall also has an adjoining prata stall, which also sells murtabak, mee and maggie goreng.
Allaudin’s Briyani
Tekka Market & Food Centre
#01-232, 666 Buffalo Road
Opening Hours: 9AM-6PM
2. 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles (#01-236, Tekka Market & Food Centre)
Pic credit: Miss Tam Chiak
Warm soup on a rainy day is the perfect comfort food, especially since the weather has been wet recently. Tekka Market is home to not only some of the best Indian food, but hawker food as well, including everyone’s favourite prawn noodles!
545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles is not only a crowd-favourite amongst locals, but celebrity chefs such as Anthony Bourdain and Julien Boyer! Using a recipe that has been passed down for 3 generations, the flavourful broth is prepared from as early as 2AM. The noodles are available both soup and dry, with the latter is recommended by the owners. Having the noodles dry ensure that the broth isn’t diluted, and lets you savour the chilli paste that comes with it too.
What’s most special about this stall is that it’s run by someone young, unlike most hawker stalls in Singapore. The original outlet at Whampoa Market used to be run the owner, while his daughter operates the stall at Tekka Market. Not wanting to see the family recipe die out was what motivated Li Ruifang to take over the family business, a heartwarming sign that there is hope for the younger generation to take over hawker culture.
545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles
Tekka Market & Food Centre
#01-236, 66 Buffalo Road
Opening Hours: 6:30AM till 2PM or sold out (Monday-Friday)
3. Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles (#01-89, Golden Mile Food Centre)
Pic credit: Miss Tam Chiak
If you’re looking for authentic Hainanese beef noodles, look no further than Beach Road Market, or more commonly known as Golden Mile Food Centre!
One of the most well-known stalls at the food centre is Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles, with the stall plastered with raving reviews and certificates. What’s unique about the stall, is that it does not sell just beef or beef balls soup, meaning every order must be accompanied by a portion of noodles.
Choose between dry or soup noodles, served with different cuts of beef of your choice. The dry version comes with a thick sauce that’s topped with peanuts, while the soup version comes with a lime on the side. The broth is flavourful, but not overpowering, and the beef is cooked to medium-well with a generous portion given.
Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles
Golden Mile Food Centre
#01-89, 505 Beach Road
Opening Hours: 11:30AM-7:30PM (Closed on Wednesday)
4. China Street Hainanese Curry Rice (Stall 68, Maxwell Food Centre)
Pic credit: SETHLUI
It’s a well-known fact that Singaporeans love drowning their food in sauce, which is why the multi-cultural dish of Hainanese curry rice is a staple in hawker food!
Maxwell Centre is home to countless well-known stalls, including the crowd-favourite China Street Hainanese Curry Rice. Unlike most Hainanese curry rice stalls, the curry here isn’t too runny, yet the starch added doesn’t dilute the curry and make it too bland.
The dish comes with the usual sides of cabbage and a sunny-side-up, and while the pork chop may not be the best around, the whole dish overall is worth its low price. The stall is extremely popular, so do expect long queues during lunch hours.
China Street Hainanese Curry Rice
Maxwell Food Centre
Stall 68, 1 Kadayanallur Street
Opening Hours: 11AM-6PM or sold out (Sat-Thur)
5. Xing Xing Ondeh-Ondeh Tapioca Cake (Stall 31, Maxwell Food Centre)
Pic credit: SETHLUI
While kuehs aren’t something we immediately associate with hawker food, it’s hard to deny that they are an important part of food culture in Singapore. Although many stores sell kuehs, finding traditional handmade ones can be hard nowadays.
If you’re looking for somewhere to satisfy your kueh cravings, look no further than Xing Xing Ondeh-Ondeh Tapioca Cake at Maxwell Food Centre. The stall offers a variety of different kuehs at extremely affordable prices, and has been around for more than 35 years!
Our favourites are the kueh kosui (gula melaka steamed rice cakes) and ondeh ondeh, but if you prefer something less sweet, the stall also offers two different types of tapioca cakes. Their coconut flakes are the perfect topping and aren’t too big or chunky, allowing you to savour the kueh in all its chewy goodness.
Xing Xing Ondeh-Ondeh Tapioca Cake
Maxwell Food Centre
Stall 31, 1 Kadayanallur Street
Opening Hours: 8AM-2PM (Mon-Sat)
6. High Street Tai Wah Pork Noodle (#02-16, Hong Lim Food Centre)
Pic credit: Daniel Food Diary
Bak chor mee (Minced Pork Noodle) is a staple in hawker food, which is why if you’re looking for a good recommendation, chances are every person you ask will have a different favourite stall.
One of the most well-known bak chor mee stalls is located at Hong Lim Food Centre, which is home to some of the best hawker food in Singapore. Not to be confused with the one at Crawford Lane, High Street Tai Wah Pork Noodle is one of the most well-known bak chor mee stalls in Singapore!
The stall was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and is actually run by the brother of the owner of the stall at Crawford Lane. With snaking queues seen during lunch hour, it’s clear the stall’s special sauce base has won the hearts of many. Served with a hearty bowl of soup on the side, the mincemeat, meatballs, dumplings, pork slices and liver are bound to make you leave satisfied.
High Street Tai Wah Pork Noodle
Hong Lim Food Centre
#02-16, 531A Upper Cross Street
Opening Hours: 8AM-7:30PM (Tues-Sun)
7. Liao Fan Hawker Chan (#02-126, Chinatown Complex Food Centre)
Pic credit: Hungry Go Where
By now, chances are you’ve heard of Hawker Chan, the world’s cheapest Michelin-star meal that you can find right in the heart of Chinatown. Hidden in Chinatown Complex Food Centre, the humble stall is known for its simple yet delicious soya sauce chicken.
Other than its famous soya sauce chicken, the stall also sells a variety of roast meats, and you can choose from rice or noodles when you order. What makes their chicken exceptionally tasty, is that it’s served with roasted soybeans, which give a nice bite to a dish some might find salty.
While Hawker Chan may have had a humble beginning, it now boasts 4 outlets across Singapore, and they even have branches overseas. If you’re looking for a simple yet delicious and wallet-friendly meal, this is the perfect dish.
Liao Fan Hawker Chan
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
#02-126, 335 Smith Street
Opening Hours: 10:30AM-3:30PM (Mon-Sat)
Go on a food adventure in Singapore
It’s not hard to find good food in Singapore, but if you’re looking for a special dining experience, go on a culinary adventure with Monster Day Tours!
The award-winning tour company recently launched a slew of exciting food experiences, and there’s no better way to start the new year than with a memorable adventure. If you’re looking for a new dinner experience, the Sentosa Xperience: Gourmet Island Escapade makes for a perfect date night. Not only will you be treated to a 4-course meal, but you’ll be treated to some of Sentosa’s most gorgeous views too.
That’s not all, as Monster Day Tours has also partnered with Marina South Ferries to launch the first public tour of the Southern Islands! The 2-hour sunset sail includes not only dinner with a view, but you’ll get to listen to legends and forgotten stories the islands hold.
For more details about these unique themed experiences, please refer to their website.
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