Singapore Local Food
Try the Best Hawker Centres
Singapore has an unparalleled culinary scene. At the heart of this delicious mecca lies the humble yet mighty hawker centre – a vibrant, open-air food complex where you can savour authentic Singaporean flavours at wallet-friendly prices. We have put together a guide to some of Singapore's favourite hawker centres and must-try dishes so you can plan your own hawker adventure:
Best Hawker Centres in Singapore
Lau Pa Sat
🔵 Must-Try Food: Satay
Imagine succulent skewers of marinated meat (chicken, beef, or mutton) grilled to perfection over charcoal, imparting a smoky aroma and flavour. These are served with a rich and chunky peanut dipping sauce, along with refreshing cubes of raw onions, cucumbers, and ketupat (compressed rice cakes). The sweet and savoury glaze on the satay combined with the nutty sauce is an explosion of flavour. Elevation: Generally low, with some gentle inclines and declines on the longer trails. The highest point is the Jelutong Tower, offering panoramic views (requires climbing stairs).
🔵 Stall Spotlight: Numerous Satay Stalls (Look for those with long queues!)
🔵 What to Order: Mixed Satay (at least 10-20 skewers to share!), Peanut Sauce, Ketupat
🔵 Price Range: $0.80 - $1.20 per skewer
🔵 How to Get There: Raffles Place (East-West & North-South Lines), Telok Ayer (Downtown Line)
🔵 Opening Hours: Generally, most stalls are open from late afternoon/evening until late night. Some stalls might have lunch service. It's best to check individual stall timings.
🔵 Points of Interest: The architecture itself is worth admiring. The atmosphere is particularly vibrant in the evenings when Boon Tat Street is closed to traffic and transforms into "Satay Street."
Newton Food Centre
🔵 Must-Try Food: Chili Crab
This quintessential Singaporean seafood dish features large, fresh mud crabs stir-fried in a glorious, thick, sweet, savoury, and spicy tomato-chilli sauce, often thickened with egg. It's messy, but incredibly rewarding, especially when you use fried or steamed mantou (Chinese buns) to sop up every last drop of that incredible sauce. The succulent crab meat perfectly complements the robust and tangy sauce, making it an unforgettable culinary experience.
🔵 Stall Spotlight: Alliance Seafood (#01-27) - This Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient is a popular choice for seafood, including Chili Crab and Black Pepper Crab.
🔵 What to Order: Chili Crab (check the price per kg before ordering as it can vary based on crab size and market rates), and definitely order some mantou to go with it! Other popular options here include Sambal Stingray and BBQ Chicken Wings.
🔵 Price Range: Chili Crab prices can vary significantly depending on the size of the crab, usually ranging from $40 - $80+ per crab. Other dishes like BBQ chicken wings are typically $1-$1.50 per piece, and oyster omelette or carrot cake are $5-$10.
🔵 Opening Hours: Many stalls operate from late afternoon/evening until late night (e.g., 5 PM - 2 AM). Some stalls might open earlier for lunch. It's best to check individual stall timings upon arrival. Alliance Seafood is generally open from 3 PM - 11 PM (closed Tuesdays).
🔵 How to Get There: MRT: Newton (North-South & Downtown Lines). The food centre is a short 5-minute walk from the station. Numerous bus services also stop nearby
🔵 Points of Interest: Newton Food Centre has long been a magnet for tourists, especially after its prominent feature in the movie "Crazy Rich Asians." While it has a reputation for being pricier than other hawker centres, it offers a fantastic variety of local dishes in a lively, open-air setting, perfect for an evening meal.
Maxwell Food Centre
🔵 Must-Try Food: Hainanese Chicken Rice
Considered by many to be Singapore's national dish, Hainanese Chicken Rice is a seemingly simple yet incredibly satisfying meal. Tender, succulent steamed chicken is served atop fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth, accompanied by a flavourful chili-ginger sauce and dark soy sauce. The quality of the chicken and the aromatic rice are key to a great plate.
🔵 Stall Spotlight: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (#01-10/11)
🔵 What to Order: Chicken Rice (choose between steamed or roasted chicken, though steamed is more traditional), ask for extra chili.
🔵 Price Range: $4 - $6 per plate
🔵 Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 7:30 PM (Closed on Mondays) - Note: This is Tian Tian's timing; other stalls vary.
🔵 Points of Interest: Explore the vibrant Chinatown area before or after your meal. Don't miss other popular stalls in Maxwell like Zhen Zhen Porridge and Hum Jin Pang.
Old Airport Road Food Centre
🔵 Must-Try Food: Rojak
Don't let the seemingly odd combination of ingredients fool you – Rojak is a flavour bomb! This local salad typically consists of a mix of fruits (like pineapple and guava), vegetables (like bean sprouts and cucumber), fried dough fritters (you tiao), firm tofu puffs (tau pok), and crunchy ground peanuts, all tossed in a sweet, savoury, and tangy shrimp paste dressing. It's a textural and taste adventure in every bite.
🔵 How to Get There: MRT: Dakota (Circle Line)
🔵 What to Order: Rojak (specify if you want more or less chili), you can usually customize the ingredients.
🔵 Price Range: $4 - $8 per plate
🔵 Opening Hours: Varies, generally morning to evening. Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow is typically open from late morning to evening, closed on some days (check their signage).
🔵 Points of Interest: Explore the sheer variety – you'll find incredible versions of almost every local dish here. Be prepared for queues, especially during peak hours.
Tekka Centre
🔵 Must-Try Food: Indian-Muslim Style Briyani
Briyani at Tekka Centre is a showstopper. This fragrant rice dish is cooked with tender, marinated meat (often chicken or mutton), aromatic spices, and sometimes potatoes, often served with a side of dalcha (lentil-based curry) and achar (pickled vegetables). The rice is fluffy and deeply flavourful, infused with spices like cardamom, cloves, and saffron, while the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. It's a hearty and incredibly satisfying meal.
🔵 Stall Spotlight: Allauddin's Briyani (#01-232/233) - A highly popular and often lauded stall for its delicious and generous portions of Briyani, frequently drawing long queues.
🔵 What to Order: Chicken Briyani or Mutton Briyani. You might also want to try their Chicken Murtabak (a savoury stuffed pancake).
🔵 Price Range: Briyani typically costs $6 - $10 per plate
🔵 Opening Hours: Generally from morning till evening/late evening. Allauddin's Briyani is usually open from 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM (closed on Mondays).
🔵 How to Get There: MRT: Little India (Downtown & North-East Lines). Tekka Centre is located right outside the station exit.
🔵 Points of Interest: Located in the heart of Little India, Tekka Centre is a vibrant microcosm of Singapore's multicultural tapestry. It's not just a food centre but also a wet market, offering fresh produce, spices, and clothing. Its food stalls are renowned for their authentic Indian cuisine, alongside popular Chinese and Malay dishes, making it a truly diverse culinary destination.
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