When you visit Singapore, there’s one thing you’ll never have to worry about: finding incredible food. In fact, eating might just be the nation’s favorite sport.
With its melting pot of cultures, Singapore’s foodie scene is second to none—and the best place to experience it is in the bustling hawker centres, where a wide range of flavors comes to life.
What is a hawker centre?
Imagine a bustling, open-air food court where tantalizing aromas fill the air and rows of stalls serve up dishes that could rival any Michelin-starred restaurant—but at a fraction of the price. That’s a hawker centre. The spacious seating area at the center makes it the go-to dining spot for everyone—in fact, many Singaporeans never bother to cook at home!
Hawker centres have their roots in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore, and they’ve become a defining part of the food culture in this region.
Having explored Singapore’s vibrant streets many times, we’ve learned to skip the fine dining restaurants and dive straight into the hawker scene. It’s where you’ll truly eat like a local—and discover some of the most mouthwatering food Singapore has to offer.
Singapore’s culinary landscape reflects its cultural tapestry, blending Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences with flavors from all over the world. Whether you’re a carnivore chasing smoky grilled satay or a vegan in Singapore seeking a plate of spicy bee hoon, you’ll find a culinary adventure waiting.
👉 Taste your way through Singapore’s diverse street food scene with a local on this highly rated street food tour. Enjoy 6-8 different dishes at 2-3 iconic hawker centres, like the famous Chinatown Food Complex. With a flexible, personalized itinerary, it’s rated 4.9/5 by travelers and fills up fast—book in advance!
Why are hawker centres so popular?
Hawker centers in Singapore are well loved for many reasons. First of all, they are a great place for locals to get together with friends to chat and catch up. Which makes them like community dining rooms.
Secondly, the prices are super affordable, which is a big deal in an expensive city like Singapore. Most dishes at hawker centres are typically under S$10 (about $7.50 USD).
Other reasons are that eating out is convenient, there’s a wide variety of multicultural food to choose from, and it’s a central part of Singapore’s heritage and culture.
Where are the best hawker centres in Singapore?
Singapore has had hawkers since the island was first colonized. Today there are 114 markets and hawker centers, each one unique, and everyone has their favorite place to hang out.
Here’s a quick guide to a few of the most popular.
1. Maxwell Food Centre
If you happen to be in Singapore’s Chinatown district, the best place to go for local grub has to be the Maxwell Food Centre. The place has always been a popular hawker centre with both the locals and tourists and houses some of Singapore’s best hawker stalls. There are over 100 stalls to choose from, and they offer all kinds of food for every meal of the day.
You can get all kinds of food here, but the highlight would be the Hainanese chicken rice from Tian Tian Chicken Rice. The stall is mostly known for being a Michelin Bib-Gourmand recipient and for being the favorite of Gordon Ramsay and the late Anthony Bourdain. Another popular stall is Zhen Zhen Porridge stall, which offers a variety of wholesome Teochew-style porridge.
Although the hawker centre remains open ‘til nighttime, some of the stalls may close as early as 4 pm. Your best bet is to go in the morning for some breakfast or in the early afternoon for your lunch.
Like most of the hawker centres in the country, there will not be any air-conditioning in the dining hall. However, the place has tons of shade and is well ventilated, so you will not have to deal with eating in a stuffy environment.
- Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184
2. Chinatown Complex Food Centre
A lack of food choices will never be an issue when you visit the Chinatown Complex Food Centre. With over 260 food stalls in just one building, it is known as the largest hawker centre in Singapore, so expect all sorts of mouth-watering dishes. You can get just about anything that you crave at a reasonable price, from local favorites to international treats.
The most popular food stall in the Chinatown Complex Food Centre might just be the Michelin-starred Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle. It is where you can go to try one of the cheapest Michelin meals in the world, with the price for one dish being less than S$3 (around $2 USD).
If you’re into microbrews, be sure to check out Mikkeller. This Copenhagen-based brewery has 10 of its beers on tap as well as a selection of other kinds to enjoy.
ⓘ GOOD TO KNOW: In Singapore, the legal drinking age is 18. Drinking is forbidden in public places between 10:30 pm and 7:00 am. Also, there are a few parts of Singapore where you cannot drink between 7:00 am on Saturday to 7:00 am on Monday.
The hawker centre is in the heart of Chinatown and is a great one-stop place for all your local food cravings at an affordable price.
You can visit the Chinatown Complex for all your meals, but you might encounter some crowd during the lunch rush. The best time to go would be after breakfast hours and before the lunch break begins.
- Address: 335 Smith St, S 050335
3. Old Airport Road Food Centre
When it comes to hawker centers in Singapore, Old Airport Road Food Centre is a favorite among locals. This is the place to go if you want to get some good hawker food for a cheap price. The place used to be a hidden gem that only locals knew about, but in recent years, it has gained popularity with tourists. The hawker center is aptly named because it was built on the runway of the old Kallang Airport.
There are over 150 food stalls here, serving all the popular local dishes. You can find just about anything here, from noodles and rice to desserts and snacks. Due to the immense popularity of some of the stalls, a long queue is a common sight. However, the foods there are truly up to expectation, so you will not be disappointed with what you get.
It’s worth mentioning that because the stalls are so close together, the food hall may feel extremely stuffy with all of the heat and steam. The best time to go is after sunset, but if you prefer to go during the day, try to find a seat as far away from the stalls as possible to avoid the heat and traffic.
Opening hours for each stall will differ, but most open in the morning. You can come here to get some delicious breakfast before exploring the rest of Singapore.
- Address: 51 Old Airport Rd, Singapore 390051
4. Tekka Centre
If you’re craving Indian food, the best hawker centre to visit in Singapore would be the Tekka Centre in Little India. The hawkers sell some incredible Indian dishes from the Northern and Southern regions of India.
One of the most popular dishes offered here is the biryani, and you can get it from either the Yakader stall or the Allauddin stall. You can also try some masala dosa while you are here.
Tekka Centre is also a wet market and is one of the best places in the area to get some halal meats.
The market part of the Tekka Centre opens its doors at 5 AM, while some of the stalls in the food hall will only start operating at 7 AM.
The best time to visit the hawker centre is right before the lunch rush when the food hall is not too crowded. However, do note that some stalls may close as early as 1 PM, so try to get there earlier if you can.
- Address: Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore
5. Lau Pa Sat Festival Market
We loved eating at this hawker centre. It’s super clean, has a light and airy feel, and there are nearly 100 food vendors to choose from. No wonder it’s a favorite among both businessmen and tourists.
You’ll find this iconic hawker inside a renovated 19th-century Victorian building, conveniently located in Singapore’s financial district. It is easy to find; just look for a big clock on top of an eight-sided building.
- Address: 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582
6. Geylang Serai Market
Pasar Geylang Serai is one of Singapore’s busiest wet markets. The food stalls are on the second floor.
Try the fried fish or banana fritters.
- Address: 1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001
7. Marine Parade Food Centre
Our Singaporean friend Willie took us here for a cup of kopi while we were visiting. It’s an old-style hawker centre that obviously sees no reason to invest in renovations.
The Malaysian-style beef noodles and Chinese-style chicken curry puffs deserve their good reviews.
- Address: 84 Marine Parade Central, Singapore 440084
What to eat at a Singapore hawker center
Okay, so now that you understand the wide variety of food options available to you, I’ll bet that you’re wondering what you should order. We have three articles that share the best of each of Singapore’s main cuisines.
- Chinese: 6 Hong Kong Foods You Need to Try
- Malay: Penang Food Guide: 7 Must-Eat Foods + Best Places to Try Them
- Indian: 7 Famous Indian Dishes You Must Try
If you can’t decide, you can’t go wrong with Singapore chicken rice or a chicken or beef satay. For vegetarians, we’d suggest yong tau foo or a vegetarian bee hoon. Many Indian dishes are meatless as well.
11 tips for visiting a Singapore hawker centre
- Wear casual and comfortable clothing. Singapore hawker centres are an informal affair. We suggest wearing loose clothing, as they are rarely air-conditioned, and it can get super hot and sticky.
- Singapore weather is hot and humid year-round. You may wish to carry a small portable umbrella, as the weather can change unexpectedly.
- Carry cash, as not all stalls accept plastic. ATMs are often available, but it’s always a good idea to carry a few small bills and coins if you can. But things are changing. Many hawker stalls are now beginning to accept digital payments such as NETS, PayNow, and even contactless credit cards.
- Before queueing up for food, you need to find a table and “chope” it! Chope is a Singapore slang term that means “To reserve a seat in a place to eat by placing a tissue packet on it.” However, you don’t have to use a tissue packet; you can also use an umbrella, scarf, or business card.
- Then go wash your hands. Most centres have areas with large sinks for handwashing. It’s a very big part of the culture.
- It helps to know what meal you’re in the mood for. Most hawker stalls focus on a specific dish (like Hainanese chicken rice) or a type of cuisine (such as satay). There are also a variety of drink stalls and dessert stalls to enjoy.
- Not sure where to eat? Find the busiest stall. A long queue indicates that the stall is well known or serves really good food.
- At western food courts, you order, pay, wait for your food, and then take it to your table. But in Singapore and many parts of Asia, many food stalls will take your order and expect to be paid when they bring it to your table. So when you chope your table, be sure to note your table number so you can tell the staff where to deliver your order.
- Expect your drink to be served in a plastic bag with a straw. It works remarkably well and is much more eco-friendly than a styrofoam cup.
- At the end of your meal, deposit your dishes at the tray return area and head back to the hand-washing area to clean up.
- Singapore imposes hefty fines for littering, so be extra mindful about where you dispose of your waste. Interestingly, we didn’t find any trashcans on the street. Don’t be surprised if you end up carrying your garbage around with you until you get back to your room.
Frequently asked questions about hawker centers
Why are they called “hawker centres”?
Hawker centres got their name from the street vendors who sold food, calling out to attract customers as they moved from place to place. In the 1960s and 1970s, Singapore’s government moved these “hawkers” into designated spaces to improve cleanliness and control the industry. These centralised food hubs became popular and evolved into the vibrant community dining rooms we know today.
Is Singapore the only country with hawker centres?
No. Hawker centres are common in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. There’s also an indoor hawker centre on the ground floor of Yaohan Megamart in Gadong, Brunei.
How important are hawker centres to Singaporeans?
UNESCO has added Singapore’s hawker culture to its List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, calling them “community dining rooms where people from diverse backgrounds gather and share the experience of dining over breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” The list is impressive, with things like hurling in Ireland, traditional massage in Thailand, and sauna culture in Finland.
Can I order from a hawker in English?
English is widely spoken in Singapore, and most stall owners can communicate in basic English. However, knowing a few local phrases or pointing to the dish you want can be helpful, especially in more traditional or less touristy hawker centres.
Are hawker centres accessible to people with disabilities?
Most hawker centres are designed to be accessible to people with disabilities, with ramps, wide walkways, and accessible seating areas. Obviously, the level of accessibility can vary, so it’s best to check specific centres if this is a concern.
Is it safe to eat at hawker centres in Singapore?
Eating at Singapore’s hawker centres is very safe. Each stall is graded by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on hygiene, with ratings from ‘A’ to ‘D’. The highest grade, ‘A’, indicates exceptional cleanliness, and the grade is clearly displayed at each stall for your peace of mind.
Are hawker centres air-conditioned?
Most hawker centres in Singapore are designed to be open-air and do not feature air conditioning. This keeps operating costs low and maintains the traditional atmosphere. However, some private food courts and dining spots, like Lau Pa Sat Festival Market, Kampong Glam Food Street, and Chinatown Complex Food Centre, do have air-conditioned spaces.
How to avoid the heat while eating at a hawker center
Here are some strategies to cope with the heat while dining at hawker centres:
- Choose the Right Spot: Look for seating in well-ventilated areas or near mechanical fans to benefit from any breeze. Sitting away from cooking stalls, which generate additional heat, can also make the experience more comfortable.
- Time Your Visit: Many locals prefer to visit hawker centres during cooler parts of the day, such as early mornings or late evenings, to avoid the peak heat hours. This not only helps in managing the heat but also allows for a more relaxed dining experience, with fewer crowds.
- Stay Hydrated: Ordering cool drinks is a popular way to combat the heat. Common choices include iced coffee, sugar cane juice, and lime juice, which help refresh and cool down diners while they enjoy their meals.
- Sit Outdoors: Some hawker centres provide shaded areas with umbrellas for outdoor seating, allowing patrons to enjoy their meals while being shielded from direct sunlight. This can significantly reduce discomfort during hot weather.
- Embrace It: In some ways, the heat is part of the authentic hawker dining experience. Locals tend to focus on the food and the social atmosphere and overlook the discomfort of the tropical weather.
What do you think? Will you visit a hawker centre in Singapore?
We believe that trying local food is one of the best travel experiences you can have.
So when you’re in Singapore, there’s no better place to do it than at hawker centers, where locals gather to share bread together.
Inspired? Pin this post and share it with your friends!
Photo credits: CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Tekka Centre: Nick-D
- Old Airport Road Food Centre: Orderinchaos
- Maxwell Food Centre: Ypsilon from Finland
- Marine Parade Food Centre: Terence Ong
