Hawker centres in Singapore are a special part of everyday life, so much so that hawker culture here has been recognised by UNESCO. These gathering places for eating and drinking are a rich reflection of the island’s melting pot of culture – just take a walk around any hawker centre and you’ll discover the heartbeat of Singapore! Here are some history, tips on dining at hawkers, and blogger and contributor MILLIE TAN recommends 10 of the favourite hawker centres in Singapore.
How did hawker centres in Singapore start?
Today, there’s well over a hundred hawker centres in Singapore, each with its own unique vibe, serving as vital community hubs. These centres offer a one-stop dining experience, bringing together locals and tourists alike. However, this was not always the case.
In the early 1800s, itinerant cooks roamed the streets, announcing their arrival with bells or wooden blocks. They carried their food on bicycles, pushcarts, or shoulder poles, setting up makeshift stalls along the curbs. This was the norm in a rapidly growing port city, but as Singapore developed, the lack of infrastructure for this industry became problematic. Poor sanitation and waste management led to unsanitary conditions, especially in overcrowded areas like Chinatown. In 1950, colonial authorities criticised the disorderly sprawl of hawkers.
In 1968, the government launched a major licensing effort to regulate hawkers and move them off the streets. However, many hawkers resisted these changes, and unregulated hawking remained widespread, leading to raids and conflicts.
Something had to change, because in the proud, blossoming county with lofty goals and global ambitions people still had to eat. And so it was that the hawker centre (or “food centre” to give it its more official – but much more bland! – title) was born.
The idea was simple: create centralised locations for the hawkers. Between 1971 and 1986, the government constructed pavilions following a uniform model: concrete and tile stalls, each with electricity, clean running water and even refrigeration. The conditions were hygienic, with proper trash disposal, drainage and restrooms for all.
The modern hawker centre
Today, hawker centres continue to be the kitchens of Singapore, with more Singaporeans eating there than cooking at home. But the tide is slowly turning. As hawkers retire, there are fewer willing to take over the family business, its long hours in hot kitchens. And hawker-stall rents are increasing. This makes the future uncertain for the nation’s iconic hawker centre and, in turn, the very fabric of Singapore’s incredible culinary culture. So, how do we preserve the national treasure that is the Singapore hawker centre? The answer is simple and delicious: get out to one and eat!
Hawker centre tips
There are dishes to suit any budget at a hawker centre in Singapore – you’ll be able to get a tasty meal for as little as $3 at some stalls. If you arrive early enough, you can also grab a good breakfast, a hot kopi (coffee) and watch the stall holders prepare vegetables, sauces, dumplings and more, ready for the hungry lunch crowd who come from offices, schools, homes and even other countries to sample the food.
You’ll often see a hawker stall selling only one or two items – in those places, you’ll likely be ordering a dish whose recipe has been perfected over many years. And if you see a long line, join it – you can just order whatever the person in front of you is having!
Another tip if you’ve never been to a hawker centre before is to learn how to ”chope” a table. This is a colloquial term in Singapore for reserving a table, and you can do it by placing something on the table before you go off to order – a packet of tissues, an umbrella, a bottle of water; I’ve even seen a set of AirPods left behind while the owner went for a walk to get their food and drinks!
Many stalls close after lunch, so be sure to check opening times of particular stalls if you’re after something specific. The dinner wave brings a new feeling to hawker centres. The lunch lot are there to eat and get back to their desks, but at dinner people are ready to relax. Ties are loosened, families meet to share a variety of dishes together and groups of friends catch up over bowls of noodles.
Since there are so many options of where to go, we asked Mille Tan for her favourite hawker centres in Singapore for our new list and you can watch her videos at the end. Plus don’t miss this article on what to eat when you get there!
Best Hawker Centres in Singapore
#1 Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Address: 335 Smith Street, Chinatown
This is Singapore’s largest hawker centre, built in 1981, and with over 260 stalls. Many of the vendors have called this place home for years. A huge selection of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western food can be found here, and fresh cut fruit, drinks and desserts are available too if your stomach has space!
Several stalls in this centre hold a Michelin Bib Gourmand award. You’ll be able to tell which ones because of the long winding queues that snake around the tables.
This is my go-to hawker to take visitors and new expats to sample local food as you can get everything under one roof and the atmosphere is like no other hawker centre.
#2 Maxwell Food Centre
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, Chinatown
Also located in Chinatown, this smaller hawker centre is not one to overlook. Once a place to get a meal for eight cents, this spot offers dishes now made by third- or fourth-generation hawkers at reasonable prices. What makes the food here so special is that the recipes have been passed down and perfected over time. Be prepared to wait for a table, and also for your food. If you’re new to hawker centres, one strategy is to find a table of diners who are nearly finished and wait nearby so you can chope the table as soon as they finish.
The kitchens in the stalls are small and often the dishes are prepared fresh by only one or two people. When waiting, I love to watch the food being cooked; the seamless way the chefs move around their kitchen, frying and mixing, often while taking more orders, is part of the whole experience.
#3 Adam Road Hawker Centre
Address: 2 Adam Road, Novena
Recently renovated, this 32-stall hawker serves a variety of dishes and has several well established nasi lemak stalls, one of which is said to be frequented by Presidents and sultans! Again, you’ll know which stalls are the good ones because of the winding queues.
This hawker has the seating In the middle and the stalls set up in a circle around the outside so you can enjoy watching the dishes being made while you enjoy your meal. Recent renovations also included installing some huge fans so you can beat the heat with a cup of ice-cold sugarcane and a breeze.
#4 Satay by the Bay
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, #01-19, Gardens by the Bay
Located by the beautiful Gardens by the Bay, this open-air hawker is famous for barbecue satay sticks and the important accompanying peanut sauce. A little pricier than the average hawker, this is a great place to stop with friends and family and eat like a local, filling the table with several dishes and sharing them.
On arriving, you’ll hear “Satay! Satay!” being called out and the smell of hot coals will tempt you over to pick from the many satay stalls offering different meats and prawns on sticks cooked over the fire.
Many stalls have similar prices and offer set meals to get a good variety, so it is worth having a look at each one before you purchase. If you’re into beer, there’s a bar here too! A perfect way to end a walk around the Marina or a visit to the Gardens themselves.
#5 Lau Pa Sat
Address: 18 Raffles Quay, CBD
This historic hawker centre is home to Singapore’s largest open-air satay street. From 7pm, the road is closed off to vehicles, and tables and chairs are set out, with the satay vendors lighting the coals in preparation for barbecuing meats and seafood. Eating under the lights of the towering office buildings is a must, with the smell of the coals and the chatting of dinners and vendors calling out orders.
I normally go with friends and after securing a table with a trusty packet of tissues we split off and grab a plate of something each to share. Make sure you note your table so you can find your way back as there are many ways in and out of this place due to the octagonal design of the building, mimicking the original market that was here.
Lau Pa Sat also has a little shop to grab some souvenirs and is probably one of the most beautiful hawker centres on the island because of its notable cast-iron architecture.
#6 Tiong Bahru Hawker Centre & Market
Address: 30 Seng Poh Road, Tiong Bahru
Located in one of Singapore’s oldest residential estates, which also boasts a variety of cafés and independent shops, Tiong Bahru Hawker Centre is a personal favourite. Starting life as a wooden structure with a zinc roof, it has evolved over the years to meet the needs of the surrounding community. Now, it’s a unique red-and- white Art Deco building with a beautiful curved design. You’ll find the hawker stalls upstairs, though do visit the market below if you’ve got time.
This centre is bright and airy with plenty of shaded seating and a wide variety of food on offer. You’ll find all the local classics, including chicken rice, carrot cake (which is in fact savoury and made from turnip!), pork chop curry and wanton noodles, to name only a fraction of the dishes. There are also several holders of the Michelin Bib Gourmand award in this location. It gets pretty busy around lunch time so go early and plan to wait in line for the top dishes – you’ll be rewarded for your patience. Several stalls close once they sell out for the day.
#7 Tekka Market
Address: Zhujiao Centre, 65 Buffalo Road, Little India
Based in Little India, Tekka offers a wide selection of cuisine from all over India – it’s especially worth getting here early to sample the breakfasts. The smell of spices fill the air and the busy chatter of customers and vendors catching up with one another or bargaining over fruit and meat can be heard from the market section.
If you’re not sure where to start with Indian food, you can still get other local dishes, but I’d encourage you to try something new. One of our family’s favourite things to do when eating out is to look for something we’ve never had before and give it a try. You can pick up plenty of snacks here as well – and if you’re not hungry yet you can ask for “da bao”, which means takeaway.
#8 East Coast Lagoon Food Village
Address: 1220 East Coast Park
Located in popular East Coast Park, this is the perfect place to eat after a day at the beach or a cycle along the coastline. In the evening, this place is a hive of activity, with many there to meet friends and have a good time with the sea breeze in the air. Here you’ll find huge plates of freshly fried noodles and rice with choices of seafood or meat. Barbecue chicken wings and satay are popular, too – you can follow your nose to those stalls!
#9 Old Airport Road Hawker Centre
Address: 51 Old Airport Road, Paya Lebar
This hawker centre is located on the Old Kallang Airport boundary and is popular among locals of all ages as it has a wide variety of meals, drinks and snacks. This hawker is all on one level and it’s one of the largest in Singapore, so chope your table before you start walking up and down the lanes to decide what to eat. Don’t be put off by the queues – locals know the best stalls!
#10 Market Street Hawker Centre
Address: 50 Market Street, CBD
A newer hawker centre that reopened in 2022 in the CapitaSpring Building, this has many of Singapore’s favourites housed inside and serves the CBD community on their lunch breaks. There are some up-and-coming younger vendors too, offering salads and flat whites next to well-known local dishes like wanton mee and curry rice. Do take time to go up to Level 51 to the CapitaSpring rooftop garden after your meal for a view over Singapore like no other.
A final Word
This list only scratches the surface of Singapore’s hawker centres. Most of the island’s neighbourhoods have their own hawker centres with local delights ready to be tried. You’ll be sure to get good food at reasonable prices to suit any palate wherever you go.
About Millie Tan
Millie has lived in Singapore with her husband and two kids for four years. They enjoy exploring all of Singapore, from the big well-known places to the smaller local areas. Before moving to Singapore, they started a YouTube channel, Wonderlust, to show family and friends their life in Singapore. After four years, they’re still discovering new things to do and experience on this little island they now call home. Whether trying something new, stepping out of their comfort zones, or just embracing the heat, they always find the wonder! Watch more on their discovery of hawker centres in Singapore here.
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