Did you guys know that we have 107 markets and hawker centres in Singapore? That's frigging a lot!
Okay let's be upfront about this first, this list is more non-halal, so expect pork.
We most probably only go to the ones we know of - duh - and besides, who pays attention to hawker centres? Well, in this top ten list, we do!
It's all about the underestimated beauty of hawker centres! What beauty? Food lah! Eat shiok and cheap local food, Singapore street style. Although some may find it less appealing to dine at a hawker centre than its restaurant/cafe counterparts, boy, this is where they are missing out. Nothing too fancy, it's all about the flavours, the aromas, the it's-all-about-good-food-screw-everything-else ambience.
Sometimes we call it food centre, food village, hawker centre, but they are all synonymous to food paradise! Well, at least the famous ones. And uh, just so you know, Lau Pa Sat & Gluttons' Bay are not in this list.
So let's go straight to the 10 Most Happening Hawker Centres in Singapore!
Chomp Chomp Food Centre
If you haven't been to Chomp Chomp, make time this weekend for some supper. Head down for a gigantic mug of sugarcane juice.
Chomp Chomp is usually packed with people at dinner time and for supper. Sometimes even at 10pm, finding a table is like a fight in the arena.
When you're there, you can't just say I'm on diet, just wanna nibble a bit. Please. You're missing out on some of the best foods in Singapore. You've just gotta order their famous Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Mee! Sometimes you've gotta wait between 20 to 45 minutes for a piping plate of noodle goodness, with that chewy rings of squid, fresh prawns, and boy the gravy. Woo.
Yes, pork satay, BBQ chicken wings, BBQ Stingray, egg tau huay, and did I mention huge mugs of sugar cane juice already?
Chomp Chomp Food Centre is over at Serangoon Gardens circus. You can't miss it! Drive, take a cab, a bus from Serangoon, Toa Payoh or Ang Mo Kio central!
Image Source: gluttonanonymous.blogspot.com
East Coast Lagoon Food Village
Why is this place so happening? Have you seen the queue full of hungry people for Satay Beehoon? Seriously, no joke.
East Coast Lagoon Food Village is always packed with people for dinner on the weekends. And when you look at the tables, it's always full of dishes - sometimes no place to put so gotta hold in hand and pass it around.
You've gotta get your hands on Satay - meat skewers - prepared by our Malay stall owners. No matter which stall you walk by, the aroma that fills the air... And the beef, mutton, chicken Satay, sedap I tell you. For non-halal eaters, pork satay must try.
Image Source: Imyjessy.blogspot.com
Then they have awesome Wanton Mee which also have a queue, BBQ chicken wings, BBQ delights, tell me what else you want?!
And the bonus for having a meal at East Coast Lagoon Food Village? The sea breeze. And how about a slow stroll along the coastline after a really hearty dinner?
East Coast Lagoon Food Village is tucked away at East Coast Park, nearer to Jumbo Seafood, and Bedok South Ave 1 exit. You've gotta drive or take a cab.
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
The younger ones probably not fancy Chinatown, but the food savvy people - erhem - will definitely know of Chinatown Complex Food Centre and its delicious offerings.
You'll see more older folks there, after all, it's an older estate, with a more laid back and slow-paced feel to the place. You can call it old school, or a part of Singapore kept away from the crazy pace of development.
There's the authentic sesame paste from Er Gu desserts stall. And the roast meat stall with that crazy long queue. Yes, don't forget awesome Char Kway Teow, Chee Cheong Fun and Yong Tau Foo.
Chinatown Complex Food Centre is at 335 Smith Street. You can drive there, take a cab, take buses, the nearest MRT stations are Chinatown and Outram Park.
Image Source: followmefoodie.com
Maxwell Food Centre
Whether it's the breakfast, lunchtime, dinner or supper crowd, Maxwell Food Centre will always have something to offer. Be spoiled rotten for food options.
In the daytime, this hectic food haven is frequented by the working crowd in the vicinity, especially when it's so near to Tanjong Pagar. You can fry your own Hum Jing Peng, enjoy really tender, juicy and succulent pieces of white chicken from a fragrant plate of chicken rice. Don't forget the classic desserts like Red Bean Soup, Green Bean Soup and Tau Suan.
The night creeps in and you see clubbers heading over to Ho Kee in the hawker centre for some after party bites. Try out their braised tofu and raw fish salad!
Maxwell Food Centre is along Maxwell road. Drive, cab, bus, walk over from Tanjong Pagar or Chinatown MRT stations.
Image Source: alectravelguide.com
Ghim Moh Food Centre Blk 20
Okay, how about some soft and tender white chicken drizzled with salty-sweet soy sauce? Or really tender, tasty and cheap duck rice?
Still no good? Friendly auntie who serves you with fresh, savory, rich, and cheap - yes you hear me right - Kway Chap.
Now you cannot beat this, the super long queue for Chwee Kueh. Food just got serious.
Ghim Moh Food Centre Blk 20... Well you've gotta drive, cab, figure out what buses get you there from Buona Vista or Holland Village MRT stations.
Image Source: whatsthatiwanttoeatit.blogspot.com
Bedok North Street 3 Blk 511
Have you ever had a bowl of warm herbal Pig's Kidney Mee Sua soup that's rich and brown? Head over to Bedok North Street 3, Blk 511 Hawker Centre to have a taste of that. Anyway the place is more affectionately known as Bedok 511 - in Hokkien it sounds like Gor Yo Yo.
Somehow you can't tear Singaporeans and BBQ chicken wings, and BBQ stingray apart. You get the drift on what you've gotta try over at Gor Yo Yo.
Oh and the Bak Chor Mee is quite power.
The nearest MRT Station to Bedok North Street 3 Blk 511 is Bedok.
Image Source: jeaninequee.com
Old Airport Road Food Centre
If you don't know where Old Airport Road Food Centre is 0r how it looks like... You've gotta know what's Lao Ban Tau Huay - Soy Beancurd - right?
The one stall where Singaporeans queue to buy portions of beancurd as though they are stocking for war rations. On days when you don't feel like queuing up, 51 Beancurd has really silky smooth beancurd as well.
And then there's the Fried Hokkien Mee, Orh Luak - Fried Oyster Omelette, Wanton Mee, Kway Chap, Satay and Prawn noodle soup. When you step into Old Airport Road Food Centre, you'd probably feel a little lost unless you know exactly what you want to go for. But I say, go take a walk and explore the place! Just eat!
Old Airport Road Food Centre is along Kallang Airport and Mountbatten. The nearest MRT station is Mountbatten. FYI, parking can be a pain.
Image Source: temporarilylost.com
Newton Food Centre
Wait, before you say it's overrated, let me quickly qualify why it's one of the most happening hawker centres in Singapore.
Have you tried the Nasi Padang that has really insane queue during lunch time? The ayam masak merah is sedap. The squid, the tempe, the rendang, almost everything tastes awesome!!! No kidding you, you've gotta try.
Yes and the beef noodles, the minced meat noodles, the fishball noodles, the popian, and again BBQ chicken wings and stingray.
Nearest MRT Station is Newton.
Image Source: globeimages.net
Jurong West St 52 Blk 505
Imagine a big Tutu Kueh the size of Putu Piring. Fine tapioca flour steamed into a perfect snack filled with either shreds of coconut and ground peanuts.
Or a really savoury and tantalising bowl of prawn noodles with thick gravy made from the shells of fresh prawns. Yums.
Image Source: streetdirectory.com
Tampines St 11 Round Market and Food Centre
Perfect for a weekend breakfast or brunch, especially if you're on to do some marketing. There's Kolo mee, Yong Tau Foo and the Kway Chap that has super long queue, and they are only open on Friday, Saturday & Sundays!
Image Source: 137kolomee.blogspot.com
Obviously there are many other hawker centres such as West Coast, Amoy Street, Adam Road, and so on so forth.
But this is our Editor's Pick on the 10 most happening hawker centres in Singapore! Have a differing opinion? Write in to us at editor@toptensingapore.com, or stay tuned for our poll on the Users' Choice Top Ten Hawker Centres in Singapore!
