Best Hawker Centers in Singapore to Try

If you've been paying attention to our journal lately, you'll have seen plenty of guides on things to see and do in Singapore - and today, we're going to specifically look at some of the best ways to enjoy authentic Singaporean cuisine without breaking the bank. Ever tried a hawker center before?

The best hawker centers Singapore has to offer provide a great balance between tasty, authentic food and incredible affordability. Many travelers - much of the SIMOVO crew included - feel the hawker center scene is your best shot at traditional cuisine without having to overspend at restaurants in tourist hotspots.

So, let's dive into what the culture is all about, where you can find the best hawkers in Singapore, and what we think you should order first when you find a vendor or two you'd like to try!

Singapore hawker culture overview

Hawker centers are something of a local legend - a little like food halls, they are traditional markets and street food vendors that serve delicious, traditional food under one roof. Part of the appeal is that there are no bells or whistles - you come for the food and the atmosphere, and never expect to pay over the odds.

We think heading to a hawker center is both your best shot at eating like a local and ensuring your Singapore travel budget stretches as far as possible. There are more than 100 centers across Singapore, and they all offer an electric, community-driven atmosphere - and each of the stalls you'll visit will usually have specialty dishes.

Make it your aim to try as many different stalls as possible - one of the best ways to experience Singapore is to taste its traditional recipes - and this is the most affordable, authentic way to do it.

Best hawker centers in Singapore

Having surveyed the SIMOVO team and checked out expert opinions online, we believe the best hawker centers Singapore has to offer include the Maxwell Food Center, the Lau Pa Sat, the Chinatown Complex Food Center, Tiong Bahru Market, and the Old Airport Road Food Center.

Let's dig in and explore why these centers rate so highly with our in-house foodies and so many travelers online.

Maxwell Food Center

The Maxwell Food Center is a legendary location in its own right - it's played host to internationally recognized chefs, and it's gained a superb reputation for some of the tastiest chicken rice dishes in the city. You'll find it in Singapore's Chinatown district, with some stalls opening all the way up to 10pm for late eats.

Lau Pa Sat

Lau Pa Sat is the place to go if you're looking for tasty char kway teow, wanton noodle, satay, and much more - it's replete with Michelin-adjacent brands, and prides itself on an international approach to hawker center culture. With more than 70 different stalls and vendors to sample here, it's apparently the most-awarded hawker market of its kind in Singapore.

Tiong Bahru Market

This market/hawker mix is, as the name suggests, found in Tiong Bahru, and it's open until late - but beyond the basics, you'll want to head here to try the stalls' varieties of curry rice, bao, fried fish, and more besides. Like Lau Pa Sat, it has some Michelin connections, and tends to get busy from the afternoon onwards.

Old Airport Road Food Center

The Old Airport Road Food Center has been around for decades and has spent the years since building up a fantastic array of recognizable stall holders and tasty specialties. Be sure to check out the likes of Famous Kallang Airport Fried Oyster, Western Barbeque, and more - like other centers on this list, there's a superb blend of international inspiration here, with the addition of years of trading experience.

Chinatown Complex Food Center

Stick around in Chinatown and you'll find the fabulous Chinatown Complex Food Center, which is considered the biggest hawker center of its kind in Singapore. There are more than 200 different stalls to choose from here, so be sure to save plenty of room - and you'll be surprised at how affordable the well-loved dishes are.

Must try dishes at hawker centers

If you're hungry to try hawker centers but aren't sure what to try first, here's a lightning-round rundown of what we recommend:

• Satay (skewered, sweet meat with a peanut kick)
• Hainanese chicken rice (a delicious poached chicken dish infused with broth)
• Carrot cake (specifically, fried - with egg and radish)
• Murtabak (stuffed flatbreads)
• Chwee kueh (steamed rice cakes with radish toppings)
• Bak chor mee (egg noodles served with minced meat and chili)

Best time to visit hawker centers

You'll likely find that many hawker centers open as late as 10pm to 11pm, but that doesn't guarantee that all stalls within the building will open until the last possible moment. That said, from our personal experiences and guidance from other expert travelers, it is absolutely best to dive into the dishes here as early in the day as you can. That means making a beeline for breakfast!

Of course, you may find that your experiences vary when you visit, which is why it's a good idea to keep track of reviews and advice on social media, Google business listings, and TripAdvisor. To do that, you're going to need reliable mobile data that won't set you back a small fortune in roaming costs.

SIMOVO's eSIM for Singapore range allows you to pay for the mobile data you need before you travel, and after activation, your device will connect directly to the best possible mobile network when you land in Singapore.

Instead of looking around for WiFi spots or second-guessing your data usage before you get home, you can spend more time filling up at hawker centers and enjoying all the new recipes and dishes opening up to you.

Singapore food tips for travelers

If you're new to exploring Singapore in general and not just the city's hawker centers, there are a few food tips you should keep in mind. Based on our own experiences and on general observations, here's what you need to know before chowing down.

• While Singapore is fairly small, it can still be a pain having to travel from one hawker center to another - check out our Singapore apps guide and plan your routes ahead of time.
• Just as it's important to research what plug type you'll need when visiting Singapore, it's crucial to consider the different cuisines available at the city's hawker centers. Why not take a look into the most famous dishes and see if you can try some for yourself before you visit?
• Secure your spots at hawker centers with a chope - which is a small item, like a pack of tissues - if a table or seat has an item on it, it's taken, and local people will respect this (as should you!).
• Try to carry cash wherever possible - not all hawker vendors will accept international cards.
• You'll be able to enjoy faucet or tap water here as it's safe to drink - save money on bottled water!
• There are plenty of stalls and vendors across the best hawkers mentioned above that cater to halal, vegetarian, and vegan diets, so don't feel bad about asking for different options available!