Singapore is a city where skyscrapers kiss the clouds and cultures weave together in colourful harmony—and nowhere is this fusion more deliciously evident than in its legendary hawker centres. These bustling food courts are the soul of Singapore’s culinary identity: chaotic, communal, and deeply rooted in the multicultural story of the city. From fiery sambals to silky laksa, hawker fare is where Michelin-worthy flavour meets everyday affordability.
In this article, we present a mouthwatering tour of the culinary treasures waiting for you in Singapore’s hawker scene.
1. Hainanese Chicken Rice
Often referred to as Singapore’s unofficial national dish, Hainanese chicken rice is deceptively simple. Poached chicken is served with aromatic rice cooked in chicken fat, alongside a trio of sauces: chili, ginger, and soy. The texture of the chicken should be silky, the rice fragrant, and the flavour divine.
Where to Try It:
- Tian Tian Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre
- Boon Tong Kee for a slightly fancier twist
2. Char Kway Teow
A wok-tossed mix of flat rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, Chinese sausage, blood cockles, and dark soy sauce, char kway teow is the ultimate street food indulgence. The secret? The wok hei (breath of the wok) – that elusive, smoky char that gives the dish its magic.
Where to Try It:
- Hill Street Char Kway Teow at Chinatown Complex
- Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee
3. Laksa
Laksa is where Chinese and Malay flavours collide in a rich coconut curry broth, spiked with sambal and filled with rice noodles, shrimp, tofu puffs, and cockles. It’s creamy, spicy, and 100% soul-soothing.
Where to Try It:
- 328 Katong Laksa (famously beat Gordon Ramsay in a cook-off)
- Sungei Road Laksa, where the broth is cooked over charcoal
4. Hokkien Mee
A stir-fry of egg noodles and rice noodles in a seafood broth made with prawn heads and pork bones, Hokkien mee is served with a dollop of sambal and a squirt of lime. The broth clings to the noodles, making every bite briny, buttery, and bold.
Where to Try It:
- Geylang Lor 29 Fried Hokkien Mee
- Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee at Old Airport Road Food Centre
5. Satay
These marinated meat skewers are grilled over charcoal and served with a peanut dipping sauce, raw onions, and rice cakes (ketupat). Whether it’s made of chicken, beef or mutton, satay is the OG communal snack.
Where to Try It:
- Lau Pa Sat’s Satay Street, where whole lanes shut down at night for outdoor grilling
- Chomp Chomp Food Centre
6. Chilli Crab
Though often served in restaurants rather than hawker stalls, chilli crab is too iconic to leave off the list. The mud crab is stir-fried in a thick, sweet-spicy tomato and egg-based sauce and best enjoyed with fried mantou (buns) to mop it all up.
Where to Try It:
- No Signboard Seafood
- Red House Seafood
- Some hawker-style seafood stalls at East Coast Lagoon Food Village
7. Carrot Cake
No, it’s not dessert. Singapore-style carrot cake (chai tow kway) is made from radish rice cakes stir-fried with eggs, preserved radish, and sometimes sweet black sauce. The “white” version omits the sauce, letting the eggy crust do the talking.
Where to Try It:
- Lau Goh Teochew Chye Thow Kway at Zion Road
- Fu Ming Carrot Cake at Redhill Food Centre
8. Ice Kachang & Chendol
Ice kachang is a rainbow mountain of shaved ice drizzled with syrup and evaporated milk, hiding treasures like red beans, jelly, corn, and attap seeds. Chendol, meanwhile, features green pandan jelly, coconut milk, and gula melaka (palm sugar).
Where to Try It:
- Mei Heong Yuen Dessert
- Old Amoy Chendol at Amoy Street Food Centre
In 2020, Singapore’s hawker culture was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, an official recognition of what locals already knew: hawker food is a living, breathing tradition. It’s a place where aunties and uncles have perfected their recipes over decades, where cultures blend seamlessly, and where a $3 meal can change your life.
So bring your appetite, your curiosity, and a stack of tissue packets (they’re the unofficial table reservations). The hawker centres of Singapore aren’t just places to eat – they’re where Singapore eats, dreams, and comes together. Bon appétit—or as they say in “Singlish”: makan time!
