1. A Noodle Story (Amoy Street Food Centre)
Overview
Location: 7 Maxwell Road #01-39 Amoy Street Food Centre, Singapore 069111
Specialty: Singapore fusion ramen
Price Range: S$9.00 for signature dish
Ambience
A Noodle Story operates in a bustling hawker center setting with communal seating and an open-air atmosphere. The stall attracts long queues during peak hours, creating an energetic, local food culture vibe. Expect plastic tables, overhead fans, and the authentic hawker experience with minimal frills but maximum flavor.
Signature Dish: Singapore Style Ramen (S$9.00)
Dish Analysis: This innovative dish bridges Japanese ramen with Singaporean hawker flavors. The bowl features handmade noodles with a rich, complex broth that combines traditional ramen elements with local spices. Topped with char siew (barbecued pork), prawns, and a distinctive black sauce made from soy and other secret ingredients.
Key Components:
- Handmade alkaline noodles (springy texture)
- Umami-rich broth with depth
- Premium toppings including char siew and prawns
- Signature black sauce blend
Cooking Method (Simplified Home Version):
Ingredients:
- 200g fresh ramen noodles
- 500ml chicken/pork broth
- 100g char siew, sliced
- 4-5 large prawns
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Spring onions, chopped
- Fried shallots
Instructions:
- Prepare broth by simmering chicken/pork bones for 3-4 hours with ginger and garlic
- Cook prawns in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, set aside
- Boil noodles according to package instructions (typically 2-3 minutes)
- Heat broth and season with dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil
- Place cooked noodles in bowl, ladle hot broth over
- Arrange char siew and prawns on top
- Garnish with spring onions and fried shallots
Menu Highlights
- Singapore Style Ramen (S$9.00) – signature dish
- Additional noodle variations available
- Add-ons for extra toppings
Delivery Options
Available through major platforms: GrabFood, Foodpanda, Deliveroo
2. Thai Gold Food
Overview
Location: 91 Bencoolen Street #01-14 Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 189652
Specialty: Authentic Thai cuisine
Price Range: S$6.00 – S$10.00
Ambience
Located in Sunshine Plaza, Thai Gold Food offers a casual dining atmosphere with simple decor and air-conditioning. The restaurant features basic wooden tables and chairs with Thai-inspired wall decorations. Perfect for groups looking for affordable, authentic Thai flavors in a comfortable setting away from hawker heat.
Signature Dishes
Basil Pork Rice (S$6.00)
Dish Analysis: A quintessential Thai street food dish featuring minced pork stir-fried with holy basil in a spicy, aromatic sauce. Served with steamed jasmine rice and topped with a fried egg. The balance of savory, spicy, and slightly sweet flavors makes this incredibly addictive.
Recipe & Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients:
- 300g minced pork
- 2 cups Thai holy basil leaves
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3-4 bird’s eye chilies, chopped
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 fried egg per serving
- Steamed jasmine rice
Instructions:
- Heat wok over high heat until smoking
- Add oil and swirl to coat
- Stir-fry garlic and chilies for 30 seconds until fragrant
- Add minced pork, breaking it up and cooking until browned (3-4 minutes)
- Add oyster sauce, fish sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar
- Stir-fry for 2 minutes until well combined
- Toss in holy basil leaves and stir for 30 seconds until wilted
- In separate pan, fry egg sunny-side up with crispy edges
- Serve over steamed rice, top with fried egg
Tom Yum Goong (S$10.00)
Dish Analysis: The iconic Thai hot and sour soup featuring plump prawns in a fragrant, spicy broth. The complexity comes from layers of lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and the perfect balance of lime juice, fish sauce, and chili paste.
Recipe & Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients:
- 8-10 large prawns, deveined
- 4 cups chicken or seafood stock
- 3 stalks lemongrass, bruised and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 5 slices galangal
- 5-6 kaffir lime leaves, torn
- 200g mushrooms, halved
- 3 tomatoes, quartered
- 2 tbsp Thai chili paste (nam prik pao)
- 3 tbsp fish sauce
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions:
- Bring stock to boil in pot
- Add lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves; simmer 5 minutes
- Add mushrooms and tomatoes; cook 3 minutes
- Stir in chili paste until dissolved
- Add prawns and cook until pink (2-3 minutes)
- Season with fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar
- Adjust sourness and saltiness to taste
- Remove from heat and garnish with cilantro
- Serve immediately while hot
Full Menu Overview
- Pad Thai
- Green Curry
- Red Curry
- Basil variations (chicken, seafood, pork)
- Tom Yum varieties
- Mango Sticky Rice (dessert)
Delivery Options
GrabFood, Foodpanda – delivery within Bugis/Bencoolen area
3. Hawker Chan (Chinatown Complex)
Overview
Location: 335 Smith Street #02-126 Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Singapore 050335
Specialty: Michelin-starred soy sauce chicken rice
Notable: First hawker stall to receive Michelin star (2016)
Ambience
Set in the historic Chinatown Complex, Singapore’s largest hawker center. The atmosphere is authentically local with fluorescent lighting, plastic stools, and the bustle of multiple food stalls. Long queues are standard, but the communal dining experience embodies Singapore’s hawker culture at its finest.
Signature Dish: Soy Sauce Chicken Rice
Dish Analysis: Tender, succulent chicken pieces glazed with a glossy, sweet-savory soy sauce. The chicken is poached to perfection, retaining moisture while absorbing the complex sauce flavors. Served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock, cucumber slices, and a side of dark, rich soy-based sauce.
Key Elements:
- Silky, tender chicken texture
- Complex soy sauce marinade (balanced sweetness)
- Aromatic chicken rice
- Simple, clean presentation that highlights quality
Recipe & Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients for Chicken:
- 1 whole chicken (1.5kg)
- 1 cup dark soy sauce
- 1/2 cup light soy sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup Chinese cooking wine
- 1/4 cup rock sugar
- 5 cloves garlic, smashed
- 3 slices ginger
- 2 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Spring onions
Ingredients for Rice:
- 2 cups jasmine rice
- 3 tbsp chicken fat or oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 pandan leaves (optional)
- 2.5 cups chicken stock
Instructions:
For Chicken:
- Clean chicken thoroughly, remove excess fat
- Combine all sauce ingredients in large pot and bring to boil
- Add whole chicken, breast side down
- Poach gently for 15 minutes, turn chicken over
- Continue poaching for 15 minutes, basting frequently
- Turn off heat, cover pot, let chicken sit in sauce for 30 minutes
- Remove chicken, plunge into ice water to tighten skin
- Brush chicken with reserved sauce for glossy finish
- Chop into pieces, arrange on plate
For Rice:
- Rinse rice until water runs clear
- Heat oil in pot, fry garlic until fragrant
- Add rice and stir-fry for 2 minutes
- Add chicken stock and pandan leaves
- Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes
- Let rest 5 minutes before fluffing
Extended Menu
- Char Siew Rice
- Noodle variations (with soy sauce chicken or char siew)
- Combination plates
- Vegetable sides
Delivery Options
Available on GrabFood, Foodpanda, Deliveroo – expect high demand during meal times
4. Maxwell Food Centre
Overview
Location: 1 Kadayanallur Street Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Specialty: Historic hawker center with diverse offerings
Notable Stalls: Tian Tian Chicken Rice, Fuzhou Oyster Cake
Ambience
One of Singapore’s oldest hawker centers with a rich heritage dating back to the 1920s. The open-air structure features rows of stalls under a high roof, with natural ventilation and communal seating. The atmosphere buzzes with local chatter, sizzling woks, and aromatic steam rising from various stalls.
Featured Dishes
Hainanese Curry Rice (#01-68) – S$4.00
Dish Analysis: A plate loaded with selections from displayed dishes including braised pork, cabbage, fried egg, and vegetables, all topped with a generous ladle of thick, mildly spiced curry sauce. This economical meal showcases the Hainanese approach to comfort food – rich, satisfying, and unpretentious.
Components:
- Steamed white rice
- Braised pork belly (tender, fatty)
- Fried egg
- Braised cabbage with prawns
- Ladies fingers (okra)
- Rich curry gravy
Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake (#01-05) – S$2.00
Dish Analysis: These deep-fried patties combine minced meat, vegetables, and fresh oysters in a crispy exterior. The contrast between the crunchy shell and juicy interior makes them incredibly moreish. Served hot with sweet chili sauce.
Recipe & Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients:
- 200g minced pork
- 150g fresh oysters
- 100g water chestnuts, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 spring onions, chopped
- 150g plain flour
- 50g rice flour
- 1 egg
- Salt, white pepper
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions:
- Mix minced pork with garlic, spring onions, water chestnuts
- Season with salt and white pepper
- Prepare batter: combine flours, egg, water to thick consistency
- Form small patties with pork mixture, press 2-3 oysters into each
- Coat patties thoroughly in batter
- Deep fry in oil at 180°C for 5-7 minutes until golden brown
- Drain on paper towels
- Serve hot with chili sauce
Tong Fong Fatt Hainanese Chicken Rice (#01-17) – S$2.50
Dish Analysis: Tender, boneless chicken pieces served with fragrant rice, garnished with cucumber and accompanied by ginger-garlic chili sauce. The simplicity belies the skill required – perfectly poached chicken with silky texture and rice infused with chicken essence.
Delivery Options
Individual stalls available on GrabFood and Foodpanda – search by stall name
5. Old Airport Road Food Centre
Overview
Location: 51 Old Airport Road, Singapore 390051
Specialty: One of Singapore’s largest and most iconic hawker centers
Historical Note: Named after old Kallang Airport site
Ambience
A sprawling hawker center with over 100 stalls across multiple sections. The massive space maintains an authentic local atmosphere with ceiling fans, bright fluorescent lights, and constant foot traffic. Popular with families and office workers, it’s busiest during breakfast and lunch hours.
Featured Dishes
Char Kway Teow – Dong Ji (#01-138) – S$3.00
Dish Analysis: Flat rice noodles stir-fried over intense heat (wok hei) with dark soy sauce, egg, Chinese sausage, fishcake, bean sprouts, and cockles. The best versions achieve smoky flavor, slightly charred edges, and perfect balance of savory-sweet.
Recipe & Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients:
- 400g fresh flat rice noodles (kway teow)
- 2 eggs
- 100g cockles (clams), cleaned
- 50g Chinese sausage, sliced
- 50g fishcake, sliced
- 100g bean sprouts
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp lard or oil
- Chives, cut into 2-inch lengths
- White pepper
Instructions:
- Heat wok over highest heat until smoking
- Add lard/oil and garlic, stir-fry 10 seconds
- Add Chinese sausage and fishcake, cook 1 minute
- Push ingredients aside, crack eggs into wok
- Scramble eggs lightly, then mix with other ingredients
- Add noodles, toss vigorously
- Add dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, oyster sauce
- Continue tossing for 2-3 minutes (this creates wok hei)
- Add cockles, bean sprouts, chives
- Toss for another minute
- Season with white pepper
- Serve immediately on hot plate
Critical Technique: The key is extremely high heat and continuous movement. Never stop tossing the noodles to prevent sticking and achieve that smoky flavor.
Oyster Omelette – Xing Li (#01-28) – S$4.00
Dish Analysis: A crispy-edged omelette made with eggs, fresh oysters, and a starch batter, creating contrasting textures. The exterior is crispy and slightly chewy while the interior remains custardy. Served with sweet chili sauce and cilantro.
Recipe & Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients:
- 150g fresh oysters
- 3 eggs
- 3 tbsp potato starch or tapioca starch
- 4 tbsp water
- 50g spring onions, chopped
- Cilantro for garnish
- 4 tbsp oil
- Sweet chili sauce
Instructions:
- Mix starch with water to create thin paste
- Beat eggs separately
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in pan over medium-high heat
- Pour starch mixture into pan, swirl to coat
- Add oysters on top of starch layer
- Let cook until edges start to crisp (2 minutes)
- Pour beaten eggs over oysters
- Add spring onions
- Drizzle remaining oil around edges
- Let cook until bottom is golden and crispy (3-4 minutes)
- Flip carefully or fold in half
- Cook other side briefly
- Garnish with cilantro, serve with sweet chili sauce
Additional Notable Stalls
- Jia Mei Homemade Bakery – Egg Tarts (S$1.10)
- New Eastern Kim Tee – Fried Pig Intestines (S$6.00)
Delivery Options
Multiple stalls available via GrabFood, Foodpanda – one of the most well-covered hawker centers for delivery
6. Chomp Chomp Food Centre
Overview
Location: 20 Kensington Park Road, Singapore 557269
Specialty: Late-night supper destination
Operating Hours: Many stalls open until 2-3 AM
Ambience
An open-air food center beloved by locals for late-night cravings. The relaxed, kampung-style atmosphere comes alive after dark with families and groups gathering for supper. String lights overhead, warm evening air, and the sizzle of satay grills create a quintessentially Singaporean experience.
Popular Dishes
Satay (Various Stalls) Grilled skewered meats served with peanut sauce, cucumber, onions, and rice cakes.
BBQ Chicken Wings Charcoal-grilled wings with honey glaze, crispy skin, juicy interior.
Carrot Cake (Chai Tow Kway) Stir-fried radish cake available in white (original) or black (sweet soy sauce) versions.
Delivery Options
Limited delivery options due to late-night operations – best experienced on-site
7. Golden Mile Food Centre
Overview
Location: 505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583
Specialty: Thai food haven
Notable: Multiple Thai stalls offering authentic regional cuisine
Ambience
Located in the heart of “Little Thailand,” this food center has a strong Thai community presence. The basement level houses numerous Thai food stalls, creating an authentic Bangkok street food atmosphere. Expect Thai language signage, Thai pop music, and genuine recipes passed down through generations.
Featured Dish: Mr Baguette Vietnamese Bánh Mì (#B1-51)
Dish Analysis: A unique fusion creation – lava-filled baguettes that look like donuts. When bitten, warm filling oozes out. This inventive take on traditional Vietnamese bánh mì showcases Golden Mile’s creative food culture.
Thai Food Highlights
- Papaya Salad (Som Tam)
- Thai Boat Noodles
- Mango Sticky Rice
- Thai Milk Tea
Delivery Options
Available on GrabFood, Foodpanda – particularly good for Thai food cravings
8. Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre
Overview
Location: 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335
Specialty: Singapore’s largest hawker center with Michelin-starred stalls
Stalls: Over 260 food stalls
Ambience
A massive two-story complex that’s the epicenter of Singapore’s hawker culture. The ground floor focuses on cooked food while the second floor houses more stalls including Hawker Chan. The atmosphere is authentically chaotic – crowded, noisy, and wonderfully local. Finding seats during peak hours requires patience and strategy.
Notable Features
- Home to multiple Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand stalls
- Incredible variety from Chinese regional cuisines to Malay, Indian offerings
- Wet market on ground floor for fresh ingredients
Must-Try Stalls
- Hawker Chan (covered above)
- Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice
- Tian Tian Lai Lor Mee
- Various traditional dessert stalls
Delivery Options
Extensive delivery coverage through all major platforms
General Delivery Information for Singapore Hawker Centers
Major Delivery Platforms
- GrabFood – Most comprehensive coverage
- Foodpanda – Wide network, frequent promotions
- Deliveroo – Selected areas and premium partners
- WhyQ – Specializes in hawker food delivery
Delivery Tips
- Peak hours (12-2 PM, 6-8 PM) may have longer wait times
- Hawker food is best consumed fresh – order close to meal time
- Some dishes travel better than others (soups may spill)
- Minimum order requirements typically S$12-15
- Delivery fees range from S$2-5 depending on distance
Best Practices
- For maximum freshness, dine at the hawker centers
- Bring your own containers to reduce waste
- Download multiple apps to compare prices and promotions
- Check operating hours as many stalls have rest days
Conclusion
Singapore’s hawker centers represent incredible value, authenticity, and cultural heritage. From Michelin-starred soy sauce chicken at S$4 to rich bowls of laksa at similar prices, these eateries prove that great food doesn’t require a fancy setting. Whether you visit in person or order delivery, each dish tells a story of Singapore’s multicultural culinary landscape.