Singapore’s iconic hawker centers serve some of the best local cuisine. Some of the street food vendors here are on the Michelin guide, but the prices are lowest you’ll find in the city. In this blog post I will share a Singapore hawker center guide so you know where to eat the best and most affordable food during your trip. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Tips for all Singapore’s hawker centers
- Take your tray to the tray collecting spots after you’re done. Don’t leave the tray on the tables or you will get fined. I was surprised to see that even though these hawker centers are packed, everyone respects this rule. Loved it!
- Seats are first come, first served. Usually people leave a packet of tissues or an umbrella on the table to reserve seats. If you see tissue packets on a table do not remove them. Just look for a table that doesn’t have them.
- Picking food in these hawker centers is overwhelming because there are so many options and they all look good. You can go on a hawker center food tour so you can try a lot of different options.
- Most stalls accept credit cards. However, there are a few stall owners that don’t. So it’s best to have some cash on you. You should be able to find ATMs outside of the hawker centers.
- If you want to avoid crowds, go during off-peak hours. I went around 3pm at Lau Pa Sat and there weren’t that many people. On the other hand, when I went to Maxwell’s around 1pm it was very busy.
- These are all open-air food courts, so it will be hot. Don’t expect the ambiance of an air-conditioned restaurant. Just embrace the hawker culture.
- If you don’t see anybody at the stall just ring the bell. Sometimes they are doing something in the back, but as soon as they hear the bell they come to the front to take your order.
Maxwell Food Centre
Maxwell Food Centre is one of the most popular and famous hawker centres in Singapore. It is located in Chinatown, in the heart of Singapore, and it has over 100 stalls. It is a must-visit spot during any trip to Singapore.
This is what I tried when I ate there. I highly recommend these dishes. But of course, feel free to try other things as well. They have great food here and you can’t go wrong with anything you order.
Hainanese chicken rice
I recommend you try the Hainanese chicken rice at the Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall. This is a famous stall since Anthony Bourdain ate here and recommended the place.
There is a long line at all times, but it moves fast. And they accept cards.
If you don’t want to wait in line, there are other stalls selling Hainanese chicken rice as well. Locals told me that the dish tastes the same no matter where you buy it. So totally up to you where you buy it from, but you should try the dish.
It’s simple, but really flavorful.
Popiah
I tried popiah at the Rojak, Popiah and Cockle stall (they are on the Michelin guide) and I loved it. Popiah is a fresh spring roll with finely grated jicama and other ingredients like peanuts. It is eaten with a sweet sauce.
The good thing at these stalls is that they ask you how spicy you want the food to be. So you don’t have to eat super spicy if you’re not used to it.
Sugarcane juice
You won’t find drinks at the food stalls. But don’t panic. There are drink stalls that only sell drinks. You can find soft drinks and fresh juices, squeezed in front of you. I went with the sugarcane juice. It was the first time I tried it and I loved it. I had a glass every day I was in Singapore.
Lau Pa Sat
Lau Pa Sat is another hawker center located in Chinatown, but this one is a short walk from the Central Business District. Which means that office workers also eat here during lunch. And for good reason. Hawker food is amazing and affordable.
I ate here more often than I did at Maxwell’s since it was closer to my hotel. So I’m a little biased towards Lau Pa Sat. There are so many Michelin awarded stalls here! Here is what I tried.
Chee Chong Fun
I recommend you try the char siew Chee Cheong Fun at Hong Kong Style Chee Cheong Fun. Chee cheong fun is a rice noodle roll. The one I got had a roast pork filling, a savory sauce (I think it was dark soy sauce), and it was garnished with sesame seeds.
The flavour of the dish is amazing and the noodles melt in your mouth. It feels like you’re eating this soft cream. I’ve never tried anything with this texture before.
Indian food
Since there is a large community of Indians in Singapore you can find authentic Indian food at hawker centers. I tried the executive meal at Indian Classic Cuisine.
It came with biriani rice, chicken curry, veggies, and naan bread. It was good but it was really spicy. I was crying while eating it. Unfortunately they are not able to adjust the spice level, so you’ll have to suffer a bit if you’re not used to spicy food.
Malay food
There is also a large Malay population in Singapore, so you can easily find Malay dishes such as nasi lemak. I was in Malaysia before going to Singapore so instead of trying nasi lemak I tried the mee rebus at Warong Pak Sapari. This stall also had a Michelin Bib Gourmand award.
The dish had thick rice noodles in a sweet and savory gravy. On top of the noodles they added a hard-boiled egg, pieces of bread and some chicken meatballs.
Char Kway Teow
Char Kway Teow is a traditional dish in Singapore. The dish is made with flat rice noodles, shrimp, Chinese sausage, egg, sauce, and some veggies.
Penang and Singapore both claim they make the best char kway teow, so you’ll have to try both and decide (my favorite was the Penang version).
I got mine at the Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow stall, which is recommended by Michelin. The server was a little rude, so maybe that contributed to me choosing the Penang version as best. But you should still try this dish when you’re in Singapore. It’s a classic.
Satay
If you go to Lau Pa Sat for dinner they have a Satay street. They literally close down a street next to the hawker center and they cook satay at multiple outdoor stalls. They have tables outside where you can eat. It’s a very unique dining experience.
Dessert
For dessert you can try Munchi pancakes. I recommend the charcoal kaya and the original biscoff ones.
Newton Food Centre
Newton Food Centre is another popular hawker center in Singapore. I haven’t been here since it is a bit far from the touristic area. It takes 20 minutes by car to get there from Chinatown, for example.
So while I can’t recommend you any dishes to try, I just wanted to put this hawker center on your radar in case you want to try it while in Singapore.
FAQs about Singapore
Where should I stay in Singapore?
Here is my full guide on the best areas to stay in Singapore.
You can also read my article on the best Singapore hotels with balcony.
Or you read more about the best hotels with private pools in Singapore.
Mid-budget hotels
I stayed at two hotels on my Singapore trip: AMOY Hotel and Heritage Collection on Boat Quay (Quayside Wing).
You can find a full review of AMOY Hotel here.
Heritage Collection is a digital hotel. I booked the Stamford Studio because it had the most amazing view of the Singapore River, Marina Bay Sands, and the Boat Quay area.
Even though it is a digital hotel, the customer service was so amazing and they provided all the information I needed to make sure the check in and check out processes went smoothly.
They also stored my bags until I had to go to the airport. And they provided all the amenities you would expect from a traditional hotel.
This was my first stay at a digital hotel and I enjoyed it a lot.
Luxury hotels
If you have a higher budget and want to experience true Singaporean luxury then stay at the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel. You can enjoy a 5-star stay and take advantage of their incredible rooftop infinity pool.
Hostels
Unfortunately, I am not the right person to recommend any hostels to you. I am in my 30s and I value comfort, so I will always choose to stay at a hotel vs a hostel. I can see how a hostel is a great option for younger people, but I’m at a different stage in life, so I prefer hotels.
Airbnb
I also tend to pick hotels over Airbnbs because I feel like it’s less of a risk and it’s a more reliable option. One time when I visited Miami with my friends we booked an Airbnb that looked great in pictures but looked really bad in reality. We ended up going to a hotel instead. After that experience I tend to avoid Airbnbs altogether.
Can I visit the Jewel after passport control?
No, you cannot. I made this mistake the day I was flying out. I went to the airport, dropped my bag, and went through passport control. Then I wanted to go visit the Jewel, that area with the famous indoor waterfall.
Well, to my surprise I didn’t see any signs in the airport on how to get there. I thought that was weird, so I went to the info desk to ask how I can get there.
Only for them to tell me that I cannot visit since the Jewel is landside and I am airside.
I was so angry with myself that I didn’t do proper research on this. I guess it’s just an excuse to visit Singapore again soon.
But I wanted to share this information with you all so you don’t make the same mistake I did.
What is the best time to visit Singapore?
I visited in early April and the weather cooperated for the most part. No matter when you visit it will be hot and humid and temperatures will be around 25-32 degrees Celsius (77-90 F). However, because of the humidity, it feels like it’s even hotter.
There will most likely be thunderstorms. It happened almost every day when I was there. But the good news is that they mostly last for a few hours. And other than that it tends to be pretty sunny.
How can I get to the city center from Singapore Changi airport?
Public transport
You can take the bus. They have buses going to the city from all terminals of Changi.
Or you can take the train to Tanah Merah MRT Station, then transfer to the East West Line towards Tuas Link MRT Station.
You can pay for all public transportation with a contactless Mastercard or Visa card, your mobile wallet, EZ-link cards or the Singapore tourist pass.
Grab
Grab is the most popular e-ride app in Asia. It’s basically the Uber of Asia. So make sure to download the app before your trip.
The app is super easy to use. The service is very reliable and you can easily get a car.
This is the most convenient option to get to your hotel from the airport.
If you don’t want to download yet another app, then you can schedule a private transfer.
How can I get around Singapore?
Singapore is a walkable city. I usually like to walk a lot when exploring a city and I was able to do this in Singapore.
If you need to get to a place further away you can either use the Mass Rapid Transit (or MRT) subway system or get a Grab car.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
Is Singapore safe for a solo female traveler?
Yes! Singapore was probably one of the safest countries I’ve ever been to. It’s the 5th safest country in the world according to the Global Peace Index.
You can walk around by yourself anywhere in the city and nobody says anything to you. People mind their business.
I haven’t seen any scammers, beggars, or homeless people during my trip. I didn’t even have to be on high alert as I usually am when I travel in Western Europe, for example.
It felt as safe walking outside at night as it felt during the day. Singapore can be a great first solo destination in Asia since it’s a developed country and it’s very safe.
Do I need cash for my trip to Singapore?
Yes, you will need a bit of cash to get food at the hawker centers and at some bakeries in Chinatown. But even at hawker centers, most stalls accept card payment. Other than that I paid for everything with a credit card.
There are plenty of ATMs in the city, so if you forget to get some at the airport there won’t be any problem.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the country you’re visiting instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do I have to tip in Singapore?
No, you do not have to tip in Singapore. No matter where I ate I never had to leave a tip.
Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?
I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. Singapore’s main attractions are very popular and can get sold out if you don’t book in advance.
Do people speak English in Singapore?
Yes, they do. English is one of the official languages in Singapore. It’s also the language they use in schools and it’s the exclusive language in many public services.
The level of fluency varies from person to person depending on their educational background, but I had no problems communicating in English with everyone during my trip.
Do you recommend Singapore as a solo destination?
Yes, I highly recommend Singapore as a destination for solo female travelers. There are so many things to do, the food is delicious, the people are great, and I felt very safe.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.