The Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre in Singapore is a food lover’s paradise, with a dizzying array of delicious stalls. It’s home to some of Singapore’s one-Michelin-starred affordable eats and numerous top-rated local delicacies. Each visit feels like a treasure hunt.
Cheng Ji’s Sauce Steamed Pine Fish Head is a favorite of mine, having visited over 20 times. Both my grandmother and I love it and often bring friends along. The fish head is fresh and tender, perfectly complemented by their signature sweet and sour bean sauce. Their dry-fried prawns are also a must-order.
Maria’s Virgin Chicken requires advance booking for the whole chicken due to my grandmother’s age. Zhao Ji’s Hainanese Chicken Rice is quite good, with both the yellow and white chicken being very tender. I usually go for the yellow chicken leg rice, and my friend had one of the best chicken rice experiences here.
An Zhen’s Thin Pancakes are recommended by Michelin. The pancakes are slightly sweet, but you can ask them to reduce the sugar. Their little golden cups are a must-try.
Xi Jie’s Fried Kway Teow has a 20-minute wait, and while it’s quite tasty, it’s not the best I’ve had. Jia Ji’s zongzi (rice dumplings) are quite famous, especially the mung bean and salted egg zongzi, which can rank in the top three. The regular salted egg and pork zongzi must be thoroughly steamed to be delicious.
Quan Neng Qiao Ma Ma’s Laksa has a great flavor, and their Bak Kut Teh (pork rib soup) has a very rich broth. There’s also a video from my visit in 2022. That day, I ate at Yue Lai, one of the best claypot cooking restaurants in Singapore. Mr. Jerald Chua has visited twice, and every dish there is a masterpiece.