Hawker Fare

You won't regret this choice if you love Indian food, a somewhat uncommon go-to cuisine in hawker centres. First, the queue piques your curiousity, but it's the smell that ultimately lands you in that very queue, and soon you're ordering chicken briyani with fresh tandoori chicken and spiced cabbage. The rice is light, and well-coated with flavour from chicken parts cooked with it, and the tandoori unexpectedly tender. Go for their fantastic fresh naan and curries if you don't feel like rice!

Y.R.A North Indian Pakistani Food
#01-12, ABC Brickworks Food Centre
Mon - Sun: 1000 - 2130

Soon Huat's pig's organ soup is a slightly cloudy bowl full of lean pork, pig's stomach, liver and intestines. Finished with salted vegetables and topped with parsley, this is a dish to soothe the soul. Even if you're not a fan of innards, you may still enjoy the broth and meat, just politely ask for them to be left out. The broth is addictive, which explains why people go back for refills. They also have sides like braised intestines, pig trotters, and pork belly. If you've never had any sort of pig's innards before, don't worry, just join the queue.

Soon Huat Pig's Organ Soup
#01-42, Serangoon Gardens Market and Food Centre
Tue - Sun: 0930 - 1600
Closed on Mon

Known for ridiculously flavourful and tender char siew because they use the armpit of the pig, this stall will leave you wanting second helpings. Nicely marbled and well marinated, the char siew sells out fast, and the best parts are obviously the charred bits. The noodles are thin, springy and tossed in slightly sweet and salty sauce. There are two types of char siew: Grade A & Grade B, but you gotta go early if you want the premium cut!

Zhong Yu Yuan Wei Wonton Noodle
#02-30, Tiong Bahru Market
Sat - Thu: 0830 - 1400
(Sells out by around 1300)
Closed on Fri

What makes Hui Ji's fishball noodles so good is their back to basics, rustic charm. At a mere $2.50 per bowl of handmade fishballs and noodles in delicious special sauce, it is undisputedly one of the most value-for-money hawker eats that provides both quantity and quality. Handmade fishballs. Addictively good chilli. Cripsy pork lard pieces. Need more convincing?

Hui Ji Fishball Noodles and Yong Tau Foo
#02-44, Tiong Bahru Market
Thu - Tue: 0700 - 1400
Closed on Wed

The aunty here is really like the grandmother who makes sure you're well-fed. Exceedingly generous with ingredients, this stall keeps people coming back with their value-for-money noodles. The char siew noodles are loaded with boiled wontons, fried wontons, char siew, and veg. But the mushroom pork rib noodles are the star. Instead of char siew, you get a good amount of super flavourful, super tender fall-off-the-bone pork ribs atop a good serving of noodles. How awesome is that?

Tai Seng Noodle House
#02-123, Amoy Street Food Centre
Mon - Sat: 0930 - 1430
Closed on Sun

Wrapped in pandan leaves and stuffed with a generous amount of ingredients, Hoo Kee sure makes one of the best rice dumplings. They're huge because they're packed with whole chestnuts and lean pork. If you're feeling extravagant, go for the one with the salted egg. If not, try the one with mushrooms! The glutinous rice is fragrant, moreish, and perfectly cooked. This is one kickass ba zhang. And no, it doesn't have to be dragon boat festival for you to enjoy these.
Photo by Hoo Kee Bak Chang

Hoo Kee Rice Dumplings
#01-18, Amoy Street Food Centre
Mon - Sat: 0900 - 1500
Closed on Sun

Honestly, this stall makes us question why people are so obsessed about techniques like sous vide. When it comes to cooking perfect chicken, there is no need for all fancy techniques. The soy sauce chicken here is simply superb - succulent, flavourful, and extremely value-for-money ($7 for half chicken; $14 for whole). Paired with noodles tossed in a slightly sweet sauce, you'll need a moment with this dish. They also do really good char siew and sio bak! Make sure you order enough to make your 30 minute-long wait worth it, because you'll definitely want more.

Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken, #02-127, Chinatown Complex
Mon - Fri: 1030 - 1900
Sat - Sun: 0830 - 1900
Closed on Wed