Hawker Food

If you're looking for a simple, healthy, satisfying meal, these soups are the perfect choice. This stall in Bukit Timah Market sells 6 different kinds of soup everyday. At $3 - $4, these soups do not contain any MSG and are light and tasty. Besides the soups, also try the Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Beans ($3.50).

For good dim sum sold at coffeeshop prices, many come here for their super-flowy liu sha bao, but items such as the siew mai or har kow may not be up to restaurant standards. Also try their steamed beancurd roll and steamed carrot cake. Bear in mind it's located in an eating house, so don't expect comforts!

This humble Thai stall in Tiong Bahru market is probably the most value-for-money, with huge portions at only $4 a plate. Owned and run by two friendly Thais, you'll be guaranteed authentic, hearty food. The Pad Thai is full of flavour and generous with the ingredients. Go for your favourites, they have a wide variety to choose from!

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

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

Good things come to those who wait. Especially when it comes to Old Airport Road's Toa Payoh Rojak. With more than 40 years of experience, they've mastered the art of making excellent rojak. The uncle attentively grills the yu char kueh to a crisp over charcoal, ensuring that you don't get soft, soggy pieces in your rojak. The combination of condiments is almost perfect, and the prawn paste they use is the star. Rojak is one of those dishes that you don't get bored of eating, because of the contrasting textures and flavours you get (sweet, sour, spicy, salty) with each bite.

Toa Payoh Rojak
#01-108, Old Airport Road Food Centre
Mon - Sat: 1200 - 2000
Closed on Sun

You HAVE to go early to get your hands on their ondeh ondeh if you want to try it, because it sells out really quickly. And early means by lunch time at around 1230, which is a major bummer for those of us who are not early birds. Bite into the coconut-coated super soft ondeh ondeh and you get a burst of liquid gula melaka, which might tastes like liquid gold. They're handmade and addictive; it'll be surprising if you can stop at one. Their tapioca cake and muah chee (which is slightly different as they're filled with peanuts instead of coated) are superb as well.

Xing Xing Tapioca Cake
#01-31, Maxwell Food Centre
Mon - Sat: 0800 - 1400
(Sold out before 1300)
Closed on Sun

If you want claypot rice that's a cut above the rest, this is it. Cooked upon order, you'll get great traditional claypot rice cooked over charcoal, and the wait can stretch up to an hour. Tender chicken meat, salted fish, lup cheong, charred rice bits, excellent sweet sauce and chilli? Check. This is one of the best places you can get claypot rice at in Singapore, but don't go when you're ravenous because you might get really hangry!

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice
#02-198/199, Chinatown Complex Market
Tel: 62272470
Mon - Wed: 1600 - 2300
Fri - Sun: 1600 - 2300
Closed on Thu

Fruit juice mee siam sounds a little strange, but you'll be surprised to know that it works. Instead of tamarind juice, a mixture of several fruit juices is used in the gravy, adding a refreshing punch and lightening the dish. You get mee siam that's healthier, slightly sour and citrusy, and more tangy, making it less "jelat". For $6, you get poached crayfish on top of chicken, prawns, beansprouts, and an egg.

Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa
#02-66, Hong Lim Food Centre
Mon - Sat: 1030 - 1830
Closed on Sun

Everyone knows char kway teow is a sinfully delicious dish, and good ones are hard to find. The char kway teow here is coated in a sweet, special mixture of sauces and with noticeably more egg than elsewhere. Plump cockles, beansprouts and good ol' crunchy pork lard make this even better. Freshly fried, greasy char kway teow laden with wok hei? It doesn't get better than this.

Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee
#02-17, Hong Lim Food Centre
Mon - Sat: 0600 - 1630
Closed on Sun

Trust the perpetual snaking queue at Xin Mei Xiang; a favourite among many. The rich, intense prawn-based gravy is just viscous enough to pleasantly coat the noodles without being cloying - add black vinegar to bring it to another level. The noodles are topped with the standard braised pork, ngoh hiang, egg and beansprouts, they also include fried snapper flakes that lend a great texture. The key here is patience, you'll get to the front of the queue eventually.

Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee
#01-116, Old Airport Road Food Centre
Tue - Wed, Fri - Sun: 0700 - 1400
Closed on Mon & Thu