CBD Hawker Food

This plate of Chicken rice will set you back $4.50, more than a tad pricey but the oil soaked rice accompanied by the smooth, tender soy sauce chicken were pretty decent and fragrant.

Wok hei is without a doubt one of the deciding factors for good plate of char kway teow, and our Burpple Tastemakers are happy to report that it's a score at this popular Hong Lim Market & Food Centre stall. The Char Kway Teow (from $3) here sees slippery noodles slicked in a flavoursome black sauce (a bonus if you like your char kway teow wet). Burpple Tastemaker Jean Kao also gives it top marks for the generous amount of egg stirred in and bountiful cockles. While this dish doesn't feature Chinese sausage like most char kway teow stalls do, the cook makes up for it with his heavy hand on the pork lard — yum!

Pro tip: Skip the crazy queues and visit at tea time. Jean came by at 4pm and waited in line only for a decent 20 minutes.
Avg price: $5
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Jean Kao

This dish of Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee ($4.50) is, quite simply put, the ultimate comfort in a bowl. Just ask Burpple Tastemaker Wei Zhi Chiang, whose dad is a diehard fan of these noodles. She's tasted the dish at both outlets (the other one's in Bugis), and declares them to taste the same, although she noticed that the cook seems to be more generous with the toppings here. The curry gravy is no doubt the star — flavourful, yet light enough to be drinkable. Take Wei Zhi's lead and order extra Tau Pok ($1) to soak up all that aromatic gravy. On top of your choice of noodles (thick beehoon, thin beehoon or yellow noodles), you'll get chunks of poached chicken, fishcake and sliced potato — filling and delicious! The chilli here is tasty, but the dish is great as it is.
Avg price: $5
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Ice Blossom