A Guide to Singapore's Hawker Centres

If you want to understand Singapore, start at a hawker centre. These open-air food courts bring together dozens of specialist stalls under one roof, serving some of the best and most affordable food in the country. In 2020, hawker culture was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — a rare honour for a food tradition.

How they work

Each stall typically specialises in one or a few dishes, honed over years. You order and pay directly at the stall, then find a seat in the shared dining area. A local custom is 'choping' — reserving a seat by placing a packet of tissues on it before you go to order.

What to eat

• Hainanese chicken rice — poached chicken with fragrant rice
• Char kway teow — stir-fried flat rice noodles
• Laksa — spicy coconut noodle soup
• Bak kut teh — peppery pork rib soup
• Satay — grilled skewers with peanut sauce
• Roti prata and nasi lemak — beloved breakfast staples

Famous centres

Well-known hawker centres include Maxwell Food Centre and Chinatown Complex in the city, Old Airport Road Food Centre for its heritage stalls, Lau Pa Sat with its satay street in the CBD, and Tiong Bahru Market. Almost every HDB town has its own beloved centre too.

Tips

Cash is still handy at older stalls, though cashless payment via PayNow and QR codes is increasingly accepted. Go slightly off-peak to avoid the lunch rush, be ready to share tables, and don't be shy about queuing — the longest lines usually point to the best food. Remember to return your tray after eating, which is now the norm.