Chinatown Food Centre & Market – 11 Amazing Food Stalls
The Chinatown Food Centre or Chinatown Complex Food Centre, situated at Block 335 Smith Street Singapore 050335, is Singapore’s largest hawker centre, including 226 food vendors and 477 market stalls. The food centre sits along Kreta Ayer Road, near the busy shopping districts of Smith, Temple and Trengganu streets in Chinatown. It is the best place to try all kind of popular street food in Singapore at cheap and affordable prices.
It is just a 5 mins walking distance from Chinatown Mrt Station or 10 mins walk from Outram Mrt Station. Nearby food and vicinity include Hong Lim Complex, Hong Lim Food Centre, Maxwell Food centre, People Park Centre, Havelock Road, Outram Park, Far East Square, Raffles Place and more. This place is so popular that you will see an intriguing blend of local and international visitors frequent it.
Moreover, it is also homed to the 1st street food hawker stall in the world to get a Michelin Star. A great chance to see and taste the World’s cheapest Michelin-Starred meal at just SGD $5.
I have complied a list of 11 Amazing food stalls (with 6 Michelin Recommended Stalls), you must visit at Chinatown Food Centre & Market.
Hawker Chan (Formerly One Michelin Star)
Crawford Lane’s Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles and Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle (Rename to Hawker Chan) are the world’s first one Michelin-starred street hawker stalls. It is also the cheapest Michelin Star meal you can find in the world with under SGD $5 for a plate of Soya Sauce Chicken Rice, Soya Sauce Chicken noodle, Grilled Pork Rice, Char Siew Rice or Char Siew Noodles.
Chef Chan Hon Meng started this Liao Fan Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle stall in 2009 after he learned and developed the soya sauce chicken recipe under a Hong Kong chef. Stall grown quickly into a worldwide franchises once he was awarded a one Michelin Star from Michelin Guide Singapore in July 2016. Moreover, huge crowds (both locals and foreigners) flock to this stall to try the cheapest Michelin Star meal and patrons will have to queue more than an hour.
Their soy sauce chicken was tender and succulent. Their caramelised Char Siew are well marinated and prepared in Hong Kong-style with a great balance of fat and meat. The roasted pork is very crispy and tender. Noodles are springy and served with a good mix of sauces, pork lard and chilli.
However, do note that Hawker Chan lost its Michelin star in 2021 but still managed to retain its Michelin Guide recognition. Standard might not be as good as the past since owner is busy with stall expansion. Nevertheless, you might still need to queue for 30 – 45 mins during peak hours.
Hawker Chan (Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle) Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-126, S050335 Opening Hours: 1030am – 8pm (Daily)
Lian He Ben Ji Claypot (Michelin Bib Gourmand)
Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice stall has been in business since 1979. It is situated at the corner of Chinatown Complex Food Centre and its regarded as the most widely known claypot rice hawkers in Singapore. Stall has also been a consistent Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore winner for several years.
The average waiting time will be around 30 to 60 minutes as the stall is always packed with customers. It will be best to call and booked a slot prior going down.
Why need to wait so long and what is the secret to it success?
The secret formula of Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice is that they only use fresh ingredients and good quality long grain rice. Soaked in chicken stocking and cooked with the blazing charcoal fires for a full 20 minutes to give a flavorsome charred and smoky flavour. The rice comes out nice, soft and fluffy. Generous ingredients like chicken meat, chicken breast and duck liver sausages, pork belly, fish shards and Chinese sausage slices are then added inside. Follow by drizzle of sauces and oil to further enhance the taste. Absolutely fragrant and delicious!
Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-198/199, S050335 Opening Hours: 4pm – 9pm (Closed on Thursday)
Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck & Kway Chap
Melvin Chew and his mother run the Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck & Kway Chap stall, which provides a contemporary style to our favourite Braised Duck & Kway Chap dishes. A braised duck with shining molten egg is not something that you will typically find on a cuisine, and you can definitely appreciate this inventive at this kiosk.
Kway Chap set comes with a nice portion of brised Pork meat, pig intestines, tender pig skins, Tofu and Japanese style runny egg yolk. You should also add in their duck slices for extra $3 as they are succulent and bursting with flavour in every bite.
Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck & Kway Chap 金记潮州卤鸭 Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-156, S050335 Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Closed on Monday & Friday)
Ann Chin Popiah (Michelin Guide)
Popiah will be acquainted to all those who grow up in Singapore. Eating handmade Popiah at Ann Chin is more than just a taste but a great experience.
Ann Chin Popiah is a heritage brand since 1958, and their business have expanded to 11 outlets in Singapore so you can easily locate an outlet near you. Stall offers Popiah roll, Keh Pie Tee, Yam Roll, Deep fried Spring roll, Curry Spring roll & more.
The smooth and silky popiah skin goes well with the generous filling of hot juicy turnip, dry shrimp, egg, carrot, sprouts, peanut and more. Light sweet sauce is just nice, the chili is spicy and does not overpower the taste. Love the chewy, moist and crunchiness of it.
Ann Chin Popiah Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-112, S050335 Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Daily)
Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao (Michelin Guide)
When you mention Xiao Long Bao in Singapore, everyone will relate it to the popularised Taiwan chain restaurant Din Tai Fung. This is the place you can get Xiao Long Bao for almost half the price and taste just as good as Ding Tai Fung.
Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao was founded by Mr Li Feng Cai and his wife, who came to Singapore in 1997 from Anhui, China. He horned his culinary skills by travelling to Cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, and finally decided to settle down in Singapore.
Menu in his stall includes Xiao Long Bao, Hand-Pulled Noodles, Beef Noodles, Dumpling Noodles, Szechuan Spicy Wanton, Sour & Spicy Noodle, Sour & Spicy Noodles and more. All ingredients are freshly made daily.
Szechuan Spicy Wanton 红油抄手 is my all time favourite dish. Each dumpling is packed plumpy with a great amount of filling beneath a smooth and silky handmade skin. Juiciness with every bite that went so well with the spicy chilli oil and vinegar combination.
Their Xiao Long Bao contain less soup as compared to Ding Tai Fung, but the stocking is equally robust and flavourful. Complement it together with Black vinegar and ginger slices for greater pleasure.
Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao 中国拉面小笼包 Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-135, S050335 Opening Hours: 1130am – 3pm, 5pm – 830pm (Closed on Mon & Tue)
Hakka Fun Hamcha & Yong Tou Fu
Thunder Tea Rice is a low fat, low cholesterol diet and is most effective for health and weight management. It is a traditional Hakka Dish and not easy to find stalls that sell good thunder tea rice in Singapore.
Hakka Hamcha & Yong Tou Fu was founded in 2018, is managed by Michelle Yee and her hubby Alan Kok. Although both have no experience in F&B, they changed upon the Incubation Stall Programme (ISP) by NEA and seize the opportunity to establish themselves.
The soup is dark green in colour, thick and savoury with 6 types of herbs added to the recipe. Each bowl is loaded with various types of vegetables, cabbage, long beans, dried tofu, preserved radish and lots of peanuts. A robust of flavorsome, crunchiness and saltiness right in your mouth when everything is mixed together with the soft and fluffy brown rice. Do remember to add in their Hakka-style yong tao fu for a dollar each.
Hakka Hamcha & Yong Tou Fu Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-123, S050335 Opening Hours: 11am – 6pm (Closed on Monday)
Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu
Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu is one of the popular stall in Chinatown Food Centre to fetch a super long queue and usually sold out by 1pm. Cheap and affordable price of $3.50 will get you the standard set of 6 pieces (3 tofu, 2 ngor hiang and 1 fishball) or 4 pieces Yong Tau Fu with noodle, and half soup spoon of fried ikan bilis. Do note that you can’t choose your ingredients. Additional add on will be 80¢ for Fish Cake, 70¢ for eggplant or 70¢ for Ikan Bilis.
Beehoon is tossed in sesame and light sauce, topped with their own special crispy and delicious ikan bilis. Their handmade Yong Tau Fu add freshness to the dish instead of using factory machine made ingredients. Better go early before noon to avoid disappointment!
Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu 秀記江魚仔釀豆腐 Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-88, S050335 Opening Hours: 5am – 130pm (Closed on Monday)
Fatty Ox Hong Kong Kitchen (Michelin Guide)
Fatty Ox Hong Kong Kitchen is one of the stall you can get authentic Hong Kong style noodle as it is managed by a Hong Kong Born Chef. A popular stall that was featured in Mark Wiens’s Video (the foodie youtuber) when he came to Singapore 3 months ago.
The Menu include Char Siew Noodles, Soy Sauce Chicken Noodles, Pork Knuckles Noodles, Roast Chicken Noodles, Roasted Duck Noodles and their signature Beef Brisket Noodles which usually sold out by 10am.
The egg noodles were nice and springy. You can tell that the beef brisket has been stewed for hours and hours as they are super soft and tender. The beef tendon can almost melted in your mouth. The braising sauce was thick, luscious and savoury which complemented the egg noodles very well. Don’t forget to add their aromatic sambal chili for greater enjoyment.
Fatty Ox Hong Kong Kitchen Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-84, Singapore 050335 Opening Hours: 730am – 230pm (Closed on Monday & Tuesday)
Jia Ji Mei Shi 佳記美食
Jia Ji Mei Shi is a popular stall which provide a great variety of cheap and reasonable breakfast dishes like Sooh Kueh, Png Kueh, Rice Dumpling, Economic Noodles, Yam Cake with Chee Cheong Fun, Glutinous Rice, and Porridges more.
Must try their signature dish which is Yam Cake with Chee Cheong Fun, which was soft and smooth. You can also taste the sweetness and spiciness from the flavourful sauces and chilli drenched on top.
Stall open till late at night so patrons can enjoy these food as tea time snacks or even supper.
Jia Ji Mei Shi 佳記美食 Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-166, Singapore 050335 Opening Hours: 6am – 10pm (Closed on Wednesday)
The 1950s Coffee (Michelin Guide)
The 1950s Coffee is the place for you to charge up your day with a cup of freshly brewed traditional black coffee with Kaya butter toast. Stall is always crowded especially in the morning.
This stall serves freshly made Nanyang coffee with a great aromatic fragrant and smooth texture. It also serves various types of hot and cold drinks, and bread toasts like Traditional Toast, Peanut Toast and Kaya Toast at a cheap and decent cost. The nostalgic taste of charcoal-grilled toast was getting harder to find in Singapore now.
That is why The 1950s Coffee has also been awarded Michelin Plate for several years.
The 1950s Coffee 五十年代 Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-48, Singapore 050335 Opening Hours: 7am – 5pm (Closed on Monday)
Old Amoy Chendol
Old Amoy Chendol was firstly opened in 2017 at this Chinatown Food Centre, manage by Zhao Youning who is an ex-model. It has since grown into 7 outlets around Singapore (as in 2022).
It is one of the better Chendol stall in Singapore which use pricier Japance adzuki beans instead of normal Kidney beans, Gula Melaka from Sarawak and all-important coconut milk extracted daily via a German-made cold-press juicer from Thai and Malaysian coconuts. Moreover, they price their Chendol at the same price as any other Chendol stalls in Singapore.
Get a taste of the finely crushed ice drenched with smoky fragrant Gula Melaka and aromatic coconut milk. Filled with soft and sweet red Adzuki beans in the bottom and finally topped with fantastic green Pandan jelly. Sweet and Delicious!
Old Amoy Chendol Address : Chinatown Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, #02-008, Singapore 050335 Opening Hours: 1030am – 8pm (Closed on Sunday)
Other Popular Food Centres :
Tiong Bahru Market Food Centre – 12 Delicious Stalls
Golden Mile Food Centre – 12 Delicious Food Stalls
Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre – 12 Irresistible Food Stalls
Visit Chinatown Food Centre & Market today and start your food journey filled with delicious aromatic smells and flavours. You will find a great variety of irresistible & delicious food awaits your arrival.
Lastly, there are many others Hawker Food stalls at Chinatown Food Centre & Market which I can’t featured all of them in our Singapore food guide 2022. Most of them have been perfecting their signature dish for decades. Please do try and support them as well.
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How To Get To Chinatown Food Centre & Market?
The Chinatown Food Centre is situated at Block 335 Smith Street Singapore 050335. It is just a 5 mins walking distance from Chinatown Mrt Station or 10 mins walk from Outram Mrt Station.
Alternatively, you can take these Buses number 2, 12, 33, 54, 63, 124, 143, 147, 190, 851, 961, 970 and they will reach the bus stop near to the food centre.
What are the Best Food at Chinatown Food Centre & Market?
You will be spoilt with choices as there are 226 food vendors and 477 market stalls available at Chinatown Food Centre & Market with the most popular dishes include 1 Michelin Star – Hawker Chan, a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner – Lian He Ben Ji Claypot and 4 Michelin Plate winners – Ann Chin Popiah, Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao, Fatty Ox Hong Kong Kitchen and The 1950s Coffee.
Follow by Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck & Kway Chap, Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu and end with Dessert at Old Amoy Chendol.
