National Geographic Traveller (UK) - Food
HAWKER CENTRES
The lifeblood of Singapore’s culinary landscape, hawker centres are markets crammed with stalls selling an array of affordable dishes, attracting a steady stream of hungry customers throughout the day. Expect to find retirees gossiping over steaming mugs of coffee in the morning, office workers refueling with roast duck rice or bak chor mee (minced meat noodles) at lunchtime, and families tucking into a spread of cai png (rice with various meat and vegetable dishes) in the evening. Hawker culture is such an integral feature of Singaporean life, in fact, that it was added to UNESCO’S List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2020.
in the Central Business District, is a perennial favourite among locals and
Maxwell Food Centre,
visitors alike. Brave the queues at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice for a stellar rendition of Singapore’s unofficial national dish (Anthony Bourdain was a big fan), or go for a belly-warming bowl of Cantonese-style fish soup from Jin Hua.
A short walk away is where you’ll find the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in the world. At Hawker Chan, you can try chef Chan Hon Meng’s soy sauce chicken rice or noodles for a mere £2. Alternatively, head to the newly refurbished
in the east of Singapore. Order some smoky satay from Haron Satay, and stingray slathered in sambal (chilli paste) from Stingray Forever BBQ Seafood, before taking a stroll along the beach.
Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Coast Lagoon Food Village, East