Top 10 Hawker Food in Tiong Bahru

*Not Ranked In Order*

It goes without saying that our unique hawker culture is deeply ingrained into the fabric of Singaporean society. A visit to the hawker centre is a regular part of many people’s daily routine—but even more than that, it is a melting pot of all the best parts of Singapore’s multicultural heritage and history, rolled into one.

In Tiong Bahru, whose long tradition of good food is not to be missed, you’ll find some of the best hawker food on the island. Here, check out some of the absolutely must-try dishes from both the famous Tiong Bahru Food Centre and beyond. It’s cheap, it’s good and it’s familiar—what’s not to love?

1) 238 Coffee Stall

Today, kopi (made Singapore-style) is not merely a drink: it is a symbol of local hawker culture, and can be served any number of ways (as a visit to your neighbourhood coffee shop will confirm). At 238 Coffee Stall, this versatile drink has been perfected and turned into an art form, producing a truly distinctive flavour and aftertaste. For those less inclined towards caffeine, the stall also serves tea and another local favourite, sugarcane juice.

Address: #02-81 30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 5.00am–5.00pm daily. Closed on Mondays

2) Blanco Court Fried Fish Soup

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If the long queues at lunchtime are any indication, this hidden gem is surely worth the wait. The same can be said for its signature dishes, the classic Fish Soup Noodle and Fish Head Bee Hoon, both reasonably priced at around $5. Check out this stall for a taste of fish soup “just like Mum used to make”.

Address: #02-62 30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 10.00am–9.00pm daily. Closed on Mondays

3) Hui Ji Fishball Noodle and Yong Tau Foo

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Tucked in the middle of a long line of other well-established stalls is Hui Ji Fishball Noodle and Yong Tau Foo, which has been around since the 1970s. In that time, it has built up a loyal clientele, who can’t seem to get enough of its specialty fishball noodles (with handmade fishballs!), or its other hawker centre staple, the ever-reliable Yong Tau Foo.

Address: #02-44 30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 5.30am–2.30pm daily. Closed on Wednesdays

4) Jian Bo Chee Kueh

Dating at least back to the 1950s, this is one of the oldest stalls in the Tiong Bahru Food Centre, and has received accolades including a Michelin recommendation. While Jian Bo is today a business empire with 16 outlets all over the island, its famous chwee kueh (another hawker centre staple) has not lost the flavour of old. Also worth trying are the ba zhang (glutinous rice dumplings) and Nonya kueh.

Address: #02-05 30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 6.00am–10.30pm daily

5) Lor Mee 178

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Fans of the old favourite lor mee will certainly find it worth enduring the long queues at this establishment to try a serving of its signature dish. Though a good deal younger than many other stalls (having been opened in 2004), Lor Mee 178 has nevertheless proven itself to be a fine arbiter of taste and texture, serving up bowls of lor mee on an almost daily basis.

Address: #02-23 30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 7.00am–8.00pm daily. Closed on Tuesdays

6) Ruyi Vegetarian Food

Vegetarians rejoice, for the sheer number of stalls at the Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre all but guarantees that some will cater quality vegetarian fare. Among them is Ruyi Vegetarian Food, which boasts a history stretching all the way back to 1950 and a range of affordable, flavourful options. In particular, try the bee hoon and Economic Noodle.

Address: #02-26 30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 7.00am–1.00pm daily

7) Teck Seng Soya Bean Milk

On one of Singapore’s many hot summer days, there is perhaps no better drink to quench your thirst than fresh, sweet soya bean milk. Long a staple of the hawker centre scene, every stall has its strengths, and Teck Seng Soya Bean Milk is no exception. One of its hottest sellers is the “Michael Jackson”, consisting of grass jelly added to soya bean milk, so named because it is “white and black”.

Address: #02-69 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 5.00am–1.00pm daily. Closed on Mondays

8) Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow

One of the older stalls in the centre (having been opened in 1968), Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow has had a long time to perfect its signature recipe, providing familiar flavours at a low, low price. But that’s not all the stall has to offer—the tutu kueh is also definitely worth a try!

Address: #02-11 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 11.00am–10.30pm. Closed on Wednesdays

9) Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice

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No visit to a hawker centre is complete without a sampling of the national favourite, chicken rice—and Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice is here to fulfil your needs. Expect long, meandering queues at this modest stall, as you jostle with other diners all eager for a taste of what could be the best chicken rice in Tiong Bahru.

Address: #02-82 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 10.30am–7.00pm. Closed on Mondays

10) Tiong Bahru Teochew Kueh

Finally, if you’re hankering for some traditional desserts and other sweet treats, Tiong Bahru Teochew Kueh has you covered. Established in 1974, its menu includes the iconic pink peng kueh along with the well-loved ang ku kueh. The kueh is handmade on site, so you can be sure you’ll be getting only the very best, and all for just a dollar apiece.

Address: #02-02 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 7.00am–2.00pm daily. Closed on Mondays

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Bonus Recommendations

Tow Kwar Pop

At this stall, its namesake (a small cube of beancurd) is made to order, first being grilled over a charcoal stove before being stuffed with bean sprouts and cucumber, and served with pineapple and turnip on the side. While it may seem like a strange combination of flavours, the different ingredients when eaten together create a taste like no other. Add a drizzle of prawn paste and a little crushed peanut, and you’re good to go.

Address: #02-06 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 12.00pm–8.00pm daily. Closed on Mondays

Zhong Yu Yuan Wei Wanton Noodles

This stall’s take on a beloved classic hits especially close to home, but its most well-known menu item, the “Bu Jian Tian” (in Chinese, literally “not seeing the sky”) char siew, might warm places other than your stomach. You’ll almost certainly struggle to find better pork anywhere in Tiong Bahru, and it’s no wonder that here, the char siew remains a hot commodity.

Address: #02-30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Opening hours: 8.00am–2.00pm daily. Closed on Mondays and Fridays

Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh

For generations, bak kut teh (literally “meat bone tea” in Chinese) has endured as one of the most popular local foods, and Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh (located a hop, a skip and a jump from the Tiong Bahru Market) offers a familiar take on this old favourite. Besides its signature Teochew-style peppery bak kut teh, there is also a range of zichar and side dishes on offer to suit your palate.

Address: 58 Seng Poh Road, #01-31 Tiong Bahru Estate, Singapore 160058

Opening hours: 6.30am–9.00pm daily. Closed on Mondays

Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice

Located just outside the Tiong Bahru Market, Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice does not technically reside in a hawker centre; nevertheless, its offerings are classic hawker fare. Its specialty curry is both aromatic and flavourful without being too spicy, so that anyone can enjoy it, and good things have also been said about its Hainanese-style pork chops and chap chye.

Address: 71 Seng Poh Rd, #01-49 Tiong Bahru Estate, Singapore 160071

Opening hours: 8.00am–2.45pm daily. Closed every alternate Tuesday

Written By: Soh Ying Qi