Imagine this. You’re on a holiday to Singapore. You want to try some local fare. You’re sick and tired of hotel or restaurant food. So where do you go? Simple – head for the nearest hawker centre.
Singapore is a food lover’s paradise. The culinary fare in the city is really
East-meets-West and is of a variety that is virtually unknown in many cities.
And the best place to experience this mish-mash of food offerings is at a hawker
centre.
In a hawker centre, you get Singaporean, Indian, Chinese, Malay and Western food all under one roof. Yes the place can be a little warm to those acclimatized to colder weather, but its certainly worth it. The locals eat at these places very frequently and if you want a taste of normal life in Singapore, eating at a hawker centre is definitely one of the things to do.
Let’s now take a look at five of the best hawker centres in Singapore.
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Located right in the heart of Chinatown, this hawker centre is a favorite of the locals. Yes it is very crowded at lunch time, but there is simply no better place to check out authentic local cuisine than this place. There are plenty of food stalls and booths to try, everything from a Char Kway Teow (local fried noodle) to Ice Kachang (a popular local ice dessert). So go eat your heart out.
A favorite among the office going crowd, the Maxwell Food Centre has just undergone a revamp recently. It is immensely popular due to its location and the variety of food it offers. If you want a short break from touring the Central Business District, this food centre is your number one choice.
Zion Riverside Food Centre
Newly revamped and opened, the Zion Riverside Food Centre sells everything from Indian Rojak (a spicy Indian dish) to Fish and Chips. There are many expatriates living in the vicinity of this food centre – so you may want to check it out if you have expatriate friends.
Lau Pa Sat Festival Market
Right smack in the Central Business District, this mixture of stalls is greatly popular with the office crowd. It offers an amazing variety of food and is designed in a unique ‘star shape’. Definitely worth checking out.
A favorite amongst expatriates due to its vicinity to the city. Located along the prime residential estate near Scott’s Road, the Newton Food Centre has been well-loved by locals and foreigners alike for years. If you have time for only one hawker centre, I’d recommend this one.
Conclusion
Access to all the hawker centres are simple. Just ask the hotel staff or the taxi driver. They are well known to all locals. If you’re on a holiday, make sure you try one of the above places – you’d not have a true ‘taste’ of Singapore if you didn’t.
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