Chinatown Singapore food guide
Since young, a trip down to Chinatown would mean shopping for Chinese New Year goodies and decorations. However, with more and more food gems appearing in Chinatown, heading there for Chinese New Year shopping is no longer my only purpose. Here are our 20 best Chinatown food gems worth a visit the next time you’re in the area.
Table of Contents
1. You Fu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle
Fans of hokkien mee would know of You Fu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle, a popular stall with loyal customers who return time and time for their wok hei-infused noodles. Here, a plate of hokkien mee comes in three different sizes, priced at $5, $7, and $9 depending on how much you get. You can also add more ingredients to your liking, such as a Stir Fried Egg ($0.70) and more noodles for an extra $1.
Read our You Fu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle feature.
Address: 335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex, #02-186, Singapore 050335
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:30am to 8pm
You Fu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle is not a halal-certified eatery.
YouFu Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle Opens In Chinatown, Get Famous Wok Hei Noodles Here
2. The $2.50 Shop
The $2.50 Shop is located slightly outside Chinatown, near Havelock, but they’re worth a mention. The stall offers exactly what its name suggests—you get a variety of meals priced at just $2.50 here. We tried the Mee Rebus ($2.50), featuring yellow noodles drenched in a sweet-savoury gravy that had a bit of a kick. The noodles came topped with a boiled egg, some fried shallots, and sliced green chilli. Other options for the same price include their Mee Soto, Nasi Goreng, and Bakso!
Read our The $2.50 Shop feature.Â
Address: 1 Jalan Kukoh, #01-16, Singapore 161001
Opening hours: Wed-Fri 4:30am to 1:30pm
Tel: 9097 2420
The $2.50 Shop is not a halal-certified eatery.
3. Lavi Taco
Tucked away in the corner of Pearl’s Hill Terrace is Lavi Taco, a vibey Mexican restaurant with an al fresco dining area. During our visit, we tried the Birria ($25), starring two pieces of quesabirria and a dipping sauce. Each tortilla shell was loaded with slow-cooked beef brisket and oxtail in a spicy broth, beautifully layered with melted cheese! Seafood lovers can opt for the Argentinian Prawn ($26) instead, which comes with flame-grilled Argentinian garlic prawns, Thai mango salad, chipotle mayonnaise, red cabbage and more.Â
Read our Lavi Taco review.Â
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-54, Singapore 168976
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Website
Lavi Taco is not a halal-certified eatery.
Lavi Taco Review: Hidden Mexican Restaurant With Loaded Birria Tacos In Chinatown
4. Cafe Monochrome
In case you didn’t know, Cafe Monochrome is Singapore’s first 2D concept cafe offering an extensive range of items, including pasta, pizza, all-day brunch, and coffee. We really enjoyed their Crayfish Pasta ($23+), featuring a plate of spaghetti doused in a mildly spicy house-made chilli sauce. The sauce is also really creamy as it’s mixed with egg! The dish is then finished with a meaty crayfish. Alternatively, try the Creamy Chicken Toast ($20+), featuring a tonkatsu cutlet and scrambled eggs atop a sourdough toast. You also get a side of salad to cut through any heavy flavours.Â
Read our Cafe Monochrome feature.Â
Address: 25 Trengganu Street, #01-12, Singapore 058476
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
Website
Cafe Monochrome is not a halal-certified eatery.
Cafe Monochrome Opens 2D Cafe In Chinatown With Tonkatsu Sando, Biscoff Frappe And More
5. Steamov
Steamov is one supper spot you can check out for its unique conveyor belt concept. Some of the soup bases offered include Tomato Pot, Herbal Duck Pot, and Sour Vegetable Fish Pot, and they set you back $5+ each. Each skewer or clipped item is priced at $1+, whereas bites on sticks with a flat end are priced at $3+. Also, meat lovers would be elated to know that there are Beef Rolls ($10+) and Lean Pork ($8+) available. To enjoy your hot pot session even more, pair your food with some of your own sauce concoctions at the sauce counter. Â
Read our Steamov review.
Address: 325 New Bridge Road, Singapore 088760
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 6am
Tel: 9487 0508
Website
Steamov is not a halal-certified eatery.
Steamov Review: Conveyor Belt Hotpot Restaurant That Closes At 6AM In Chinatown
6. Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee
Tucked away at Hong Lim Food Centre, Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee uses a three-generation-old family recipe that’s been constantly refined until today, resulting in a loyal customer base that keeps coming back for more.
Their Curry Chicken Noodle ($6) is good comfort food, with their tasty broth accompanied by large pieces of chicken breast making for a hearty combination. For those craving a larger portion, their $9 version has a bigger serving, together with the option to choose your favourite chicken parts too.
Read our Heng Kee Curry Chicken review.
Address: 531A Upper Cross Street, #01-58, Hong Lim Food Centre, Singapore 510531
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:30am to 3:30pm
Website
Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Heng Kee Curry Chicken Review: Famous Old-School Curry Noodles With Over 50 Years Of History
7. Dong Fang Hong Sotong Ball Seafood Soup
Dong Fang Hong Sotong Ball Seafood Soup in Hong Lim Food Centre is among the few fishball noodle stalls left that make their fish balls from scratch. Despite having only a single item on their menu, they’ve steadily become a perennial favourite in the area, patronised mostly by office workers.Â
The Large Sotong Ball Seafood Soup ($7.50) comes packed with ingredients like their handmade fish, meat, and sotong balls, with fish dumplings too, making for a scrumptious affair.
Read our Dong Fang Hong Sotong Ball Seafood Soup review.
Address: Blk 531A Upper Cross Street, #01-47, Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, Singapore 051531
Opening hours: Tue-Wed 11am to 2:15pm
Website
Dong Fang Hong Sotong Ball Seafood Soup is not a halal-certified eatery.
8. Kok Sen Restaurant
Kok Sen Restaurant, a restaurant that has been around for over 50 years, moved down the street to a grander-looking space some time ago. A stalwart in the scene and winner of the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024, the Cantonese zi char spot is most known for its hearty, wok hei-ladened dishes, including the signature Big Prawns Noodle Soup ($19), Big Prawns Horfun ($19), and Beef Hor Fun ($8.50). They’re an easy seven-minute walk from Chinatown MRT Station.Â
Read our Kok Sen Restaurant review.
Address: 4 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089112
Opening hours: Fri-Sun 12pm to 2:45pm, 5pm to 9:45pm
Tel: 9727 2533
Website
Kok Sen is not a halal-certified eatery.
Kok Sen: Michelin Bib Gourmand Eatery Reopens As An Upgraded Zi Char Restaurant
9. Yum Cha
Yum Cha’s value-for-money Weekday Dim Sum Buffet ($32.80++), where you can try over 50 types of dim sum dishes, is probably what put it on our list of best dim sum places in Singapore. You can expect classics such as Traditional Ma Lai Gao, Xiao Long Bao, Baked Mini Egg Tarts and many more. A little more to the special side would be their Truffle Mushroom Bao and Chilled Mini Octopus with Sesame. Don’t forget to try their Home-made Almond Tea too!
Read our Yum Cha review.
Address: 20 Trengganu Street, #02-01, Singapore 058479
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10:30am to 9pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 9pm
Tel: 6372 1717
Website
Yum Cha is not a halal-certified eatery.
10. Hao Lai Wu
A quick three-minute walk from Chinatown MRT Station will get you to Hao Lai Wu, where you’ll find the best of both worlds—steamboat and BBQ. Their Steamboat And BBQ Buffet costs $26.80++ if you’re dining between Monday to Thursday, and $28.80++ on weekends. Besides sliced meat, fresh seafood, and frozen food, you can expect cooked food at Hao Lai Wu! Dishes they serve include mantou and pork dumplings. If you’re in the mood to splurge, go for their Premium Steamboat option that’s priced from $42.90++.Â
Read our Hao Lai Wu review.
Address: 37 Smith Street, Singapore 058950
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 12am
Tel: 6221 0065
Website
Hao Lai Wu is not a halal-certified eatery.
11. Tang Kay Kee Fish Head Bee Hoon
Hawker stall Tang Kay Kee‘s modern lunch concept at Hong Lim Food Centre serves up delicious rice bowls that are hearty yet affordable. An all-time favourite is their Har Cheong Gai Rice Bowl ($7), which stars house-marinated prawn paste chicken chunks lightly glazed with a tangy chilli sauce. There’s also a Slow Cooked Spicy Braised Pork Belly ($7), featuring pork belly that’s marinated in a house-made rempah, finished with crispy enoki and a perfectly poached egg.
Read our Tang Kay Kee review.
Unit number: #01-70
Opening hours: Mon 11am to 3pm, Tue-Fri 11am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 9:30pm, Sat 5pm to 9:30pm, Sun 4:30pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 8157 2641
Website
Tang Kay Kee Fish Head Bee Hoon is not a halal-certified eatery.
12. Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee
Those who frequent Hong Lim Complex would be familiar with Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee, a Michelin-approved stall that’s been around for more than 50 years. Get the only item on the menu, the Curry Chicken Mee ($6.50/$7.50/$8.50), starring your choice of noodles with tender poached chicken slices, doused in a rich and creamy curry gravy. The zhup is spicy enough, but if you want more kick, mix in some of their house-made shrimp- and garlic chilli for extra oomph.
Read our Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee review.
Address: 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-58, Hong Lim Complex, Singapore 051531
Opening hours: Daily 8:45am to 9pm
Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee Review: Michelin-Approved Curry Noodles In Chinatown
13. Chef Leung’s Authentic Hand-milled Rice Noodle Rolls
Head to Chef Leung’s Authentic Hand-milled Rice Noodle Rolls for restaurant-quality rippled chee cheong fun. Go for the Plain ($3.20), which comes drizzled with soya sauce and topped with toasted white sesame seeds, crispy shallots, and shallot oil. For a more filling meal, also order the Pork & Century Egg Congee ($5) or Watercress and Fish Congee ($6.50).
Read our Chef Leung’s Authentic Hand-milled Rice Noodle Rolls review.
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-096, Chinatown Complex, Singapore 050335
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 6:30am to 12pm
Website
Chef Leung’s Authentic Hand-milled Rice Noodle Rolls is not a halal-certified eatery.
14. Eddy’sÂ
If you’re craving Western cuisine, head on down to Eddy’s, where Chef Eddy offers Western-Asian fusion food in a hawker setting. The Duck Confit ($12) is a dish that is not commonly seen at a hawker stall. The tender duck has a mild, salty-spicy flavour, and is paired with your choice of either aglio olio or mashed potato. Alternatively, get the Mala Shrimp Spaghetti ($10.50), which features a blend of salty and spicy mala flavours, and a hint of Sichuan peppercorn for a numbing sensation.Â
Read our Eddy’s review.
Address: 538 Upper Cross Street, #02-13, Hong Lim Food Centre, Singapore 050538
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 2pm
Website
Eddy’s is not a halal-certified eatery.
15. Whampoa Soya Bean
Whampoa Soya Bean serves good ol’ tau huay to keep you cool in Singapore’s hot weather. They have affordable tau huay and grass jelly desserts with toppings, all priced under $3. The Yam Paste Beancurd ($2.20) comes with a generous amount of housemade tau huay and orh nee. If you’re a fan of grass jelly, try their Longan Grass Jelly ($2.20) or Attap Seed Grass Jelly ($2.20).
Read our Whampoa Soya Bean review.
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-14, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Singapore 050335
Opening hours: Tue-Wed, Fri-Sat 10am to 2pm
Whampoa Soya Bean is not a halal-certified eatery.
16. May Pho Culture
An authentic pho spot near the MRT is May Pho Culture, run by a Vietnamese native who’s from Ho Chi Minh city. Their Tenderloin Pho ($17.90) is a must-try; this hearty noodle dish comes with a savoury, well-balanced broth and perfectly cooked beef strips. If you’re still peckish, snack on the Spring Rolls ($6.90): hand-rolled spring rolls stuffed with a meaty filling, and deep-fried to crispy perfection. There’s also the popular Iced Vietnamese Coffee ($3.80), perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Read our May Pho culture review.
Address: 150 South Bridge Road, #01-16, Fook Hai Building, Singapore 058727
Opening hours: Mon 11am to 9pm, Tue-Sun 11am to 8:30pm
Tel: 9646 2589
Website
May Pho Culture is not a halal-certified eatery.
May Pho Culture Review: Legit Pho And Vietnamese Food In Chinatown
17. Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant
Image credit: @thewriteofwei
For something a little different, check out Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant, a popular Joo Chiat eatery that recently opened its second branch in the heart of Chinatown. Regulars love their Bun Thit Nuong ($11) AKA grilled pork with rice noodles and fresh veggies, complete with a refreshing sauce. They’ve also got plenty more options for a complete feast, including deep-fried Spring Rolls ($12), pho, and Milk Coffee with Ice ($5), a must-have at any Vietnamese restaurant.
Read our Long Phung review.
Address: 239/241 New Bridge Road, Singapore 059439
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 10pm
Website
Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
Popular Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant Opens In Chinatown With Spicy Beef Stew And More
18. Tong Heng
Image credit: @_whatsuppunk
If you are a huge egg tart lover, you would have definitely heard of the famous Tong Heng Egg Tarts, priced at $2.40 per piece. What sets their egg tarts apart from the others is the use of pork lard, which makes the crust extra flaky. The custard is delicate and wobbly, and it almost collapses out of the diamond-shaped flaky crust once you bite into the tart.
Read our Tong Heng review.
Address: 285 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058833
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 7pm
Tel: 6223 0398
Website
Tong Heng Traditional Chinese Pastries is not a halal-certified eatery.
This 87-Year-Old Bakery Is One Of Singapore’s Oldest Traditional Chinese Bakeries
19. Xiao Ge Ge
Image credit: @xiaogegemochi
Xiao Ge Ge is a hidden Chinatown gem that’s a three-minute walk from Havelock MRT Station.b This dessert kiosk offers over 30 items, including their famous XXL Snowball Mochi in a myriad of flavours such as Taro ($4.50). They also have box cakes that are oh-so pretty; the Purple Rice Box ($11.80) pairs the iconic flavours of pulut hitam with creamy yam.Â
Read our Xiao Ge Ge feature.
Address: 5 Banda Street, #01-90, Singapore 050005
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 6pm
Tel: 9852 0727
Website
Xiao Ge Ge is not a halal-certified eatery.
Xiao Ge Ge: Dessert Store In Chinatown With XXL Mochi In Flavours Such As Taro And Durian
20. Xiang Xiang Cooked Food
Image credit: @WKB
For a quick bite, visit Xiang Xiang Cooked Food, which sells affordable old-school snacks that are made fresh daily. Their popular Fried Sweet Potato Ball ($1 for six) sell out pretty quickly, so you need to visit early if you wish to get a taste of it. Each ball features a crispy golden exterior and a mochi-like interior with a hint of sweetness from the sweet potatoes. Another classic snack is the Ondeh Ondeh ($2 for five), which has the iconic gooey gula melaka interior.Â
Read our Xiang Xiang Cooked Food feature.
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-68, Singapore 050335
Opening hours: Wed-Fri 6:30am to 11am, Sat 6:30am to 9:30am
Xiang Xiang Cooked Food is not a halal-certified eatery.
What to eat in ChinatownÂ
Besides Clarke Quay, Chinatown is another stop along the NEL that offers awesome food. For more food places within Chinatown, check out our list of Chinatown Complex food stalls instead!
If you’re looking for more eats in the nearby CBD, check out our Telok Ayer food guide and our Amoy Street Food Centre guide.
25 Amoy Street Food Centre Stalls To Visit When You’re In The CBD
Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news.
