Bugis is home to two huge malls and plenty of cafes, so finding food at this popular area isn’t a challenge. What’s difficult, however, is hunting for nosh that doesn’t cost a bomb. Well, the next time you’re on a budget, skip the fancy restaurants and head straight to these Bugis hawker food stalls that offer delicious and cheap food. What’s best is they’re all located a short walk away from Bugis MRT Station!
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Image credit: @munafique
I first spotted New Rong Liang Ge Cantonese Roast Duck when I was waiting for my Grab driver at Bugis+, and saw a snaking queue at this stall just opposite. So I paid a visit soon after, and realised why this stall is so popular. A plate of Char Siew Rice costs just $3, and comes with a decent amount of sweet, succulent char siew. Aside from char siew, they also serve soups, roast duck and sio bak, which I’d definitely try the next time I’m there.
Address: 269B Queen Street, #01-235, 3838 Eating Place, Singapore 182269
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 9pm
Tel: 9099 9489
New Rong Liang Ge Cantonese Roast Duck is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @laikin168
Open 24/7, Seng Huat Bak Chor Mee is one of the Bugis hawker food stalls I’d go to for a bowl of well-made Bak Chor Mee. At $4.50, you’ll get a generous amount of noodles that are firm to the bite, and topped with minced pork, mushrooms, and a few slices of pork and pork liver. Besides mee pok, their dry bak chor mee sua, which goes at the same price, is also worth a try.
Address: 492 North Bridge Road, Seng Huat Coffee House, Singapore 188737
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours
Seng Huat Bak Chor Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @kngdragong1
Bai Nian Niang Dou Fu is one of those stalls at Albert Centre Market & Food Centre that always sees a long queue. And those who frequent this yong tau foo stall will know they deserve the popularity vote. Each of their Yong Tau Foo Set ($7.90) comes with bee hoon soup with handmade items such as prawn ball and meat ball. You also get a side of fried chicken wing! The clear soup looks bland, but is in fact full of flavours and won’t leave you feeling thirsty from MSG.
Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-106, Albert Centre Market & Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 9pm
Tel: 6802 5491
Bai Nian Niang Dou Fu is not a halal-certified eatery.
Found in the same kopitiam as New Rong Liang Ge, Eleven Finger Scissors Curry Rice serves up mouthwatering curry rice. Every plate comes with three thick sauces, namely curry, braising sauce, and chilli gravy. A classic combination to get would be chap chye, fried pork chop and egg, which will cost from $3.50. If you’ve got space in your tummy for more, be sure to add on their curry chicken as well!
Check out our full review of Eleven Finger Scissors Curry Rice!
Address: 269B Queen Street, #01-235, 3838 Eating House, Singapore 180269
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 6:30pm
Eleven Finger Scissors Curry Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @boygirlfood
The signboard of Bedok Chwee Kueh simply states the Chinese characters for chee kueh. A branch of the famous stall at Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, this outlet offers the same simple and satisfying chwee kueh topped with loads of chye poh. Prices start at $2.40 for two pieces, and $3.60 for three pieces. Remember to ask for some chilli to give every mouthful a spicy kick.
Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-79, Albert Centre Market & Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 6:45pm
Bedok Chwee Kueh is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @sideswipe04
While I usually prefer white carrot cake, I tend to go for the black version at Guan Kee Carrot Cake. Their chai tow kway is fragrant, toothsome, and comes in a generous amount even if you get the regular portion at $4. The black sauce adds a little sweetness to the moreish dish. If you want to try their white version as well, you can get a plate of both white and black chai tow kway at $6.
Check out more famous fried carrot cake stalls!
Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-59, Albert Centre Market & Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opening hours: Daily 6am to 2pm
Guan Kee Carrot Cake is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @makko187
A piping hot bowl of curry bee hoon mee from Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee is my go-to Bugis hawker food when it rains. Each bowl comes with coconutty curry broth and plenty of toppings. The best topping is no doubt the fat pieces of tau pok. Make sure it’s soaked in a good amount of the broth before you bite into the spongy tofu to let all the creamy curry gush out at once. Prices here range from $6.
Address: 269B Queen Street, #01-236, QS269 Food House, Singapore 180269
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 3pm
Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @bobbytanbt
Leong Yeow is a little further from Bugis MRT Station compared to the rest on this list, but it’s worth the walk if you’re craving for chicken rice. Those who are famished can order both their Hainanese & Roasted Chicken Rice at $5 to get the best of both worlds. Otherwise, opt for the Char Siew Roasted Pork Rice (from $4) instead.
Address: 261 Waterloo Street, #01-29, Nan Tai Eating House, Singapore 180261
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 8pm
Tel: 6334 3989
Leong Yeow is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: V L
Every hawker centre has at least one stall that specialises in fishball noodles, and that’s Hock Lee Fishball Noodles in the case of Albert Centre Market and Food Centre. There’s only fishball noodles available here, priced at either $4 or $5 a bowl. But what makes customers return time after time are the handmade fishballs, which are touted to be fresh and bouncy. Of course, there are the standard dry and soup options for you to choose from, as well as different noodle types such as mee pok, mee kia, and kway teow.
Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-102, Albert Centre Market and Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 6:30am to 12pm
Hock Lee Fishball Noodles is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Logan Chiam
Here’s a starter pack for those working in the CBD: tissue packets to chope your table during the rush lunch hour, and a comforting bowl of fish soup. Angel Horse Teochew Fish Soup is known for their clear fish soup with fresh slices of fish which you can get from $5. If you prefer noodles to rice in your fish soup, there’s the Sliced Fish Bee Hoon ($5/$6) or Sliced Fish Mee Sua ($5/$6) for your consideration. Else, either get the Sliced Fish Soup ($5.50/$6.50) as an a la carte option, or pair it with a bowl of rice for an additional $0.50. There’s also the 2 Pax Set ($8/$10) for those accompanied by a dining companion!
Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-95, Albert Centre Market and Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 8pm
Angel Horse Teochew Fish Soup is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Serene Tan
Zheng Xing Mei Shi is for those who can appreciate a comforting bowl of old-school dessert. There’s the classic Tau Suan ($1.90), a sticky sweet treat with mung beans that’s topped with you tiao. They also offer Bubur Terigu ($1.80), which is similar to Tau Suan but with the addition of coconut milk! Then there’s the must-have Pulut Hitam ($1.90), comprising soft and chewy black glutinous rice with coconut milk and palm sugar.
Address: 269 Waterloo Street, #01-64, Albert Centre Market and Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opening hours: Fri, Sun, Tue-Wed 9am to 2pm
Zheng Xing Mei Shi is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Bluebird Review
Opened in 2023, Penang Man is one of the latest additions to Albert Centre Food Centre. It’s easy to spot the stall thanks to the eye-catching signboard in a bright shade of yellow, adorned with a picture of the owner’s face. Here, you can get legit Penang Assam Laksa ($5.50), which is typically more robust and punchy in flavour than Singapore-style laksa. There’s also Penang Prawn Noodle that you can get in soup for $5, or dry for $5.50. If you’re all about the liao, pay $1 more for pork slice or fish cake, and $2 for prawns.
Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-109, Albert Centre Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 7pm
Penang Man is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: 廖約棆（ALLEN LIAO）
If thick congee is your thing, this is your sign to add Li Fang Congee to your list of breakfast or lunch spots. For something familiar, they have the Mixed Pork Congee ($5.50) as well as the popular Century Egg & Lean Meat Congee ($4). There’s also Lala Congee ($5.80) here, which consists of fresh lala and shredded ginger to cut through any fishiness.
Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-78, Albert Centre Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 6pm
Tel: 9634 8383
Website
Li Fang Congee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Tan Irvan
Thong Kay Delight is one for the books for a classic Singaporean breakfast that isn’t kaya toast and half-boiled eggs. For a start, get a plate of their Chee Cheong Fun (from $1) that’s doused in a sweet-savoury sauce. Else, the handmade Yam Cake ($2/$2.50) or Glutinous Rice ($2/$2.50) is another great choice to keep you filled till lunchtime.
Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-97, Albert Centre Food Centre, Singapore 180270
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8:30am to 1pm
Thong Kay Delight is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Rennie Lee
Nasi lemak is another must-have when you’re at any given hawker centre. Fragrance Blue Pea Flower Nasi Lemak comes through with their aromatic blue pea flower rice and spicy sambal. For a classic nasi lemak set that comes with egg, sambal, ikan bilis, and chicken wing, get their Set 2 ($3.50). You can take it a step further and get Set 8 ($4), which is served with rendang chicken instead. Alternatively, switch out the rice with Bee Hoon (from $1.20).
Address: 271 Queen Street, #01-62, Albert Centre Food Centre, Singapore 180271
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 8pm
Fragrance Blue Pea Flower Nasi Lemak is not a halal-certified eatery.
Bugis has always been home to loads of good grub, but it takes a little venturing to find the cheap and good stuff. So head down to these Bugis hawker food stalls the next time your stomach starts growling after a shopping session!
Feature image adapted from Serene Tan, Logan Chiam, V L, @makko187 and @munafique
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