Compared to the nearby Chinatown Complex and Maxwell Food Centre, Hong Lim Food Centre is quieter, with shorter queues and empty tables when it’s not lunch hour. However, that doesn’t mean this two-storey hawker centre is not filled with good food. From curry chicken noodles to crayfish hor fun, here are the best Hong Lim Food Centre stalls to visit.
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Shu Heng Bi Tai Mak is the place to visit for mee tai mak, also dubbed mouse noodles. Besides Hong Lim Food Centre, you can also find them in Ang Mo Kio at Kebun Baru Food Centre. While you’re there, try their signature Johor Bi Tai Mak ($4/$5), which gives you a comforting bowl of thick mee tai mak, hei bee, marinated minced pork, mushrooms, fried shallots, and fried garlic. Else, their Mushroom Pork Mince Noodle ($4/$5) is another crowd-favourite that features the usual BCM must-haves: minced pork, fishballs, fishcake, and braised mushrooms. You can opt for mee pok or mee kia as well if you’re not a fan of mee tai mak!
Read our Shu Heng Bi Tai Mak review.
Unit number: #01-25
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am to 2pm
Website
Shu Heng Bi Tai Mak is not a halal-certified eatery.
Run by a couple who loves beancurd enough to open a stall named DDSD, you’ll find some unique items on the menu created by the owners themselves. A great example is the Red Bean & Peach Gum Beancurd ($3.40), which tastes even better when you add Ginger Sugar ($0.50). You get soft peach gum beancurd topped with a generous portion of red bean, and it’s as delicious as it looks. Alternatively, get the popular Black Sesame Sauce Beancurd ($2.40) that stars plain tau huay with a huge scoop of thick and creamy black sesame paste. There’s also the Black Sesame Beancurd ($2.10) for something lighter on the palate, but this dessert is available only on Fridays and Saturdays.
Read our DDSD review.
Unit number: #02-53
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 9:30am to 3:30pm
Website
DDSD is not a halal-certified eatery.
Western food is a common find in hawker centres, but Western-Asian fusion is a first for me. Eddy’s No.1 is where you can try unconventional combinations at reasonable prices, such as Duck Confit ($12) and Mala Shrimp Spaghetti ($10.50). The former is a dish of melt-in-your-mouth tender duck confit paired with mashed potatoes, while the latter features mildly spicy pasta accompanied by prawns and veggies. I recommend the Duck Confit if you’re looking for a filling meal, and the Mala Shrimp Spaghetti for when you want something that packs a punch in the flavour department.
Read our Eddy’s No.1 review.
Unit number: #02-13
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 2pm
Website
Eddy’s No.1 is not a halal-certified eatery.
Many confuse this hawker stall with the famous Michelin-starred Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle. After all, they are very similar in presentation, name, and some even say taste. Though Tai Wah Pork Noodle isn’t Michelin-starred, their bowl of Pork Noodles (6/$8/$10) is just as satisfying. The fried sole fish adds a certain smokiness to the bowl of springy noodles coated in a dark, vinegary sauce that packs a sour punch. It is difficult to resist buying a bowl of BCM from them as the tantalising aroma of their dish hits you when you walk pass.
Read our Tai Wah Pork Noodle review.
Unit number: #02-16
Opening hours: Tue, Thurs-Sun 7:30am to 3pm
Website
Tai Wah Pork Noodle is not a halal-certified eatery.
With a total of three outlets across the country, including one at Hong Lim, Generation Coffee is a popular hawker stall offering cafe-style coffee. There are classic options such as Long Black ($3.40/$3.80) and Latte ($3.90/$4.30), as well as lesser-seen flavours including their Coconut Latte ($4.70), Dirty Matcha ($4.30/$4.70), and Spanish Latte ($4.30/$4.70). If you prefer sticking to the traditional kopi, you can enjoy a cup of Kopi-C from $2 and Teh from $1.90.
Read our Generation Coffee feature!
Unit number: #01-59
Opening hours: Mon-Tue, Thurs-Sat 7:30am to 10:30am, 11am to 2:45pm
Website
Generation Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Said to be the original curry chicken bee hoon mee in Hong Lim Food Centre, Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee always has a long queue. While its fiery red, robust soup and generous toppings may have played a part in drawing customers, it is their house-made sambal chilli that stole hearts—it adds depth to the dish with its savoury and spicy notes. At $6 a bowl, the tender chicken pieces, juicy tau pok, creamy coconut milk and al dente noodles will leave you feeling full and satisfied. There’s also a $8 option if you’re extra peckish!
Read our Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee review.
Unit number: #01-58
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 3:30pm
Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Cantonese Delights’ signature dish, Fried Chicken Cutlet Noodles ($5), features a tender golden brown chicken cutlet. The noodles are left to sit in flavourful curry, soaking up the delicious Chinese-style gravy. Don’t be frightened by the queue! It moves quickly and you’ll be rewarded by this flavour-packed dish. For something lighter, order their Shredded Chicken Hor Fun ($4), or Dumpling Noodles ($4) instead.
Read our Cantonese Delights review.
Unit number: #02-03
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am to 1:30pm
Cantonese Delights is not a halal-certified eatery.
Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa has garnered more than 300 Google reviews at the time of writing, with many lauding how delicious their Asia Delight Laksa ($7) is. Don’t be fooled by the dull colour of the soup as every spoonful is packed with rich flavours of scallops, dried oysters, dried prawns, coconut milk, and fresh coconut juice. For the adventurous, I recommend giving their Fruit Juice Mee Siam ($6) a shot. Instead of using assam to make the gravy, fruit juices are incorporated to create a tangy, spicy, and sweet broth. FYI, there are three noodle types to choose from here: yellow noodle, bee hoon, and thick bee hoon.
Read our Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa review.
Unit number: #02-66
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 3pm
Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa is not a halal-certified eatery.
Besides Heng Kee, another must-try curry mee stall is Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee, which has been recommended in the Michelin Guide. They’re one of the few stalls at Hong Lim that are open till 9pm, so you can pop in for a late dinner fix if you work nearby. Choose from small ($6), medium ($7), large ($8), and your preferred noodles: yellow mee, bee hoon, or a mix of both. Each portion comes with a generous serving of noodles, tau pok, and poached white chicken on top. The highlight of this dish is the rich and creamy curry that ends on a spicy note.
Read our Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee review.
Unit number: #02-58/59
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 9pm
Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Run by two KL-born young hawkers, The Noodle Memories serves up hearty and delicious noodle dishes from just $4.50. Their Specialty Dry Chili Noodle ($5.50) is a must-try; this umami-packed meal comes with fresh you mian noodles, house-made chilli, minced pork, black fungus, and a perfectly poached egg on top. There’s also a cheaper Signature Dry Noodle ($4.50) if you’re not into all the extra fixings. Mala fans can also try their Signature MaLa Soup Noodle ($5.50): springy noodles paired with a numbingly spicy mala soup. The noodles here are made fresh on-site!
Read our The Noodle Memories review.
Unit number: #02-27
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7am to 4pm
Website
The Noodle Memories is not a halal-certified eatery.
For healthier prata that doesn’t sacrifice taste or texture, head to Midas Chicken Curry on the second floor of Hong Lim. This humble hawker stall specialises in oven-baked prata, paired with a fragrant Thai-Indian curry that’s made with over 10 ingredients. Get the Midas Touch Chicken Curry Set ($8.40) that comes with two pieces of prata: Original and Spring Onion. If you’re not up for a full meal, get the baked prata alone, priced at $1.40 each! Each piece is uber-crispy on the outside, with layers of flaky goodness within.
Read our Midas Chicken Curry review.
Unit number: #02-07
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10am to 7pm, Sat 10am to 5pm
Tel: 9129 8884
Website
Midas Chicken Curry is not a halal-certified eatery.
For lunch, Tang Kay Kee Fish Head Bee Hoon serves up zhnged-up rice bowls that don’t break the bank. The Slow-cooked Spicy Braised Pork Belly Rice Bowl ($6.50) is one must-order; this hearty dish comes with tender pork belly that’s marinated in a house-made rempah, alongside battered enoki and a poached egg. There’s also their best-selling Fish Slice Hor Fun ($6.50), which comes topped with an onsen egg and battered enoki.
Read our Tang Kay Kee review.
Unit number: #01-70
Opening hours: Mon 11am to 2:30pm, Tue-Thurs 11am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 9:30pm, Fri 11am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 10pm, Sat-Sun 5pm to 10pm
Website
Tang Kay Kee Fish Head Bee Hoon is not a halal-certified eatery.
Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Hor Fun dishes out a glistening plate of Crayfish Prawn Hor Fun ($13). Laced with starchy gravy, every ingredient is cooked brilliantly. The smooth, silky noodles are crowned with crayfish and succulent prawns. Finishing it with fried shallots adds that little oomph to pull the dish together. Those who want something more budget-friendly can opt for the Chicken Prawn Hor Fun ($8) or Pacific Clam Hor Fun ($8) instead. Regulars love the sweetness and freshness of the seafood, so you can expect a queue at the stall at any point in time!
Read our Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Hor Fun review.
Unit: #02-40
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 11am to 2:45pm
Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Hor Fun is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you frequent Hong Lim Food Centre, you might be familiar with Coffee Break, a third-generation kopi stall that dates back to 1935. This Hong Lim outlet is their second outlet, following their successful launch in Amoy Street! Those who love goma need to try their Black Sesame Iced Kopi ($3.50), made with a nutty and earth house-made black sesame paste. They’re also known for their Black Sesame Butter Toast ($3.50), starring uber-thin slices of toast with the same black sesame spread.
Read our Coffee Break review.
Unit number: #02-41
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am to 2:30pm
Website
Coffee Break is not a halal-certified eatery.
153 Traditional Cuisine is a hidden gem that many have not heard of, but don’t sleep on them as they offer local breakfast items at wallet-friendly prices. Their economic Fried Bee Hoon costs $1, and you can add toppings such as Stir-fried Vegetables ($0.70) and Sunny Side-Up Egg ($0.70) to substantiate your meal. Else, we recommend giving the Chee Cheong Fun (from $1.60) a shot if you enjoy a sweet-savoury breakfast, or zhng up your meal with the Chee Cheong Fun + Yam Kueh (from $2) served with house-made yam kueh.
Read our 153 Traditional Cuisine feature.
Unit number: #01-53
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5:30am to 2pm
153 Traditional Cuisine is not a halal-certified eatery.
Featured in Michelin’s list of where to get Singapore’s best bak kut teh, Hokkien Street Bak Kut Teh is a promising stall selling affordable pork rib. You can choose between long and short ribs for a bowl of their Bak Kut Teh (from $4), and pair it with a side of Youtiao ($1/$2), Peanuts ($1/$2), and Yam Rice ($0.70) to complete your meal. If bak kut teh isn’t your jam, their popular Pig’s Trotter (from $4) is a great choice. Many patrons have shared online that the gelatinous meat is braised till soft and tender, and tastes best when mixed with rice and sweetened black vinegar sauce.
Unit number: #01-66
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 7pm
Hokkien Street Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
Boasting a 90-minute queue at certain hours, Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee fries up a plate of wok hei goodness. Peppered with cockles, crunchy tau gay, and pork lard, the smokey noodles will only set you back $4.50 or $5.50—depending on how hungry you are. It’s uber-addictive, as the heat from the chilli balances out the flavours, cutting through the grease and sweetness of the black sauce.
Read our Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee review.
Unit number: #02-17
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 6am to 3pm
Tel: 9838 7619
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist is a Michelin-approved stall with its roots in 1965. Today, it’s helmed by third-generation stall owners, who dish out plate after plate of their famous Ji Ji Signature Char Siew Wanton Noodle. For all noodle dishes, you can choose from four sizes: $4.50, $5.50, $6.50, $8.50. Their signature wonton mee sees springy egg noodles tossed in a house-made sauce and chilli mix on the side, topped with deep-fried wonton, char siew, and crispy lard. They also serve other noodle dishes such as Soy Sauce Chicken Noodles and Chicken Feet Noodles.
Read our Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist feature.
Unit number: #02-48/49
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 9:30am to 3pm, 5pm to 7pm
Website
Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist is not a halal-certified eatery.
Fan Ji Bittergourd Fish Soup sure serves a comforting bowl of soup. The signature Sliced Fish Soup ($5.50/$6.50/$9.50) from this stall features a substantial amount of thick fish slices and thinly sliced bitter gourd. There will be no issue slurping up every last drop of the soup, as it is light and refreshing, yet flavourful. The dish gets sold out pretty fast, so make sure you head down early to get a bowl of this simple, comforting fish soup.
Unit number: #02-70
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am to 2pm
Fan Ji Bittergourd Fish Soup is not a halal-certfied eatery.
With Ah Heng Duck Rice‘s thinly sliced braised duck, silky smooth kway, slightly herby zhup, and their super shiok chilli dip, it’s no wonder it made it onto the Michelin Guide, as well as our list of best braised duck rice in Singapore. A serving of Duck Rice is $4.50 while the Kway Chap is priced at $5. Prices can go up depending on whether you want to add liao or not. Dishes such as Pig Skin ($1.50/$3) and Pork Belly ($4/$6) are also available. Add on a braised egg, tau pok, or tau kua at $0.70 each!
Unit number: #02-64
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 6:30am to 3pm
Ah Heng Duck Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Min jiang kueh fans have to try Granny’s Pancake, which sells old-school pancakes at wallet-friendly prices. They have multiple outlets islandwide, including in Hong Lim Food Centre and Whampoa Food Centre. Their handmade MJK is priced from $1.20 a slice, so you won’t feel the pinch. Definitely get the Peanut Butter ($1.40) flavour, which gets you soft pancakes sandwiched with crunchy peanut bits, and slathered with a generous amount of peanut butter. They also have Red Bean and Coconut flavours, if you want something more traditional.
Read our Granny’s Pancake review.
Unit number: #02-39
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 2pm
Granny’s Pancake is not a halal-certified eatery.
Chinatown is truly a neighbourhood filled with food gems. For more delicious eats in the area, read our full guide to the best food in Chinatown, including cheap hotpot, dim sum and more! Alternatively, head to Hong Lim Complex and check out Bullock Cart Coffee for taro latte and pastries.
Address: 531A Upper Cross Street, Singapore 051531
Nearest MRT Station: Chinatown
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