Our unique and colourful hawker culture has long been a point of pride for Singaporeans and our national identity, so much so that it was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity late last year. Feasting through a kaleidoscope of cuisines and hawker stalls is a national pastime and a stamp of our unique Singaporean identity. If you feel like taking a trip down memory lane to celebrate our multicultural food scene, here are 15 of the oldest hawker stalls we have in Singapore.
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Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake is a legendary 70-year-old chai tow kueh stall. It has been around since the 1950s, making it one of the oldest hawker stalls of its kind. The stall uses traditional techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation, including milling the rice flour for their kueh.
Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake offers both black and white versions of their carrot cake. They are sold at either $3, $4, or $5. Each cube of carrot cake is firm yet pillowy, with a nice crisp on the outside. During our visit, we enjoyed the well-balanced sweet and spicy flavour of the black version, while the white rendition boasted a strong wok-hei and smoky aroma.
Read our interview with Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake.
Address: 115 Bukit Merah View, #01-37, Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, Singapore 151115
Opening hours: Daily 6am to 2pm, 4pm to 8pm (hours may vary)
Website
Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake is not a halal-certified eatery.
Although the famous Satay Club no longer exists in Singapore, the last trace of it lingers at Original Alhambra Satay—its last surviving member. Located at Changi Road and Geylang Serai, the stall is currently operated by Encik Saiful bin Haji Juwahir, the stall’s second-generation owner who meticulously hand-makes their satay using traditional techniques.
At Original Alhambra Satay, each skewer costs $0.70, which you can choose from beef, chicken, or mutton. All their satay is roasted on a charcoal grill, giving the meat a kiss of smokiness and a flavorful aroma. Dip the satay into their peanut sauce, which is made with dried shrimp and chilli to add an extra depth of savoury flavour.
Read our interview with Original Alhambra Satay.
Changi outlet
Address: 285 Changi Road, R&W Eatery/ Bikerz Cornerz, Singapore 419764
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 3pm to 2am
Geylang Serai outlet
Address: 1 Geylang Serai, #01-210 Teh Tarek Eating House, Singapore 402001
Opening hours: Daily 9:30am to 7:45pm
Tel: 8731 4857
Website
Original Alhambra Satay is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Choon Seng Teochew Porridge has a rich history that dates back to long before World War Two. For over 90 years, the stall has been serving traditional Teochew porridge, with their legacy being carried on by the fourth-generation owner.
Despite its long-standing heritage, each bowl of Porridge only costs $0.50, making it an affordable option for locals and tourists alike. You can pair your porridge with other ingredients available at the stall, including their popular Steamed Fish (seasonal price), which features different types of fish daily such as red grouper and humpback grouper. Another well-loved dish is Prawn Omelette ($4), which is packed with juicy and sweet prawn bits.
Read our interview with Choon Seng Teochew Porridge.
Address: 43 Cambridge Road, Singapore 210043
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:45am to 3pm
Tel: 6293 0706
Website
Choon Seng Teochew Porridge is not a halal-certified eatery.
Located in Toa Payoh, Che’ Rose Nasi Padang is said to boast one of the best rendang in Singapore. The stall first opened its doors in 1968, and is part of a nasi padang empire that has thrived for over half a century. Che’ Rose’s sisters still own and operate Sabar Menanti II, Rumah Makan Minang, and Hajjah Ratna, which are among the oldest and most well-known nasi padang hawker stalls in Singapore.
A visit to Che’ Rose Nasi Padang is incomplete without trying their signature Beef Rendang ($3). Made using 14 kilograms of beef slow-cooked with coconut milk and various spices for three hours, this dish has a tender, succulent texture with just the right amount of flavour and moisture. Other must-try items on their menu include Chicken Rendang ($3.50), Asam Squid Curry ($4), and Sayur Lemak ($1).
Read our interview with Che’ Rose Nasi Padang.
Address: 128 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310128
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 8am to 3pm
Website
Che’ Rose Nasi Padang is a halal-certified eatery.
Since 1939, Ye Lai Xiang Cheng Tng has been serving a single item—the traditional Chinese dessert chng tng. The stall has managed to thrive on this single offering for over 80 years, which is more than enough proof of its excellent quality. Each bowl of chng tng is affordably priced at $3, and the only option you have is whether you prefer it hot or cold.
What makes Ye Lai Xiang Cheng Tng’s chng tng stand out is the whopping 11 ingredients that go into it, including rehydrated longan, dried persimmon, and candied winter melon. The ingredients are then served with a syrup base made of pandan-infused syrup, and water that dried longan are soaked and rehydrated in.
Read our Ye Lai Xiang Cheng Tng review.
Address: 1 Bedok Road, Stall 31, Bedok Food Centre, Singapore 469572
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 9:30am to 7pm
Tel: 9299 5062
Website
Ye Lai Xiang Cheng Tng is not a halal-certified eatery, but does not use pork or lard.
For over 70 years, Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles has been faithfully serving their signature hei mee, earning them a loyal following and even a Michelin Plate award.
Their noodle bowls are priced between $5 and $25, increasing in denominations of $5 based on the size of prawns you prefer. Regardless of the size, the prawns are fresh, plump, sweet, and succulent. They are served in a light, savoury deep-red broth, and deshelled for your convenience. Aside from the prawns, the noodle bowls come with your choice of noodles, which are served with tau gey, kang kong, and topped with fried lards and shallots. You can opt for the soup version as well.
Read our Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles review.
Address: 41A Cambridge Road, #01-15, Pek Kio Market & Food Centre, Singapore 210041
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 8:30am to 2pm (or sold out)
Tel: 9688 3633
Website
Wah Kee Big Prawn is not a halal-certified eatery.
Rolina started as a humble pushcart located outside Novena Church over half a century ago, and is now a recognised hawker stall in Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market and Food Centre. They are well-known for their deep-fried curry puffs, and even received a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award in 2018.
Rolina prepares all of the components of their golden pastries in-house, including the dough and curry filling. Customers have two flavour options: Curry Chicken & Egg ($1.80) and Sardine ($1.80), and both are chock full with their respective fillings. The curry filling is made using a secret rempah mix, giving rise to an immensely flavourful puff.
In addition to their signature curry puffs, they also offer Glutinous Rice ($2.50) AKA 糯米饭 (nuò mǐ fàn), which has a soft, chewy texture and comes topped with beans and scallions.
Read our Rolina Traditional Hainanese Curry Puffs review.
Address: 6 Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market and Food Centre, #02-15, Singapore 081006
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 6:30am to 2pm
Tel: 9235 8093
Website
Rolina Traditional Hainanese Curry Puffs is not a halal-certified eatery, but does not use pork or lard.
Jia Xiang is an old-school mee siam stall at Redhill Food Centre. One of the oldest hawker stalls in the food centre, the stall is currently run by Mdm Chen Mei Ying, who has been helping out at the store for over 50 years since she was 12 years old.
Jia Xiang only has two items on their menu: Mee Siam and Lontong, which are both priced at $3 each. Each bowl of mee siam comes with a generous amount of toppings including dried shrimp, ikan bilis, tau pok and more, all soaked in a tangy and sweet broth, and two different kinds of sambal topping it. Their lontong features soft and chewy rice cakes paired with a variety of vegetables such as carrots, yam, and cabbage, which provides a nice textural contrast. Customers also rave about the rich and fragrant flavour of the coconut milk curry that is used in the broth.
Read our interview with Jia Xiang.
Address: 85 Redhill Lane, #01-35, Redhill Food Centre, Singapore 150085
Opening hours: Mon 11:30am to 6pm, Tue-Thurs 11am to 6pm, Fri-Sun 11am to 8pm
Website
Jia Xiang is not a halal-certified eatery, but does not use pork or lard.
Yunos N Family is a family-run business that has been going strong since 1965, ever since its Javanese founder arrived in Singapore, armed with a mee rebus recipe that would completely change the game. What used to be a pushcart stall now has a permanent home in Ang Mo Kio, where the same hearty Mee Rebus ($3) is doled out day after day to hungry diners. Expect a gravy that has a rich combination of sweet, savoury, spicy, and nutty. Their new menu also offers Mee Soto, Bee Hoon Soto, Kway Teow Soto, and Soto Ayam, all of which cost $4.
Read our Yunos N Family review.
Address: 724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, #01-01, Ang Mo Kio Central Market & Food Centre, Singapore 560724
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 7pm
Website
Yunos N Family is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Bak chor mee is such a ubiquitous sight in hawker centres today, but if you really want to trace it back to its roots, you must pay a visit to Famous Eunos Bak Chor Mee. The family’s bak chor mee recipe has been passed down from generation to generation, ever since the 1920s, when the family patriarch sold this dish out of a portable kitchen he carried across his back, held together by a bamboo pole.
The hawker stall has now franchised to open multiple outlets since the fifth generation took over, but no matter which you patronise, the same handmade pork dumplings, garlicky broth, and springy noodles remain. Prices start from $4.50 for their signature bowl.
Read our interview with Famous Eunos Bak Chor Mee.
Address: 7 Eunos Crescent, Hong Lee Coffeeshop, Singapore 400007
Opening hours: Daily 6am to 7:30pm
Website
Famous Eunos Bak Chor Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @meltingflavours
Warong Nasi Pariaman is a renowned nasi padang eatery established in 1948 by a husband-and-wife duo. Their simple yet delicious Malay dishes are prepared using recipes passed down through generations. The business was inherited by their children in the 1990s, and they continue to maintain the family legacy.
Their Beef Rendang ($4.50) is a popular pick among their customers. The beef is slow-cooked until the beef is tender, and falls apart with ease. Alternatively, you can try their Ayam Bakar Set ($9.50), featuring a generously sized chicken leg with crispy, crackling skin.
Address: 738 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198706
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 7:30am to 3pm
Tel: 6292 5898
Website
Warong Nasi Pariaman is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Image credit: @yum_seng
Some call Azmi Restaurant a legendary spot for chapati in Singapore, because the eatery has been honing their craft since 1960. Also known as the “Norris Road chapati”, this eatery is run by two brothers from the founding family of Azmi Restaurant, and they have retained exactly the same recipes that their Indian ancestors used in the past, to this very day. All Chapati ($1.20) are made by hand, and fans rave that these pillowy rounds are the best accompaniment to their aromatic Mutton Keema ($4).
Address: 168 Serangoon Road, Singapore 209671
Opening hours: Daily 8:15am to 10:15pm
Tel: 9428 0203
Website
Azmi Restaurant is a Muslim-owned eatery.
If you love eating your laksa with a spoon, you only have Sungei Road Laksa to thank for that. Since 1956, this hawker stall has been making lemak laksa since its early days as a pushcart, serving workers their delicious and easy-to-eat bowlfuls, as one never needed chopsticks to dig in.
Today, the stall operates out of a permanent home in Jalan Berseh, but still keeps some nostalgic elements, such as cooking their laksa over charcoal fire, and generously dosing each bowl with fat sea hum rounds, despite its affordable $3 price tag. You can choose to top up noodles, soup, cockles, or fishcakes for just $1.
Read our Sungei Road Laksa review.
Address: 27 Jalan Berseh, #01-100, Singapore 200027
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 9:30m to 4pm
Sungei Road Laksa is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @littlewanderlustgirl
Arguably the oldest hawker establishment in our city is Singapore Zam Zam Restaurant, which has been around since 1908. Some beloved dishes here include their murtabak, which starts from $6 if you order their beef, mutton, chicken, or sardine flavours. Otherwise, their Mutton Biryani ($7.50) is another big win for frequent diners, as each portion comes with a huge hunk of mutton atop fragrant basmati rice. Complete your meal with a glass of hand-pulled Teh Tarik ($1.50), and you have a meal to remember.
Address: 697-699 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198675
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 11pm
Tel: 6298 6320
Website
Singapore Zam Zam Restaurant is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Few dishes capture “ugly delicious” as well as Hainanese curry rice, and Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice takes this to the next level. This hawker stall has been around since 1946, serving up sloppy, moreish mounds of rice, meat, and curry zhup daily. Fans especially love the curry, which is smooth, creamy, and aromatic with a good level of spice. You can choose from a wide array of side dishes to go with your curry rice, such as Pork Chop (from $2), Curry Chicken (from $2), Sambal Prawns (from $2) and more.
Read our Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice review.
Address: 30 Seng Poh Road, #02-67/68, Tiong Bahru Food Centre, Singapore 168898
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 8am to 2:45pm
Tel: 9617 0052
Website
Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Today’s local hawker scene is a reflection of Singapore’s rich and diverse multicultural heritage, decorated with both new and traditional hawker stalls. These old hawker stalls might not be here for a long time, so let us cherish the history and legacy that goes behind these dishes while they are still here. Everyone has a part to play to preserve, protect and celebrate unique flavours and traditions of our local hawker stalls, so that we can ensure that future generations can experience and enjoy what we have right now.
One way to better learn and appreciate our diverse cultures is through learning the origins and recreating traditional dishes. Kampung Eats is a new website where you can get the lowdown on traditional recipes shared by fellow users. Recipes are crowd-sourced too, so if you have a family recipe to share, feel free to do so on the website as well!
This post is brought to you by #SGinHarmony, an initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), with support from community partners.
This article was originally written on 23 July 2021.
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