As a Westie, I’m guilty of only heading to Queenstown for IKEA and nothing else. If not for working here, I would not have picked up on all the Queenstown food gems, hiding in plain sight. Forget about fancy fine dining restaurants, some of the best food in Singapore are dished up in a hawker centre. From unique mee pok to Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded laksa, we’ve rounded up Queenstown’s best and the notable rest.
Image credit: @zenize
I can see why Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee has been bestowed with the Michelin Bib Gourmand accolade this year. If, like me, you prefer your Hokkien mee ($4/$5/$6) wet and chock-full of umami flavours, make this your go-to stall the next time you’re hankering for some! Look out for the man behind the glorious plates of noodles – he is a 68-year-old second-gen hawker, who never fails to put on his “science lab” goggles before starting his masterful stir-frying.
Find out what else is on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list!
Address: Blk 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-13, ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Opening hours: Thur-Tue 3pm to 10:45pm
Tel: 9862 9296
Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei’s fame knows no boundaries. Singaporeans beyond the Queenstown region know about this laksa, which stays warm in the claypot down to the very last drop. Priced at $4/$5/$6, this twice Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded laksa is a spicy and savoury combination with a difference. Make sure to give the dollop of chilli a good stir into the thick and fragrant coconut gravy for an extra oomph.
Address: 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-75, Alexandra Village Food Centre, Singapore 150120
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 5pm
Tel: 9088 9203
We are all suckers for cheap and good Western food with huge portions, and Chef Hainanese Western Food has just that. Their Chicken Cutlet ($5.50) features a huge chunk of chicken that covers one-third of the plate, along with a side of baked beans, coleslaw, fries, and a baked potato. If you’re feeling exceptionally hungry, get their Mixed Grill ($9.50), which comes with a fish cutlet, pork chop, chicken chop, and a sausage.
Check out our full review of Chef Hainanese Western Food!
Address: 1A Commonwealth Drive, #01-04, Tanglin Halt Food Centre, Singapore 141001
Opening hours: Fri-Tue 7pm to 10pm
Image credit: @peleling
Fatty Cheong has been touted by many for roast meats that are to die for. Their sio bak thrives on the contrasting texture of the crispy crackling and melt-in-the-mouth pork, while their char siew has a caramelised honey glaze coating tender meat morsels. Get the best of both worlds with their char siew and roast pork rice at $5 a plate!
Address: Blk 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-120, ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 11am to 8:30pm
Tel: 9882 4949
Image credit: @closetnomster
Listed in the Michelin Guide Singapore, the Moonlight Hor Fun ($6/$9/$16) from Keng Eng Kee Seafood is a must-order. The visuals of the dish itself is already enticing with a raw egg yolk glowing against dark noodles. The dish is also peppered with ingredients such as squid, lup cheong, prawns, and pork lard, making each spoonful a memorable one. Other dishes to try include Prawn Paste Chicken ($12/$18/$25), and Mingzhu Rolls ($12/$16/$20) – housemade fried tau pok stuffed with salted egg yolk, prawn, ham, and mushrooms.
Address: Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-136, Singapore 150124
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 2:30pm, 5pm to 10pm
Tel: 6272 1038
Website
Image credit: @hahaiamwhoiam
Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun is another two-year Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee. This silky Ipoh hor fun is not the most Instagrammable, but it definitely exceeded my expectations in terms of taste. Get the Blissful Combination ($5) of braised pork ribs, shredded duck, shredded chicken, mushrooms and vegetables. Located at Mei Ling Food Centre, this makes for a hearty breakfast after a hike at HortPark.
Check out this list of Michelin hawker dishes below $10!
Address: 159 Mei Chin Road, #02-33, Mei Ling Market & Food Centre, Singapore 140159
Opening hours: Thur-Sun 8am to 2pm
Image credit: @gogalgal
A few stalls away from Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei laksa is Hong Kong Yummy Soup, which serves a small selection of nourishing Cantonese soups. This new Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee only has six soups and two other dishes on their menu. Highlights include Cordyceps Flowers with Chicken ($4) and Spareribs Soup With Winter Melon ($3.50). On days when soup and rice just aren’t enough, try their Steamed Pork Ribs ($3.50) or Steamed Pumpkin with Minced Pork ($3).
Address: 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-51, Alexandra Village Food Centre, Singapore 150120
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm to 8:30pm
Image credit: @plutoniumignite
Another option for a light meal with soup and rice is Ah Er Soup. Awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for two years straight, this humble stall offers clear and nutritious soups at affordable prices. Their Buddha Jumps Over The Wall ($7) for instance, features high-quality ingredients such as abalone and fish maw. Ten Tonic Ginseng Chicken Soup ($5.50) also comes with a large piece of tender black chicken. Complete your meal with white rice ($0.50) or pumpkin rice ($1)!
Address: 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-143, ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Opening hours: Sun-Fri 11am to 2pm, 5pm to 8pm
Website
Get your hands on Sweet Rex’s Soufflé Pancakes ($4 for two pancakes) if you can. This elusive hawker stall opens mainly on weekends, and weekdays only when the lady boss has time on her hands. The pancakes here are totally #breakfastgoals. Ticking all the right boxes, they are fluffy, airy, and buttery all at the same time. Those looking for an after-meal indulgence can also try the Thai Milk Tea or Matcha Pudding at only $2 a pop.
Check out our full review of Sweet Rex!
Address: 159 Mei Chin Road, #02-47, Mei Ling Market & Food Centre, Singapore 140159
Opening hours: Sat-Sun 10am to 9pm. Opens on random days on weekdays.
Tel: 8163 7630
Website
Queenstown is such a treasure trove of hawker delights. If you’re looking for more places that are suitable for big groups to chill at, check out Enjoy Mala, a lok lok-style ma la dip pot in Orchard or Yakiniku Ohji, which offers Japanese charcoal BBQ and sushi buffet in Ang Mo Kio.
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