When it comes to amazing food at unbeatable prices, Singapore’s hawker centres are the heart and soul of our nation’s food culture. In a city bursting with Michelin stars and rooftop dining, it’s still the humble hawker stall that people queue for like crazy (sometimes for over an hour!).
From legendary chicken rice to fiery laksa and next-level char kway teow, these hawker heroes have earned a loyal following. Tourists, locals, and even celebrities are willing to brave the heat and long lines just to get a taste.
Here’s our ultimate list of the 10 best hawker stalls in Singapore that people queue for like siao—worth every second of the wait.
1. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice – Maxwell Food Centre
Ask any local where to find the best chicken rice and chances are, you’ll be pointed to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. Famously endorsed by Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay, this stall has achieved near-legendary status.
The secret? Tender, juicy chicken, aromatic rice that’s cooked in rich chicken stock and fat, and a fiery homemade garlic-chilli sauce. The queue snakes around the block all day—but for many, it’s the only way to get their chicken rice fix.
Dish to try: Hainanese Chicken Rice
📍 Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-10
2. Hill Street Char Kway Teow – Chinatown Complex
The name alone sparks cravings. Hill Street Char Kway Teow is known for wok hei (that smoky charred flavour) and intensely rich flavours. Uncle Ng—the man behind this masterpiece—has been dishing out perfectly balanced char kway teow for decades.
What makes theirs different? Sliced Chinese sausages, fresh cockles, crisp bean sprouts, eggs… all stir-fried to perfection in a mystery dark sauce.
Dish to try: Classic Char Kway Teow
📍 Chinatown Complex, 335 Smith St, #02-187
3. 328 Katong Laksa – East Coast Road
This is the laksa showdown champion that beat even Gordon Ramsay in a 2013 local food cook-off. 328 Katong Laksa offers a rich, creamy, coconut-based soup filled with rice noodles, prawns, fishcake, and cockles.
What’s unique is that they cut the noodles short so you can eat everything with just a spoon—true Singaporean style. Be prepared to queue, especially on weekends. But trust us: the spicy laksa broth is worth sweating for.
Dish to try: Laksa with prawns and cockles
📍 51 East Coast Road
4. Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee – Hong Lim Food Centre
Big fans of fried noodles can’t miss this one. Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee consistently dominates “best-of” food lists and continues to attract massive queues—even early in the morning.
The stall is run with military precision, each plate moist, smoky, and loaded with wok hei, fresh lard, bean sprouts, and egg. Come early before they sell out.
Dish to try: Fried Kway Teow with cockles
📍 Hong Lim Complex, 531A Upper Cross St, #02-17
5. Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle – Chinatown
Also known as Hawker Chan, this humble stall became the world’s first Michelin-starred hawker stall. For under $5, you get succulent soya sauce chicken with silky rice or springy noodles—a seriously satisfying treat.
Even today, crowds line up for a plate of this unassuming, flavour-packed dish. They also now have air-conditioned outlets, but for the OG experience? Queue at the original stall.
Dish to try: Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle
📍 Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, #02-126
6. Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak – Adam Road Food Centre
Nasi lemak gets the royal treatment here, and it’s no surprise that Selera Rasa is often seen serving members of Singapore’s royal families. Long dubbed one of the best in Singapore, this version combines fluffy coconut rice, crispy chicken wing, fried egg, ikan bilis, and their famous sweet sambal chilli.
Don’t be fooled by its simplicity—the flavours are deep, nostalgic, and seriously addictive. Plus, you can tell a stall is good when cabbies queue and bring friends.
Dish to try: Nasi Lemak Royale Set
📍 Adam Road Food Centre, 2 Adam Rd, #01-02
7. Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh – Rangoon Road
This Teochew-style Bak Kut Teh (pork rib soup) is not in a hawker centre, but it very much retains hawker pricing, qualities, and yes—queues. People from all over Singapore wait for a taste of their peppery broth, fall-off-the-bone tender pork, and delicious braised dishes like intestines and tau pok.
In the cooler months or rainy days, expect the queue to double (Singaporeans love their soup comfort food).
Dish to try: Pork Rib Soup with braised sides
📍 Try: 34 Foch Rd, #01-01
8. Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice – Maxwell Food Centre
In a legendary tale of hawker rivalry, Ah Tai was actually one of the ex-head chefs at Tian Tian (yes, the one above). He went solo with his own stall just a few units away—and turned it into its own legend.
Some say it’s less oily, more gingery, and more fragrant than Tian Tian. Either way, the loyal fanbase and constant queues are proof that this chicken rice is a must-try.
Dish to try: Hainanese Chicken Rice
📍 Maxwell Food Centre, #01-07
9. Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa – Hong Lim Food Centre
Another award-winner at Hong Lim, this stall offers a unique take on laksa. Try their mee siam laksa, which blends the sourness of mee siam with the richness of laksa gravy.
They use fresh crab meat, dried scallops, and light coconut milk, making each bowl extra flavourful. Regulars are known to queue even before opening time to secure a bowl.
Dish to try: Fruit Juice Mee Siam / Laksa
📍 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-66 Hong Lim Food Centre
10. Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee – Golden Mile Food Centre
Want a plate of wet-style Hokkien Mee with juicy prawns and unbeatable wok hei? Look no further than Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee. Often underestimated due to its old-school setup, this place is a Hokkien Mee lover’s dream.
Fans swear by the seafood stock-infused noodles, crispy pork lard, and excellent chilli on the side. Fair warning: the queue gets mad long every lunchtime.
Dish to try: Hokkien Prawn Mee (Wet version)
📍 505 Beach Rd, Golden Mile Food Centre, #B1-34
Final Thoughts: Worth the Queue, Every Time
Singaporeans don’t queue for nothing—and when it comes to food, queues are a stamp of approval. These 10 hawker legends offer unbeatable flavours, no gimmicks, and stay true to their heritage. Whether it’s your first time exploring the hawker world or you’re a loyal follower on a makan mission, these stalls represent everything we love about Singapore’s vibrant food culture.
So get ready to queue—because the best flavours are worth the wait.