1. Toh Kee Roast Duck
Address: #01-1016A People’s Park Food Centre
Toh Kee's roast duck is a cut above the rest, thanks to the traditional brick oven they have been using for decades. The duck meat is tender and smoked, and the skin is of a crunchy caramelized beauty.
A plate of roasted duck rice cuts you back just $ 5, and a whole duck costs $ 40. It's more expensive than other roast duck places, but their high standards justify the price difference. Roast pork and char are also good, making it one of the most popular stalls at People’s Park Food Center.
2. Tong Heng
Opening hours: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Address: 285 South Bridge Road Singapore 058833
Tong Heng is a household name for many, especially for their celestial egg pies. At $ 1.60 per piece, they are slightly expensive. But once you bite into the soft, wobbly pastry cream, you will be sold. For something a little different, try their coconut egg pies ($ 1.80). The grated coconut adds softness and textural dimension, giving it a completely different mouth feel.
3. Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sat - Sun: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Address: # 02-58 Hong Lim Food Center
I never understood the concept of curry mee, because what could be better with curry than rice? But after trying Ah Heng's curry mee, I have to admit that this bowl of noodles changed life.
The curry broth is rich and brimming with the scent of coconut milk and spices. Paired with a heavenly combination of yellow and bee, these elements transform into a dish worthy of slurp. For $ 4.50, you will get two slices of inflatable fish cakes, two pieces of tender chicken, tau pok and potato.
4. Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao
Opening hours: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., closed on Thursday
Address: Blk 335, # 02-135 Smith Street Food Center
This nondescript location hidden in the middle of rows and rows of other hawkers' stalls makes beautiful fried dumplings ($ 5.50 for 10), long restaurant-quality xiao baos ($ 5 for 10) and Shanghai noodles. This may be a stall, but the standards are even better than many Chinese restaurant chains. And it's also much more economical.
Their fried dumplings have a crisp but fluffy skin wrapped in a garnish of pork and juicy chives. The pork is slightly peppery and moist, which gives a very addictive kick. It will take tremendous self-control not to order another plate of dumplings.
5. Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6 a.m. - 430 a.m.
Address: Blk 531A # 02-17 Hong Lim Market & Food Center
There is no better place to have char kway teow in Chinatown Singapore than this popular stand at the Hong Lim Food Center. The deliciously charred noodles ($ 3) are wok-fried to perfection with crunchy bean sprouts, lard, eggs and cockles. It is almost impossible to resist drinking spoonfuls of this slightly sweet and spicy goodness.
6. Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo
Opening hours: every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Address: # 01-1042 / 52 People’s Park Food Center, 32 New Market Road
Singaporeans may not be quite familiar with Chongqing cuisine, but it has grown steadily in popularity in Singapore over the past two years. Ri Ri Hong is probably one of the best places to visit if you are looking to hop on the Mala Xiang Guo train.
Most people are more familiar with the mala hotpot, but it is a dry version of the same thing. You select the vegetables and proteins of your choice, and the chefs will fry everything with their special blend of Chinese spices, peppercorns and dried peppers. The end result is a calorific bowl of fiery gratification.
Please note: bring lots of tissue paper, you will need it.
7. Tak Po Dim Sum Restaurant
Opening hours: every day from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Address: 42 Smith St, Singapore 058954
Chinatown Singapore would not be Chinatown without dim sum. Tak Po is an underrated dim sum restaurant along Smith Street that serves old fashioned dim sum at affordable prices. They have a wide variety of steamed, boiled and fried dim sum.
Highlights include the fun of che s che che cheong ($ 3.50), crispy yam dumpling ($ 1 per dumpling) and chicken with mushrooms ($ 2.80). Make sure you leave some space for their egg pie ($ 1.10 per pie). The crust enveloping the egg custard is flaky and will leave you wanting more.
8. Mei Heong Yuen Dessert
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 12 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Address: 63-67 Temple Street, Singapore 058611
Mei Heong Yuen has been a pillar of Chinatown for decades. They serve traditional Chinese desserts, such as Cheng Teng ($ 2.50) and Yam Paste ($ 3). A more refreshing option would be their freshwater chestnut cake ($ 3), which has a gelatinous body with crunchy water chestnuts inside.
They also have a wide selection of modern Snow Ice, which in my opinion is much better than an overpriced Korean Bingsu. This watermelon and lychee ice cream ($ 6) is perfect for hot days. The flavours do not have an artificial taste and the portion is generous. It is not surprising that tourists and locals flock to this dessert house to satisfy their delicacies.
9. Revamped Chinatown Food Street
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m., Fri - Sun: 11 a.m. - 3 a.m.
Address: 335 Smith St Singapore 050335
The recently renovated Chinatown Singapore food street may seem like a tourist gadget, but there are some great finds here. The Food Street features various exceptional hawkers stalls from all over Singapore, making satisfying your hawker cravings much easier.
Besides the Old Airport Road satay beehoon ($ 5) and Odeon beef noodles ($ 6), don't miss the glorious Orh Luak covered with lard ($ 5) from Katong Keah Kee Fried Oysters. The egg is light and fluffy, the starchy parts are a tender and sticky delight and the juicy oysters are a refreshing touch of saltiness. It is a dish for which you would not want to exercise.
10. Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle
Opening hours: 10.30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Address: Blk 335 # 02-126 Chinatown Complex Food Center Singapore 050335
Chicken with soy sauce from Hong Kong makes its signature chicken by poaching its chickens in a fragrant mixture of soy sauce and herbs and Chinese spices. This stall stands out from its competitors by the depth of flavour of the tender chicken and the oily and wet skin.
At $ 14 for a whole chicken or $ 2 for a plate of chicken rice with soy sauce, it's also one of the most affordable places to eat in Chinatown. It is not difficult to see why there is a perpetual queue here.
