Hawker centres are undeniably beloved in Singapore for their assortment of local food. One of the most popular ones is Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre, located conveniently near Tiong Bahru MRT station. Originally called Seng Poh Road Market in 1951, it was built to accommodate the street hawkers who served the community. Nowadays, the market on the ground floor and the hawker centre above it attract long queues of locals and tourists alike. Tiong Bahru Market has also gained recognition from Michelin, with several of its stalls receiving recommendations. Let’s explore 15 stalls at the Tiong Bahru hawker centre that are worth trying.
- Min Nan Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle is a must-visit stall. They serve prawn noodles with a twist – by adding tender pork ribs to the dish. The noodles are fragrant and the chilli sauce adds the perfect level of spiciness. You can customize your meal by adding extra prawns, ribs, meatballs, fish cake, vegetables, and noodles. The dry version with prawns and ribs is particularly popular, as it allows you to enjoy the piquant chilli sauce mixed with the noodles.
- Tiong Bahru Pau is a well-established stall that has been delighting customers since the 1960s. Their handmade buns, such as the char siew pau and siew mai, are simply delicious. Starting your day with a snack from Tiong Bahru Pau is a great idea.
- Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee is not only a favourite among locals for its mouth-watering hokkien mee but also for its Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. The hokkien mee is cooked to order in small batches, ensuring that each plate is fresh and piping hot. The broth is full of flavour, and the noodles have a delightful charred taste. Don’t miss out on adding their homemade sambal for an extra kick.
- Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice has earned its reputation as one of the best curry rice stalls in Singapore. Despite the long queues, the wait is worth it. This stall offers a variety of dishes to add to your rice, all drenched in their thick and flavourful curry. The pork chop and sambal sotong are highly recommended.
- 7 Original Tiong Bahru Fishball boasts over five decades of experience in making delicious fishballs and related items without the addition of any flour. The fishballs have a nice bounce and are made with fresh wolf herring fish. Along with fishballs and fishcakes, you can also try their otah and ngoh hiang (fried meat rolls).
- Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup has been serving Teochew-style clear soup since 1955. The salted mustard vegetables add an intense flavor, and the innards are meticulously cleaned, resulting in a delicious and satisfying soup. Be sure to try their hearty pig’s organ soup, which includes a variety of ingredients like liver, tripe, intestines, meatballs, and lean meat.
- The CoCo Rice puts a unique twist on nasi lemak, serving authentic blue pea nasi lemak kukus sets that are visually appealing. Their signature fried chicken whole leg with herbs and spices is a must-try, and seafood lovers will enjoy the sambal prawn with sambal petai. Although slightly pricier than traditional hawker centre nasi lemak, The CoCo Rice is worth a visit.
- Tiong Bahru Lee Hong Kee Cantonese Roasted offers a range of roasted meats, including pork, chicken, char siew, and duck. The meats are juicy and generously portioned. You can have your meat served with rice or noodles, and don’t forget to try their signature sauce for an added burst of flavour.
- Skirt & Dirt brings gourmet burgers to the hawker centre scene. Made with top-quality beef cuts, their cheese skirt burgers have a unique and enticing presentation with a crunchy cheese skirt extending from the bottom of the beef patty. They also offer other burger options, as well as BBQ chicken and a variety of sides.
- Tian Tian Yuan Dessert House is the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth. Their menu includes refreshing desserts like ice kachang and ice jelly, as well as warm treats such as red bean soup, green bean soup, split mung bean, and ginko nut barley. The cheng tng, a signature dessert filled with various ingredients, is a must-try.
- Tiong Bahru Tau Suan is known for its perfectly balanced split mung bean dessert. The tau suan has just the right consistency, and the crispy dough fritters complement the beans well. This stall also serves other high-quality desserts like pulut hitam and bubur terigu.
- Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice is not your average chicken rice stall. It has received recognition from the Michelin bib gourmand and has been serving satisfied customers for over 30 years. The fluffy rice pairs excellently with either steamed or roasted chicken, which are fragrant and flavorful. Don’t forget to try their soy sauce vegetables and bean sprouts as well.
- Tiong Bahru Hot Plate Western Food offers a delightful selection of affordable Western dishes with generous portions. Their grilled or deep-fried meats are served on sizzling hot plates, ensuring they are hot and delicious. Classic sides like baked beans, fries, and coleslaw perfectly complement the meats.
- Jian Bo Shui Kueh stands out among the Shui Kueh stalls at Tiong Bahru Market. The crunchy chai poh topping and the fragrant dried prawn chilli set their Shui Kueh apart. Eating a bowl of these Teochew steamed rice cakes is a delightful sensory experience.
- Hing Hing Soup Republic serves hearty soups such as ABC soup, lotus root with peanut and pork rib soup, and black chicken soup with ginseng. Their rice dishes, like steamed Chinese sausage rice and claypot rice with chicken, offer more filling options. Be sure to try their signature miniature Buddha jump over the wall for a unique indulgence.
These are just a few of the stalls that make Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre a food haven in Singapore. With its wide variety of dishes and flavors, it’s a culinary destination worth exploring.
