For a first-timer in Singapore, the sheer number of hawker centres can be overwhelming. And that’s before you’ve even started planning which centres to visit, what to order, which stalls to hit, and working out how to dine like a local.
We reckon the best way to learn is by diving in headfirst, so we sent Lucky Dragon Supper Club’s Stephanie Feher on her first trip to Singapore—so she could share her top tips and tricks for navigating the bustling hawker scene.
Plan Your Hawker Crawl
The first step in any hawker centre adventure is picking your destination—Singapore has over 100 of these next-level culinary hubs, with many stalls earning Michelin recognition for their incredible street food. With so many to choose from, the best way to get started is by narrowing it down to just a handful of the best hawker centres in Singapore.
For Steph, that was Zion Riverside Food Centre, Maxwell Food Centre, and Tiong Bahru Market. For a cheap and easy way to get around, she recommends jumping on a public bus or taking the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). That way you can save those pennies for stocking up on hawker snacks.
Brush Up On Local Customs
If you want to blend in and eat like a local, Feher says it’s essential to brush up on your etiquette and do as the locals do.
“Always bring a packet of tissues to 'chope' your seat. It’s a local trick to reserve your spot while you order your food,” Feher says.
During lunchtime and dinner rushes the centres can fill up, so Feher recommends placing the tissue packet on the seat you want to reserve, grabbing your food, and then returning to a safely saved seat to tuck into your feast.
It’s also super common to share a table with strangers, so be prepared with a grin and a friendly nod if someone asks to pull up a seat.
Have Cash On Hand
Next up, it’s time to order. Feher recommends bringing cash over credit cards, in smaller denominations if you can—most dishes cost around $5, so don’t expect to be able to break a $50 note.
“Cash is king at many hawker stalls, so make sure to have Singapore dollars on hand," she says.
With an endless supply of stalls to choose from, the toughest part for Feher was picking where to start. It’s an unfortunate but universal truth that 99 per cent of the time there’s a queue for a reason, so choosing somewhere with a crowd pays off almost every time.
Load Up On Bak Kut Teh, Carrot Cake And Local Coffee
At Maxwell Food Centre, Nan Jing Jie Rou Gu Cha is a local gem, where Feher recommends trying a dish with tea in it called 'bak kut teh'—these pork ribs are cooked in a herbal broth that has a rep for having warming properties. "I promise you, comforting," Feher adds.
She also reckons you can’t skip on the carrot cake. Contrary to the well-known dessert topped with cream cheese icing, Singapore carrot cake is a savoury dish, made from shredded white radish and rice flour batter, stir-fried with eggs, preserved radish, garlic, spring onion and chilli sauce and according to Steph, "one of my favourites".
Tired from all that eating? Try ordering a coffee like the locals—made from Robusta coffee beans roasted in margarine and sugar (and then strained through a sock) it has a distinctive flavour at an affordable price.
In its simplest form, kopi (pronounced "ko-peeh") is served with condensed milk and sugar, but if you're after a flat white, try ordering the kopi c kosong (pronounced "ko-peeh see koh-song"), which is served with evaporated milk and no sugar. There are plenty more versions to sample, so check out this detailed coffee guide here.
Beat The Rush, Visit Outside Peak Hours
Eating aside, what was Steph’s biggest learning from the trip?
“Visit outside peak hours to avoid the crowd," she says. "That way you'll get to try things before they sell out."
Looking for good deals to Singapore so you can do your own hawker crawl? Head over to Flight Centre for up to 50% off Singapore deals, and lock in that long-overdue holiday.
Editor's note: This article is sponsored by Singapore Tourism and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Image credit: Urban List