Maxwell Hawker Centre is one of the best places to try genuine Singaporean dishes that are cheap and very tasty. Our favourite thing about this food court is how alive it feels, with locals and tourists all bustling about trying to get their fill of classic Singaporean street food that start from about S$3 per serving.
The 2 long lines of stalls offer mainly Chinese inspired dishes – think dim sum, rice porridge, fish balls, and noodles – but with this being Singapore, there is always a selection of regional cuisines to choose from. Try to avoid lunchtimes between midday and 2pm when the whole building is swamped with nearby office workers.
Maxwell Hawker Centre in Singapore - one of the highlights of 17 Best Things to Do in Singapore Chinatown and 8 Best Local Restaurants in Singapore (Read all about Singapore here)
photo by Sebastian Werner (CC BY 2.0) modified
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is the most popular food stall in Maxwell Hawker Centre, if not the most popular in all of Singapore! Snaking queues are a common sight close to meal times – especially after The Michelin Guide gave Tian Tian a Michelin Star (the first ever given to a street stall anywhere in the world).
If you’re in the mood for steamed chicken on rice but don’t have the time or inclination to wait in line, you can check out Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice just a few stalls down, whose namesake owner himself is a former staff member at the more famous neighbour.
Another enduring favourite at Maxwell Hawker Centre is Rojak, Popiah & Cockle, which serves the Malay-style mix of crispy bread, fruit and vegetables, and egg all smothered in a bold, biting sauce – it’s one for the adventurous but locals love it!
Maxwell Road Food Centre is surrounded by many of Chinatown’s best attractions and walking distance from Telok Ayer and Chinatown MRT subway stations. It’s also open until 10pm, so you can enjoy a late meal there too.
photo by Fabio Achilli (CC BY 2.0) modified
Maxwell Hawker Centre in Singapore
Location: 1 Kadayanallur St, Chinatown, Singapore
Open: Daily from 8am to 10pm
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