There’s no need to break the bank or buy a plane ticket just for a chance to taste Michelin starred food; you can do that right here in Singapore on a shoestring budget!
That’s right, you can enjoy a plate of top-notch fare at these hawker centre stalls that are either on Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list, or even awarded the prestigious Michelin Star!
1. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles [大华猪肉粿条面]
Hailed as Singapore’s best Ba Chor Mee, this bowl of goodness contains a little of everything. From dumplings, fried fish slices, minced meat to sliced pork and liver, it lives up to the its Michelin one-star status. Prices start from $5 a bowl, but we recommend getting the largest size for $10!
Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles: 466 Crawford Lane, Tai Hwa Eating House #01-12 S(190465) | 6292 7477
2. Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle
This was the first hawker stall to be awarded a Michelin star in 2016. Their Soy Sauce Chicken—made Hong Kong style—is infamous for its succulence and explosive flavour. Since it received its Michelin star, head chef Chan Hon Meng has opened a second outlet; an air-conditioned 80-seater restaurant just across the street from the original stall. Despite their fame, prices here start from an astoundingly cheap $2 per plate—probably the cheapest Michelin starred meal in the world!
Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle: 335 Smith St, #02-126, S(050335) | 6221 1668
Liao Fan Hawker Chan: 78 Smith Street, Singapore 058972 | 6272 2000
3. J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff
Since its inception in 2007, this store has been serving up a variety of the best curry puffs—from the ubiquitous curry potato puff to the uniquely-flavoured black pepper chicken puff. The perfectly golden flaky crust and flavourful filling of the curry puffs has been perfected over the years, and only 500 are made to be sold each day. Grab one for a quick snack for just $1.20 to $1.50!
J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff: 7 Maxwell Road, Amoy St, #01-21 Food Centre, S(069111)
4. Tiong Bahru Lien Fa Shui Jing Pau
A rare gem in the food scene- the Teochew Crystal Dumpling or the Chwee Jia Bao is the star of this second-generation owned hawker stall. Its chewy translucent skin is key in a good dumpling, the difficulty in making them is sky high as even the humidity is able to ruin it! Everything is handmade at the store and costs roughly $0.70 per piece.
Tiong Bahru Lien Fa Shui Jing Pau: 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, S(150120) | 6274 5561
5. Teochew Handmade Pau
Another second-generation family store, Teochew Handmade Pau makes all their pastries from scratch—even their char siew is grilled in their own central kitchen. One of their signatures, the siew mai, uses fish over prawns and crab roe over carrot bits. We recommend getting the longevity pau and the char siew paus for a good afternoon snack!
Teochew Handmade Pau : Blk 127 Toa Payoh Lor 1, #02-02 S(310127) | 6254 2053 & 6659 5786
6. Chey Sua Carrot Cake
Selling only the white version, this store has made its carrot cake the traditional way ever since it first opened. Made purely from carrots and not radishes, their carrot cake is always fried to perfection and should be eaten with their mouth-watering chilli that they also make in the store! Prices start from $2, and it makes for a swell mid-day meal.
Chey Sua Carrot Cake: 127 Lor 1 Toa Payoh S(310127) #02-30 | 6451 2135
7. Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa
Prepared with dried scallops and dried oysters, their signature laksa is full of umami and is topped with crayfish instead of the usual cockles and prawns. Priced affordably at $4 to $5, it’s a favourite breakfast dish amongst early risers. Equally famous is their Mee Siam, prepared with a mixture of fresh fruit juice that is sure to leave you satiated!
Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa: 531A Upper Cross Street #02-66, Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, S(051531) | 9750 8326
8. Hong Kee Beef Noodles
With a broth similar in texture to that of Lor Mee, these beef noodles are topped off with beef balls, beef slices and salted vegetables. Simmered patiently for 24 hours, the thick soup’s flavour isn’t too overpowering, and coats the flat rice noodles well. Prices start from $4 a bowl, making these noodles a favourite amongst CBD workers looking for an affordable yet hearty lunch.
Hong Kee Beef Noodles: Amoy Street Food Centre #01-42, 7 Maxwell Road S(069111)
9. Alliance Seafood [联合海鲜烧烤]
Located in the infamous Newton Food Centre, fresh seafood is always on deck at a wallet-friendly price at Alliance Seafood. Try out their signature BBQ stingray for $12, and their signature Chilli Crab Set with mantou priced at $65! Tender yet refreshingly spicy, it’s a great way to celebrate with loved ones.
Alliance Seafood: Newton Circus Food Centre #01-27, 500 Clemenceau Avenue North S(229495)
10. The Coconut Club
The Coconut Club places an overwhelming emphasis on making their dishes with only fresh ingredients. With their generous servings of luxurious ingredients, their signature nasi lemak ayam goreng berempah costs $12.80 apiece. Top off the meal with cendol, made from coconut milk squeezed in-house!
The Coconut Club: 6 Ann Siang Hill, S(069787) | 6635 2999
11. Eminent Frog Porridge [明辉田鸡粥]
This geylang stall is famous for their 7 varieties of frog dishes. Their signature dish is special homemade chilli sauce frogs or Dried Chilli Gong Bao, simmered in earthen pots over high heat. Do also try the porridge ($2, $3, $4), which is also cooked in earthen pots. They currently have an ongoing promotion of “buy 2 frogs get 1 free” at $16, and 4 frogs priced at $22.
Eminent Frog Porridge: 323 Geylang Road Lorong 19 S(389359) | 9842 2941
12. Outram Park Char Kway Teow [欧南园炒粿條面]
This family-run store is a favourite in the Hong Lim Market, with long queues all year round. Here, each plate of char kway teow is fried individually. We recommend getting the version with chilli, which cuts through the grease and sweetness of the noodles. The creamy and moist texture of the eggs complements the indulgent taste of the dish. Priced at $4, this dish is also generous with its helping of cockles.
Outram Park Char Kway Teow: Hong Lim Market & Food Centre #02-18, 531A Upper Cross Street, S(051531)
For more of your favourite hawker food, check out these articles:
https://vibrantdo.co/10-best-hawker-centres-in-singapore/
https://vibrantdo.co/10-of-the-best-satay-in-singapore/
https://vibrantdo.co/10-best-laksa-places-in-singapore-that-every-singaporean-love-2019/
https://vibrantdo.co/10-best-char-kway-teow-places-in-singapore/
https://vibrantdo.co/10-of-the-best-hawker-centre-chicken-rice/
https://vibrantdo.co/10-best-hokkien-noodles-in-singapore-2019/
