Singapore isn’t huge, but you could wander around and lose yourself in the concrete urban jungle of the island. With many choices of local delights to choose from, here’s a guide to help you order food at a hawker center like a local. It also includes the locations of popular hawker centers in Singapore and the secret codes for ordering drinks.
Simple English
Don’t know how to converse in Malay, Chinese, or Hindi? It’s no big deal, almost all the hawker center stall owners know a little bit of English. You’ll still be able to order food and drinks in simple English. If all else fails, you can point to whatever you’d like to order at the stall.
First come first serve
There are no conventional reservations like that of a restaurant at the hawker center. Seats in the hawker centers are based on first come first serve. During busier periods like lunch and dinner, there might not be open seats at a more popular hawker center. Just simply ask if you could share a table with someone else if you happen to come across a table that is not full.
Many of the hawker centers have table numbers on them. Note the table number before going to make your order. Some stall owners do deliver to your table unless they have a self-service sign at the stall front. If you happen to come across an empty table, but there are tissue packs on it, the table is likely taken. See the next point to find out more.
Reserving a seat
Tissue packets are commonly used to reverse seats in a hawker center, in addition to the intended use of cleaning. Other common items to denote that the seat is taken are bags and umbrellas. Tissue packs and umbrellas are easily replaceable and accessible, so I’d recommend that you use those to reserve your seat.
Bags and the content in it might not be the best option in the same scenario. If you’re in a group, the best alternative would be to have someone be at the table, retaining your seats.
Queue
Can’t decide what to have in the food paradise that is Singapore? Take a walk around the hawker center and check out all of the stalls. If you can spot long queues, it means that it is well received by the locals. This is especially true during lunchtime. If the locals are willing to spend time waiting in line for a plate of chicken rice, it’d likely be delicious.
Touting
Touting is defined as an attempt to sell something in a direct or persistent approach. The stall owners that are overly pushy and eager are signs that business might not be good. The reason business might not be good could be down to many factors like high prices, unhygienic food, or just poor tasting food.
Plugs
Great food doesn’t need touting to market their food stall. The human traffic that it generates in the form of queues is a good sign that the food is good. Another way to determine if the food is good would be plugged. Hawker center stall owners are proud to display article cutouts if their stall is mentioned. There can be videos or TV shows showcasing them too. Stalls with plugs and a long queue is one that you cannot miss out on.
Food hygiene rating
Food hygiene ratings are handed out to all food retail businesses in Singapore. These can range from restaurants and cafes to hawker stalls. This is handled by the National Environment Agency, NEA for short.s2 It is a way to ensure that food sold in retail outlets in Singapore is prepared hygienically and is safe for consumption. This is a way to uphold Singapore’s reputation as a food paradise. The grades range from A to D, with A being the highest grade.
The NEA holds regular checks to ensure that the owners maintain the rating it is given. These rating signs are displayed prominently. Stalls with As and Bs are incredibly safe, otherwise, taste at your discretion. The workaround would be to pick another stall that has the same cuisine at a higher hygiene rating.
Clean up
There are cleaning staff in every hawker center in Singapore. You may also clean up after yourself by bringing the empty dishes along with the trays to the dedicated tray return areas. Similarly, if the table is not cleared, you can reach out to the cleaning staff for assistance, or clean up the table by placing the empty dishes and trays back to the tray return areas.
Note that the tray return areas may be label as Halal and non-Halal sections, do return them to their respective sections. Additionally, after enjoying some chili crab, there are outdoor washing stations equipped with soap to clean your hands.
Older establishment
In general, the older the hawker stall is, the better the food is likely to be. Some stall prominently display the year they started their business. The food stall has stood the test of time; it’d be a testament to how well the business is run and how good the food is. You’ll likely be paying more for newer and temperature-controlled establishments.
Local food
When you’re in Singapore, try out some of the local food. There are many cultures in Singapore and you can see the influence it has in the hawker center. Burger and pizza stalls are popping up left and right in their hawker centers. Try out foods that are uniquely Singapore, like Satay, Laksa, Roti Prata, and many more.
Cash only
Almost all hawker centers stall only accept cash. So, do prepare smaller cash denotes. The country is slowly pushing for a cashless system. However, a big majority of the hawker stalls are sticking to the cash-only system. Additionally, there is no mandatory tipping in Singapore.
However, there are more and more hawkers start to accept cashless payments. You may inquiry first if they accept cashless payments if you want to make payment without cash.
Service
Do not expect tip-top services at a hawker center. Some of the stall operators are seniors with minimal education. They could be overwhelmed during busier periods like lunch and dinner times.
What are hawker centers?
Hawker centers are open-air complexes in Singapore that accommodate many food stalls that sell a variety of inexpensive food. They are found everywhere in Singapore and are the primary choice for the locals.
You’re less likely to see mobile food hawker carts in Singapore compared to other South East Asia countries because the hawker centers were set up to provide a more sanitary and comfortable experience.
Instead of sitting on small plastic stools and tables on a roadside, you get to enjoy the local delicacies in an open-air setting with proper seating at almost the same pricing.
Additionally, hawker centers provide a one-stop destination for a whole host of local delicacies, no more traveling from place to place for a particular cuisine.
Eating houses
Eating houses are open-air establishments that are slightly different from hawker centers. It serves food and drinks at relatively the same price and quality as hawker stalls. There is only one option for each type of cuisine, unlike the hawker center where there could be 5 – 7 stalls selling chicken rice. Eating houses generally exist at shophouses.
Food court
Food courts are establishments that are either open-air or equipped with air conditioning. Similar to eating houses, there will only be one option for each type of cuisine, as it is controlled by the owner of the food court. Food courts can be commonly found in shopping malls or as an establishment on its own. The food courts in shopping malls are pricier than the ones at the hawker centers.
“Pasar Malam”
“Pasar Malam” is a Malay word that literally means night market. These are street markets that are generally set up in residential neighborhoods. It is the most crowded in the evening. You will be able to find snacks, local dishes, clothes, toys, games, and many more.
Unlike popular night markets in Taiwan or Thailand, “Pasar Malam” in Singapore is not set up permanently. There are schedules and the market moves from place to place. If you’re a fan of night markets, don’t miss out on “Pasar Malam” in Singapore, do a quick Google search to find one near you.
Secret code for coffee
Here is how to order drinks the local way at hawker centers, eating houses, and food courts.
Kopi | This is coffee with condensed milk |
Kopi C | This is coffee with sugar and evaporated milk |
Kopi Peng | This is iced coffee |
Kopi Siu Dai | This is coffee with less sugar |
Tat Kiu | This is Milo, a local favorite chocolate drink, not to be missed |
Diao Yu | This is Chinese tea |
Must visit hawker centers
Chinatown complex food center
Located in Chinatown, this is one of the biggest hawker centers in the city.
Maxwell road hawker center
Some claim Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice to be the best chicken rice in Singapore. Try it to find out.
Balestier market
Another hawker center in the city to try out while you tour Singapore!
Toing bahru food market
Large outdoor space to eat at and plenty to choose from!
Old airport road
One of the oldest and most well-received hawker centers in Singapore. This is also home to many popular stalls.