Tiong Bahru Market Guide: Hawker Stalls to Try at The Hawker Center of Singapore’s Oldest Neighborhood

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This article is part of the Singapore Food Trip 2025 series. Check out the installments in this series: Dian Xiao Er (Herbal Roast Duck) | Kek Eng Kee Seafood (Zi Char) | The Coconut Club (Nasi Lemak and Malay Food) | Tiong Bahru Market (Hawker Center)

Developed in the 1920s, Tiong Bahru is the oldest housing estate in Singapore. While the name means “new (bahru) cemetery (tiong)”, the neighborhood is very much alive, teeming with local cafes and independent shops teeming. It is a playground for hipsters!

Tiong Bahru is also home to the one of best and nicest hawker centers in all of Singapore—Tiong Bahru Market (also called Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre).

Tiong Bahru Market (photo taken back in 2018)

Tiong Bahru Market was built in 1951 and was first called Seng Poh Road Market, named after the road where it’s located. The hawker center only became what it is today when it went through a renovation from 2004 to 2006. It is now a two-storey building, with a wet market at the first floor and the hawker center at the second floor.

For me, it’s one of the nicest hawker stalls because it is spacious and well ventilated unlike other hawker centers that are cramped and humid. Also, it has a nice architecture, employing an Art Deco style and placing a courtyard in the middle.

But aside from being a nice space, Tiong Bahru Market is home to amazing hawker stalls, in which some are even MICHELIN-recommended.

Here are some stalls that we’ve tried and recommend:

33 Cafe

You will aways find kopi (traditional coffee) stall in hawker stalls. If you want your kopi fix in Tiong Bahru Market, you can try 33 Cafe.

The auntie pulling *Teh Tarik* (pulled milk tea)

Stall No.: #02-33 | Operating Hours: TBA

美味 Hainanese Chicken Rice

Hainanese Chicken Rice (or simply “Chicken Rice”) is accepted as the national dish of Singapore. It has 3 main components: The chicken (which is boiled), the rice (which is cooked using the chicken stock), and the soup (which is also the stock). It’s usually served with 3 dips: Chili sauce, ginger puree, and a soy-based sauce.

One stall in selling this in Tiong Bahru Market is 美味 Hainanese Chicken Rice.

As expected, their chicken is on the plain side and this where the sauces do their magic. The rice, on the other hand, is so flavorful!

Their Oyster Sauce Veg has crisp greens, sweet sauce, and nice flavor coming from the crispy shallots.

Stall No.: #02-47 | Operating Hours: TBA

HarriAnns Nonya Table

This stall is a chain of hawker stalls specializing in Kueh (or Kuih in Malay), which are savory or sweet snacks, though many are made from glutinous rice (so for Filipinos, you can somewhat compare it to Kakanin).

My favorites here include Kueh Rainbow Lapis (a multi-colored, layered rice cake) and Kueh Talam Gula Melaka (a two- layered rice cake with a coconut milk layer and a palm sugar layer). The latter has coffee-like notes.

Stall No.: #02-25 | Operating Hours: Tuesday-Monday, 6AM-2PM | Facebook | Instagram | Website

Jian Bo Shui Kueh

Shui Kueh (also spelled Chwee Kueh) is a popular breakfast item in Singapore. It's made by mixing rice flour and water then steamed in little cups. It's topped with a preserved radish and served with chili on the side.

Jian Bo makes great shui kueh. It’s soft, jiggly, and has a smooth texture. The preserved radish has a nice salty umami, making it addictive!

Stall No.: #02-05 | Operating Hours: Daily, 7AM-8PM | Facebook | Instagram | Website

Joo Chiat Beef King

Joo Chiat is a neighborhood in east Singapore. Despite the name, Joo Chiat Beef King has no branch there anymore. The current owner only kept the original signboard in honor of the stall’s history.

This stall’s chef hails from Shandong, China. So the stall specializes on Shandong-style beef soup and noodles.

We tried the Mixed Beef Soup, which has beef balls, meat, tendon, and tripe, which are all tender. The broth is tasty and I can taste the there is five spice in it.

Stall No.: #02-35 | Operating Hours: Wednesday-Monday, 8AM-8PM

Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup

If you love innards soup like I do, then this stall is for you!

Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup started out in the pushcart in the 1950s. It’s now run by the third generation and is also a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand recipient.

Their Teochew-style pig organ soup has tender innards, a slightly sour broth, and some saltiness from the preserved vegetables. It also tastes clean and has no gaminess at all.

Dip every piece in the chili and it’s the perfect bite. This is easily one of my favorite dishes in Tiong Bahru Market!

Stall No.: #02-29 | Operating Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30AM-2:30PM & 5PM-7:30PM; Sunday, 9:30AM-2:30PM | Facebook

Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice

As the name suggests, this stall specializes in Hainanese Curry Rice, a rice dish partnered with different viands and sides, such as braised pork, chicken/port cutlet, and vegetables. Then it’s flooded with curries.

I heard that Loo’s is one of the best curry rice places in Singapore. However, in the two times we visited, it was either late in the day or their rest day. So I have some unfinished business!

Please do me a favor: Try it for me and let me know how it is!

Stall No.: #02-67/68 | Operating Hours: Friday-Wednesday, 8:30AM-2:45PM

Super Shiok Nasi Lemak

Literally “rich rice”, Nasi Lemak is a dish consisting of boiled or fried egg, cucumber, Ian bilis (fried anchovies), peanuts, sambal (chili paste), and of course the rice, which is cooked in santan (coconut milk). It’s usually paired with a viand, in which ayam goreng (fried chicken) is the most popular. It’s considered the national dish of Malaysia, and is also widely available in Singapore.

Super Shiok Nasi Lemak uses basmati rice, which is fluffy. They also make crisp and tender fried chicken. And the ikan bilis are crunchy, while the sambal is spicy. It’s one of the better nasi lemaks I’ve tried in Singapore.

Stall No.: #02-67/68 | Operating Hours: Friday-Wednesday, 8:30AM-2:45PM

Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice

A MICHELIN Bib Gourmand awardee, Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice is the most popular chicken rice stall in Tiong Bahru Market.

But is it worth its MICHELIN recognition? Find out in my separate review coming soon!

By the way, Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice has expanded to and has become a chain of restaurants in my home country, the Philippines. Check out my review of their Philippine franchise here.

Stall No.: #02-82 | Operating Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10AM-4PM

Tiong Bahru Lee Hong Kee Cantonese Roasted

Cantonese or Hong Kong-style roast meats stalls are common in hawker centers. Lee Hong Kee is one.

As we usually do at roast meats stalls, we ordered Char Siu (barbecued pork), Roast Pork, and Roast Duck.

The Roast Meats at Tiong Bahru Lee Hong Kee Cantonese Roasted

The char siu has a nice caramelization but could be more tender. The roast pork has a nice, salty cracking skin. And the roast duck has fatty but some parts could be more tender as well.

Stall No.: #02-60 | Operating Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 9AM-8PM; Friday-Sunday, 8AM-8PM

Tiong Bahru Mian Jian Kueh

This stall specializes in Mian Jian Kueh or folded pancakes with filling such as red bean, peanuts, and shredded coconut.

The Pancakes at Tiong Bahru Mian Jian Kueh

Stall No.: #02-34 | Operating Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 6AM-2PM

Tiong Bahru Pau

This stall specializes in handmade steamed buns and snacks such as egg tarts and fried spring rolls.

Since pau is in their name, we tried their Chicken Pau. While it has a tasty filling, the bun is not as soft as I want it to be.

Next time, I’ll their other paus and snacks!

Stall No.: #02-18/19 | Operating Hours: TBA

Wang Wang Sugar Cane

Sugarcane Juice with Lemon is my staple drink whenever I’m at a hawker centre. You can try this at Wang Wang Sugar Cane. They also sell other drinks such as Lime Juice and Soya Bean, among many others.

Stall No.: #02-27 | Operating Hours: TBA

Zhong Yu Yuan Wei Wanton Noodle (忠于原味雲吞麵)

Wanton (or Wantan) Mee is a popular noodle dish in Singapore. In Tiong Bahru Market, Zhong Yu Yuan Wei has queues for this dish.

Funnily, our group only ordered their char siu (so I guess I’ll have to go back to try the wanton mee LOL). It’s fatty and tender, though it’s a bit too sweet for me.

Stall No.: #02-27 | Operating Hours: TBA

Tiong Bahru Market is indeed one of the best hawker centers I’ve visited so far. They have a great selection and wide space. Moreover, there are more locals than tourists, a testament that the food is authentic and affordable. Needless to say, I highly recommend it to you!

Address: 30 Seng Poh Rd., Singapore