A Haven of Great Food: Top 20 Stalls in Hong Lim Food Center
An exciting food trip awaits you at Hong Lim Food Center, one of the earliest hawker centers ever constructed in the city of Singapore. It’s tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Chinatown, making it a great place to decompress and enjoy some great food.
The food center has undergone several renovations throughout the years, so it now has more stalls than ever before. If you don’t know where to start, use this article as a guide.
The Best Stalls to Try in Hong Lim Food Center
Address: 531A Upper Cross St, Singapore 051531
Contact Number: +6562255632
Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist
— From: tsubasa.tan
Stall Number: #02-48/49
Operating Hours:
- Friday to Wednesday—9:30 am to 3 pm, 5 to 7 pm
- Closed on Thursday
Contact Number: +6565322886
Set up in 1965, Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist is one of the most popular stalls in Hong Lim Food Center. As you can guess from its name, this stall specializes in Singapore-style wanton noodles.
The great thing about this stall is that the noodles are made without ghee, so you won’t feel overly full or bloated after eating.
You’ll also get a ton of ingredients, such as char siew, braised mushrooms, and deep-friend wanton—and they’re affordable (starting at S$4.50).
If you don’t know what to order, start with the Ji Ji Signature Char Siew Wanton Noodle. My personal favorite is the Chicken Cutlet Noodles because it has bits of crunchy, juicy chicken.
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee
— From: makoeats
Stall Number: #02-17
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—6 am to 3 pm
- Closed on Sunday
Contact Number: +6598387619
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee often has a long queue that lasts for more than an hour, so you can best believe that the dishes here are worth the hype.
If that doesn’t convince you, then maybe the fact it was featured in the Michelin Bib Gourmand guide might!
The char kway teow here is perfectly smoky, and with a generous amount of dark soya sauce and chili, it becomes an explosion of flavors. I suggest adding an egg to your char kway teow for more richness.
Ah Heng Duck Rice
— From: diningfoodprints
Stall Number: #02-64
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday—6:30 am to 3 pm
- Closed on Monday
If you’re craving braised duck rice, there’s no better place to stop by than Ah Heng Duck Rice in Hong Lim Food Center. This stall has been featured in the Singapore Michelin Guide and always sports a long line, and luckily, it lives up to the hype.
This stall serves traditional Teochew-style braised duck, which you can order as a whole or half.
What I love about the braised duck here is that it’s not overly marinated nor too herbal. It has the perfect combination of savory, salty, and vinegary flavors, making it so addictive.
To spice things up, be sure to add more toppings to your dish. Your options include braised egg, pig skin, pork belly, and preserved vegetables.
Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee
— From: makan.wiki.sg
Stall Number: #02-59/58
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—7 am to 9 pm
The Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee stall offers only one dish to its customers: the titular chicken curry bee hoon mee. Luckily, this one dish is enough to keep the business running.
The stall’s chicken curry bee hoon mee is noted for its curry broth that’s very much like laksa and its varied toppings that add so much flavor to the dish. Toppings can be bean sprouts, fish cakes, and poached chicken that’s so moist and tender.
I love it so much, I can often finish more than one bowl here!
Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee
— From: bobsyouruncle1981
Stall Number: #01-58
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 10:30 pm
- Closed on Sunday
Contact Number: +6592780415
Another stall that serves a delicious bowl of curry chicken bee hoon mee is Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee. This stall has been around since the 1970s, and it finally received a nod from the Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore in 2023.
The owners of this stall meticulously make everything from scratch. The spice paste is ground by hand, and the curry is cooked at a slow simmer.
Tang Kay Kee Fish Head Bee Hoon
— From: zachdevours
Stall Number: #01-70
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—11 am to 2:30 pm, 5 to 9:30 pm
- Friday—11 am to 2:30 pm, 5 to 10 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—5 to 10 pm
Contact Number: +6581572641
Dating all the way back to the 1940s, Tang Kay Kee Fish Head Bee Hoon is a staple in Hong Lim Food Center. Now, this family-run stall is helmed by its fourth generation, so modern takes on classic dishes are added to the menu.
One of the newest additions is the modern zi char lunch bowl, which is only available on weekdays. Other beloved dishes include the slow-cooked, spicy braised pork belly rice bowl, har cheong gai rice bowl, and fish slice bee hoon.
Wu Xiang Xia Bing
— From: laws.foodblog
Stall Number: #02-63
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9:30 am to 6 pm
Wu Xiang Xia Bing may seem unassuming at first, but don’t overlook it. This stall serves a delicious fried pumpkin cake, which is crispy on the outside and soft and steaming on the inside (it also smells so great!).
If you’re hungry, you’re better off ordering the set meal, which already includes bee hoon, sausages, fish cakes, and otak-otak. This set is affordable (last time I checked, it was S$3.50), so you know you’re getting the most out of your money.
Tai Wah Pork Noodle
— From: esth3r_esth3r
Stall Number: #02-16
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday—7:30 am to 3 pm
- Closed on Monday
Get ready to slurp a deliciously hot broth and bite into the chewiest noodles at Tai Wah Pork Noodle.
This stall is known for its bak chor mee, which is sold in two versions—dry and soup.
Dry is the bestselling one, but I personally prefer the soup. Nothing hits the spot more than a hot, flavorful soup, especially when the weather is cold!
No matter which version you choose, you’ll be treated to a bowl with a generous heaping of toppings, such as minced pork, pork balls, and pork liver. Your belly will be full in no time!
Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Hor Fun
— From: iammeryl
Stall Number: #02-40
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday—11 am to 2:45 pm
- Closed on Sunday and Monday
Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Hor Fun is tucked away at a corner of the food center’s second level, yet it attracts passersby without any problem at all. In fact, lines start forming at 10:30 am or even earlier—and the stall doesn’t open until 11!
The stall’s crayfish and prawn hor fun is a bit costlier than the usual ones served at other stores, but this one has a pretty hefty serving size, so you’ll be full and satisfied. Additionally, the prawns are chunky and firm, and they taste perfectly sweet and savory.
Other options you can buy here include chicken prawn hor fun, pacific prawn hor fun, and abalone mushroom prawn hor fun.
Fan Ji Bittergourd Fish Soup
— From: staceyt14
Stall Number: #02-70
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Friday—9:30 am to 2 pm
- Closed on Saturday
I’ve never been the biggest fan of bitter gourd, but somehow, I actually like the fish soup served at this stall.
I think the reason for this is the soup has enough sweetness to counteract the bitterness of the vegetable, so the unpleasant flavor isn’t overpowering.
Additionally, the owners don’t scrimp on the amount of fish meat and noodles added to the soup. They also only use the freshest ingredients here!
Dong Fang Hong Sotong Ball Seafood Soup
— From: blueskiescottonclouds
Stall Number: #01-47
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—11 am to 2:15 pm
- Closed from Friday to Sunday
If you’re just in the mood for a satisfying snack, Dong Fang Hong Sotong Ball Seafood Soup is the stall to go to.
The bestseller here is the titular sotong ball seafood soup, which you can order in three different sizes.
If you want, you can also add more ingredients, such as noodles, ee mian, mi tai mak, and kway teow. You can even pair it with a bowl of rice!
This stall is pretty popular, so I recommend lining up as early as possible. Once everything is sold out, the stall closes, so don’t miss out!
Hokkien Street Bak Kut Teh
— From: sheepyfoodie
Stall Number: #01-66
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—8 am to 7 pm
For me, Hokkien Street Bak Kut Teh is one of the best places to go when you just want to eat something comforting. Bak kut teh is many a Singaporean’s favorite meal, and this stall’s version is perfectly decadent.
If you’d like to eat here, I recommend trying out the bak kut teh ribs and stewed pork trotter, tail, and offal for side dishes. There are also fish dishes if that’s what you prefer.
Morning Bak Kut Teh
— From: melmeleats
Stall Number: #01-72
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—6 am to 8 pm
Another great spot for bak kut teh is Morning Bak Kut Teh. The meat here is very tender, and pairing it with rice makes for a satisfying meal.
The great thing about this stall is that it opens very early, so you can come here first thing in the morning and get your breakfast. Plus, the line won’t be as long in the morning!
Ma Bo Lor Mee
— From: sweetsamsations
Stall Number: #02-05
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10:30 am to 8 pm
Ma Bo Lor Mee has been around since 2013, and in that time, it’s cultivated a dedicated following in Hong Lim Food Center.
So far, I’ve tried the fish lor mee, and I’m a big fan of it. Its flat yellow noodles are perfectly chewy, the gravy is thick and succulent, and the deep-fried fish has the most addictive crunch!
You might also be interested in trying out the laksa here. It has fried fish, which isn’t commonly found in this type of dish, but I don’t mind it because it makes everything more delicious.
The Noodle Memories
— From: leptonyxscript
Stall Number: #02-27
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—7 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Sunday
The Noodle Memories is the ideal stall for people craving Malaysian cuisine. To be more specific, this stall is best known for its authentic pan mee, but it also offers other dishes, such as the seasoned Batang fish and handmade fried beancurd skin.
My favorite is the signature dry chili noodle, which features minced pork, poached egg, fried shallots, black fungus, and beancurd skin stuffed with fish paste.
The noodles are springy, and they absorb the sauce really well. Don’t forget to mix in a runny egg!
Midas Chicken Curry
Stall Number: #02-07
Operating Hours:
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday—10 am to 4 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—9 am to 3 pm
- Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday
Contact Number: +6591298884
Crispy baked roti prata + Thai-Indian chicken curry is one of the most indulgent combinations I’ve ever discovered, and Midas Chicken Curry really delivers with this.
If you haven’t tried this combo yet, you must.
Dipping the roti prata in the chicken curry sauce brings a symphony of flavors. And when you take a bite of the chicken, the meat is so tender and juicy that you’ll surely want more.
Eddy’s
— From: larvitar
Stall Number: #02-13
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10:30 am to 3 pm
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Contact Number: +6592357211
The dishes in Eddy’s are plated so beautifully that you might think you’re in a fancy restaurant. Plus, the dishes are all reasonably priced!
The bestselling dish here is the duck confit. You can pair the duck confit with aglio olio spaghetti or mashed potato, and the meal also comes with coleslaw and corn cob.
Other than duck confit, Eddy’s also serves chicken chop and grilled salmon.
Granny’s Pancake
— From: yongweikai
Stall Number: #02-30
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—7 am to 2 pm
If you’re in the mood for some local desserts, be sure to stop by Granny’s Pancake.
This stall sells min jiang kueh, which is a nostalgic snack for many citizens. The min jiang kueh here is soft and fluffy, and with peanut, red bean, or coconut filling, it’s so delectable.
The best part is that this snack is affordable. It only costs about S$1.40, so you might be tempted to buy more the moment you finish your first order.
Cantonese Delights
— From: yongweikai
Stall Number: #02-03
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—9:30 am to 1:30 pm
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Cantonese Delights is truly a delight. The menu is full of hard hitters like wanton noodles, chicken cutlet noodles, shredded chicken hor fun, and more, so whenever you’re craving a Cantonese dish, you’ll likely find it here.
Cantonese Delights is one of the food center’s most popular stalls. You can wait in line for about 40 minutes, even on weekdays!
So, if I were you, come here as soon as the stall opens—or even earlier if you’re up for it.
Coffee Break
Stall Number: #02-41
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—7:30 am to 2:30 pm
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
If you’d just like to enjoy a cup of coffee (or kopi as how Singaporeans call it), Coffee Break is your best bet in Hong Lim Food Center.
The coffee is made from the best Robusta beans, so you know that a sip of it will hit the right spot in no time.
There are also other options if you prefer other drinks that aren’t just coffee. The pistachio latte, in particular, is really good.
While you’re at it, don’t miss out on the toasts. I really like the black sesame and butter toast; it’s fragrant and lightly sweetened.