The beauty of a hawker centre meetup is that everyone can get exactly what they want. One friend wants chicken rice, another wants laksa, and you want chili crab? No problem. The only challenge is choosing which hawker centre to visit.
1. Lau Pa Sat
The most iconic and beautiful hawker centre, located in the heart of the CBD. It's a bit more touristy, but the Victorian architecture is stunning. At night, the street outside turns into a massive satay party. A great central meeting point.
2. Maxwell Food Centre
A legendary spot in Chinatown, famous for its Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Anthony Bourdain's favorite). It's always busy, but the quality and variety of food make it worth the crowds. Very accessible via the MRT.
3. Old Airport Road Food Centre
Consistently ranked by locals as one of the best. It's not as central, but the food here is top-tier. You'll find famous stalls for lor mee, rojak, and satay bee hoon. A true foodie destination.
4. Newton Food Centre
Famous for its appearance in 'Crazy Rich Asians'. This is the go-to spot for seafood, especially chili crab and BBQ stingray. It's an open-air setting that's perfect for a lively evening meetup.
5. Tiong Bahru Market
Located in one of Singapore's most charming and hip neighborhoods. The upstairs hawker centre has classics like chwee kueh and lor mee, while the downstairs is a great wet market. A perfect mix of old and new.
Pro Tip: The Tissue Packet 'Chope'
In a busy hawker centre, you'll see empty tables with a packet of tissues on them. This is the local way of reserving a seat, or 'choping'. Don't sit there! Find an empty table and 'chope' it with your own tissue packet before getting food.