<strong>Bukit Merah View Food Centre: 10 Hawker Stalls to Try</strong>
Everything worth eating at this neighbourhood culinary hotspot
From Halal char kway teow and wanton noodles to thunder tea rice and fried carrot cake, here are some dishes worth trying at this well-loved neighbourhood hawker centre.
Founded in 1972 and recently renovated in late 2022, Bukit Merah View Food Centre is one of Singapore’s older hawker centres. Other than boasting a loyal following among residents of the surrounding housing estates, it’s also reportedly popular among taxi drivers, who congregate here to get a delicious bite after completing their shifts.
You’ll encounter an array of affordable dishes plied by the vendors here: everything from Halal char kway teow whipped up by a Chinese Muslim owner to Michelin Bib Gourmand-approved mutton soup and healthy thunder tea rice. Read on for a few of our recommendations.
Bukit Merah View Food Centre | 115 Bukit Merah View
Fill up on old-school wanton noodles at this establishment, which is one of the more popular stalls at the food centre. Their signature dish features al dente egg noodles, thin slivers of char siew, some leafy greens and crispy pieces of sinful pork lard with a bowl of wantons on the side, and is best enjoyed with some pickled green chilli slices. They also sell other things including shredded chicken noodles and chicken feet noodles, and you can anticipate paying around $4.
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Warm your bones with a serving of mutton soup from Chai Chuan Tou Yang Rou Tang, which is helmed by an owner that has over three decades of experience making the dish. The stall, which is only operational during the lunch period, has even scored a Michelin Bib Gourmand mention. You’ll be treated to piping-hot bowls of flavourful, slightly herbal soup packed with assorted mutton parts, and can expect to fork out roughly $7 for a medium portion. Do add some zesty chilli sauce to cut through the gaminess of the meat.
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Looking for a healthy lunch? For something on the more nutritious end of the spectrum, you can get a meal at Hakka Leipopo, which sells thunder tea rice (about $5). Each serving comes with all the expected fixings: white rice, peanuts, various vegetables, tau kwa cubes and preserved radish, plus a small bowl of punchy herbal broth. Another popular item on the menu is their yong tau foo, which has different items stuffed with a scrumptious pork and fish paste.
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Treat your taste buds to a bowl of lor mee at this vendor, where the dish goes for about $4. A comforting bowl comes with noodles blanketed in a starchy and viscous gravy, with other ingredients including pork belly strips, fishcake and ngo hiang. Other than the usual coriander, minced garlic and fresh chilli slices, this place is unique in that they add a smattering of crispy bits, which provides a pleasing crunch and textural contrast.
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Make no mistake, this isn’t your average char kway teow stall. It’s headed up by a Chinese Muslim hawker who whips up a Halal rendition of char kway teow that contains zero pork lard — an ingredient that is often used in non-Halal versions of the dish. Instead, you’ll get other morsels such as cockles, fishcake slices, egg and fresh beansprouts that have been wok-fried with noodles in a savoury sauce. You can anticipate forking out around $5.
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Happy Duck specialises in braised duck, which can be paired with your choice of rice or kway chap. The duck here is tender and succulent, without an overwhelming gamey taste. If you opt for the braised duck rice, the meat is drenched in an umami-rich braising sauce and comes with half a braised egg, tau kwa, cucumber slivers and a small bowl of herbal broth. They also serve braised duck porridge, and a meal here costs approximately $4.
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With multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand accolades and a clutch of outlets across the city-state, Na Na Curry should be your go-to spot here to tuck into some tasty curry. Choices include curry chicken drumstick, curry mutton and curry fish head. We recommend getting the latter (which comes in a large helping) if you’re here with the family — it’s spicy, fragrant and slightly tangy, is cooked with tau pok and okra, and goes perfectly with white rice. Prices start at roughly $5.
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This famous fried carrot cake joint has a storied history of around seven decades and counting, and is presently in its third generation of ownership. It makes both white and black versions of the dish (about $4 for a medium sized serving). The former has lots of wonderful eggy bits, preserved radish and firm yet creamy cubes of carrot cake with a caramelised exterior, and the latter has a nice sweet-salty balance. If you’re a spice lover, be sure to add some piquant sambal.
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Satay, anyone? Charcoal Grilled makes satay in options such as chicken, pork and mutton, all of which sport a glistening, caramelised exterior. Regardless of your choice of meat, it’ll be served with cucumber slices, red onions and a zingy peanut dipping sauce that’s mixed with pineapple puree for a touch of sweetness. Sticks are priced at around 70 cents, and their rojak is also worth a try. It’s a popular stall, so just be prepared to wait a little while for your food to be ready.
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Simple and satisfying noodle dishes are the name of the game at this spot. Request for the dry fish ball noodles and you’ll receive a bowl of al dente strands tossed in a moreish sauce and dusted with pork lard cubes, alongside a large portion of bouncy fish balls submerged in a clear broth. Feeling especially hungry? Big eaters can supplement their order with a side of juicy meatballs, and you can anticipate paying approximately $4.
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