<strong>Market Street Food Centre: 10 Hawker Stalls to Try</strong>
What to eat at this culinary hotspot beloved by CBD office workers
This hawker centre in the CBD, which is popular among office workers, is where you can feast on the likes of Hainanese curry rice, nasi lemak and Taiwanese dishes.
The CBD has no shortage of affordable food options, one of them being Market Street Food Centre. It reopened for business in April 2022 – having finally found a permanent residence in the CapitaSpring building after being moved from its temporary premises along Cross Street – and is a popular pick among the bustling area’s office crowd.
Whether you’re looking for some breakfast grub, a quick lunch or a hearty dinner after clocking out at work, you’ll find a smorgasbord of tasty eats being plied by the 50-plus vendors here. From Hainanese curry rice to nasi lemak and Taiwanese dishes, these are some of our recommendations.
Market Street Food Centre | 86 Market Street
You can feast on traditional Taiwanese dishes at Wan Zai, which is helmed by two young hawkers. Head straight for the signature braised pork rice, which features succulent slices of braised pork, leafy Chinese greens, half a braised egg and some pickles to cut through the fattiness of the meat. There’s also the sesame oil chicken rice for those who may want a different protein, as well as the beef shank noodle. Order a side of salted crispy chicken for the ultimate meal, and you can expect to spend upwards of around $5.
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Indulge in some old-fashioned Hainanese curry rice at this well-trafficked vendor. Their classic pork chop set comes with white rice, a breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet, a fried egg and chap chye doused in an aromatic and luscious curry sauce that isn’t too cloying. Spice lovers can grab a scoop of sambal, while big eaters can add extra items including braised pork and assorted vegetables. They also sell bee hoon, and you can anticipate paying around $4.
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Golden Nur is famous for their crispy chicken briyani ($6), which consists of a plentiful helping of flavoured basmati rice and a large piece of chicken that’s been marinated with the likes of turmeric, cumin and chilli and cooked to perfection. Cucumber slices and curry round out the plate. If you’re here in the early hours of the day and want something lighter, you can go for their roti prata. Other menu items include mutton and chicken murtabak, Indian mee goreng and nasi goreng.
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Known for its fragrant, green-hued pandan coconut rice, Market Street Nasi Lemak is where you can score yourself the crowd-favourite dish. You can gussy up your basic plate of rice, cucumber, ikan bilis and peanuts with a whole load of items – think otak, fish fillet, fried chicken and egg – and don’t forget to pile on lots of sweet-spicy sambal. You can expect this meal to set you back around $4, depending on your choice of ingredients.
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Begin your morning with a classic and comforting Singaporean breakfast of kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and kopi at this establishment – just be prepared to be greeted by a long line of fellow customers with the exact same idea. The toast is warm, crunchy and slathered with aromatic kaya and butter, and the kopi has a strong kick that’s sure to perk you up for the day ahead. Peanut butter lovers can opt for the peanut butter toast, and a set meal retails for less than $4.
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This establishment commands a long queue during the peak lunch hour, filled with city slickers eager to get a taste of their specialty Ipoh hor fun. The noodles are topped with shredded chicken – plus additional ingredients ranging from seafood to dumplings if you wish – and some Chinese veggies, all blanketed in a light and savoury gravy. The slippery strands go down like a dream and are best enjoyed with sliced green chillies. Expect to pony up around $5.
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Wanton mee is a firm favourite among many Singapore residents. If you’re hankering for the dish, hoof it over to Peng Tiong Bahru Wanton Mee. Unlike some other wanton mee purveyors that may only give you a couple of thin, dry slices of char siew, this vendor takes its char siew seriously, and you’ll be treated to juicy, glistening and nicely charred chunks of meat with your noodles. Pair everything with chilli sauce and sliced green chillies for a spicy hit, and expect to pay around $5.
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This popular stall specialises in old-school Teochew-style mee pok (starting at $4 for the smallest portion) and has been up and running since 1960. You’ll get a bowl of springy, al dente noodles tossed in a piquant sauce and topped with bouncy fish balls, fishcake slivers, sliced meat and crunchy pork lard. The addition of fried garlic chips provides a pleasant crunch, and you can also add extra ingredients including prawns and meatballs.
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If it’s raining cats and dogs and you need something to warm you up, you can’t go wrong with some prawn noodles. We recommend sampling their dry prawn noodles, in which the noodles, prawns and fishcake slices are coated in a delicious sauce. Of course, you’ll get a piping-hot bowl of flavourful, umami-rich soup on the side as well. Prices begin at about $4, and you can add pork ribs and intestines to your order if you so desire.
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Need a break from your usual cai fan order? This joint, which is helmed by a Peranakan family, doles out an array of moreish Peranakan dishes that customers can mix and match to assemble their perfect meal. Choose from the likes of beef rendang, ayam buah keluak, Assam fish and all manner of vegetables including chap chye, okra and grilled eggplant. Be sure to sample their spicy sambal, and you can anticipate forking out upwards of $5.
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