Despite its unassuming name, this historic hawker stall – it’s been around since the 1960s – boasts some of the best fried kway teow in the area. A $4 plate will more than fill you up for breakfast, while the larger $5 portion is ideal for a filling lunch. The kway teow is fried in small batches and yields a pleasingly smoky finish from the wok hei. Each heaping serving comes with thick rice noodles, Chinese sausage, cockles and beansprouts coated in a rich dark sauce. There’s also an accompanying lime to help balance out the flavours.

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For velvety coffee drinks and buttery treats, pay a visit to Mad Roaster. Lawyer Madeline Chan founded this venture as a social enterprise to help refugees in Thailand generate income: coffee cups come adorned with a colourful logo designed by a refugee, who in turn receives a portion of the stall’s sales. Grab a classic latte or espresso, or opt for their signature Honey Butter Latte. If you’re feeling peckish, they also have a rotating selection of to-die-for breads, including chocolate babka, cinnamon brioche and laminated brioche.

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You don’t need to go to a swanky Japanese joint for a top-notch bowl of ramen. Instead, swing by this ground-floor spot, where you’ll find an ex-Waku Ghin chef prepping self-dubbed “Singapore-style ramen” for snaking queues of hungry customers. Each bowl consists of perfectly springy noodles, juicy dumplings, glistening slabs of char siew, a soy-braised egg, scallions and crispy shrimp wrapped in potato slivers. It’s so good that it’s made the Michelin Bib Gourmand list multiple times. Prices start from $9 a serving. 

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Hong Kee Beef Noodle was previously situated at Tanglin Koek and Cuppage Centre, before relocating to Amoy Street. It serves piping hot bowls of Michelin Bib Gourmand-certified, Hainanese-style beef noodles, which are available in both dry and soup versions. The soup offering comes with your choice of noodles, beef slices, beef balls and beef brisket, as well as a comforting, flavour-packed broth. The dry version contains the same ingredients, but swaps out the soup for a thick gravy. Prices range from $4 to $6. 

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Although you likely won’t be hopping on a flight to Bangkok anytime soon, you can satiate your foodie cravings at SAP Thai Food. It doles out moreish, no-frills Thai favourites at affordable prices (each dish is around $5). Do try the Thai mama noodles: a fiery dish that’s cooked with your choice of meat and plenty of basil, and topped with a crispy egg. Other standouts include the basil chicken rice, tom yum soup and larb gai: a piquant Thai salad with minced chicken, roasted sticky rice, herbs and aromatics.

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Another Michelin-rated establishment is the famous Ah Ter Teochew Fish Ball Noodles, which is helmed by a father-and-son duo. We suggest selecting the $6 dry set version. You get a bowl of noodles and mushroom slices coated with black vinegar, ketchup and chilli sauce, plus a separate serving of soup that’s filled with fish balls, pork balls, pork liver and prawns. The sauce packs a powerful vinegary punch. And the soup has a wonderful depth of flavour that can be hard to find at your average noodle spot.

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One of the newest kids on the block, Spice & Rice was started by bankers Vincent Wong and Javin Goh in late 2020. It serves nasi lemak inspired by a recipe from Vincent’s grandmother, and the rendition here stays pretty true to the classic dish. We recommend the fried chicken number ($7.90), which comes with a crispy chicken leg, fragrant basmati rice, fried egg, cucumber and all the requisite condiments. There’s also a beef rendang option ($9.90) for those who want something a little saucier.

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The place that draws the longest queues here is arguably Han Kee Fish Soup, with a waiting time that can stretch up to an hour during peak periods. Is it worth it? Absolutely. The fish soup is truly some of the best in town, with a clear, fragrant and clean-tasting broth; thick and firm slices of tender fish (they’re very generous with their serving); and a smattering of fried garlic, spring onions and coriander to finish. There’s also fish porridge or fish head soup for something a little different. Prices start at $5.

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Known for their famous charcoal-grilled toasts, this is a go-to spot for those who want a traditional local breakfast. The old-school coffee shop’s specialties include fluffy and eggy French toast served with a dollop of fragrant green kaya, as well as stacks of crispy kaya toast that shatters as you bite into it. Complement your meal with a couple of soft-boiled eggs and a cup or two of kopi. The latter is a thick and potent brew with a rounded, bitter finish, and is sure to perk you up to start your morning.

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You won’t find as many bak zhang stalls around these days, which is what makes this one all the more special. Operating since 1948, the Michelin Bib Gourmand-listed Hoo Kee Rice Dumpling makes authentic Hokkien rice dumplings stuffed with delicious, traditional ingredients. Try the original version ($3), which is made with pork and roasted chestnuts wrapped in a glutinous rice exterior. There’s also the best-selling salted egg yolk variety ($4) and mushroom alternative ($4) for those who want something slightly healthier.

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