Balestier Food Centre: 10 Best Hawker Stalls To Try
Worthy dishes to dig into at this under-the-radar food centre
Although not quite as famous as the nearby Whampoa Food Centre – which is located a couple of bus stops away – or the notable bak kut teh, chicken rice and scissor-cut curry rice joints that surround it, Balestier Food Centre is a neighbourhood gem that’s well-frequented by the area’s residents.
The original site was constructed in 1922 – making it the last remaining rural market building in Singapore – but was only conserved and subsequently converted into a food centre in 2003. Today, you’ll find a whole clutch of vendors serving everything from prawn noodles and chicken rice to Thai dishes and spinach soup. Here are a few to consider.
Balestier Food Centre | 411 Balestier Road
This purveyor is the food centre’s most famous stall, and with good reason. It serves aromatic, umami-rich bowls of prawn noodles with a slightly sweet and garlic-heavy stock that’s made from scratch each day, plus a plentiful amount of firm and juicy prawns, chewy noodles, some vegetables and – for those who opt for it – tender pork ribs. We prefer the dry version, which is enveloped in a tasty sauce and sprinkled with a copious amount of fried shallots. Prices begin at $5.
#01-13
Can’t make it to Bangkok quite yet? Keep your cravings at bay with the value-for-money nosh at John Thai Food, where you can feast on the likes of authentic pad Thai, pineapple fried rice, garlic pork, green mango salad and more. We like the red tom yum soup, which is a fiery and tingly delight and is best paired with a bowl of warm, fluffy white rice. They also serve a myriad of traditional Thai desserts to cap off your meal on a sweet note. Expect to pay around $5 per person.
#01-15
Solid servings of Teochew-style braised duck rice are what you’ll find here. Pony up $4 for a large plate of yam rice topped with thick slabs of braised duck, cucumber slices, boiled peanuts and aromatic braising sauce. The meat is incredibly succulent and flavourful with a wonderful bite, and is best complemented by lashings of piquant chilli sauce. You get a small bowl of herbal soup, and we suggest adding a braised egg. They also offer the option of noodles or porridge.
#01-14
Looking for a quick snack? Grab some goreng pisang and other fried treats at this popular vendor. Besides the signature goreng pisang – a ripe banana that’s been coated in batter and deep-fried to perfection – the menu additionally features golden-brown jackfruit and green bean, sweet potato and tapioca fritters. There’s also a nian gao and yam concoction, plus moreish curry puffs for those who want something savoury. Everything is suitable for vegans and you can expect to pay around $1 per item.
#01-18
Ba Shu Jia Chang Cai doles out a range of classic Chinese fare, with a focus on Sichuan favourites. Take your pick from the extensive menu, which includes everything from fiery chilli chicken and mouth-puckering pickled cabbage vermicelli to a whole mala fish and velvety stir-fried egg with tomato and green chilli peppers. The dishes here are best shared, so come with a group of spice-loving individuals for the full experience. We suggest budgeting roughly $10 per person.
#01-05
With an illustrious history spanning over 40 years, you can be assured that you’re getting a well-honed and painstakingly perfected serving of popiah here. Each roll goes for $2, and the thin skin is stuffed to the gills with a moist and juicy turnip filling, pieces of egg, fresh beansprouts, dark sauce and a swipe of pungent chilli. Besides the popiah, they also fry up an excellent carrot cake – it’s eggy, crispy and not too oily, so it doesn’t feel that heavy on the palate and won’t put you in a food coma.
#01-06
Many diners searching for chicken rice in the area would probably visit the famous Boon Tong Kee down the street. But if you want a simple, wallet-friendly meal without the frills, Bugis Street Chuen Chuen Chicken Rice is a good bet. A standard serving comes with juicy chicken pieces on top of fragrant rice, plus sliced cucumbers and some soup. We’re fans of the power-packed chilli sauce, and you can order some additional veggies if you so desire. Expect to pay about $5.
#01-12
For top-notch chicken wings, there’s the crowd-favourite Chong Pang Huat. This well-known name has a clutch of stores around Singapore, including one here. Chicken wings retail for $1.30 each, and have a juicy and tender interior and glistening, properly charred skin. They also use a delicious sweet-salty marinade that’s sure to leave you wanting more. Squeeze a little lime juice, dunk the chicken wings in some chilli sauce and pair them with a beer for the best experience.
#01-07
Noodle aficionados will be pleased with Pu Tian Shou Gong Mian, which specialises in dishes that are native to China’s Fujian province. Head straight for the mee sua ($5), which consists of spindly noodles swimming in a flavour-packed broth with minced meat, prawns, clams and assorted vegetables. Other noteworthy dishes include chewy mee hoon kueh and a decently spicy tom yum ban mian. The dumplings are also worth trying if you’re feeling particularly famished.
#01-16
If you’re looking for a veggie-filled, healthy dish that’s light on the oil but heavy on the flavour, then Xin Dian Spinach Soup has you covered. One of the newer arrivals at the food centre, it specialises in nutritious bowls of spinach soup that you can trick out with an array of ingredients: including regular and preserved eggs, tofu, plump prawns and mushrooms. Regardless of your choice, you can pair your broth with either noodles or rice for a satisfying and nutritious meal. Prices start at $4.
#01-04