This vendor draws some of the longest queues at the food centre, filled with customers eager to sample its famous lor mee. A standard order features all the requisite ingredients: thick yellow noodles, prawn roll, pork belly and crispy fried fish drenched in a viscous sauce (you can choose to add a braised egg if you wish). Complete your bowl by topping it with your preferred condiments – we suggest adding coriander, vinegar, garlic and chilli to cut through the richness of the gravy. The smallest portion goes for under $4.

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Malaysian-style bak kut teh (which is heavier on the herbal notes and lighter on the peppery kick compared to the Singaporean version) is what you’ll discover at this popular stall, and it makes for an ideal pick if it’s cold and wet outside. Another standout item that you won’t find at the average food centre is their tasty fried porridge, which you can get with your choice of protein – they offer everything from minced pork to pork cutlet and sliced fish. A hearty meal here will set you back around $6.

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For something sweet to cap off your meal, check out Munchi Pancakes, which makes crowd-favourite min jiang kueh in a myriad of fun flavours. There are the classic varieties such as coconut, peanut and red bean, plus more unusual choices including creamy Biscoff (which the kids will love) and earthy and nutty black sesame. Other than the original plain pancake, they also make a charcoal pancake and a green tea pancake. Each piece retails for under $2.

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Green Tea Rice is a solid option for those who want a healthy meal. It specialises in thunder tea rice, and the standard version gets you a bowl brimming with chopped long beans and leafy greens, tau kwa cubes, ikan bilis, peanuts and all the other fixings, plus a serving of the mandatory bright green, minty and herbaceous soup. There’s also a vegan rendition, while meat eaters can supplement their dish with basil chicken. Expect to pay approximately $6 and up.

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Check out this vendor – which has been operating at different locations since 1979 – to treat yourself to a sinful and scrumptious plate of fried carrot cake ($4 gets you a medium portion). They’re especially known for their black version, which comes with plenty of jiggly carrot cake cubes, eggy bits, garlic and preserved radish, has a good salty-sweet balance and delivers a kiss of wok hei. The white option is also worth a try, as is the chwee kueh.

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Dig into a comforting bowl of curry chicken noodles at this establishment, which also has an outlet at Bedok Interchange Food Centre. Each portion is packed with springy noodles, tender pieces of chicken, chunky potato cubes, slices of tau pok and fresh bean sprouts, with everything swimming in a velvety and slightly spicy curry gravy. The other item on their menu is old-school satay bee hoon, and you can anticipate paying around $6.

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You don’t have to jostle with the crowds along Tanjong Pagar Road to dine on some delicious Korean cuisine. The menu at JIN Kimchi Express features popular Korean dishes such as kimchi stew that’s perfect for helping you warm up on a chilly day, kimchi ramyeon with pork, colourful bibimbap and everyone’s favourite kimchi fried rice. Our personal pick is the naengmyeon: thin and chewy buckwheat noodles submerged in an icy cold beef-based broth and dressed with egg and pickled radish. Prices begin at about $6.

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If you fancy some Western grub, hoof it over to Fins & Feathers (they also run an outlet at Pasir Ris Central Food Centre). Those who are in the mood for something fried can get the fish and chips or chicken cutlet and chips, both of which come with a crispy, well-portioned slab of protein, fries and a dollop of coleslaw. Other menu items include assorted pastas and steak, and you can expect to pay roughly $8 and up, depending on what you get.

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Nasi ayam penyet is Saudagar Penyek’s specialty. At this popular Muslim-owned establishment, a basic order gets you a plate filled with flavoured rice, smashed fried chicken, cucumber slices and some lettuce shreds, alongside a plentiful helping of mouth-watering sambal. There’s also the nasi goreng ayam bakar – which comes with a juicy marinated hunk of grilled chicken and fried rice – and a meal here will set you back upwards of $6.

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Claypot rice, anyone? Xin Xin Claypot Rice, which was previously located at Kovan 209 Food Centre, is run by two millennials who gave up their e-commerce business to venture into the hawker world. Each claypot comes filled with marinated chicken chunks, slivers of Chinese sausage, salted fish and leafy greens. It’s cooked over a traditional charcoal stove, which confers a slightly smoky aroma and gives that all-important layer of charred rice at the bottom. Anticipate paying approximately $8.

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