After much anticipation, the brand-new Margaret Drive Food Centre finally opened its doors in August 2022. This two-storey, well-ventilated development houses a good share of beloved vendors from the old Tanglin Halt Food Centre, which recently closed. It boasts high ceilings and a walkway that links it to the nearby HDB blocks, alongside some of the most stylish furniture we’ve ever seen in a hawker centre.
But back to what’s truly important: the food. Although there may only be 38 stalls here, you’ll still be spoiled for choice with the different options available. Make your way over to tuck into healthy portions of thunder tea rice, refreshing rojak and delicious lontong in a rich and creamy sauce.
Margaret Drive Food Centre | 38A Margaret Drive
Operating since the 1960s, Queenstown Lontong – which moved here from the old Tanglin Halt Food Centre – boasts an illustrious history and plenty of loyal customers to show for it. Their star dish is lontong ($4) swimming in a thick, luscious and coconut-scented gravy and topped with a dollop of spicy sambal, and they also serve other Malay favourites including mee rebus and mee soto. They sell out early given their popularity, so do come early to avoid being disappointed.
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Those in the mood for some classic Western fare can hoof it over to this establishment, which is currently run by second-generation owners. You’ll find favourites such as fish and chips, which comes with a crispy and well-fried slab of fish; chicken cutlet with baked beans and crinkle-cut fries; and sausage and egg. They also craft a special tomato and barbecue sauce that may not be to everyone’s liking, but is definitely worth a try. Anticipate forking out approximately $6.
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Vegetarians don’t always have a glut of options to choose from at the food centre. If you’re following a plant-based diet, we suggest the bee hoon from Ru Yi Yuan Vegetarian, which is anything but boring and bland. The noodles have a slightly peppery kick, and you can choose to complement your carbs with the likes of assorted vegetables, mock meat, dumplings and fried bean curd skin. A meal will set you back about $4 and up.
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Feast on all the satay skewers your heart desires at DJ Satay Grill, a Muslim-owned establishment where the goods go for under $1 per stick. Meats on offer include mutton, chicken and beef. They have a nicely charred exterior and moist interior, and come served with ketupat, cucumber slices and red onions. Of course, there’s the mandatory peanut dipping sauce, which has a lovely fragrance and a mild hit of spice.
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Slurp on comforting, warming servings of fish soup from Yu Mi Xiang, which start at $5. The aromatic sliced fish soup has a light and tasty broth – we like to pair ours with thick rice noodles – and comes with some lettuce, tomato slices and jiggly tofu cubes. Seafood lovers can opt for the equally tasty seafood soup, and you’ll also find pao fan dishes on the menu including prawn pao fan, chicken pao fan and clam pao fan.
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True to its moniker, this vendor serves rojak made without any pork or lard. Prices here begin at $4, and a portion features ingredients such as crunchy turnip, sliced cucumbers, tangy pineapple, tau pok, fresh beansprouts and fried dough fritters tossed in a fragrant sweet-spicy sauce and topped with tons of crushed peanuts. They also make a decent popiah that’s stuffed with a moist and delicious filling.
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If you’re trying to eat a little healthier, Hakka Thunder Tea has you covered with its signature thunder tea rice dish ($5). Choose a base of either white or brown rice, which is served with chopped long beans, cabbage, preserved vegetables, peanuts, ikan bilis and other fixings, plus a small bowl of earthy, herbaceous soup to perk up your palate. Pair it with some homemade Hakka yong tau foo, but just be prepared to wait for your meal, given the long queues that the stall attracts.
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You can dig into a moreish, old-school plate of wanton noodles (around $3) at this joint. Those who like their noodles on the firmer side will be happy with the al dente noodles here, which are crowned with thin pieces of char siew, crispy fried wantons and Chinese vegetables. It’s a simple, well-executed and crowd-pleasing dish, and we suggest adding pickled green chillies to provide some zing and brighten everything up.
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Ah Luck is where you can beat the heat with a range of traditional Chinese desserts. The vendor has been up and running for over 60 years, and has a sprawling menu of both hot and cold creations: everything from mango pomelo sago and grass jelly with sea coconut to silky bean curd with gula melaka and hard-to-find peach gum collagen, with an average price of around $3. They also do assorted milk teas, if that’s more up your alley.
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There are times when all you want is some chicken rice. Enter Tong Kee Chicken Rice, which specialises in the roasted variety. Roasted chicken has a tendency to dry out, but the meat here is moist and tender with a glistening skin, and is served with flavoured rice and a few cucumber wedges. If you’re feeling particularly carnivorous, you can complete your meal with char siew or roasted pork (we recommend adding chilli sauce as well). Prices start at $4 for the smallest helping.
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