Amoy Street Food Centre Guide: 10 Hawker Stalls Worth Queuing For

PUBLISHED December 16th, 2019 06:00 am | UPDATED June 2nd, 2020 05:12 pm

The lunch crowds may be famously hellish, but Amoy Street Food Centre is undoubtedly a CBD foodie’s paradise. With Amoy Street and Telok Ayer‘s food gems just round the corner, there’s still no beating this hawker centre for local delights and hipster grub alike. Plus, where else can you get your one-stop fix of scrumptious noodles, Michelin Bib Gourmand curry puffs, heritage kopi, and artisanal toast – all easy on the wallet to boot?

Mama’s Boy Bakes

Mac and cheese is far from typical hawker grub, but this rendition is more than a match for pricier cafe fare. A two-man Muslim-owned stall, Mama’s Boy Bakes dishes up glorious bowls of cheesy carbs in fusion flavours like butter chicken, truffle, and lemak chili padi. Our fave, though, has to be their Korean Mac & Cheese (S$9.50), which involves mouthwateringly crisp chicken tenders and kimchi draped in gooey Gochujang cheese sauce.

Mama’s Boy Bakes is located at #02-87, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open Mon-Fri 11am−3pm. Closed Sat & Sun. 

Grandma Ban Mee

This old-school joint does only three variants of ban mee − dry, soup, and chili − and it does them very well. Our bowl of Ban Mee Chili (S$5/6) was flavourful and mildly spicy, with generous helpings of minced meat and black fungus that lent the springy noodles a lovely bite. You won’t go wrong with the light, clear broth of their Ban Mee Soup (S$4/5) either.

Grandma Ban Mee is located at #01-07, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open Mon-Fri 10.30am−2pm. Closed Sat & Sun. 

A Noodle Story

Chashu, wontons, and potato-wrapped prawn fritters come together in one scrumptious bowl at Noodle Story. Their signature Singapore-Style Ramen (S$8/11/15) is a thin, springy cross between ramen and wonton mee, made all the more luscious when you mix in the oozing onsen egg. The chashu is thick and marbled, the wontons plump and silky; tied together with a dried shrimp sauce, it’s not hard to see why this dish is Michelin Bib Gourmand-worthy. A word of warning though, the queues here move slow − we spent more than 40 minutes in a line of ten people!

A Noodle Story is located at #01-39, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open Mon-Fri 11.30am−2pm and 5.30pm−7pm, Sat 10.30am−1.30pm. Closed Sun.

Cha Dian

Handmade fresh daily, Cha Dian’s Teochew-style kueh run the gamut from familiar treats like Soon Kueh (S$1.30 per pc) to specialties such as Spinach & Mushroom Kueh (S$1.50 per pc) and Black Bean Kueh (S$1.30 per pc). The Glutinous Rice Kueh (S$1.30 per pc) packs plenty of umami punch, wrapped in a somewhat thick but silky skin, while the chewy Black Bean Kueh (S$1.30 per pc) is studded with black bean crunch. Pro-tip: ask for your kueh to be pan-fried for a delicious play of contrasts between the moist insides and crisp outsides.

Cha Dian is located at #02-35, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am−2.30pm. Closed Sat & Sun. 

Amoy Street Fried Kway Teow

There’s truly nothing better than a sinful plate of char kway teow, is there? Amoy Street Fried Kway Teow sizzles up a stellar version of this local favourite (S$3/4), boasting satisfying hints of wokhei and all the fixings − succulent fishcakes, eggs, Chinese sausages, and fresh cockles. A nice touch is the lime they give on the side − great for a refreshing drizzle over this sweet and savoury dish.

Amoy Street Fried Kway Teow is located at #01-01, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am−2.30pm. Closed Sun. 

Han Kee Fish Soup

No round-up of Amoy Street nosh is complete without a nod to the iconic Han Kee Fish Soup − otherwise known as the stall with the longest queue in the whole food centre. Brave the sweaty horde of CBD workers and you’ll be blessed with a bowl of sliced fish or fish head goodness. The crowd-favourite Sliced Fish Bee Hoon (S$5/7/9) brims with surprisingly lavish amounts of thick-cut mackerel, swimming in a light, sweet broth. With plenty of greens and smooth tofu to boot, you’d be hard-pressed to find a healthier option.

Han Kee Fish Soup is located at #02-122, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open Mon-Fri 11am−3pm. Closed Sat & Sun. 

J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff

These Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning curry puffs are indeed as famous and crispy as advertised, and a whole lot more besides. The classic Crispy Curry Chicken Puff (S$1.40) is a marvel of flaky layered crust, light enough to almost crumble with the weight of its curried potato and chicken filling. Just as addictive is their Crispy Sardine Puff (S$1.40), stuffed with firm and moist sardines.

J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff is located at #01-21, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open Mon-Sat 8am−4pm. Closed Sun. 

Hong Kee Beef Noodle

Hong Kee is practically a local institution – for over 60 years, it’s been fulfilling all Singaporeans’ Beef Noodles (S$4/5/6) cravings. Their rich beef stock is simmered for 24 hours and slips down the throat well with the silky kway teow. Throw in generous handfuls of meatballs and tender beef slices, and you’ve got a satisfyingly hearty bowl.

Hong Kee Beef Noodle is located at #01-42, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open Mon-Fri 11am−7.30pm, Sat-Sun 9am−2.30pm.

Ah Seng (Hai Nam) Coffee

Another old-school stalwart, this kopi-and-toast stall is one of the rare few who still toast their bread over a charcoal grill. This makes for crisp brown squares with delicious hints of smokiness. For a change from the usual Bread Toast (S$1.80), try their fluffy French Toast (S$3.50), both of which come slathered with fragrant homemade kaya. What better way to start your workday?

Ah Seng (Hai Nam) Coffee is located at #02-95, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open daily 5.30am−3pm.

Coffee Break

In need of hipster kopi? Coffee Break offers all manner of latte, mocha, and tea novelties. No need to hit up Starbucks for your Pumpkin Spice Latte (S$4) fix – you can get it here, along with fancy-ticklers like sea salt mint, butter pecan, and caramel rum. Pair them with an equally quirky spread of toasts, from lemon curd to matcha coconut to earl grey.

Coffee Break is located at #02-78, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am−2.30pm. Closed Sat & Sun.