Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre Guide: 7 Stalls For Authentic Hawker Fare in this National Monument

PUBLISHED February 25th, 2020 05:00 am

Amongst all the hawker centres in Singapore, Lau Pa Sat (did you know that it was also called Telok Ayer Market?) is a true landmark. Built in the 19th century, this national monument offers some of the most-loved hawker food on the island. From satay to Hokkien prawn mee, we round up seven of the best stalls.

Thunder Tea Rice

More commonly known as lei cha fan (擂茶饭), Lau Pa Sat’s popular Thunder Tea Rice (S$5.50) is a healthy alternative to the usual greasy hawker fare.  A bowl of green herbal soup – made of ground green tea, nuts or seeds, basil, and mint – is poured over a hearty portion of Hakka brown rice. Topped with peanuts, fried anchovies, spring onions, and tofu, each bite is full of crunch and flavour.

Thunder Tea Rice is located at Stall 31, Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market), 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582. Open 10am – 10pm daily. Find other branches here. 

Satay Club (Stalls 7 & 8)

With more than 10 satay stalls, it can be a task to find the best one. Over the years, Stalls 7 and 8 have emerged as the most popular at Lau Pa Sat. Choose from Chicken, Mutton, Beef Satay (S$0.70, minimum 10 pieces), and be sure to add the much-loved Rice Cake (S$1). The meat is tender and charred to perfection, but the peanut sauce steals the show. Mixed with chilli, the hint of spiciness makes it even more addictive, and a perfect complement to the smoky aroma of the satay.

Satay Club (Stalls 7 & 8) are located at Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market), 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582. Open Mon-Fri 7pm – 3pm, Sat-Sun 3pm – 3am.

Seng Kee Local Delights

A one-stop shop for those who love local stir fry, Seng Kee Local Delights’ offerings range from fried kway teow to carrot cake and laksa. Most popular is the Fried Hokkien Mee (S$5.50) – yellow noodles and vermicelli served with prawns in a tasty broth. Don’t forget that sinful topping of crunchy lard bits for an extra kick.

Seng Kee Local Delights is located at Stall 10, Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market), 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582. Open 11am – 2am daily.

Pig’s Organ Soup & Kway Chap

Kway Chap is undoubtedly one of the most popular dishes in any hawker centre, and the one at Lau Pa Sat doesn’t disappoint. The signature Kway Chap Set Meal (S$4.80) includes sides of braised pork belly, tau kwa, tau pok, and pig offal. The rice noodles and tasty sides makes for a satisfying meal, but the herbal broth may not suit everyone’s tastes.

Pig’s Organ Soup & Kway Chap is located at Stall 7, Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market), 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582. Open 10am – 9pm daily.

The Beef House

Meat lovers will fancy The Beef House, specialising in a variety of beef noodles and soups. Its most popular dish is the Specialty Set (S$5.80), consisting a bowl of dry sliced beef thick bee hoon and beef ball soup. The succulent, tender beef goes perfectly with the bouncy noodles and generous amount of gravy. Not too salty but still full of flavour, you’ll find yourself slurping it up.

The Beef House is located at Stall 17, Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market), 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582. Open 7am – 9pm daily.

Briyani Point

Situated in the middle of the hawker centre, Biryani Point is a great pick for when you’re craving some Northern Indian fare. The Naan Set Meal may sound steep at S$8, but the large portion justifies the price. Two plain naans are served with your two choices of vegetables, chicken curry, and daal. The vegetables are the stand-out – tender long beans, and aloo (potatoes) mixed with refreshing cucumbers for an extra crunch. The naan, however, was a little tough, so perhaps opt for rice instead.

Briyani Point is located at Stall 28, Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market), 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582. Open 10am – 10.30pm daily.

Song Kee Fishball Noodles

Best known for its Mini Pot with Noodles (S$5), the fresh ingredients and large portions at Song Kee Fishball Noodles are a draw for many regulars. Enjoy a mini hot pot with minced meat, fishball, and crab stick, together with a bowl of thin yellow noodles. It’s the perfect meal for a cold, rainy afternoon.

Song Kee Fishball Noodles is located at Stall 19, Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market), 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582. Open Mon-Sat 8am – 9pm. Closed Sun.