Know Before You Go: Dining at a Hawker Center in Singapore

During the early days of Singapore, hawkers were roving food and drink vendors who occasionally operated fixed stalls. In the late 1960s, the government started centralizing these vendors into markets and hawker centers, Singapore’s precursor to the mall food court. Today, Singapore hawker centers are buzzing, dynamic spaces where a wide range of vendors cook up their own particular specialties.

Insider tip: As you’d expect, stalls selling drinks are a standard feature in hawker centers. Singapore is relatively relaxed about alcohol, so most centers have a place where you can get a bottle or can of beer, too. Don’t expect cocktails or wine.

The must-visit hawker centers in Singapore are a matter of personal taste. Newton Food Centre, the one from Crazy Rich Asians, offers almost 100 choices of stall; Maxwell Food Centre is home to Bourdain’s favorite chicken rice, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice; Lau Pa Sat, set in a historic Victorian market, operates 24/7; Tekka Center is a great introduction to the cultures and cuisines of Little India.

Related: 7 of the Top Hawker Centres in Singapore

Table seating at Singapore hawker centers is communal. Bag your seat by placing something on it—a packet of tissues is traditional—then take a note of your table number and head to the stall (or stalls) you want to visit. Some will deliver to your table; others are self-service. Once you’re done, it’s now a legal requirement to clear your plates, tray, and any other litter and bring them to the tray return point.

Insider tip: Never, ever move someone else’s tissues.

While it's perfectly fine—even recommended—to hit up the best hawker centeres in Singapore independently, if you're tight on time or not sure where to start, taking a hawker center tour can help you find your feet. A guided Singapore food tour can get you to the right hawker center at the right times to beat the crowds—and help you find the best dishes, too. Plus, you'll benefit from the insider knowledge of your guide to take you to spots you might overlook alone.

There’s no such thing as average Singapore hawker center opening hours. Some only open in the afternoons and run till late; others open early in the morning and close mid-evening. Newton Food Centre and Maxwell Food Centre stay open until 2am, although many stalls close long before that. However, you can expect the typical hawker center in Singapore to be open at lunchtime and in the early evening.

Insider tip: For a real Singapore late-night hawker center, Lau Pa Sat operates 24 hours a day, although only a few stalls are open in the wee hours.

Different hawker centers and individual stalls within them have different opening hours. If you’re visiting popular stalls like Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, it’s wise to go soon after they open—in this case, around 11am. If you’re looking to try a breakfast dish, like kaya toast—toast with butter and coconut jam, almost always served with a soft-boiled egg—visit in the mornings; by contrast, Lau Pa Sat’s Satay Street only fires up the grills in the evenings.

Singapore hawker centers are open to the elements, which, coupled with the heat from cooking food, can make for a steamy experience even by Singapore’s tropical standards. Wear city clothes that keep you cool and comfortable. Short shorts are acceptable, but guys should keep their shirts on, and everyone should leave beachwear for the beach.

Singapore hawker centers are generally accessible. Efforts by the government and operators have led to various accessibility features, such as ramped access for wheelchairs and strollers, wide aisles between food stalls, suitable seating for those with mobility issues, and proximity to public transportation. Newer centers are typically better equipped than older ones, but these centers strive to accommodate all visitors.

• How are the hygiene standards at Singapore hawker centers? Singapore hawker centers were created partly to compensate for poor hygiene among old-fashioned street vendors, and stalls are regularly inspected. While visiting birds and flies may look unhygienic, cases of food poisoning are rare.
• How many hawker centers are there in Singapore? There are around 120 Singapore markets and hawker centers, with a plan to build several more by 2027.
• What is the biggest hawker center in Singapore? The Chinatown Complex is the biggest hawker center in Singapore, with more than 200 food vendors.
• Do you need cash at a Singapore hawker center? Yes, it’s a good idea to have cash at a hawker center in Singapore. An increasing number of hawker center vendors take payment by QR code, but only some accept credit cards.