Categories > Guides and Tips
A Guide to Maxwell Food Centre (So You Don’t Get Lost in the Sauce)
- Things to Know
- How to Get There
- The Best Stalls at Maxwell Food Centre
- Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Zhen Zhen Porridge
- Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake
- China Street Fritters
- 1980 Hokkien Prawn Noodle Laksa
- Old Nyonya
- Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon
- Tong Fatt Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
- Hock Lai Seng Teochew Fishball Noodles
- Rojak, Popiah & Cockle
- Ah Tai Chicken Rice
- Danlao
I consider it one of the best hawker centres in Singapore for offering legendary chicken rice and old-school meals which other food centres don’t have.
I’m always welcomed by the sound of sizzling woks and rich aromas every time I visit. Choosing just one dish there is impossible, but this guide can help you know where to start!
Things to Know
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street
Contact: +6562255632
Hours: Daily, 8 AM–2 AM
Accessibility: PWD, wheelchair, and stroller-friendly ramps, wide walkways, accessible toilets, but peak hours could get crowded
Amenities: Toilets, seating areas, dining tables, fans and ventilation, handwashing stations, cash and digital payment options
Pet-friendly? No
Rules and restrictions:
✔ Cash is preferred
✔ Return your trays
✖ No smoking
✖ No outside food or drinks
✖ No reserving (“chope-ing”) seats
✖ No littering
How to Get There
By MRT: Maxwell MRT Station (TE18) on the Thomson-East Coast Line is the closest to Maxwell Food Centre. Take Exit 3 and walk towards the hawker centre.
You can also alight at the Chinatown MRT Station (DT19/NE4) on the Downtown and North-East Lines. Take Exit A and walk about 5 minutes to Maxwell Food Centre.
By bus: “Maxwell Road FC” (Bus Stop 05269) is the closest bus stop to Maxwell Food Centre, located right outside. Buses 80, 145, 197, and 166 stop there.
Alternatively, you can alight at “Opp Sri Mariamman Tp” (Bus Stop 05259) along South Bridge Road which is a 3-minute walk away from the hawker centre.
By car or taxi/drop-off: You can get dropped off directly at Maxwell Road near the hawker centre’s main entrance. The nearest parking is Maxwell Road Car Park (URA).
The Best Stalls at Maxwell Food Centre
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
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Location: Stall 01-10/11
Contact: +6596914852
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM–7.30 PM
Price: $
There are lots of chicken rice stalls at Maxwell Centre, but Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice has the distinction of receiving the Bib Gourmand award in the 2016 Singapore Michelin Guide.
For me, it lives up to the hype with its tender, juicy chicken slices and fragrant, flavourful rice. No wonder Anthony Bourdain lost a cook-off to this stall, as the flavours speak for themselves!
Pro tip: The queue at this stall is almost always long, but service is consistently quick.
Zhen Zhen Porridge
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Location: Stall 01-54
Contact: +65 6225 5632
Hours:
Monday, 5.30 AM–2 PM
Wednesday, 5.30 AM–2 PM
Friday to Sunday, 5.30 AM–2 PM
Price: $
For comforting Cantonese-style porridge especially on rainy days, I always find myself at Zhen Zhen Porridge’s stall.
I can count on it to serve up thick, silky bowls packed with generous toppings like shredded chicken, minced pork, and even century egg.
The portions are huge and the simple yet rich flavours make every spoonful a delight. It makes queueing up for breakfast or lunch worth it.
Pro tip: This stall prefers cash payments.
Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake
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Location: Stall 01-05
Contact: +65 9344 1296
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM–8 PM
Price: $
This stall is a rare find for serving up crispy, golden oyster cakes made fresh to order. Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake’s deep-fried gems are great to bite into, thanks to its crunchy batter, juicy oysters, minced meats, peanuts, and chives.
It’s conveniently located at the hawker centre’s main entrance, too! But do come early, as the oyster cakes typically sell out as early as 11 AM.
Pro tip: Pair your crunchy oyster cake with cold sugarcane juice for a refreshing contrast, or a hot barley drink to balance the fried richness.
China Street Fritters
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Location: Stall 01-121
Contact: +6592396464
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, noon–7 PM
Price: $
My mom still remembers when her family would get Teochew-style ngoh hiang (5-spice meat roll) at China Street Fritters. When she tasted it recently, she was convinced the recipe had stayed the same for generations.
I love the crispy beancurd skin wraps with the savoury mix of minced pork, prawn, and spices inside. It’s best enjoyed with the stall’s signature sweet and tangy dipping sauce.
Pro tip: The ngoh hiang sells out fast, so try to get some before lunchtime.
1980 Hokkien Prawn Noodle Laksa
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Location: Stall 01-23
Contact: +6587567037
Hours:
Monday to Tuesday, 9 AM–3.30 PM
Thursday to Saturday, 9 AM–3.30 PM
Price: $
1980 Hokkien Prawn Noodle Laksa serves up rich, flavourful broths that make us come back for more. The prawn noodles come with a deep, umami-packed soup, while the laksa boasts a creamy and fragrant coconut base.
It’s got the right amount of spice, unlike others where you can’t taste the rest of the ingredients. The prawns are fresh and sweet, too, and have a satisfying bite to them.
Pro tip: A dash of zesty calamansi and a spoonful of sambal can add depth to your prawn laksa!
Old Nyonya
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Location: Stall 01-04
Contact: +6588606074
Hours: Daily (except Wednesdays), 11 AM–9 PM
Price: $
Another Maxwell Food Centre stall that serves delicious laksa is Old Nyonya. I like the way it brings out authentic Peranakan flavours with its fragrant tempeh base and creamy coconut broth.
Other must-tries here are the Nyonya curry chicken and mee siam, with spices offering just the right amount of heat and tanginess.
Pro tip: The stall is open for pre-orders via its phone if you don’t want to compete with the lunch crowd.
Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon
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Location: Stall 01-77
Contact: +65 6225 5632
Hours: Daily (except Thursday), 11.30 AM–7.30 PM
Price: $
I learned that Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon’s milky, umami-rich broth is achieved by simmering fish bones for hours. The resulting soup pairs superbly with either crispy fried fish or fresh sliced fish.
To complete this delightful meal, silky bee hoon noodles and a dollop of evaporated milk for extra creaminess are added. It’s a must-try hearty dish, especially on rainy days.
Pro tip: Ask for some homemade chilli padi with soy sauce for an extra spicy kick.
Tong Fatt Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
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Location: Stall 01-17
Contact: +65 6225 5632
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10.30 AM–8.30 PM
Price: $
My colleagues and I always make a beeline for Tong Fatt Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice’s speciality, especially during a tough work week. Its silky and tender chicken with fragrant rice is just the right amount of oily and is never cloying.
The portions are generous and the boneless cuts make it an easy, fuss-free meal. Ask for extra garlic chilli sauce and ginger paste so you can dip your chicken slices judiciously before each bite.
Pro tip: If you want the juiciest cuts, I recommend going there before lunchtime rolls around.
Hock Lai Seng Teochew Fishball Noodles
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Location: Stall 01-26
Contact: +65 6225 5632
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7 AM–3 PM
Price: $
A unique thing I noticed about Hock Lai Seng Teochew Fishball Noodles’ stall is its noodles. They’re tossed in a savoury, vinegary sauce with hints of spices so each bite is flavourful and not bland.
The fishballs are handmade, springy, light, and great to bite into. To complete the dish, the vendors serve fish dumplings and fish cakes to add texture and even more flavour per serving.
Pro tip: Fishballs are made fresh every morning, so try to get there as early as you can!
Rojak, Popiah & Cockle
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Location: Stall 01-56
Contact: +65 6225 5632
Hours: Daily (except Wednesday), 11.30 AM–8.30 PM
Price: $
I go to this stall primarily for the popiah’s freshness and because it’s packed with turnip, eggs, and crispy bits for a satisfying bite. But when my friend let me have a taste of her rojak with its crunchy youtiao, juicy pineapples, and rich prawn paste, I was hooked!
Don’t miss out on the cockles here, as well. They’re served with a fiery sambal sauce which brings out the plump and juicy shellfish’s briny sweetness.
Pro tip: Use a toothpick or your fingers to pry open the cockles and enjoy them fresh.
Ah Tai Chicken Rice
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Location: Stall 01-07
Contact: +65 6225 5632
Hours: Daily (except Tuesday) 11 AM–7.30 PM
Price: $
If you find the taste of the chicken rice at Ah Tai somewhat familiar, you’re onto something. It was started by a former Tian Tian chef, so you’ll get similar quality in its fragrant rice and perfectly poached tender chicken slices.
It comes with a serving of homemade chilli and ginger paste that adds the right kind of tang and spice to the dish. The meal pairs quite well with fresh coconut juice, too!
Pro tip: This stall also serves chicken feet noodles if you fancy something more exotic.
Danlao
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Location: Stall 01-73
Contact: +6588308355
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–8.30 PM
Price: $
For something trendier and more contemporary, I suggest trying the fluffy scrambled egg rice bowls at Danlao. The eggs are soft and custard-like, and you can pair them with toppings like luncheon meat, pork chop, or teriyaki chicken.
Each bowl is served with a drizzle of savoury sauce, making this simple egg dish a hearty and satisfying one.
Pro tip: Try some homemade barley or kopi peng (iced coffee) with your rice bowl for a full brunch.
