What and Where to Eat in Singapore's Chinatown

There are so many reasons why Singapore's Chinatown is one of the most-visited places in the city – but the number one reason is the food. Chinese immigrants began settling in the area in the mid-1800s, bringing their family recipes with them. Over time, these classic dishes evolved into the delicious Singaporean-Chinese cuisine you'll find in Chinatown's restaurants and hawker centres today. 

The food in Chinatown runs the gamut, from Cantonese, Hokkien, and Sichuan cuisine to dishes influenced by the city's large Malay and Indian populations. So, whether you're dreaming of having a fine dining dim sum experience in an opium den turned high-end restaurant or you prefer to roll up your sleeves and eat your char kway teow with the locals at a hawker centre, you're going to love eating your way through Chinatown.

While the food is the main event, you can't spend all of your time eating. Luckily, there's plenty more to do in this bustling part of town. Marvel at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, go shopping at Chinatown Street Market, photograph the colourful 19th-century shophouses on Pagoda Street, get a history lesson at Chinatown Heritage Centre, and go bar hopping on Club Street. 

If this is your first visit to Singapore Chinatown, this guide has got you covered with all of the must-try local foods, must-visit hawker centres and hawker stalls, essential sit-down restaurants, and more.

Because of Singapore's multicultural influences, there are too many must-try dishes to list. But here are a few of the most popular Chinatown foods.

• Hainanese chicken rice: An essential Chinatown food consisting of poached chicken and rice. This is considered to be the national dish of Singapore.
• Char kway teow: Flat rice noodles stir-fried with everything from cockles to prawns to eggs.
• Claypot rice: As the name implies, this rice dish is slowly cooked in a clay pot, allowing the meats, veggies, broth, and seasonings to meld perfectly together.
• Bak kut teh: Pork ribs cooked for hours in a fragrant herb and spice-infused broth.
• Dim sum: Small plates of Chinese appetisers like dumplings, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), bao buns, spring rolls, and other light bites.
• Yum cha: Yum cha is a Cantonese breakfast or brunch of tea and dim sum.

• Cendol: Cendol is a classic Chinatown dessert consisting of shaved ice, pandan rice flour jelly strips, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup. It's often topped with red beans or corn.
• Egg tart: Another delicious Chinatown dessert, an egg tart is an addictive flaky pastry with a creamy egg custard filling.

With over 250 food stalls, Chinatown Complex Food Centre is home to multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winning stalls, so you should expect long queues for the centre’s most popular stalls. Here's where you'll find some of the best food at Chinatown Complex.

Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao (#02-135): For juicy handmade Chinatown xiao long bao (soup dumplings), eating at Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao is a must. You should definitely order the Szechuan Spicy Wontons too.

Liao Fan Hawker Chan (#02-126): In 2016, this humble Chinatown food stall became the first hawker stall to be awarded a Michelin star. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, order the Soya Sauce Chicken Rice. The Char Siew Noodles are equally as drool-worthy too.

Fatty Ox Hong Kong Kitchen (#02-84): This place is best known for its roasted meats. The Beef Brisket Noodles are so extraordinarily addictive that the dish always sells out fast, so get there early in the morning for your best chance to dig into this must-try food at Chinatown Complex.

This popular Chinatown hawker centre is home to roughly 80 Singaporean and Chinese food stalls.

Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo (#01-1152): If you've never tried mala hot pot, go here. Pick and choose which meats and veggies you'd like to add to your meal and they'll cook it and spice it up for you. Remember, this is Sichuan food, so expect spicy, mouth-numbing goodness. The portions are huge and meant for sharing.

Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu (#01-1084): This place serves up one dish, yong tau foo. Think fish balls, fish paste tofu, fried meat paste tofu, and fish bean curd rolls all floating in a clear, scallion-sprinkled broth. This place is only open for three hours a day, so plan accordingly and expect long queues.

You’ll find more than 100 food stalls in Maxwell Food Centre, making this another go-to Chinatown hawker centre for cheap eats.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (#01-54): If you've got your heart set on sampling Hainanese chicken rice during your trip to Singapore (as you should), Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is one of the most famous places to get it. This Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winning hawker stall shot to fame after Anthony Bourdain visited in 2008 and they're still serving up some of the best Chinatown food today.

Zhen Zhen Porridge (#01-54): Zhen Zhen Porridge has long been one of the most popular stalls at this Chinatown hawker centre. The thick and creamy Cantonese-style congee is comfort food at its finest, but the prices are refreshingly low. Many items do sell out fast, but if you can snag a bowl of the fish, chicken, and thousand-year-old egg porridge, you won't regret it.

Nyonya Chendol (#01-02): In need of a Chinatown dessert fix? Nyonya Chendol has got you covered. You know a place is good when there's only one item on the menu. All you have to do is choose your flavour: Original,  Red Bean, Sweet Corn, or D2 Durian. Plus, the fact that this is the first-ever Michelin-listed chendol stall is a pretty impressive feat.

Located near Chinatown, Amoy Street Food Centre is where you'll find some of the best Chinatown food, including multiple Bib Gourmand award-winning and Michelin Guide-featured eateries. 

J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff (#01-21): This multi-year Bib Gourmand award winner specialises in one thing and one thing only: curry puffs. They come in four flavours – Curry Chicken, Sardine, Black Pepper Chicken, and Sweet Taro. 

Hoo Kee Bak Chang (#01-18): For authentic Hokkien bak chang done right, you're going to want to wait in line at Michelin Bib Gourmand winner Hoo Kee Bak Chang. These glutinous rice dumplings are steamed in bamboo leaves and come in addictive flavour combinations like Salted Egg Yolk with Chestnut and Mushroom with Chestnut.

Established in 1929 and housed in a four-story heritage shophouse, Spring Court is believed to be the oldest family-run Chinese restaurant in Singapore. Come hungry because the menu is absolutely massive. If you can't choose, the signature dishes are the Yam Ring with mixed veggies and prawns, the Roasted Suckling Pig, Chilli Crab in Claypot, and Crab Meat Roll with chicken liver and salted egg. And, of course, there's a lengthy dim sum menu as well.

For a taste of Hunan's spicy cuisine, Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine is always a popular pick. Their signature dishes are the 18-Second Angus Beef Stir-fry, Golden Broth Sour and Spicy Fish, and Hunan Stir-fry Pork. Per usual, portions are huge and best served family-style.

Established in 1965, KOK Sen Restaurant remains an institution in Singapore Chinatown. From the Big Prawn Bee Hoon Soup and the Claypot Yong Tau Foo to the Prawn Hor Fun and the Prawn Paste Chicken, you're going to want to sample as many classic Cantonese dishes as possible. 

For a modern hotel near Singapore Chinatown, Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre is a popular pick. Not only will you be steps from all of Chinatown's main attractions and hawker centres, but the Telok Ayer MRT station is right outside your door, making getting around the city a breeze. The hotel is also directly linked to the shops and restaurants in the underground ICON Link@ClubStreet.

The rooms here are clean and modern and feature plush beds, ergonomic workstations, flat-screen TVs, and floor-to-ceiling windows with city views. Some rooms even have balconies. 

Other perks of staying here are the huge rooftop pool, state-of-the-art fitness centre, generous buffet breakfast, and on-site bar and restaurant.

As you can see, you'll want to have at least a couple of days to eat your way through Singapore's Chinatown and see all of the area's top sights. While all of the restaurants and hawker centres included in this guide come highly recommended, you never know what sorts of hidden gems you'll come across during your trip. So come prepared with a sense of adventure and don't be afraid to try something totally new.