As a working professional in the CBD, Amoy Street Food Centre is one of my go-to lunch places whenever I am looking for authentic hawker fare. Other food centres such as Lau Pa Sat are actually nearer to my office but that eatery is more of a food court nowadays rather than a bona fide hawker while my other favorites such as Maxwell Food Centre and Chinatown Complex Food Centre are a bit farther for me.
The 2-storey Amoy Street Food Centre was built in 1983, around the same era as nearby Maxwell Food Centre. This period coincided with Singapore’s “cleanliness drive” and many hawkers who originally peddled on the streets near Chinatown were moved to proper “food centres” with this hawker centre being one of them.
Today, Amoy Street Food Centre is one of Singapore’s most prominent. It has the most number of Michelin-listed stalls in one place and establishments here comprise a mix of decades-old stalls to outlets opened by enterprising youngsters.
Tip: If you don’t work in the CBD and intend to come here outside of a weekday lunch timing, do note that most stalls are shut on Saturdays and Sundays and at night. For weekends, your best bet is up to noon on Saturdays when at least half of the stalls are open.
In this list, I present some of my favorite stalls in Amoy Street Food Centre. I have been here dozens of times and have tried most outlets. These are not arranged in any particular order.
James’ Quesadilla and Brunch
james’ quesadilla and brunch, amoy street hawker centre
For something rarely seen in a hawker centre, James’ Quesadilla and Brunch offers great Mexican food at an affordable price. The stall’s offerings can roughly be segregated into 3 groups – burrito, quesadilla and rice/salad bowls. I opted for their Sous Vide Chicken Breast Quesadilla which came lightly toasted and with a generous filling of tender chicken meat. During another visit, I tried their Pulled Beef Mexican Bowl which came with equal portions of rice and lettuce as base – great for those seeking for something low carb.
james’ quesadilla and brunch
Another nice thing about James’ Quesadilla and Brunch is that they offer the option of upsizing your meal which is just apt for big eaters like me. They also have healthier options and the choice to top-up with additional sides such as guacamole which I love as it comes with a bit of spice!
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30AM to 2:30PM
Stall Number: #02-79
Xiao Yu Cun
xiao yu cun – amoy street food centre
Amoy Street Food Centre is a haven for fish soup lovers with no less than 4 stalls serving this healthier lunch option. Xiao Yu Cun, which in Chinese means “little fish village” serves both fried and steamed fish soups that can be had by itself or paired alongside rice, noodles or bee hoon. Fish slices were quite chunky, although I would not say they are as generous in terms of quantity as say, Han Kee upstairs. But for a shorter queue, I would gladly take this if I am craving for reliable sliced fish.
Stall Number: #01-23
Big Bowls Project
big bowls project
Big Bowls Project is an option for those looking for something healthier at Amoy Street Food Centre. Their rice bowls all center around salmon doused in different kinds of seasoning, from the “Original” to Mentaiko, Truffle, Szechuan Black Bean and even Truffle Oil.
big bowls project
I tried an original bowl which came with little seasoning an corn and cucumber as sides. I opted to top-up an avocado with mine and it was a really wholesome bowl with a sizeable chunk of salmon – just the kind I was looking for with no additives. The lady manning the counter was also very friendly.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:30AM to 2PM
Stall Number: #02-90
Han Kee Fish Soup
han kee fish soup | amoy street food centre
Han Kee is quite a tricky place to dine. Despite my efforts to come in early for this well-known Amoy Street fish soup, the queue is still long. They open at 11AM. I try to leave my office at 11AM and reach 10 minutes later to already find a snaking queue right by this stall. The good news however, is that it clears pretty quickly. I estimate my usual waiting time to be around 15 to 20 minutes.
Many people swear by their Fish Soup and I can understand why. The portions are far bigger than the usual fish soup places and the fish slices tend to be chunkier. I rarely feel full after eating fish soup but I can say the one at Han Kee fills me sufficiently. You can also request for other parts of the fish like the roe/eggs which the stall owners are happy to provide.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 11AM to 3PM
Stall Number: #02-129
A Noodle Story
a noodle story, amoy food centre
a bowl of noodles from a noodle story
This Michelin Bib-Gourmand stall is probably one of the most well-known stalls in Amoy Street Food Centre. Diners can expect a plethora of toppings with every bowl of noodles here, from fatty pork sous vide for several hours to deep-fried wanton wrapped in potato as well as onsen egg. The noodles here are a departure from the usual types found in Singapore and the generous toppings also mean that one portion is filling enough even for a big eater like myself.
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10AM to 8PM (til 4PM on Saturday andSunday)
Stall Number: #01-39
Mad Roaster
Mad Roaster is run by an admirable lawyer turned hawker named Madeline. She started Mad Roaster with the intention of donating a portion of sales to refugees in Thailand. I have been buying coffee and matcha lattes from them since they first started and today, Mad Roaster has a number of outlets in Singapore including a standalone outlet in Depot Road. The Amoy Street stall however, is their very first one. Specialties here include the Honey Butter Latte although I personally swear by their Matcha Latte, which is made from first-flush tencha from Nishio, Japan. They put in a lot of matcha in their lattes with the aroma being consistently strong. Food-wise, they attract a following for their Chocolate Babka, Honey Butter Scones and Cinnamon Brioche, which is often sold in entire loaves for takeaway.
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8AM to 3PM (opens at 9AM on Saturday)
Stall Number: #02-107
Cha Dian
cha dian
The largest store in Amoy Street Food Centre, Cha Dian comprises 2 adjoining stalls with 2 aunties doling out Soon Kueh, Chives Kueh, Carrot Cake, Png Kueh and more. This is the biggest stall in the hawker centre by floor area and they have been around since 2003. All the kuehs here are made by hand in the stall and one can even witness one of the aunties rolling the dough in the preparation area early in the morning. This is a popular breakfast spot in the hawker centre so do come early to avoid longer queues.
If you visit on a Friday, they have a Friday special which is the Spinach and Mushroom Kueh. What I love about their kuehs is that the skin is not too thick like in other places and the filling’s quite generous, too.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30AM to 2:30PM
Stall Number: #02-135
Naakin
naakin
Naakin is a halal Thai eatery based in the ground level of Amoy Hawker Centre. This stall doles out Thai classics such as Tom Yum Soup, Pad Thai as well as Stir Fried Chicken or Beef Basil Rice (Krapow). It’s a relatively simple menu but it’s one that attracts long queues during lunch times.
krapow at naakin
I tried the Krapow with chicken during my visit to Naakin and was intrigued by their choice of cut – instead of having the meat minced, it came diced. I was also pleasantly surprised to find they used what appeared to be chicken breast rather than other juicier parts. I’m not complaining as their Krapow actually came out meatier than I had anticipated, while the chicken breast they used was overall healthier than fatty cuts.
Opening Hours: 10:30AM to 7:30PM (Monday to Tuesday), 10:30AM to 3:30PM (Wednesday to Friday)
Stall Number: #01-68
Ah Seng Hai Nam Coffee
Amoy Street Food Centre these days is filled with a number of more modern drink options that traditional venues seem to get overlooked. This is one of the oldest running stalls here, having moved to this hawker centre back in 1997 (it was established in Lau Pa Sat in 1964). This is one of the few places left in Singapore that still toast their bread over a charcoal grill. Apart from kaya toast, they also serve French Toast which comes with a most local kaya jam.
Opening Hours: Saturday to Wednesday, 5:30AM to 3PM (starts at 6AM on Tuesday)
Stall Number: #02-95
Swan City Noodle House
swan city noodle house | amoy street food centre
kampua noodles | swan city noodle house
Kolo Mee stalls may abound in Singapore but have you heard of its cousin, Kampua Noodles? Swan City Noodle House sells a variety of dishes from Sarawak, focusing on dishes that are popular in cities like Sibu. Kampua Noodles in particular, reminds me of Kolo Mee but with lighter sauces and a bit drier. Other specialties include the Sibu Bien Nuik – a wanton-like dumpling but with less meat filling – and the Kompia – a Foochow style bagel with meat filling inside.
Opening Hours: Daily except Sunday, 7:30AM to 2:30PM (from 8AM to 1:30PM on Saturday)
Stall Number: #02-105
Good Day
good day | amoy street food centre
beef hor fun from good day | amoy street food centre
The simply-named Good Day is run by a very friendly couple and specializes in stir-fried dishes such as Hor Fun and Sin Chew Noodles. My go-to dish here is their Beef Hor Fun. Although it doesn’t possess a strong “wok hei” flavor, I like it that the beef is super tender and generous in portion, while possessing a sweet-savory flavor that always keeps me coming back for more.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7AM to 4PM
Stall Number: #01-25
J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff
j2 famous crispy curry puff
j2 crispy curry puff | amoy street food centre
This humble looking stall at the ground floor of Amoy Street Food Centre is noted for possessing a Michelin Bib Gourmand. J2 is well known for their delightfully flaky curry puffs with flavors such as Crispy Curry Chicken Puff, Crispy Sardine Puff and Crispy Black Pepper Chicken Puff. The reason why their puffs attract a good following is because the crust is crispy enough without being too thick while the fillings tend to be bigger in portion.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 8AM to 3PM
Stall Number: #01-21
Coffee Break
coffee break | amoy street food centre
Coffee Break is somewhat of a hybrid. It is not a purely local kopi stall and at the same time, it is not a third wave coffee stall either. What it does offer are inventive flavors of what is otherwise traditional Nanyang coffee. Think: Hazelnut, Macadamia, Salted Caramel and more. For tea lovers, they can pretty much do the same with their range of tea lattes (Matcha, Chai, Earl Grey, etc) and fruit teas. Of course, if you’d rather just have a cup of traditional kopi-o, they have that as well. For breakfast, I would recommend grabbing some of their toasts as well. A particularly notable one is their Black Sesame Toast, consisting of utterly thin crispy toast with a rich black sesame and butter filling in the middle.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30AM to 2:30PM
Stall Number: #02-78
Mr Batang Fish 96
mr batang fish 96 | amoy street food centre
mr batang fish soup
Amoy Street Food Centre has at least 4 notable fish soup stalls and I would say Mr Batang Fish 96 is quickly becoming one of the more popular ones, as evidenced by also having long queues during lunch time. Relatively newer compared to Han Kee or Piao Ji, Mr Batang Fish 96 differentiates itself by offering tom yum flavors for their fish soup as well as additional seafood toppings such as prawns and cuttlefish. I personally found their serving size quite generous. I ordered their smallest S$5 bowl of fish soup and it came with several meaty chunks.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30AM to 3PM / 10AM to 2PM on Sunday
Stall Number: #02-96
Pepper Bowl
pepper bowl | amoy street food centre
Most people who come to Pepper Bowl come for their Black Pepper Beef Hor Fun (optional onsen egg add-on) featuring super tender beef but my guilty pleasure is their Spring Onion Pork Rice which is essentially cooked with the same ingredients but uses pork instead of beef. Utterly delicious, especially with the sauce. I say it’s a guilty pleasure because the sauce is quite oily but I suppose it’s fine for an occasional meal.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 11AM to 2:30PM
Stall Number: #02-102
Sarawak Kolo Mee (Jin’s Noodle)
jin’s noodle | amoy street food centre
kuching kolo mee | jin’s noodle
This is the older of the 2 kolo mee outlets (what are the chances to find 2 in the same hawker centre?) in Amoy Street Food Centre. Jin’s Noodle Sarawak Kolo Mee attracts a steady following and some regard it as the best kolo mee place in Singapore although my preference is still for the one at Haig. The noodles here are springy, curly and have a subtle aromatic flavor coming from the lard.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:30AM to 2:30PM
Stall Number: #02-110
Ah Ter Authentic Teochew Fishball Noodle
ah ter teochew fishball noodle | amoy street food centre
ah ter teochew noodle
Run by a 3rd generation hawker who was once named the Most Handsome Hawker by The Straits Times, Ah Ter Authentic Teochew Fishball Noodle is another stall that attracts a snaking crowd, often well before 12 noon. As the name suggests, their Fishball Noodle is very popular, especially because of the flavorful broth that comes in a separate bowl when ordering their Mee Pok or Mee Kia. Along with the soup comes a myriad of ingredients such as fishball, liver, minced meat, etc. The gravy that comes with the noodles is also noteworthy. Their chili is cooked for 6 hours with prawn paste, onions, pork lard, etc.
Opening Hours: Daily, 7AM to 3PM
Stall Number: #01-14
Wah Kee Noodle
wah kee noodle | amoy street food centre
wanton noodles from wah kee
Everyone knows that a decent plate of Wanton Mee needs to have springy and chewy noodles and by that measure, Wah Kee Noodles, located at level 2 of Amoy Food Centre, does not disappoint. The char siew pieces that come with each plate are relatively thin but generous in number, possessing just the right amount of “char” or smokiness and relatively lean. Aside from Wanton Noodles, you can also order other variations such as Mushroom Noodles, Dumpling Noodles or Shredded Chicken Hor Fun.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7AM to 2:30PM
Stall Number: #02-125
Hong Kee Beef Noodle
hong kee beef noodle | amoy street food centre
Another former Michelin Bib Gourmand stall at Amoy Street Food Centre is Hong Kee Beef Noodle. They are well-known for their Hainanese style Beef Noodles which come with a relatively gooey, gravy-like soup. Go for their mixed beef parts (lean meat, tripe, brisket, beef balls) for a more well-rounded taste of what they have to offer.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11AM to 6:30PM / Saturday to Monday, 9AM to 2:30PM (9:30AM to 2PM on Monday)
Stall Number: #01-42
Grandma Ban Mee
grandma ban mee | amoy street food centre
Grandma Ban Mee differs from other ban mee stalls in the sense that they don’t overly rely on external flavors for their noodles. The broth that comes with each bowl of Ban Mee is relatively clear and is less hearty. The soup’s flavor comes mostly from the mushrooms and spinach – of which they are quite generous with the greens. I would say that it’s relatively lighter in terms of taste profile as well as on the tummy. If you are a heavy eater, go for a bigger bowl. It’s also a good option if you are looking for something healthier to eat in a hawker centre.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 10AM to 2:30PM
Stall Number: #01-07
Fried Kway Teow
amoy street fried kway teow
The very first stall that most people see when they enter Amoy Street Food Centre is this generically-named “Fried Kway Teow” outlet. Don’t be fooled by the unassuming name however, this is one of Amoy Food Centre’s longest tenants thus far. The biggest selling point of their Char Kway Teow here, in my view, is the relatively generous portion of cockles.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7AM to 2:30PM
Stall Number: #01-01
Lagoon in a Bowl
lagoon in a bowl
Lagoon in a Bowl is bit different from other stalls in Amoy Street Food Centre in the sense that they focus more on dishes that you’d expect to find in more upmarket places. They only have 3 items on their menu – Mentaiko Salmon, Mentaiko Wagyu Beef or Surf n Turf. All bowls come with their signature blue pea rice. What I love is that they are quite generous with the mentaiko.
I tried their Mentaiko Salmon which was also the original dish they came up with when they first opened and it was sous vide and very tender. The fish also melted in my mouth like cream with its softness. The bowl also came with an onsen egg.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 11AM to 3PM / 6 to 8PM on Monday to Thursday
Stall Number: #01-48
Daylight Coffee
daylight coffee
daylight coffee – matcha latte
Daylight Coffee seems to be an apt name for this relatively new hawker stall as they are literally one of the earliest drinks stalls to open at Amoy Street Food Centre. The stall is opened by 2 cousins and their friend with the aim of making third wave coffee accessible to the hawker crowd. They use a Nuova Simonelli machine from Italy for their coffee while the beans are a mix of Arabica and Robusta. Customers can expect the standard range of coffee drinks such as Espresso, Black and White but the more novel flavors include Caramel Latte, Vanilla Latte and Chocolate Latte. Non-coffee options include Thai Milk Tea and Matcha Latte. I tried their Matcha Latte and found it to lean towards the milky side. However, I can vouch for their coffee which is pretty intense.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7AM to 3PM / Saturday and Sunday, 10:30AM to 2:30PM
Stall Number: #02-126
Soon Lee
soon lee at amoy
Soon Lee is the place to go for fragrant You Tiao (dough fritters), Ham Chim Peng (Chinese doughnuts in various flavors) as well as Sesame Balls. I am quite fond of their Sesame Balls which are always freshly cooked and possess a highly chewy and glutinous texture, unlike other places where the balls are usually tough and starchy.
Stall Number: #01-09
308 Coffee Shop
308 coffee shop
308 coffee shop
This coffee stall in Amoy Street Food Centre may not be as prominent as the more modern drink stalls upstairs but 308 Coffee Shop has been attracting long queues for coffee every morning. It may be due to the competitive pricing or because of their good coffee. I tried their Kopi O one morning and found it strong, with a distinct burnt chocolate taste. You can also order toast as part of their sets that come with a hot drink and eggs. Their toast wasn’t as crispy as I had hoped but the kaya butter filling was just right without being too sweet.
Stall Number: #01-60
Luan Jie Mei Shi
luan jie mei shi
chee cheong fun from luan jie mei shi
I stumbled upon Luan Jie Mei Shi accidentally one morning while looking for a second breakfast because the toast I had just beforehand was not filling enough. What a discovery it was! This store sells just 5 items – Yam Cake, Pumpkin Cake, Glutinous Rice, Soon Kueh and Chee Cheong Fun. The most popular items are the Soon Kueh and Chee Cheong Fun. The latter is notable for being silky smooth with an addictive savory sweet sauce. While they officially open until 2pm, it is advisable to head there by 9am to avoid disappointment as many items get sold out fast.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 6AM to 2PM
Stall Number: #01-30
Coffee-licious 101
coffee-licious 101
While they do serve Vietnamese-style coffee and kaya toast, don’t let the name of the stall fool you. Coffee-licious 101 serves more than just coffee with their Banh Mi taking center stage. Choose among Ham + Chicken or Ham + Duck Banh Mi for your Vietnamese fix.
Stall Number: #02-101
What’s your favorite stall at Amoy Street Food Centre?
