Singapore’s Food Gem
31 October 2022
An Introduction to Hawker Centres by student Kajsa Persson
When making the decision to study abroad in Singapore, one of my central motivations was the sheer amount of delicious and cheap food available there. Within the first week of my exchange, I tried eating at a hawker centre for the first time - and I was certainly not disappointed.
What is a Hawker Centre?
The closest description I can give of a hawker centre is that it is an open-air dining area. The word ‘hawker’ originated from a time when early migrant populations sold meals in their own makeshift stalls. Today, hawkers come in all shapes and forms and some have taken quite a modern look to them.
This is not to say that a hawker is the same thing as a food court, as there are some key differences between the two. From my understanding, hawkers tend to offer more traditional and cheaper food options, whilst food courts are often situated indoors, with food being a bit more on the pricier side.
Why should I try a Hawker?
The answer is simple - for the cultural experience! As a food enthusiast, I cannot think of a better way to spend my mealtimes than walking through endless rows of delicious food stalls. The open-aired dining area of a hawker provides for a unique experience, especially if you are used to more formal dining settings.
Some of my favourite meals that I have tried so far include Bak Chor Mee (minced meat noodles), Chicken Rice (name speaks for itself - this is one of Singapore’s national dishes), Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves) and Prata (an indian flatbread dish).
(From left to right: Bak Chor Mee, Spicy Sichuan Beef Noodles, Chicken Rice)
Hawker centres also offer delicious drinks at very affordable prices. When in Singapore, it is worth trying signature drinks such as Kopi (traditional coffee), Teh Tarik (a milk tea beverage, translates to ‘pulled tea’) as well as Sugar Cane juice.
Where can I find them?
There are over 100 hawkers in Singapore, meaning that you have a wide pick among a range of different food centres. Some notorious ones include the Adam Road Food Centre (close to the Botanical Gardens), Maxwell Food Centre (located in Chinatown), Tiong Bahru Market (located in Singapore’s oldest housing estate) and Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre (very popular among tourists, within walking distance from Marina Bay).
How expensive is it?
From my experience, hawker food tends to be very affordable, with prices ranging from 3.5 Singaporean dollar (2.2 pounds) to roughly 7 Singaporean dollars (4.4 pounds). It is safe to say that eating at a hawker will be a cheaper alternative to most sit-in dining restaurants.
With hawker culture being added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020, they really are a staple of the Singaporean cultural heritage. Next time you are in the Lion City, do keep a look out for the next-door hawker!