Visit Singapore and the first thing you’ll talk about is food, and hawker centres or food courts immediately come to mind. There are dishes there for almost every palate and the best part is, they cut across generations. Hawker centres are no longer a thing associated with the older generation. We’ve come to a time and age where millennials have stepped up to the plate (pun intended ?) and managed to fuse both good food and our hawker culture. With a new generation of hawkers, we're seeing more hipster hawker centres and food courts nowadays and these places are a definite hit with youths.
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Here are our top picks of hipster hawker centres and food courts in Singapore!
1. Fareground, Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre
The trendiest place in the east, brimming with quirky millennials, this hawker centre has got to be the best of its kind. Opened in early 2018, this hawker centre takes pride in having a dual concept; combining both traditional and modern hawker dishes. Its decor screams "hipster" too, with mismatched furnishings and neon-coloured graphics ?
Credits: @le_explorer on Instagram
The best part is, they have a number of halal stalls; from the kebab store we’re all too familiar with, EPIKEBABS, to the pioneers of the renowned seafood bucket, Cajun On Wheels (a.k.a. COW).
Credit: @lejames23 on Instagram
For those who want to indulge in halal Thai steamboat and BBQ, head over to Lukhon Thai for your Thai food fix. One of the few halal Thai BBQ and steamboat stalls in Singapore, this stall was a hit when it opened at Changi Village. With a plethora of meat and veggies and a choice of tom yum or chicken soup, this meal is meant to be shared with a group of friends! Not to mention the really affordable price you're paying for this ? (their platter combo is just $26.80 for 2 pax!)
Credits: @Intanina on Instagram
Another stall you may head to is Burgernomics! Known for their juicy grilled beef patties sandwiched in between two glorious lightly toasted buns, there's something for everyone here. They serve a variety of burgers, from American classics to Asian fusion. Try their best-selling Deluxe burger, which has juicy beef patties topped with sautéed mushrooms and caramelised onions ?
Credits: Burgernomics on Facebook
Note: EPIKEBABS, Lukhon Thai and Cajun On Wheels are halal-certified while Burgernomics is Muslim-owned.
Address: 110 Pasir Ris Central, Singapore 519641
2. FOMO
If you feel like you can’t keep up with the latest trends and you think “maybe it’s time that I should try and see what the hype is all about”, FOMO is the place for you! An acronym for "Fear Of Missing Out", this place is definitely a hot spot for hipsters.
Credits: @fomosg on Instagram
Just come here and you’ll see why! Its interior is filled to the brim with Instagram-worthy backdrops and you wouldn’t have to try so hard to get the perfect shot ☺️
Credit: @nanaaria on Instagram
If you're here for a meal, make sure you head over to Mr Wholly for their Fresh Seafood In A Bucket. With an array of interesting sauces like Chilli Kicap and Tom Yum Cream, you'll definitely have a whale of time savouring the rich mix of flavours.
Credits: @fcraves on Instagram
If shell-out seafood isn't your thing, get their Seafood Nasi Lemak which is a dream for seafood lovers! With mussels, crayfish and prawns, it isn't just appetising but perfect to spice up your Instagram feed ?
Credit: Hokey Poki on Facebook
Another stall at FOMO that's sure to leave an impression on you is Hokey Poki. This halal Japanese fusion stall serves Poke Soba bowls instead of the usual rice poke bowls and they also have sushi tacos and sushi burritos ? Be sure to try their Salmon Poke, Cheesy Prawn Tempura Taco and Lemongrass Mentaiko Taco for a burst of flavours. In case you're wondering, the tacos are actually the ingredients sandwiched in a crispy seaweed which is shaped like tacos - a really interesting twist on Japanese and Mexican food!
Note: Both Mr Wholly and Hokey Poki are halal-certified.
Address: 38 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198486
Contact:8750 5240
3. Timbre+
When you think of Timbre+, you probably won't think that there's any halal food to eat. Well, we're here to prove you wrong - there are halal stalls here! A popular hangout for hipsters and non-hipsters alike, the ambience in Timbre+ is unlike any other. Combining the love for music and food, this urban food hall provides avant-garde dishes while providing you with some entertainment. You’ll be captivated by the live music performed by local bands from Monday all the way through Saturday. Not to mention, their trendy decor as well - with containers decked out in cool graffiti designs, and airstream trailers used as stalls. Don't these just scream hipster?!
Credits: @montletsong on Instagram
There are a few halal stalls here: JC Nasi Lemak, Nasi Padang, Ayam Penyet and Big Bern's American Grill! At Big Bern's, you can get your western food fix. Serving enticing burgers and steaks, Big Bern's pride themselves in serving American favourites. Their best sellers are southern classics like Cajun Chicken, Louisiana Gumbo, and the famous Cheesesteak po-boy. These dishes alone are tempting enough for me to head down to Timbre+ ?
Credits: @babablacksheep_eats on Instagram
Note: Big Bern's American Grill is Muslim-owned.
Address: 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, Singapore 139957
4. Yishun Park Hawker Centre
A sister company to Timbre+, Yishun Park Hawker Centre is the place to be if you’re in the north. It opened late last year and the hawker centre even has its own app called Tuckshop - a loyalty programme that enables their patrons to pay their meals using the value in it. Other than having 10% discounts, the card also has birthday discounts, e-vouchers and much more. Definitely a plus point when visiting this eating spot!
Credits:@resource_design on Instagram
One of the many halal stalls that are available here is Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang. The stall serves a fusion of our favourite Malay dish and Lombok’s cuisine - Ayam Taliwang. This tantalising dish seems like a match made in heaven. For the uninitiated, Ayam Taliwang is spicy, with the right amount of sweet, hot and tangy all in one. It took the owners a few months to perfect their recipe but boy, aren't we glad they did? ?
Credits: Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang on Facebook
Note: Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang is Muslim-owned.
Address: 51 Yishun Ave 11, Singapore 768867
Contact: 8750 5240
5. Pasarbella, Suntec City
Basically an "atas" farmer's market, Pasarbella was inspired by various weekend markets found around the globe. Priding themselves in providing both homegrown and international brands, you can assure yourself that they serve nothing but the best!
Credit: Dan Danni Dan on Facebook
One halal stall you must try is Cajun On Wheels! Well known for their seafood bucket, this is heaven for seafood lovers. Savour different types of seafood like crabs, mussels and prawns and choose from a variety of sauces; cajun cheese, salted egg, chilli egg, cheesy soil and BBQ. Their new item, the loaded fries is also a hit with customers ?
Note: Cajun On Wheels is halal-certified.
Address: #01-455-461 North Wing, Suntec City, 3 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038983
Contact: 8110 5218
BONUS: Hawkerman
Lastly, it won't be complete unless we include this last place on our list. Well, technically it isn't really a hawker centre or food court but we had to put it in ? Presenting to you... Hawkerman! Located in the revamped Singpost Centre, this eatery houses 3 famous hawkers - Tenderfresh, Warong Kim's and Ah Boy Popiah. With an ultra-chic decor, Hawkerman makes hawker food look glamorous.
Each stall is known for their own signature dish - Tenderfresh with their crispy fried chicken, Warung Kim's with their prawn Hokkien mee and Ah Boy's popiah with their interesting popiahs! Unlike other popiah shops, Ah Boy's serves cold popiahs as desserts too. Try their Durian N Jack popiah which is durian ice cream with jackfruit slices wrapped in popiah skin ?
If you're spoilt for choice and you just need a little bit of everything, get the Bao Ka Liao platter!
Note: Hawkerman is halal-certified.
Address: Singpost Centre #B1-128/129, 10 Eunos Rd 8, Singapore 408600
Opening hours: 11am-10.30pm daily
Contact: 8110 5218
With all these affordable food options easily available for you, your next social gathering need not be at a fancy restaurant! So, head over to your nearest hipster hawker to get your fill of scrumptious local dishes. Not only do they make your tummy happy, but you also don't need to burn a hole in your pocket too ?
P.S. Find more halal hawker food in Singapore here.