14 stalls at Maxwell Food Centre in Singapore to eat at that won’t max out your wallet

Flooded by tourists all week long, the humble Maxwell Food Centre and Market has become a popular lunch destination for great hawker fare. The centre opened back in 1986, where it has been attracting hungry diners ever since.

Be warned, as this incredibly popular hawker centre consistently sees huge crowds on weekends and during peak hours, with tourists, office workers and other locals patronising the centre frequently. If you’re ready to brave the hoarde, here are 14 stalls at Maxwell Food Centre that won’t max out your wallet.

1. Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum

Maxwell food centre shanghai tim sum

Having relocated from the famous but now-demolished Margaret Drive Food Centre to Maxwell Food Centre, Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum continues to serve delicious dumplings at affordable prices here. This stall has over 40 years of legacy, and uses recipes that were passed down from their forefathers from China.

Maxwell food centre shang hai tim sum 2

Don’t be fooled by its simple and fuss-free presentation. The Steamed Dumplings and Fried Dumplings (S$5.20 for 8 pieces) were all made to order and arrived piping hot with an ample amount of well-marinated pork and chives.

Accompanied with special chilli sauce and ginger slices in vinegar, we found that both went well with either of the dumplings!

+65 9662 3501
Tue & Thu to Sun: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Closed on Mon & Wed
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2. Yi Jia Teochew Fish Porridge Fish Soup 一家潮州魚粥.魚湯 

Maxwell food centre - Yi Jia Teochew Fish Porridge

An insanely popular stall during lunch, Yi Jia Chao Zhou Yu Zhou — or, One Family Teochew Fish Porridge — has been serving fresh and affordable fish porridge for the past few years without raising prices at all.

With all the fish proudly displayed on a bed of ice for customers to see, it’s clear that they take a lot of pride in cooking with fresh ingredients. Patrons have a choice between the popular batang (Spanish mackerel), the pricier pomfret or grouper.

Maxwell food centre Yi Jia Teochew Fish Porridge 2

With so many other stalls to try, we opted for the Batang Fish Soup (S$4) to save some stomach space. Upon the first sip, what struck us most was how light and clean-tasting the soup was; much more so than most fish soup stalls around (some may even call it bland).

The lightness of the soup here is what pushes the fish’s natural flavours to the foreground. Each slice of fish was firm, smooth and fresh.

For those who prefer stronger flavours, there are condiments available on the side such as sliced ginger, minced garlic and salted bean sauce to adjust the taste to your liking.

Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 2.30pm
Closed on Sun

3. Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake

Maxwell food centre fuzhou oyster cake

Try Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake when looking for a savoury snack instead of a full meal. As the name suggests, oyster cakes are the only thing they serve and it’s definitely done well here.

Maxwell food centre oyster cake

While not exactly fried to order, the Oyster Cake (S$2.50) we had was relatively fresh and arrived still piping hot since a steady stream of customers meant that the owner is always cooking up new batches.

Our first time trying this, we expected only oysters and were thus surprised to find a well-seasoned mixture of minced pork, prawns and celery in addition to the oysters. The oyster cake was especially crispy around the edges while the doughy interior was warm and slightly chewy.

Mon to Sat: 9am – 8pm
Closed on Sun

4. Sisaket Thai Food

Maxwell food centre thai food

Tucked in a corner of Maxwell Food Centre, Sisaket Thai Food enjoys a steady following from its regular customers. From its decently large menu of Thai cuisine, we decided to try their rendition of Pad Thai (S$6.50).

Maxwell food centre thai food 2

Before the pad thai arrived on our table, we could already smell its smoky and eggy aroma wafting towards us. On its own, it was too sweet but with a squeeze of calamansi juice, this version of pad thai became bold, punchy and truly shone with all of its flavours taking centre stage.

The springy rice noodles were savoury, sweet and tangy all at the same time. The beansprouts and peanut shavings elevated the dish further by providing a hard and crunchy contrast to the soft and chewy noodles.

This was one of the best versions of pad thai I’ve ever had in Singapore, especially in this price range.

Daily: 11.30am – 4pm & 6pm – 8pm

5. Baguette Huong Viet

maxwell food centre - baguette huong viet

Those who used to frequent the now closed Golden Mile Complex may remember the quaint banh mi kiosk that used to be located right outside the supermarket. Following the closure of the complex, Baguette Huong Viet has relocated to Maxwell Food Centre, where it continues to delight its loyal supporters with authentic Vietnamese fare.

maxwell food centre - baguette huong viet

Baguette Huong Viet offers 6 kinds of banh mi, including Traditional (S$6.50), which is filled with 3 types of Vietnamese ham, and Beef (S$7.50), which is stuffed with stir-fried beef and onions. Each baguette is served toasted and crispy, with delicious savoury ingredients to complement the buns.

Other Vietnamese delights include the Beef Noodle Soup (Pho) (S$7.50) and Bo Kho Signature (S$7.50), which are perfect for those who are in need of a hot, soupy dish. For something dry, opt for the Grilled Pork Vermicelli with Spring Rolls (S$7), Beef Vermicelli Salad (S$7.50) and Vegetarian Summer Rolls (S$5.50).

+65 8772 3128
Daily: 10.30am – 8.30pm

6. Sultan Kebab

maxwell food centre - sultan kebab

Turkish hawker stalls may be harder to come by in Singapore, but they’re not completely obsolete— Sultan Kebab is an authentic Turkish stall in Maxwell Food Centre for you to get your fix of kebabs, falafel and hummus.

maxwell food centre - sultan kebab

The classic Kebab Wrap is a good option, available filled with Chicken (S$9), Beef (S$10), Lamb (S$13) and Mix (S$11). For an extra creamy option, go for the Humus Wrap, priced at a dollar more— this wrap contains a dollop of hummus, which pairs perfectly with the juicy meat and fresh veggies.

Other options to try are the Tombik, which resembles a burger, the Falafel, which starts from S$7, Pide, Musakka and Baked Pasta. Grab some Shakshuka to share— this saucy dish is available with Cheese (S$12), Chicken (S$15) or Beef (S$16).

Sun to Fri: 11am – 9pm
Sat: 9am – 9pm
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7. Bold X Braised

maxwell food centre - bold x braised

Bold X Braised puts a modern twist on traditional braised pork rice. Here, you can enjoy hearty bowls of braised meat rice from S$5, such as the Belly Bowl and the Trotter Bowl. Add on S$2 for a braised egg and braised tofu to make your meal even more filling. 

maxwell food centre - bold x braised

What makes Bold X Braised stand out, however, is its unique Mentaiko Belly Bowl (S$6 / S$8) and Mentaiko Cutlet Bowl (S$6 / S$8)— these rice bowls come with an additional drizzle of mentaiko mayo on top. I opted for the Mentaiko Belly Bowl, which came with a generous portion of tender pork belly embellished with creamy, savoury mentaiko mayo. Paired with the rich, slightly sweet braised sauce, every mouthful of this creation was incredibly indulgent. 

+65 8884 2796
Sat to Thu: 11am – 8pm
Closed on Fri
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11 picks for your first visit to Buangkok Hawker Centre

8. Mr Appam

maxwell food centre - mr appam

While most people would expect an appam stall like Mr Appam to be run by an Indian person, the stall is actually manned by a Vietnamese lady! The owner, Madam Nguyen Thi Kieu Kanh, had won the bid for the stall and had intended to turn it into a Vietnamese stall, but was unaware that she could not change the stall’s assigned cuisine. Hence, she rolled up her sleeves and learnt to make appam from scratch.

Maxwell food centre - Mr. Appam

Mr Appam offers 15 appam flavours, including Banana (S$3.80), Pandan Brown Sugar (S$3.20), Egg, Cheese & Chicken Floss (S$4) and even Durian (S$5.50). You can also enjoy Putu Mayam (S$3) and Pandan Putu Mayam (S$3.20), served with vermicelli-like noodles, shredded coconut and red sugar.

Each appam is filled with a nice amount of fillings— try breaking off the edges of the crispy appam and dipping it into the centre. 

Daily: 9.30am – 6pm

9. Lakeview (Upper Thomson) Kim Goreng Pisang

maxwell food centre - Lakeview (Upper Thomson) Kim Goreng Pisang

Craving a fried fritter while at Maxwell Food Centre? Lakeview (Upper Thomson) Kim Goreng Pisang has got you covered. This stall sells 18 kinds of vegetarian fritters, with prices ranging from S$1 to S$3.

Grab a piece of their signature Fried Banana (S$1/S$1.20/S$1.50) or indulge in other crispy fried fritters, like the Butterfly Bun (S$1), Red Bean Bun (S$1), Carrot Fingers (S$2/S$3) and Curry Puff (S$1.40).

maxwell food centre - Lakeview (Upper Thomson) Kim Goreng Pisang

I absolutely loved the 3-in-1 Nian Gao, which was filled with sweet potato, yam and nian gao. The nian gao gave the crispy fritter a chewy, mochi-like texture, while the earthy flavours of the yam and sweet potato balanced out its sweetness nicely. The Sesame Ball (S$1.20) was pretty satisfying too, albeit a tad oily.

Tue to Sun: 6am – 9pm
Closed on Mon
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10. Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice

Maxwell Food Centre -Ah Tai Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice Chinatown 3

You’re probably familiar with the wildly popular Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, which frequently sees undying, long queues that wind all the way to the block behind the food centre. If you’re in need of an alternative with a much shorter queue but a similar quality, Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice is your best bet.

Funnily enough, Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice was founded by the ex-head cook of Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. He left the famous hawker after 20 years of work to open his own stall, following disputes with the founder’s daughter.

Maxwell Food Centre - Ah Tai Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice Chinatown 15

A plate of Hainanese Chicken Rice comes in at S$5, S$6 or S$7, and is topped with glistening pieces of tender chopped steamed chicken. You can also opt for a set at S$6 or S$8— this set includes oyster sauce vegetables and soup, on top of the usual chicken and rice.

How about some Crystal Chicken Feet (S$5) or Visceral (inner organs) (S$3) to further satisfy your cravings?

Wed to Mon: 11am – 7.30pm
Closed on Tue
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11. Pakistani Dum Biryani SG

maxwell food centre - pakistani dum briyani sg

Pakistani Dum Biryani SG offers a bit of an unusual sight— despite being located within a humid hawker centre, the cooks here all wear chef’s outfits, including a chef’s hat! Their commitment to dressing the part certainly does not go unnoticed.

This Maxwell Food Centre stall serves Pakistani biryani, which is more rare to come by in Singapore as compared to the more common Indian biryani.

maxwell food centre - pakistani dum briyani
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Pakistani Dum Biryani SG serves pulao and biryani, each of which are available plain, with chicken or with mutton. The Plain Pulao and Plain Biryani come in at S$5, while the Chicken Pulao, Mutton Pulao, Chicken Biryani and Mutton Biryani all cost S$8. The stall is praised for its flavourful spices, tender meat and generous portions. What better way to enjoy dum biryani?

+65 8812 3844
Tue to Sat: 11am – 7pm
Closed on Mon & Sun
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12. Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia

maxwell food centre - Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia

The long queues at Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia serve as a testament to its quality and popularity— this stall in Maxwell Food Centre has been widely praised for its large portions and low prices. Here, you can enjoy different kinds of roast meat served on rice and noodles, with prices starting from S$4.

maxwell food centre - Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia

I got the Mixed Meat Noodle and Mixed Meat Rice, both of which costed only S$4.50 each— Both dishes came with generous amounts of char siew, roast pork and roast duck, and for the massive portion I received, this was such a steal, especially given how dishes like these could easily cost double the price at other stalls.

Though the meat was a tad tough, I loved the roasted flavours that shone through in both dishes. This was one of the most value-for-money roast meat stalls I’ve patronised in recent years.

Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 5pm
Sat: 11.30am – 8pm
Closed on Sun

13. Jiang Nan Wei Dao 江南味道

maxwell food centre - jiang nan wei dao

Jiang Nan Wei Dao 江南味道 is helmed by Mr Sun and his wife, who are natives of Shandong, China. Mr Sun was a former Din Tai Fung chef, and hence serves a variety of Din Tai Fung-style dishes in his Maxwell Food Centre stall, such as egg fried rice and la mian.

maxwell food centre - jiang nan wei dao

The Pork Chop Noodle (S$6.80) is not to be missed, as it is served with a huge piece of pork on top. The noodles are infused with a strong scallion oil aroma too. Add in some of the stall’s homemade chilli to further zhng up the dish.

For a burst of umami flavour, opt for the XO Seafood Egg Fried Rice (S$7.20), made with Mr Sun’s very own homemade XO sauce. The La Mian With Sliced Fish in Pickled Vegetable Broth (S$6.50) is a more robust, acidic dish for those who enjoy soupy seafood dishes.

+65 8342 9898
Sat to Thu: 12pm – 3pm & 5pm – 8pm
Closed on Fri
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14. Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue

maxwell food centre - Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue

Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue is arguably one of the more popular Western stalls at Maxwell Food Centre— you’ll likely spot its snaking long queues before the actual storefront. This famous stall serves Hainanese western food, and has been in operation for over 50 years.

Though prices are a little steeper here compared to its neighbouring stalls, with dishes priced from S$9.50 to S$24 each, Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue is lauded for its generous portions.

maxwell food centre - Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue

The huge Chicken Chop (S$9.50) is one of the more popular items, and is served with crinkle-cut fries, mixed vegetables and a soft bun. The tender meat of the chicken the a stand-out element of this dish, with the surface being nicely caramelised.

The Chicken Cutlet (S$10) is a crispier alternative, with a nicely breaded crust and a juicy interior. Other picks to try are the Pork Chop (S$9.50), Fish and Chips (S$10) and Lamb Chop (S$17.50). To try all the different meats, opt for the Mixed Grilled (S$24), served with chicken, pork and lamb.

Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm & 6pm – 8pm
Closed on Sat & Sun

16 best affordable hawker centres in Singapore for delicious local fare

Maxwell Food Centre

1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184

Maxwell Food Centre

1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184

Telephone: +65 6225 5632
Operating Hours: 8am - 2am (Daily)
Telephone: +65 6225 5632

Operating Hours: 8am - 2am (Daily)
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