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While the millennial frequents Thomson for aesthetic hipster cafes and mid-range diners, the hawker spirit lives on in the small and unassuming Sembawang Hills Food Centre.
It’s not everyone’s favourite hawker centre, with only 2 rows featuring 30+ hawker stalls. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any hidden gems, especially if you’re the type who prefers old school hawker food. And when I say old, I mean old.
With that, here are 12 Foodie go-to’s for the curious at Sembawang Hills Food Centre!
1. Jing Ji Fishball Noodle (#01-23)
Jing Ji Fishball Noodle is a name passed down through generations, a legacy of more than 70 years. They’ve built their reputation with 2 simple dishes: Teochew Meatball Noodles (S$4.50) and Fishball Noodles (S$4). While their menu has expanded a bit, regulars always flock to these 2 staples.
With springy mee kia tossed in a nostalgic mix of chilli, vinegar, and tomato sauce, each bowl bursts with highly complex yet homely flavour. If you’re a big fan of pig organs like me, you’ll enjoy the sizable pieces of pig liver served. It’s firm and thick, with barely a hint of an offal smell.
My greedy recommendation is to spend an additional S$0.50 to add extra noodles, as the portion size can feel a bit small for big eaters like me. Also, make sure to arrive early, as their meatballs sell out quickly!
Tel: 65+ 9755 9907
Wed & Thu, Sat & Sun: 6am – 1pm
Closed on Mon, Tue & Fri
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2. Seng Huat Duck Rice 成發鴨飯 (#01-27)
Another stall that has been around is Seng Huat Duck Rice. They offer simple, no-frills duck rice and porridge that’s well-loved by the Thompson and Sembawang locals.
Their Braised Duck Rice (S$4) is truly worth however long it takes to travel to the hawker centre. The rice is cooked moist but not watery, a perfect combination with the well-marinated and roasted duck meat. Compared to other stalls, the soup that accompanies the duck rice here is significantly fragrant. It has a strong aftertaste, providing an awakening effect on the entire dish.
Wed & Thu, Sat & Sun: 10am – 1pm
Closed on Mon, Tue, Fri
3. Yummy Noodle House 美味面家 (#01-08)
Near the entrance of the hawker centre is a stall daringly named Yummy Noodle House. I have a soft spot for hawker stalls with simplistic names, as it often means the owners are confident enough to let the food speak for itself.
We had the Curry Meatball Noodle (S$4/5/6). Well, the soup wasn’t exactly curry, but it was more of a laksa base. Regardless, it was perfect for the cool weather. Heads up, their sambal belacan was absolutely amazing. The meatballs were crunchy on the outside and meat-stuffed on the inside.
I’m definitely going back for another bite.
Thu to Tue: 8.30am – 3pm
Closed on Wed
4. Jia Jia Xing Pig’s Organ Soup 佳佳興豬什湯 (#01-10)
Typical pig organ soup stalls serve an overload of peppery soup to mask the unpleasant smell of organs. That’s not how Jia Jia Xing Pig’s Organ Soup rolls. It’s ride or die with the soup and scent, and I’m willing to ride.
While chicken feet will forever be my number 1 animal foot, pig trotter comes in as a close second. I’m especially a huge fan of the stall’s Pig’s Trotter With Black Vinegar (S$7/9). Every piece of pork was stewed until they were soft. The broth was slightly more brown than what I’m used to, but the pig trotter was so tender!
Daily: 10am – 7.30pm
5. Thompson Homemade Shui Kway 自制水粿 (#01-16)
Originally, Thompson Homemade Shui Kway was simply named ‘Shui Kway’. The name directly translates to ‘water cake’ in English, and you either love it or hate it. Unlike the common chwee kueh, the ‘water cake’ here was rich in its ingredients and flavour.
The Shui Kway (S$2.20 for four pieces) is super affordable. Usually, I have to eat my shui kway with chye poh (preserved radish), but this “cake” was extremely fragrant on its own! The chye poh was refreshingly different from those done by other stalls. It is not oily and not too salty; I highly recommend this for a hearty breakfast.
Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat: 10.30am – 7pm
Thu & Sat: 10am – 7pm
Closed on Mon
6. Five Star Teochew Kway Chap (#01-28)
Ok, what’s with all the generic stall names in this hawker centre? No matter, Five Star Teochew Kway Chap brings forth the dying art of kway chap into the light.
Their Kway Chap Set (S$5.50) is a charming and cheap meal that’s both hearty and filling. For the explorative bunch like me, they have both small and big pig intestines, firm pig skin, and tau pok bursting with herbal flavour. The chilli hits just the right spot on my tongue; it’s both punchy and sweet at the same time.
Come down and support the art of kway chap, because you don’t really know how many stalls are left until it’s too late.
Daily: 7am – 8.30pm
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7. Changi Village Fried Hokkien Mee 樟宜炒福建虾面 (#01-27)
Whether you’re a fan of dry or wet Hokkien mee, you are bound to love this plate from Changi Village Fried Hokkien Mee. You’ve probably seen this signage in other hawker centres around Singapore, and it’s for a very good reason. The Hokkien Mee they serve is one of the best in Singapore.
For the plate of Hokkien Mee (S$5/6/8) that we ordered, we had a generous serving of noodles, meat, and egg. We could definitely taste the fish sauce, too. It’s neither too dry nor too wet. In fact, it’s got a slightly viscous consistency, which I was pleasantly surprised by.
Do expect a slight queue during the lunch hour, though!
Mon – Sat: 10.30am – 7pm
Sun: 9am – 7pm
8. Fried Carrot Cake (#01-14)
The stall name is Fried Carrot Cake. No tricks, no nonsense. If you’re craving some old-school carrot cake, come to Sembawang Hills Food Centre. In fact, I think I found my new favourite carrot cake stall in Singapore, and I’m not pulling your leg.
There’s no white or black variant of carrot cake, you have only 1 option — Fried Carrot Cake (S$3.50/4/5). You’re handed a plain white foam plate with charred bits of carrot cake lovingly scooped onto it, the small bits of carrot cake being so incredibly soft and sweet, like nothing you’ve ever tasted before. It’s messy in all the right places, and I love it.
Daily: 10am – 7pm
9. Sugar Cane & Fresh Fruit (#01-30)
For a refreshing drink, you can opt to get a cup of Sugarcane Lime Juice (S$2.20) or Sugarcane Lemon Juice (S$2.20). Although both are citrus fruits, they brought out different notes of the sugarcane extract.
Personally, I liked the lime mix. The stall owner uses fresh lime juice while adding a thick slice of lemon into the latter version. It definitely hits the spot on a hot day, or get it to complement your meal!
Daily: Open 24 hours
10. Ping Kee Popiah 平记薄饼 (#01-32)
Another simple breakfast staple you can find at Sembawang Hills Food Centre is at Ping Kee Popiah for their delectable popiah. The spring rolls are prepared on the spot.
One roll of their delicious Popiah is a mere S$2. The rolls are neatly cut into four. It’s a small detail I enjoy because I find it too messy to eat if the ingredients aren’t packed tightly in the roll.
Each piece carries just the right amount of sweet sauce, so it holds all the ingredients together without spillage.
Tue, Wed & Fri: 11.15am – 8pm
Thu: 10am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 11.15am – 6pm
Closed on Mon
11. Yong Kee (#01-02)
Looking for something light to boost you till the end of the day, or maybe an after-meal cheat snack? If so, Yong Kee might be the right stall for you. The stall is run by a husband-and-wife duo, with their recipe placing top 5 out of 41 entrants in a curry puff contest organised by The Straits Times in 1995.
They keep their prices low, serving their Potato Curry Puff (S$1.30) and Chicken Curry Puff (S$1.60) in simple plastic bags. The petite curry puffs are small enough to fit in the palm of an adult, with unmatched flaky pastry. Every curry puff also has a quarter-egg without fail, so you’ll never feel short-changed. There’s a reason why this stall is so highly-regarded.
Tel: +65 9842 6019
Tue & Wed, Fri – Sun: 7am – 3pm
Closed on Mon & Thu
12. Jin Men (#01-20)
Jin Men can be considered your run-of-the-mill chicken rice stall in the hawker centre, but they have a few treats to spice their menu up. One of which is my favourite Thai Style Chicken Feet (S$6). Unfortunately, they ran out of stock when I arrived.
Not to be deterred, I instead opted for their Curry Chicken Rice (S$5.50). The curry is thick and spicy, with the right amount of oil on the surface. You have a generous serving of chicken and giant potatoes to make the whole meal worth it. Of course, you can get their regular Steamed Chicken Rice Set (S$6), but where’s the fun in that?
Daily: 9am – 8.30pm
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