11 best stalls at Zion Riverside Food Centre for a scrumptious bite by the Singapore River

Nestled in the tranquil River Valley area is Zion Riverside Food Centre — one of Singapore’s most underrated hawker gems, if you ask me.

While we’re familiar with bustling hawker centres home to over a hundred stalls under one roof, this one keeps it humble with a very modest 32.

Still, it’s a food haven no less. With an array of delicious eats — including a handful of nationwide fame and Michelin acclaim — plus a scenic riverside view, it’s the perfect spot to escape the steep prices at Great World City and its atas vicinity.

Without further ado, here are 11 best stalls at Zion Riverside Food Centre for a scrumptious bite by the Singapore River.

1. Zhi Wei Xian Zion Road Big Prawn Noodle (#01-04)

There’s absolutely no shame in putting Zhi Wei Xian Zion Road Big Prawn Noodle as the top entry on this list. It’s easily one of the best prawn mee stalls in Singapore, and earning the coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand 5 years in a row is certainly no small feat. Even more impressively, it’s a one-man show.

Be prepared to queue — I swear it’s worth it.

Zhi Wei Xian offers just one item: Pork Rib Prawn Mee (S$8/S$13/S$20/S$28) in dry and soup variations — both of which you won’t go wrong with.

Steep as the price point appears, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting bang for your buck. The S$8 portion includes a generous helping of 2 hefty fall-off-the-bone pork ribs and 3 whole ang kar prawns, which are sweet and ultra fresh.

And don’t get me started on the broth! It’s incredibly flavourful, jam-packed with the perfect sweet-savoury balance of pork rib and briny prawns. Oh, if only I could drink it with a straw…

+65 9006 4655
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 3pm & 6.30pm – 10pm
Closed on Mon
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2. No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow (#01-17)

No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow is another of the food centre’s all-stars. If its constant queues aren’t enough to convince you, perhaps SM Lee Hsien Loong’s stamp of approval will. Seriously, their char kway teow left such an impression on him that the stall-owner was invited to the Istana in 2004 to witness the then-PM’s swearing-in ceremony.

The famed Char Kway Teow is priced at S$6, S$8 and S$10 for Small, Medium and Large plates respectively. The dish features a good mix of kway teow and yellow noodles tossed plentifully in dark sauce, along with vegetables, taugeh, fishcakes, cockles and egg.

Each mouthful of noodles is fragrant and indulgent, with a sweet-savoury profile perfumed by a distinct wok hei that lures you in for another bite.

+65 9868 5507
Wed to Mon: 12.30pm – 3pm & 3.30pm – 9pm
Closed on Tue

3. Ah Wang La Mian Xiao Long Bao (#01-22)

If hawker xiao long bao stalls are your jam (like it’s mine), you’ll adore Ah Wang La Mian Xiao Long Bao. This gem of a stall serves up a wallet-friendly variety of handmade Chinese-style dumplings and la mian. I believe it goes without saying that this is a hotspot among the food centre’s patrons.

It’s hard to go wrong with dumplings, and Ah Wang La Mian Xiao Long Bao whips up some mean Pan-fried Dumplings (S$7.50 for 10). Perfectly shallow-fried, these hefty morsels are embellished with a tuile-like skirt that lends a light, crispy contrast to the tender, juicy meat encased within.

If you’re game for some heat, the Szechuan Spicy Wanton (S$6 for 10 pieces) is another stellar dish starring velvety pork-prawn wantons coated in a fragrant mix of chilli oil and vinegar. And how could I go without giving the Xiao Long Bao (S$5.50 for 7 pieces) a shout-out? Featuring a tasty filling of minced pork and soup, these will satisfy any xiao long bao craving easily.

Wed & Thu: 10.30am – 3.30pm & 4.30pm – 8.40pm
Fri: 10am – 3.30pm & 4.30pm – 8.40pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 3.30pm & 4.30pm – 8.40pm

4. Lau Goh Teochew Chye Thow Kway (#01-26)

Lau Goh Teochew Chye Thow Kway isn’t just known for its solid Teochew-style fried carrot cake — it’s also helmed by Peter Goh, a deaf hawker who’s been running the stall for about 4 decades. His disability hasn’t stood in the way of his craft or business; in fact, he’s even implemented a ‘pointing menu’ to make ordering through gestures a breeze.

Lau Goh Teochew Chye Thow Kway offers both Black and White Carrot Cake (S$6/S$8/S$10), as well as a Mixed option at the same price points.

The Black version has a bold, caramelised flavour profile with a smoky wok hei, while the White version features radish cubes coated in a light, crispy egg crust and a savoury touch from the chye poh. Tempting, right? That’s exactly why you should get both.

+65 9674 5483
Wed to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm & 3.45pm – 9pm
Sun & Mon: 12pm – 2.30pm & 4pm – 9pm
Closed on Tue

5. Seng Huat Western (#01-12)

Established in 1968, Seng Huat Western puts the ‘old-school’ in old-school Western food. Think classic plates of Chicken Chop Rice (S$5), Chicken Cutlet (S$7.50) and Spring Chicken (S$11.50) — the epitome of no-frills comfort food.

A popular item is the Fish & Chips (S$7.50), featuring a huge slab of golden battered fish fillet, fries, coleslaw and baked beans. One bite of the fish and you’ll understand why it’s a must-try — its crispy skin goes down with an audible crunch, giving way to a silky soft interior.

Feeling boujee? Splurge on the Sirloin Steak (S$11.50) or Mixed Grill (S$11.50), which includes chicken chop, sausage, a sunny-side-up egg and their signature Chicken Wing (S$1.50).

+65 6733 7386
Tue, Wed & Sat: 11.30am – 2pm & 4pm – 8.30pm
Closed on Sun, Mon, Thu & Fri
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6. Boon Tong Kee Kway Chap • Braised Duck (#01-24)

Although it’s featured on our worst-rated series, we promise Boon Tong Kee Kway Chap • Braised Duck is more than meets the eye. I mean, its 3.6-star rating on Google Reviews isn’t too shabby; it even has a spot on the Michelin Guide! 

Their crowd-favourite Braised Duck Rice (S$4.50/S$5.50/S$6.50/S$7.50) features fragrant yam rice crowned with braised duck slices and topped off with a drizzle of rich braised sauce. While the duck leans a tad tough, it delivers on flavour — mildly herbal and deeply savoury, especially when paired with their tangy chilli dip.

The real standout, though, is the rice. Instead of plain ol white rice, Boon Tong Kee uses yam rice studded with aromatic hae bee — a wonderful touch that brings out the natural sweetness of the yam.

For a little more variety, opt for the Kway Chap (S$5) set, which includes a bowl of silky kway in comforting broth and a platter of duck, tau kwa, eggs and well-cleaned intestines.

+65 9184 9881
Thu to Fri & Sun: 10am – 8.30pm
Sat: 11am – 8.30pm
Closed on Mon
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7. Riverside Good Food (#01-20)

Need those Hokkien mee cravings satisfied? Riverside Good Food has you covered. They also dish out other wok hei-laden goodies in the likes of char kway teow and orh luak.

And guess what? No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow (#2) isn’t the only SM Lee-endorsed stall in Zion Riverside Food Centre. This one has two pictures of his visit proudly displayed at their front counter, too.

Riverside Good Food does a pretty solid wet-style Hokkien Mee (S$6), featuring a heap of noodles thoroughly coated in savoury prawn broth. It’s accompanied by a huge medley of ingredients, including prawns, squid, fishcake, vegetables and some crispy, unctuous pork lard.

Another speciality of theirs is the White Fried Kway Teow (S$5) — essentially your usual char kway teow, just without the sweet black sauce. Savoury and light on the palate, it’s a more unique take on the classic that you’ll have to try for yourself to see if it suits your fancy.

Wed to Mon: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Tue: 11.30am – 6pm

8. Kang’s Wanton Noodle (#01-06)

Though not affiliated with the famous Chef Kang’s Noodle House, Kang’s Wanton Noodle also specialises in wanton mee and holds a spot in the Michelin Guide all the same. The stall doles out bowls of the classic noodle dish for just 5 hours a day in the morning — so good, you’ll wish you were an early bird.

Their queue-drawing Wanton Mee (S$5/S$6/S$7) features springy, al dente egg noodles tossed in an addictive sauce, topped with sweet char siew slices, chye sim, and a couple of delicious fried wantons.

Each portion is accompanied by a bowl of Wanton Soup with silky boiled wantons, which you can get in a bigger, more satisfying portion for S$5/S$6/S$7.

+65 9187 5281
Sun to Wed & Fri: 8am – 1.30pm
Sat: 8am – 1pm
Closed on Thu

9. Min Chuan Beef Noodle (#01-28)

Previously known as Joo Chiat Beef Noodles, Min Chuan Beef Noodle is the spot for all things beef in Zion Riverside Food Centre. I mean it; they’ve got beef noodles, beef soup and beef on rice. A meat lover’s dream, for sure.

Their titular Beef Noodles (S$6/S$8) come in both Dry and Soup variations — the former featuring noodles blanketed by a thick, luscious beef gravy, and the latter served in a hearty beef broth. Each bowl is dealt with a generous portion of tender beef slices and beef balls to accompany every mouthful of noodles. And, if offal’s your thing, the tripe-filled Mixed Beef Noodle (S$6/S$8/S$10) is the way to go.

Interestingly, Min Chuan Beef Noodle also offers a variety of Danlao-style scrambled egg rice bowls, such as Chicken Cutlet Egg Rice (S$6), Braised Pork Egg Rice (S$6), Luncheon Meat Egg Rice (S$6) and Black Pepper Chicken Egg Rice (S$6).

Daily: 10.30am – 9.30pm

10. Good Luck Hong Kong Guifei Kampong Chicken (#01-18)

Good Luck Hong Kong Guifei Kampong Chicken — what a name! If that’s not enough to pique your curiosity, their speciality of guifei chicken (AKA empress chicken) certainly will.

Said to be “fit for royalty”, guifei chicken is a Chinese-style poached chicken dish akin to the Hainanese chicken we know and love, except it’s gently cooked in brine infused with Chinese rose wine and various herbs. The product? Succulent, juicy meat with a delicate flavour. A plate of Kampong Guifei Chicken Rice here goes for just S$4.50 for a Small plate and S$6 for its upsized counterpart.

True to its name, the stall also offers some rich, savoury Soya Sauce Chicken Noodles (S$6/S$8) and Kampong Chicken Rice Sets (S$6/S$8). You can also find roast meats such as char siew and sio bak, which come in combos such as Char Siew Roasted Meat Rice (S$5), Guifei Chicken Rice + Roasted Meat (S$6.50/S$8.50) and the best-of-all-worlds Guifei Chicken, Char Siew and Roasted Meat platter (S$16 for 2 pax, S$33 for 3 pax).

Sat to Wed: 11am – 8pm
Thu: 9am – 5pm
Closed on Fri

11. Chong Pang Huat (#01-15)

And finally, no hawker dinner by the riverside would be complete without some quintessentially Singaporean satay and BBQ chicken wings. For that, Chong Pang Huat’s gotcha. With nearly 10 outlets islandwide, this is a pretty familiar establishment.

The Satay goes for S$0.90 a stick (min. order 10 sticks) and comes in 3 variations: Chicken, Pork and Mutton. Hefty, tender, and charcoal-grilled to smoky perfection, the Pork Satay — complete with a sinfully delicious layer of fat — has got to be my favourite of the lot.

Equally delightful are the barbecued Chicken Wings (S$1.60/piece, min. order 2 pieces), which are embellished with a lightly-charred crispy skin. Juicy and savoury, it pairs well with the bright, zesty chilli dip.

+65 8450 0498
Mon to Fri: 4pm – 10.15pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 10.15pm
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