10 favourite hawker stalls of Singapore’s ministers & President

Often, we’re curious about how political figures live their lives beyond politics. Whether we’re talking about ministers, members of parliament (MPs) or even the President, there is a sense of mystery about the private lives of people who are always in the limelight. What sports do they enjoy? What movies do they like? Do they have a favourite musical instrument? The list of questions is endless.

​But at SETHLUI.com, our focus is food. I started to wonder: do our ministers and the President have a favourite hawker stall? I decided to do some research and learnt that their favourite hawker stalls encompass different cuisines and are scattered around Singapore.

On this list, you’ll find some famous stalls as well as some relatively unknown dark horses. Let’s check out 10 hawker stalls patronised by our Ministers and President.

1. Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice – Josephine Teo

Ranking top on our list is Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice, a stall patronised by Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo. This famous stall at Chinatown Complex Food Centre has been around for over 40 years and is known for its insane 40+ minute waits.

We even featured it in a Chinatown claypot rice showdown last year, in which it emerged victorious. Needless to say, this stall has the approval of fellow Singaporeans and us.

When you order, you can select between 3 types of rice: Mixed Rice, Sausage Rice and Chicken Rice. The rice is served in 5 different portion sizes: S$8, S$10, S$12, S$15 or S$20.

The most popular pick is definitely the mixed rice, which comes with chicken, lup cheong (Chinese sausage), salted fish and vegetables. There is also a pot of dark sauce to pour over your rice for you to decide how much flavour you want in your dish.

What stands out is the smoky aroma of their claypot rice. You can taste it in both the rice and guoba (golden crust), and even smell it from afar. Not only that but the chicken is succulent and well-seasoned, while the lup cheong boosts the dish’s fragrance and sweetness. Mrs Teo definitely has great taste!

Best for: Smoky claypot rice
Price: From S$8 per pax
335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex Food Centre, #02-198/199, Singapore 050335
+65 6227 2470
Tue & Wed, Fri to Sun: 3pm – 9pm
Closed on Mon & Thu

​2. Rajarani Thosai – Masagos Zulkifli

If you’re an Eastie, you’d probably be familiar with this popular Indian stall at Tampines Round Market & Food Centre: Rajarani Thosai. Turns out, it’s not only a popular crowd pick, but also an occasional breakfast spot for Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli.

In a YouTube video by Miss Tam Chiak, Mr Zulkifli shared that he usually orders the plain thosai here, but during our visit, we decided to be more adventurous. We ordered the Crispy Cereal Thosai (S$3.50) and the Masala Egg Onion Thosai (S$5). The thosai comes with coconut chutney, masala chutney and dhal on the side so that you can savour multiple flavours on one plate.

The Crispy Cereal Thosai sported a plain look, so I didn’t expect much from it. In the end, it was my favourite of the dishes we ordered! The sweetness of the cereal complements the savoury thosai crepe, and it adds a slight crunch to the soft interior of the thosai.

Those looking for something more filling should go for the Masala Egg Onion Thosai. This thosai is packed with potatoes and is simply mouthwatering! Take a bite, and you’ll fall in love with the balance of soft potatoes and crispy onions.

Rajarani Thosai offers more than just thosai; they also have 5 different types of appam. We tried the Coconut Appam (S$2) and will definitely recommend it for its bouncy interior and mild sweetness of the grated coconut. No wonder you see long queues here daily. Did I mention that this stall is also a new entry in the 2026 Michelin Guide?

Best for: South Indian breakfast
Price: From S$2 per pax
137 Tampines Street 11, Tampines Round Market & Food Centre, #01-33, Singapore 521137
+65 9678 9371
Thu to Tue: 7am – 1.30pm
Closed on Wed
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​3. No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow – Edwin Tong

Another popular stall makes it to the list, hooray! This time, it’s No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow at Zion Riverside Food Centre, a repeat Michelin Guide entry. You might know that it’s a favourite of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, but did you know that it’s also a top pick of Minister for Law Edwin Tong?

In an Instagram reel by KF Seetoh, Mr Tong was asked what his last dish on earth would be. He answered “char kway teow”, and the No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow was the first stall that came to mind.

Here, you can order your Char Kway Teow in 3 sizes: S$6, S$8 and S$10. The stall is generous with their portions; even with the S$6 option, you can get a generous amount of char kway teow, pork lard and vegetables.

What makes this stall such a crowd favourite? It’s the strong wok hei of their kway teow. After each bite, the smoky flavour lingers in your mouth, tempting you to have more of this fragrant goodness.

Another reason for their popularity is the freshness of the cockles, the silky egg bits and crispy pork lard cubes. The contrast between the smooth kway teow and bouncy yellow noodles makes this dish even more irresistible!

Best for: Michelin-recognised smoky noodles
Price: From S$6 per pax
70 Zion Road, Zion Riverside Food Centre, #01-17, Singapore 247792
+65 9868 5507
Wed to Mon: 12.30pm – 9pm
Closed on Tue

4. Siglap Kway Chap – Tan See Leng

Next up is Siglap Kway Chap, which has a legacy built over more than 50 years. Formerly located at Siglap, the stall is now at Bedok Reservoir Food Centre and is patronised by Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng.

The recommended dish here? It’s the Kueh Chap Assorted (S$5), which comes with a generous mix of pig belly and intestines, tau pok and fish cake. The soup is perfectly balanced, with a light and comforting herbal broth hitting just the right amount of saltiness.

What’s the star of the show? It’s the homemade kway that complements the chap. The rice noodles are so silky that you’ll find yourself slurping more and more. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised that the pig intestines are cleaned well and don’t come with a gamey aftertaste.

​Even the fine details of the dish are executed to perfection. The salted vegetables were not too salty, the tau pok was filled with heavenly broth, and the chilli strikes a good balance between sour and spicy. It’s no wonder that this longstanding household name has remained so well-received!

Best for: Silky kway with balanced herbal broth
Price: From S$5 per pax
630 Bedok Reservoir Road, Bedok Reservoir Hawker Centre, #01-24, Singapore 470630
Fri to Wed: 7.30am – 3pm
Closed on Thu

5. Mak Itam’s Corner – Faishal Ibrahim

Did you know that Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim is a foodie? Mr Ibrahim has many favourite hawker stalls, one of which is Mak Itam’s Corner at a coffeeshop in Yishun.

​Before visiting Mak Itam’s Corner, which is also known as Mak Itam’s Foodstall, my plan was to order the stall’s signature items: Lontong (S$3.50) and Mee Soto (S$3.50). But when I arrived, their lontong was already sold out. Fortunately, there was still some mee soto!

​When it comes to noodle soup, I usually sip the broth first, because I believe that’s where the soul of the dish lies. The well-flavoured mee soto didn’t disappoint. Filled with an assortment of spices, the broth was layered and, despite my low spice tolerance, I kept going for the soup.

​The soup exudes the fragrance of chicken and after a mouthful of the soup, I knew it was time to try the chicken. Oh boy, it was so tender!

​Next up for review was something I didn’t look forward to: the yellow noodles. Usually, when it comes to noodles, this is the number 1 noodle I avoid because of its repulsive alkaline taste. I braced myself for it, but surprisingly, the alkaline taste wasn’t present. What a pleasant surprise!

Best for: Flavourful spiced broth with tender chicken
Price: From S$3.50 per pax
605 Yishun Street 61, Singapore 760605
+65 9179 9631
Mon to Sat: 6am – 4.30pm
Sun: 6am – 1pm
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6. Yan Fried Bee Hoon – Lee Hsien Loong

Wasn’t Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s favourite already mentioned? Yes, but there’s no way I’d leave out Yan Fried Bee Hoon at Redhill Food Centre either, because Mr Lee was spotted queuing for 30 minutes at this stall 12 years ago.

​Surprisingly, Yan Fried Bee Hoon is more well-known for their Chicken Wings (S$1.70/pc) than their bee hoon. In fact, the chicken wings were the very thing Mr Lee was queuing for back then. Just look at its golden brown exterior, and you’ll be pining for a taste of it.

​Take your first bite, and you’d want more of its juicy, tender meat. The meat is also well-marinated, resulting in a dish oozing with flavour. If I had to describe their chicken wings in one phrase, I would say it was mind-blowing. It’s no wonder customers dabao 20 to 50 pieces of it despite the price.

​If you want to have your chicken wings with a proper meal, order the Bee Hoon (S$1.20) or Kway Teow Mee (S$1.20) and select your favourite toppings to customise your meal. These toppings range from Luncheon Meat (S$0.80), Ngoh Hiang Seafood (S$1.20), Cabbage (S$0.90) and more.

Best for: Popular crispy, well-marinated chicken wings with bee hoon
Price: From S$2 per pax
85 Redhill Lane, Redhill Food Centre, #01-19, Singapore 150085
Mon to Fri: 11am – 7.30pm
Sat: 9.30am – 6pm
Closed on Sun
For a list of other locations, contact numbers and opening hours, click here.

7. Epok Epok Mummy – Ong Ye Kung

In a 2020 interview, Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung shared that he has a favourite curry puff that he buys from a coffeeshop stall at Block 105 Canberra Street.

​While its name on Google is Epok Epok Mummy, don’t let the name on the signboard fool you. I thought I was at the wrong place when I saw the sign reading: 105 Mami Milah 2A Curry Puff, but it’s the correct stall.

There are 5 curry puff options here, all of which are HUGE. Can you believe it’s the same size as my phone? I was mind-blown when I saw that. Anyways, I went for the top 2 popular picks: the Kentang Potato (S$2) and the Sardine (S$2), both of which had a crunchy curved crust.

​My favourite was the kentang potato, which has a sweet egg and potato filling inside. I particularly enjoyed the crunchy potato skin and the mild spice intensity.

​If you love an intense kick of spice in your curry puff, go for the sardine option. I was chugging water with every bite of the puff (although that might be just me). There’s also vinegar added for a sour flavour, and you’ll find crunchy onions inside!

​I was also curious upon learning that they had a Sayur Vegetable (S$2) option. What would a curry puff filled with vegetables taste like? I took a bite and was surprised that there was zero curry inside.

​Instead, the interior consisted of lots of bean sprouts and a bit of tofu. While this non-spicy option catered to me, it didn’t feel like a real curry puff to me, because how can you have a curry puff without curry?

Best for: Oversized curry puffs with several fillings
Price: From S$2 per pax
105 Canberra Street, Yong Li Coffee Station, Singapore 752106
+65 6797 6993
Open 24 hours daily
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8. Hasina Muslim Food – Tharman Shanmugaratnam

There’s no way I would miss out on our President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s favourite hawker stall. It’s not a stall he occasionally visits but one where you will find him weekly!

In an Instagram reel by BestFoody, the owner of Hasina Muslim Food at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre shared that Mr Tharman would frequently drop by with his colleagues for a meal.

​The stall’s forte lies in its comforting and homey chicken rice, with the Nasi Ayam Penyet (S$4) and Nasi Ayam Goreng (S$4) options being the minister’s favourites. The dishes come with a refreshing soup and mildly spicy chilli, making it suitable for those who can’t stand the heat.

​If you’re a fan of fried chicken, the nasi ayam penyet is your best bet. The crispy golden skin, tender meat and juicy interior of the ayam penyet will leave you hungry for more. Prefer roasted chicken? Their nasi ayam goreng is equally juicy and flavourful!

​With over 40 years of legacy, this old-school stall has stood the test of time. Drop by for a visit, and you’ll know why.

Best for: Chicken rice from a 40-year-old stall
Price: From S$4 per pax
3 Yung Sheng Road, Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre, #02-116, Singapore 618499
+65 8310 0900
Mon to Fri: 9am – 8pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 3pm

9. Yong Xing Noodle House – Gan Kim Yong

The favourite of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong? It’s Yong Xing Noodle House at a coffeeshop in Teck Whye. Also known as Yong Xing Fish Soup & BanMian, the stall offers a variety of items including ban mian, porridge and dumplings.

​In a video by Miss Tam Chiak, Mr Gan shared that he enjoys the Mee Hoon Kueh (S$4) at this stall, so I decided to try something similar, but in the Ban Mian (S$4) version.

​I noticed that the dish leaned towards milder flavours. While the soup was refreshing, it was less salty compared to the usual ban mian soup. Its meat also wasn’t too salty or peppery, but retained its meaty flavour. Perhaps Mr Gan prefers mild-tasting food, just like me!

​The texture of the ban mian was also unique. It was slightly thinner and moister than usual, and the noodles were extremely smooth and silky! Definitely above average, in my opinion.

​Being adventurous, I decided to try their Tom Yum Ban Mian (S$4.50) as well, and as with the original ban mian, it tastes different from other ban mian stalls. The tom yum flavour leans towards the mild side, and showcases a prominent and tangy tomato flavour.

​This was a pleasant surprise for me, but I feel that tom yum fans may not enjoy this dish as much. You could try it out to see where you stand!

Order Delivery: foodpanda
Best for: Smooth ban mian and mee hoon kueh with lighter-flavoured broth
Price: From S$3 per pax
16 Teck Whye Lane, 21 Cafe, Singapore 680016
Daily: 9am – 9pm

​10. Hai Nan Zai – K Shanmugam

Any carrot cake lovers here? If you enjoy carrot cake, try Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam’s recommendation at Chong Pang Market & Food Centre.

This stall has been a repeated Michelin Guide entry since 2021 and offers carrot cake in 3 sizes: Small (S$3.50), Medium (S$4.50) and Large (S$5.50).

​You’ll receive a plate filled with caramelised carrot cake, puffy eggs and a generous amount of salted radish. The carrot cake is also soft, moist, and comes with a distinct wok-hei aroma.

​Hai Nan Zai doesn’t just offer carrot cake; they also sell Fried Kway Teow (S$4.50 for Small, S$5.50 for Medium, S$6.50 for Large), Fried Oyster (S$5 for Small, S$8 for Medium, S$10 for Large) and Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee (S$5 for Small, S$6 for Medium, S$6.50 for Large).

​If you prefer your char kway teow to be more smoky than sweet, the char kway teow here would suit your palate. The coat of oil over the kway teow adds to the silkiness of the rice noodles and keeps the wok hei aroma lingering in your mouth.  

Best for: Michelin Guide-recognised carrot cake with distinct wok hei
Price: From S$3.50 per pax
105 Yishun Ring Road, Chong Pang Market & Food Centre, #01-129, Singapore 760105
Daily: 8.30am – 9pm

How to choose a minister-approved hawker stall in Singapore

If you are after a hearty meal worth waiting for, choose Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice for its smoky claypot rice or No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow for pronounced wok hei. For breakfast or a lighter start, Rajarani Thosai offers a wide range of thosai and appam, while Yong Xing Noodle House suits those who prefer milder noodle soups.

Pick Hasina Muslim Food for comforting chicken rice, Mak Itam’s Corner for a flavourful bowl of mee soto, or Yan Fried Bee Hoon if crispy chicken wings are the main draw. Hai Nan Zai is a good choice for carrot cake enthusiasts, while Epok Epok Mummy suits a quick snack. The right choice depends on the dish and dining experience you are looking for. Or, you could just check out what your favourite minister loves!

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