Mmm, Thai food. The spice, the aroma and of course, the very attractive affordability of Thai street food are what make it simply irresistible. Short of travelling to Thailand, it’s not easy to find affordable yet super authentic Thai food in Singapore. I have the answer — Thai Hawker Stalls.
Well, today is your lucky day. Here’s a list of Cheap Thai Hawker Stalls in Singapore for delectable Thai street food at low, low prices. Accessible, appetising, affordable — it really doesn’t get any better than this. You can say kop khun krub (thank you) to me later!
1. Northern Thai
Heard of Northern Thai at Berseh Food Centre? With only tom yum on the menu, you know it’s got to be good. In fact, it’s so good, it has arguably the best tom yum in Singapore.
Started by Uncle Ben and his wife, Northern Thai has been in business for almost two decades. Their hot-selling Northern Thai Tom Yum ($4.50/$5.50) may look a little different from the usual clear tom yum soups you might be more familiar with. That’s because Northern Thai follows traditional Chiang Rai style with a thicker, tomato-based broth.
The soup was a balanced mix of sweet and sour with a bit of creaminess which definitely impressed me. For fans of spicy tom yum like me, the good news is that this bowl really packed some hot spice that had me perspiring from head to toe.
As if the rich tom yum soup wasn’t enough of a flavour explosion, Uncle Ben just had to throw in some tasty, crispy fried fish. I’m not complaining! Salted and flavourful, the sinful fried fish was the perfect addition to the dish. This tom yum soup has definitely won over my heart (and stomach).
Expected Damage: $4.50 – $6 per pax
Northern Thai: 166 Jalan Besar, Berseh Food Centre, #01-25, Singapore 208877 | Tel: +65 9851 6386 | Opening Hours: (Monday & Tuesday) 10.30am – 3.30pm, (Wednesday) 9am – 3.30pm, (Thursday to Saturday) 9am – 5pm, (Sunday) Closed | Facebook
2. Gin Sen Authentic Thai Noodles & Specialties (closed)
You might not have heard of this Thai hawker stall yet, but you should! Started by two Thai ladies, Gin Sen Authentic Thai Noodles & Specialties at Old Airport Road Food Centre is a new stall that boasts some pretty interesting Thai street dishes you might not have come across before.
Say hello to Gin Sen’s Thai Bak Mee (Dry) ($4/$5). If there ever was a Thai version of bak chor mee, this would be it. Filled with glass noodles that have the same springiness as pad thai, and mixed with a refreshing blend of sweet and sour, this is one dish you won’t want to miss out on.
Altogether, the mix is delightful, from the crunch of the fried wanton skin and crushed peanuts to the springy chicken balls with bits of herb in them that really brightened their flavour. Do ask for more lime, however, as the noodles tend to be a little dry.
Gin Sen Authentic Thai Noodles & Specialties also serves Thai Claypot Basil Pork Rice ($5.50). Just look at that gorgeous yolk! With pork slices and minced pork, it made for an absolutely delicious combination with the chilli padi. The unique claypot presentation not only added aesthetic appeal, but it kept our food hot too!
So if you’re getting sick of common Thai staples like pad thai and pineapple fried rice, you might like Gin Sen Authentic Thai Noodles & Specialties’ more unusual menu for a change. For a very affordable $5, you can get some really aroy mak (delicious) Thai food!
Expected Damage: $4 – $7 per pax
Gin Sen Authentic Thai Noodles & Specialties: 51 Old Airport Road, Old Airport Road Food Centre, #01-65, Singapore 390051 | Tel: +65 9750 8854 | Opening Hours: (Monday to Thursday) 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 9pm, (Friday) 11am – 3pm, (Saturday) 5.30pm – 9pm, (Sunday) 9.30am – 5pm | Facebook
3. Soi 19 Thai Wonton Mee (十九街)
From Chinese to Malaysian, wanton mee has variations galore. But even a Thai one? Ready yourself for some delectable Thai wanton mee served up by Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5.
What makes Soi 19’s Thai wanton mee regular bowl ($4) so special is its nudity. Yes, you heard it right. This wanton noodles bares it all, devoid of any black or brown sauce, or even sambal!
You’ll be able to savour Soi 19’s thin, springy egg noodles with char siew, wantons and fried vegetables in all their honesty.
For those who are insistent on having sauce, Soi 19 does serve up a ‘black’ version with black sauce at no additional cost. This tasty Thai wanton mee will have you smacking your lips and coming back for more.
Hold your breath for the best part — Free. Flow. Pork. Lard. There’s no need to feel paiseh, so fill up your bowl with as much pork lard to your heart’s content. Although “heart’s content” probably isn’t the best thing to say after indulging in free-flow pork lard!
You can find out more about what we think of Soi 19 in our full review.
Expected damage: $4 – $8 per pax
Soi 19 Wanton Mee (十九街): 151 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, Block 151, Singapore 560151 | Opening hours: (Monday & Tuesday) Closed, (Wednesday to Sunday) 7am – 3:30pm | Facebook
4. Sedap Thai
Enjoy Singapore’s first halal Thai mookata at Sedap Thai at Berseh Food Centre! This dinner haunt offers up some of the cheapest mookata platters perfect for sharing between family and friends.
With platters such as $40 for 4 pax and even an Eat-All-You-Can Buffet ($20 per pax), get value-for-money portions without breaking the bank. Definitely the perfect place for big eaters like me.
While I was a little dubious about a mookata absent of lard, this halal mookata proved to be just as delicious as other alternatives. So come down and try everything from Rosemary Beef to Chicken Cheese Balls and leave only with a full belly!
Expected Damage: $10 – $20 per pax
Sedap Thai: 166 Jalan Besar, Berseh Food Centre, #01-08, Singapore 208877 | Tel: +65 8298 3579 | Opening Hours: (Monday to Saturday) 4.30pm – 9.30pm, (Sunday) Closed | Facebook
5. Sisaket Thai Food
Easily overshadowed by other more famous food stalls at Maxwell Food Centre, you might miss out on Sisaket Thai Food. Nevertheless, its expansive menu with very affordable prices definitely makes this hidden gem of a Thai hawker stall worth a visit.
Their Pad Thai ($4) is a must-try! While pad thai is a dime a dozen, Sisaket’s rendition is an absolute standout. Even before digging in, the strong and smoky egg aroma will fill your nose. The slightly moist noodles also have a nice bouncy texture that’s perfect for soaking up the sweet and tangy flavours.
The touch of calamansi helped to balance the flavours, adding a tangy taste. Definitely, one of the best pad thai you can find without having to go to Bangkok!
Expected Damage: $4 – $10 per pax
Sisaket Thai Food: 1 Kadayanallur Street, Maxwell Food Centre, #01-85, Singapore 069148 | Opening Hours: (Monday to Wednesday) 10.30am – 9.30pm, (Thursday) Closed, (Friday to Sunday) 10.30am – 9.30pm | Other Locations
6. Thaksin Beef Noodle
Westies, rejoice! Here’s an affordable Thai hawker stall right at your doorstep. Located at See Lam Hern Stalls along Clementi Avenue 3, Thaksin Beef Noodle serves up some pretty authentic Thai noodles to satisfy your Thai food cravings.
After making your choice from three types of noodles, including Egg Noodle and Glass Noodle, indulge in a heartening bowl of Beef Noodle Soup ($5).
On a cool evening, Thaksin’s Beef Noodle Soup is just the thing with its rich and flavourful broth that will have you slurping it up with fervour.
What are you waiting for? Dig into the myriad of delicious morsels within the bowl, including beef cubes and beef tripe!
While the beef cubes could have been a bit more tender, they were fatty enough for my liking. The beef tripe had a jelly-like texture that was the perfect addition to the bowl.
Expected Damage: $5 per pax
Thaksin Beef Noodle: Clementi Avenue 3, Block 449, #01-211, See Lam Hern Stalls, Singapore 120449 | Opening Hours: (Daily) 10am – 9.30pm | Outlets | Website | Facebook
7. Bangkok Thai Food (曼谷泰式料理)
Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre is a treasure trove of many impressive hawker stalls, including Bangkok Thai Food. With some of the cheapest yet tastiest Thai grub you can find in Singapore, I couldn’t miss out on this stall.
While it may not have the prettiest plates, I guarantee you that the flavours packed into their homey Thai creations are to die for. Their Fried Omelette Rice ($4) was cooked in a wok, making it really flavourful.
The edges were also crisp without the “plastic” taste, which made for delicious mouthfuls.
My personal favourite was Bangkok Thai Food’s Fried Kway Teow ($4), because the noodles had a slightly moist texture and even some notes of sweetness. It was also not too jelat for wok-fried food. Definitely worth a try.
So if you aren’t keen on enduring the long queues of the more popular stalls at Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, you might like to give Bangkok Thai Food a shot. You won’t even need to fork out a big sum to savour its comforting Thai delights!
Expected Damage: $4 – $6 per pax
Bangkok Thai Food: 335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, #02-117, Singapore 050335
8. SAP Thai Food
Good food, good price, good service. SAP Thai Food at Amoy Street Food Centre already has me convinced of its quality. They even have Thai basil MAMA noodles!
SAP’s Thai Chicken Mama Noodles ($5) is its speciality dish. The classic combination of Thai basil chicken was elevated with delicious Thai instant noodles. I can’t believe this simple yet sinful dish has been kept a secret for so long!
For spice lovers, you can even challenge yourself to the Extra Spicy level for what is certain to be a sweat-drenching, tongue-burning experience. Shhhh, let’s keep this a secret between us so we can have it all for ourselves.
You can read our full review of SAP Thai Food to find out more.
Expected Damage: $5 per pax
SAP Thai Food: 7 Maxwell Road, Amoy Street Food Centre, #01-58, Singapore 069111 | Tel: +65 9722 1235 | Opening Hours: (Monday to Friday) 10am – 9pm, (Saturday & Sunday) 10am – 3pm | Facebook
9. Bangkok Express
Newton Food Centre has continued to be a favourite among tourists and locals alike. As the only Thai hawker stall here, Bangkok Express has big shoes to fill. And you can bet this Singapore Best Foods Award-winning stall delivers!
I tried the fan-favourite Garlic Chicken Set ($5), which had a generous amount of chicken and was finished with a beautiful fried egg and fresh cucumber slices.
Not only was the chicken succulent, but the garlic sauce was also really sweet and aromatic. Do get some of the egg yolk in each bite for a richer flavour.
Each set is also accompanied by a bowl of appetising Tom Yum soup. The soup itself was very fragrant and refreshing, with a sharp citrusy flavour. While I did find it a little spicy, the soup was apparently toned down in spice for the set. If you’re game, do get the full deal with the Seafood Tom Yum ($6).
Seeing the affordable prices for the delicious sets, it’s no wonder that Bangkok Express has a loyal group of regulars. Pity I only have one stomach and couldn’t eat anymore. Looks like I’ll just have to come back to try the rest of the menu!
Expected Damage: $5 – $10 per pax
Bangkok Express: 500 Clemenceau Avenue North, Newton Food Centre, #01-04, Singapore 229495 | Opening Hours: (Monday to Saturday) 12pm – 9.30pm, (Sunday) Closed
10. KOKO Ice Cream
Of course, I couldn’t wrap up this list without everyone’s favourite — dessert! Here’s some delicious Thai ice cream perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
KOKO Ice Cream is a pop-up stall at The Star Vista that crafts authentic Thai Coconut Ice Cream just like those in Chatuchak Market. While KOKO has gotten a facelift, expect the same decadent dessert as the original Amoy Street Food Centre hawker stall.
For an affordable $3.90, you can get a single scoop of Original coconut ice cream with two Toppings. Perhaps the most difficult decision to make is choosing only two from the wide array of Toppings with items from sweet corn to red bean.
The best part? This Thai dessert is served in a coconut husk! At no additional costs, dig in and savour the tender young coconut flesh that makes this treat truly tropical. So go (coco)nuts and get yourself a scoop that is guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds!
Expected Damage: $3.90 – $6.50 per pax
KOKO Ice Cream: 1 Vista Exchange Green, The Star Vista, #B1-37D, Singapore 138617 | Tel: +65 9155 5708 | Opening Hours: (Daily) 11am – 10pm | Facebook
Singapore has always been a treasure trove for good Thai food. And now you know where to find it at its very cheapest! Did your favourites make the list?
