There is no question that hawker centres are the bedrock of Singapore’s food culture. Indeed, there is nothing quite like it.
Dinner at a hawker centre is often a mosaic of sorts: a fragrant plate of nasi lemak here, another slurp-worthy wanton noodles there and maybe a serving of sticky rojak if it suits your fancy. The sprawling number of stalls is a promise that your lunch or dinner will never be boring.
A hawker centre that aims to do just that would be the somewhat newly-revamped Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre.
Located conveniently just outside of Bedok MRT Station, this hawker centre is home to many well-loved favourites that are sure to be the perfect pick-me-up, especially after particularly long and tiring days. Without further ado, here are 12 stalls you have to try at Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre.
1. Inspirasi
We’ll start with one of the real gems of Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, Inspirasi.
Inspirasi was established in 1970, and this family-run stall is home to quite possibly one of the best mee rebus in Singapore. Their line of hungry customers runs so far back that it doubles back on itself.
With only four options to choose from, they pride themselves on quick and hearty meals. You won’t go wrong with their signature Mee Rebus (S$2.50) and Soto Ayam (S$2.50). You can even add a side of Begedil (fried potato pancake) (+S$0.50) to truly complete your meal.
Made with potatoes, curry powder, ikan bilis (dried anchovies) and soybeans, and a few secret ingredients, the simple gravy was the real highlight.
The starchy gravy had just the right consistency, with a perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours. The noodles paired so well with the thick, luscious gravy that I was gobbling mouthful after mouthful.
As for the winning Soto Ayam, the hearty broth was rich, earthy and simply exemplary. The sweetness of the chicken bones had fully integrated into the stock, which was boiled for 12 hours.
Not to mention, the fork-tender shredded chicken soft, supple and almost melts in your mouth. It was quickly the highlight of the dish.
The team behind Inspirasi are rather laid back, so their opening hours and days tend to vary. To be safe, drop by around mid-afternoon when it’s less crowded and more likely to be open for business.
Inspirasi: #01-11 | Opening Hours: 12pm – 9.30pm (Mon to Sat), Closed on Sun
2. Hock Hai (Hong Lim) Curry Chicken Noodle
Another stall that garners long queues has to be the famous Hock Hai (Hong Lim) Curry Chicken Noodle 福海 (芳林) 咖喱鸡面. There is nothing better than a pipping bowl of curry noodles on rainy days (any day, in fact).
As you walk up to stall, the enticing aroma of the thick and rich curry beckons you to forgo your diet. It’s quite a sight a behold, as the stall auntie and uncle are continually refilling the pot with potatoes and chicken to accommodate the never-ending queue.
A bowl of Curry Chicken Noodle Bee Hoon Mee of this size will set you back S$4 and chock-full of ingredients. The curry was filled to the brim, along with generous chunks of chicken, taupok, beansprouts and fishcakes. If you are a little more ravenous, then the S$5 and S$6 portions should satiate all those curry chicken noodle cravings.
The curry was fragrant and had a very traditional and homely feel to it. A little detail I appreciated was how the stall served a mixture of yellow noodles and bee hoon for better texture and mouthfeel.
With an excellent price tag and quality ingredients, Hock Hai Curry Chicken is genuinely a stalwart in Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre.
Hock Hai (Hong Lim) Curry Chicken Noodle 福海 (芳林) 咖喱鸡面: #01-58 | Opening Hours: 9am – 11pm (Daily) | Facebook
3. Pin Xiang Hainanese Chicken Rice 品香雞饭
If the myriad of stalls start to overwhelm and you can’t decide what to eat, chicken rice has to be the ultimate failsafe.
What’s more, if the chicken rice is Pin Xiang Hainanese Chicken Rice 品香雞饭 you’re in luck. With over 30 years of experience dishing out delicious chicken rice, you know you are in good hands.
A plate of their Roasted Chicken Rice (S$3 for small, S$3.50 for large) is sure to make an excellent meal. The chicken was tender and juicy, which was a huge plus considering that roasted chicken tends to veer a little on the dry side.
The soy-based gravy did a great job of adding a tantalising salty oomph which made each mouthful even more delightful.
Of course, no chicken rice is complete without that tangy and addictive chilli. For Pin Xiang Hainanese Chicken rice, their chilli was thick and almost paste-like.
With a generous amount of chilli padi and hints of ginger, this chilli sauce was piquant and addictive—definitely the icing on the cake.
Pin Xiang Hainanese Chicken Rice 品香雞饭: #01-03 | Opening Hours: 9.30am – 9.30pm (Daily) | Facebook
4. Jefri The Original Botak Chicken Rice
Here’s a little curveball, the next time you crave chicken rice you should give Jefri The Original Botak Chicken Rice. With a name like that, it should be more than enough to pique your interest.
Jefri’s Nasi Ayam Goreng (S$3.50) makes for an interesting iteration of chicken rice. Their rice is an unusual shade of nuclear orange, which is due to the spices used. Along with it, you get a portion of roasted chicken atop a hill of vermillion rice.
I’ve to admit; I was a little apprehensive about this plate of chicken rice. But, of course ever the adventurous food writer I went for it, no holds barred.
It’s not your traditional plate of chicken rice, but I enjoyed it all the same. The rice delivered an excellent spicy kick and got me reaching for my teh peng a couple of times. The chicken was tasty and tender, making an excellent companion to the rice.
This plate is made for spice enthusiasts for sure. Besides chicken rice, you can also find Mee Soup (S$3), Mee Hong Kong (S$3), and Mee Bandung (S$3.50) at Jefri The Original Botak Chicken Rice.
Jefri The Original Botak Chicken Rice: #01-07 | Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
5. Yu Kee Duck Rice 友记鸭饭
Yu Kee Duck Rice 友记鸭饭 is perhaps a stall that needs no introduction. With more than 20 branches all over Singapore, Yu Kee is undoubtedly no stranger to duck rice.
A typical order from Yu Kee would be their Specialty Duck Rice (S$3.50). This plate comes with tender braised duck lying atop fragrant yam rice. Plus, you can host of complimentary sides such as peanuts, preserved vegetables, a braised egg, and a bowl of soup. Yu Kee knows how to value-add to your meal.
However, I felt like the duck was just a tad too thin, resulting in a rather lacklustre mouthful. Not to mention, the service at this outlet was also rather slipshod. The attention over the years might have caused them to compromise on their quality, but it still makes a decent treat.
I’d recommend paying Yu Kee Duck Rice 友记鸭饭 a visit and judging it for yourself.
Yu Kee Duck Rice 友记鸭饭: #01-28 | Tel: +65 6555 6992 | Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Daily) | Other Outlets | Website | Facebook
6. Bedok Chwee Kueh 勿洛水粿
As one of the first chwee kueh stalls to win the Michelin Bib Gourmand, I had some pretty high expectations of Bedok Chwee Kueh 勿洛水粿.
Chwee Kueh, for those who are unfamiliar, is a steamed rice cake that topped off with a liberal amount of chopped preserved radish and sometimes served with a dollop of chilli.
Their chwee kueh will set you back S$1 for two pieces, S$1.50 for three pieces and S$2 for four pieces.
Savoury and salty, this simple but tasty rice cake makes for the perfect breakfast meal. I have to say, the chwee kueh was a just a tad oily but then again if you are having chwee kueh for breakfast you know what you’re in for.
Bedok Chwee Kueh is a stall that is continuously accosted by throngs of hungry customers at almost any given time. Although, what stall at Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre doesn’t have a queue?
If you want to snag your share, be prepared to wait a little while, but I promise you the wait is absolutely worth it.
Bedok Chwee Kueh 勿洛水粿: #01-19 | Opening Hours: 6.30am – 8pm (Daily)
7. Song Zhou Lo Bor Gao 松洲萝卜糕
Song Zhou Luo Bo Gao 松洲萝卜糕 is where you’ll find good ol’ fashioned carrot cake that ticks all the boxes.
Their Carrot Cake (S$3/Regular, S$3.50/Large) is available in Black or White. This simple stir-fried radish cake dish comes with eggs, chye poh (preserved radish) and essential seasonings. With nothing too fancy, the stall takes pride in their signature dish and is always consistent in their Carrot Cake every time I visit.
With good crispy edges and wok hei in every forkful, Song Zhou Luo Bo Gao certainly has my seal of approval.
Song Zhou Luo Bo Gao 松洲萝卜糕: #01-37 | Tel: +65 9684 3555 | Opening Hours: 6.30am – 8pm (Mon to Sat), Closed on Sun
8. Zhong Xing Ban Mian 中興板麺
A bowl of ban mian is simple, comforting and downright reassuring but looking for the right one can be quite the hunt. It doesn’t help that ban mian stalls are a dime a dozen in Singapore.
However, with Zhong Xing Ban Mian 中興板麺, I think we found a good one.
Don’t be fooled by the somewhat tacky signboard, this modest stall makes their noodles by hand and is known for their noodle soup bowls.
My bowl of Mee Hoon Kway Soup (S$3.50) took a while to churn out due to the aged chef and owners. It’s as simple as it can get, with chunks of marinated minced pork, poached egg, fried ikan bilis and vegetables all together in a warm bowl of noodle soup.
The real star of this humble bowl has got to be the meat which was well-seasoned and cooked to a tender consistency. The soup base was hearty and light but yet nothing extremely notable to shout about.
For those in a serious need of some ban mian, this might do the trick.
Zhong Xing Ban Mian 中興板麺: #01-46, Singapore 460207 | Opening Hours: 9am – 11pm (Wed to Mon), Closed on Tues
9. Teo’s Noodles
It seems like Bedok Interchange has no shortage of good eats, I mean if there is a queue it must be good, right? Teo’s Noodles is no stranger to long lines. After all, there is no comfort food quite like bak chor mee or better known as minced meat noodles.
A combination of al dente noodles with a spicy, vinegary sauce coupled with a generous load of razor clams and tender flavourful meat—is there anything better?
Teo’s Noodles is one of the few stalls that offer sweet and moreish razor clams that is a brownie point for sure.
A bowl of Bak Chor Mee will set you back S$4. If you would like you to size up, Teo’s Noodles offer a more substantial portion at S$5 with more minced meat and clams.
Teo’s Noodles: #01-26 | Opening Hours: 6am – 1pm (Mon to Wed, Fri & Sat), Closed on Thurs & Sun | Facebook
10. Mala Xiang Guo
A huge steaming bowl of fiery, tongue-numbing mala is sure to hit the spot. With so many mala stalls spreading like wildfire in Singapore, it’s tough to pick a favourite. We have surveyed the land, and Mala Xiang Guo came out on top for us.
Mala Xiang Guo is one of those stalls that’s hard to miss because you can usually find queues snaking around their stall from 6pm to 9pm (yes, the line doesn’t clear until then!).
If you’re patronising them during that time frame, then be prepared for a 30- to 45-minute wait, but trust me when I say it’s worth it.
Unlike most mala stalls that charge ingredients by their weight, this stall goes by a portion system instead and has fixed prices for each portion, so naturally, that makes it more affordable than usual stalls.
Apart from the typical rice and instant noodles, they also have the option of getting your carbs in the form of man tou buns, and you can bet they make for absolutely yummy dippers.
Another reason to love this mala stall is their quail eggs. In the world of mala, quail eggs are an uncommon ingredient on the menu. You’d be surprised at how amazing boiled quail’s eggs go with the numbingly spicy sauce.
Ma La Xiang Guo: #01-48 | Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
11. Mei Xiang Lor Mee. Prawn Noodle
Mei Xiang Lor Mee. Prawn Noodle is genuinely a dream come true for me, a stall that sells two of my favourite hawker dishes? To say it was a godsend is an understatement.
We’ll start with their Prawn Noodles (S$4), what you want to look for is a robust broth that is both full of crustacean-y goodness tempered with those rich pork bones. Needless to say, Mei Xiang checked all the boxes for a bowl of good quality prawn noodles.
Not to mention, the prawns are de-veined which is always a plus for finicky eaters like myself.
As for Mei Xiang’s Lor Mee, you can choose between the S$3 or S$4 portion which is quite the steal for the amount of fried fish, braised pork belly you get in a bowl. The thick braised gravy was full of flavour and depth, and with a copious spoonful of garlic purée, you see why the long queues are entirely justified.
Given the quality of food and Mei Xiang’s popularity, I do suggest going down a little earlier lest they run out of your favourite kind of noodle or worse the soup altogether.
Mei Xiang Lor Mee. Prawn Noodle: #01-10 | Opening Hours: 12pm – 9.30pm (Mon to Sat), Closed on Sun
12. Xin Mei Congee 欣美粥品
Xin Mei Congee 欣美粥品 is another institution in Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre. Here you can procure your much-needed comfort food of congee when the going gets a little tough.
Xin Mei’s Cantonese-style congee is exactly the salve you need when you are feeling a little under the weather. Plus, I don’t think you can ever go wrong with Meatball Century Egg Congee (S$3).
Thick and comforting, this congee is by no means bland, with tender and flavourful nuggets of pork you’ll be licking the bowl clean.
If it’s variety you’re after, Xin Mei Congee 欣美粥品 also has other flavours of congee such as Minced Meat Peanut Congee (S$3) or the classic Sliced Fish & Cuttlefish Congee (S$3.50) to suit your fancy.
Xin Mei Congee 欣美粥品: #01-22 | Opening Hours: 10am – 11pm (Daily)
13. Lee Kee Goreng Pisang
Perhaps one of the most straightforward and gratifying snack you can get from the hawker centre has to be the humble goreng pisang (fried banana).
Lee Kee Goreng Pisang is where you’ll be able to get your hands on these crispy treats. A crunchy exterior enveloping a creamy and caramelly banana, these are why they call them cheat days.
Lee Kee’s Goreng Pisang (S$0.80 – S$1.20) comes in a variety of sizes depending on how much you want to reward yourself that day.
With a custard-like centre and delectable crust, I would pop these like candy if I could. Lee Kee at Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre is where you can get a moreish nostalgic blast from the past, and I’m here for it.
Lee Kee Goreng Pisang: #01-70 |Opening Hours: 10am – 11pm (Daily)
14. Xue Hua Fei Cold & Hot Drinks 雪花飛冷熱飲品
Xue Hua Fei Cold & Hot Drinks 雪花飛冷熱飲品 might look like any other drinks stall, but on closer inspection, you’ll realise Xue Hua is anything but. Xue Hua a full-on dessert stall peddling epic looking watermelon bowls that are sure to be a hit on the ‘gram.
The dessert of the hour would be the Da Xi Gua. This watermelon comes in two portion sizes at two price points, S$6 and S$8.
A standard bowl of Da Xi Gua comes with watermelon spheres, shaved ice and a generous spoonful of canned fruits. I don’t know about you, but this has to be the perfect thirst quencher on a hot afternoon.
To jazz up the dessert, you can even add a can of 7-UP into the watermelon bowl. The fizziness from the 7-UP made this dessert all the more slurpable and all the more enjoyable. It’s no wonder why this dessert is a hit with all ages.
Xue Hua Fei Cold & Hot Drinks 雪花飛冷熱飲品: #01-29 |Opening Hours: 2pm – 10pm (Daily) | Facebook
Price: $
Our Rating: 5 / 5
Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre
208B New Upper Changi Road, Singapore 460207
Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre
208B New Upper Changi Road, Singapore 460207
