Chong Boon Market & Food Centre is a popular spot at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 where you can expect to find a plethora of delicious hawker fare during breakfast and lunch. Many stalls are done for the day by mid-afternoon, hence the market tends to be quieter in the evenings.
This hawker centre holds a special place in my heart. I spent my childhood visiting the wet market with my late grandmother selecting pieces of yong tau foo and getting packets of fishballs. I also remember engaging in awkward conversations with the cheeky vegetable seller, who enjoyed teasing me when I was a kid.
With that, I’ve curated a guide of the 11 best stalls at Chong Boon Market & Food Centre that deserve to be recognised.
Do note that this list is not ranked in any particular order and you might consider my recommendations with a pinch of salt.
1. Yong Xin 永薪 (#01-39)
Yong Xin 永薪 is notorious for drawing snaking queues which stretch beyond the parameters of the hawker centre most of the time. This 12-year-old stall sells a variety of dry and soup noodles, but it’s the former that truly stands out.
Do note that although the official hours are stated to be till 3pm, their dishes are usually sold out by 1.30pm— arriving early is advisable to avert disappointment.
No trip to Yong Xin 永薪 is complete without ordering their signature Famous Noodle (S$5 for small, S$6 for large). You can choose your noodles between mee kia, mee pok, kway teow and mee sua.
It comes with minced pork, pork slices, pork liver, 2 meatballs, 2 fishballs, a few slices of fish cake, and 1 herh kiao.
One worthy mention about Yong Xin 永薪 is that their pork lard bits are one of the crispiest I’ve ever eaten. The umami flavours released from the sinful mini nuggets of lard just make everything taste better (and they aren’t stingy with it).
The other items on the menu include Dry Vermicelli (S$4/S$5), Minced Meat Noodles (S$4/S$5) and Fishball Noodle (S$3.50/S$4.50).
Wed to Sun: 6am – 3pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
2. Ang Mo Kio Loh Mee Laksa (#01-17)
Ang Mo Kio Loh Mee Laksa is helmed by an elderly couple who have been at Chong Boon Market & Food Centre for more than a decade. Similar to listing #1, the queue at this stall doesn’t ever seem to die down. The menu is pretty straightforward, offering just 2 signature dishes as their name suggests: lor mee and laksa.
The Laksa (S$4 for small, S$5 for large) comes with a bed of thick bee hoon, slices of fishcake, cockles, tau pok, sliced boiled egg, taugeh, and julienned laksa leaves. All of the ingredients are doused in a rich and decadent coconut gravy.
Even though I wasn’t a fan of the laksa in the past, the gravy has significantly improved over the years, and now I enjoy it without disappointment.
The Lor Mee (S$4 for small, S$5 for large) consists of a bed of yellow noodles, a piece of ngoh hiang, sliced boiled egg, fishcake slices, beansprouts and slices of pork served with a dark viscous eggy gravy. The aunty at the stall will add a trinity of garnishes (sambal, minced garlic and chopped kin chye) just before serving.
+65 9737 2625
Thu to Tue: 6am – 2pm
Closed on Wed
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3. Bin Fen Economic Bee Hoon (#01-03)
At first glance, Bin Fen Economic Bee Hoon may seem to be just another run-of-the-mill economic bee hoon stall. But if you look closer, you’ll notice that they serve glutinous rice which is a rarity to find.
Previously located at Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2, this humble establishment of 3 years used to sell lor mee as well. It has streamlined its offerings to just nasi lemak and various noodles with a range of different ingredients for you to pair them with.
I’m an absolute fan of their glutinous rice which is simple and has minimal ingredients like bits of anchovies, peanuts and a sparse portion of black fungus. A small-sized portion with luncheon meat, hash brown and long beans will cost you $4.20.
The menu also has an assortment of nasi lemak sets such as Chicken Cutlet Set (S$3.30), Chicken Wing Set (S$3.30) and Fried Fish Set (S$3.30).
Sat to Thu: 5am – 3pm
Closed on Fri
4. Cai Ji Fried Fish Soup (#01-10)
Cai Ji Fried Fish Soup is where you head to if you’re up for affordable red grouper fish head soup. This humble stall has been making its rounds on social media thanks to its Red Grouper Fish Head Soup (S$10) with its generous portions.
The menu features your usual fish soup fare, such as Sliced Fish Soup (S$5/S$7) and Fried Fish Soup (S$5/S$7). There are also more interesting options such as the Fried Fish Head Soup (S$5/S$7) and Fried Fish Roe (S$2/S$4/S$6).
The Red Grouper Fish Head Soup comes with 6 to 7 pieces of fish head in a variety of parts (an eye, a fin, a part of the mouth, and more) alongside plenty of other ingredients, such as fried sliced yam, thick wedges of tomato, small cubes of tofu, and cabbage. The soup is also incredibly light, sweet and clean-tasting.
+65 9660 9020
Tue to Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm & 4.30pm – 7.30pm
Closed on Mon
5. Rahim Muslim Food (#01-01)
Rahim Muslim food has been around since 1957 and has jumped around several locations before landing in Chong Boon Market & Food Centre. The stall is currently run by the third generation and specialises in mee rebus, mee soto and satay.
There are 3 versions of their Mee Rebus. The Normal is priced affordably at S$3.50, with a hard-boiled egg and satay sauce. For a dollar-fifty more, you can get their signature Power (S$5) which comes with cut chicken. For the ultimate indulgence, order the Extra Special (S$6.50) that throws in an entire chicken drumstick.
From 3.30pm onwards or when the charcoal is ready, the stall will commence selling Chicken or Mutton Satay at S$0.80 a stick (minimum 10 sticks). The meat skewers are tender and juicy with smokey charred bits, and are only charcoal-grilled upon order.
+65 9786 7362
Mon to Sat: 12.30pm – 7pm
Closed on Sun
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6. Lu Ge Wanton Noodle (#01-36)
Lu Ge Wanton Noodle made its entry into Chong Boon Market & Food Centre in Sep 2022 and is owned by a middle-aged couple. The food stall sells a selection of wallet-friendly noodle dishes with substantial portions.
The owner learnt the craft from his ex-worker who was also selling wanton noodles, and modified the recipe himself.
If you are a dumpling aficionado, definitely give the Dumpling Noodle (S$4) a go or order a bowl of Dumpling Soup (S$4.50) to share amongst your friends. The dumplings and wantons are stuffed with homemade minced pork filling and wrapped in-house.
The Wanton Noodle (S$4) comes with both steamed and fried wanton on the plate. The noodles, tossed together with the seasonings, pork lard and gravy below, are springy and tasty. Those who enjoy gelatinous textures should get the Chicken Feet Hor fun (S$4).
If you’d like to have a taste of everything, I recommend getting the Signature Wanton Noodle (S$5.50). The plate has noodles served with 1 piece of chicken feet, slices of char siew, 1 dumpling, 1 fried wanton, green veggies and pork lard with a separate bowl of soup containing 3 boiled wantons— what a feast!
+65 9768 8711
Daily: 5am – 3pm
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7. 96 Kwai Luck Cooked Food (#01-20)
Established in 1979, the current 2nd-gen owner of 96 Kwai Luck Cooked Food took over from his dad who learnt the recipe from an Indian hawker back then. My parents adore their mee siam, placing it at the top of their list, alongside my grandmother’s version, who can no longer make it due to her state of dementia.
Throughout the years, the elderly couple has earned multiple accolades and received recognition in various newspapers, and they’ve proudly showcased them at their storefront.
Opening at 4.30am before sunrise, the stall caters to early birds and those heading to work before dawn.
The plate of Mee Siam (S$3.50 for small, S$4 for medium) is a no-frills plate of bee hoon filled with sliced egg and tau pok with a calamansi for tanginess. While bean sprouts are not included, you can opt to add them for an extra S$0.50.
The gravy served here is in a league of its own. It doesn’t taste like those renditions which are made with tauco but has a rich and decadent creaminess with a refreshing hit of acidity and mild sweetness at the end.
+65 9619 0196
Wed to Sun: 4.30am – 1pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
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8. Bai Jia Yuan Ban Mian (#01-32)
Bai Jia Yuan Ban Mian has been around for 7 years at Chong Boon Market & Food Centre and is run by a couple from Putien, China. Previously, they were located at a kopitiam stall just around the corner. This stall is a perfect example of a foreign talent mastering local cuisine.
The menu is extensive, featuring bowls of Zha Jiang Mian (S$4.50), Ban Mian (S$4.50) and Fuzhou Fishball Mian (S$4.50).
There are 6 kinds of herbal soups which are freshly-brewed everyday. Take your pick from options like Herbal Black Chicken Soup (S$6.50) and Old Cucumber Pork Ribs Soup (S$5). Rather than plain rice, enhance your experience with a bowl of Sausage Chicken Rice (S$3.50) or Salted Egg Minced Meat Rice (S$3.50) instead.
I personally recommend the Herbal Chicken Soup (S$5.50) which has tender, flavourful chicken as well as a full-bodied broth which is not overwhelmed by the presence of Chinese herbs.
My family and I are also fans of the Sliced Fish Soup / Bee Hoon (S$5). The fish slices are consistently fresh, and the soup, both light and delicious. For a unique twist, you can opt for sheng mian.
Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 8pm
Closed on Sun
9. Sin Kee Chicken Rice (#01-19)
Sin Kee may not have the same level of fame as major players like Tian Tian Chicken Rice or Boon Tong Kee, but it consistently satisfies my chicken rice cravings. Over the years, numerous chicken rice stalls have come and gone, but Sin Kee continues to stand strong.
For a complete meal, the 鸡饭套餐 (chicken rice set) at S$5.50 is a well-balanced option consisting of a serving of fragrant chicken rice, your preferred choice of steamed or roasted chicken, oyster vegetables and a small bowl of soup.
The menu here offers more than just steamed or roasted chicken rice. You can also savour char siew and roasted pork.
If you have a preference for fried food with a touch of acidity, the Lemon Chicken Rice (S$4) will hit the spot, featuring a scrumptious piece of chicken cutlet. The stall also serves a pretty decent Wontan Noodle (S$3.50), Roasted Pork Noodle (S$3.50), Bean Sprout (S$3) and Chicken Shreds Horfun (S$3.50).
Daily: 6am – 3pm
10. Jia Hao Porridge (#01-04)
While some may associate porridge with comfort food when feeling unwell, I personally savour a steaming bowl from Jia Hao Porridge, whether it’s a chilly, rainy day or… any day of the week.
Don’t be misled by its ordinary outlook, the porridge is reduced till it’s thick, creamy and flavourful. It’s served with sliced spring onions and thinly-sliced youtiao (I wish it was the entire piece, though).
There are a total of 9 porridge flavours for you to get giddy over. Simple ones like Peanut Porridge and Cuttlefish Porridge are priced only at S$2.50 while the loaded varieties like Cuttlefish w/Shredded Chicken Porridge and Century Egg Mixed Pork Porridge will cost you just S$3.50.
Daily: 6am – 1.30pm
11. Yu Fa Claypot Delights
I can’t speak for everyone, but I’ve always found that food cooked in claypots is more appealing and delicious; it also keeps the food piping-hot for a longer time. Yu Fa Claypot Delights offers generously-portioned and reasonably-priced claypot dishes, with over 15 different types to choose from.
For a delectable seafood meal, try the Chilli Sotong (S$8) or the Assam Stingray (S$8) and pair it with plain rice. The stall also has “Ang Chow” Chicken (S$5) which is red fermented rice wine chicken, a rare dish that’s hardly sold at most places.
If all that I just mentioned isn’t your cup of tea, no worries. The menu also serves crowd favourites like Sesame Oil Chicken (S$5), Salted Vege Steam Pork (S$5), Curry Chicken (S$4) and Mixed Vege with Dong Fen (S$4).
Tue to Sat: 11.45am – 3pm & 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Closed on Sun & Mon
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