15 stalls at Maxwell Food Centre in Singapore that won’t max out your wallet

Flooded with tourists all week long, the humble Maxwell Food Centre and Market has become a popular lunch destination for great hawker fare. It opened in 1986, and it has been attracting hungry diners ever since.

Be warned, as this incredibly popular hawker centre consistently sees huge crowds on weekends and during peak hours. Tourists, office workers and other locals patronise the centre frequently. If you’re ready to brave the horde, here are 15 stalls at Maxwell Food Centre that won’t max out your wallet.

How I chose these best stalls at Maxwell Food Centre

These are the 3 main criteria I used to decide which stall to recommend:

• Budget-friendly: These stalls offer value for money, and all dishes costs S$25 or less.
• Variety: The stalls on this list serve food of various cuisines, so everyone can find something they want to eat.
• Food quality: The stalls on this list offer delicious food, of course.

This isn’t a ranked best-to-worst list, but a collection of the best stalls in my opinion, in no particular order.

1. Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum

Having relocated from the famous but now-demolished Margaret Drive Food Centre to Maxwell Food Centre, Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum continues to serve delicious dumplings at affordable prices here. This stall has a legacy stretching back over 40 years and uses recipes passed down from their forefathers in China. So, you’ll definitely get authentic-tasting dumplings here.

Don’t be fooled by its simple, fuss-free presentation — the Steamed Dumplings (S$5.60 for 8 pieces) and Fried Dumplings (S$5.60 for 8 pieces) were all made to order. Our dumplings arrived piping hot with an ample amount of well-marinated pork and chives.

When dipped in their special chilli sauce, a nice kick of spice exploded in my mouth. However, I still prefer dipping the dumplings in the good ol’ ginger slices in vinegar. But don’t get me wrong, both went well with the dumplings!

+65 9662 3501
Tue & Thu to Sun: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Closed on Mon & Wed
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2. Yi Jia Teochew Fish Porridge Fish Soup 一 家潮州魚粥.魚湯 

An insanely popular stall during lunch, Yi Jia Chao Zhou Yu Zhou — or, One Family Teochew Fish Porridge — has been serving fresh and affordable fish porridge for the past few years without raising prices at all.

With all the fish proudly displayed on a bed of ice for customers to see, it’s clear that they take a lot of pride in cooking with fresh ingredients. You’ll get a choice between the popular batang (Spanish mackerel) and the pricier pomfret or grouper.

With so many other stalls to try, we opted for the Batang Fish Soup (S$4) to save some stomach space. Upon the first sip, what struck us most was how light and clean-tasting the soup was; much more so than most fish soup stalls around (some may even call it bland).

The lightness of the soup pushes the fish’s natural flavours to the forefront. Each slice of fish was firm, smooth and fresh. For those who prefer stronger flavours, there are condiments such as sliced ginger, minced garlic and salted bean sauce. So be sure to adjust the taste to your liking.

Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 2.30pm
Closed on Sun

3. Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake

Try Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake when looking for a savoury snack instead of a full meal. As the name suggests, oyster cakes are the only thing they serve. Best believe it’s definitely done well here.

While not exactly fried to order, the Oyster Cake (S$2.50) we had was relatively fresh and arrived still piping hot. There’s a steady stream of customers, meaning that the owner is always cooking up new batches. Since this was our first time trying this, we expected only oysters within the oyster cake. 

We were, however, pleasantly surprised to find a well-seasoned mixture of minced pork, prawns and celery in addition to the oysters. Besides the flavour of the ingredients, there were also soft peppery hints to it, courtesy of the kin chye. This gave the oyster cake extra oomph and dimension. The oyster cake was especially crispy around the edges while the doughy interior was warm and slightly chewy, creating a wonderful blend of textures.

Mon to Sat: 9am – 8pm
Closed on Sun

4. Sisaket Thai Food

Tucked in a corner of Maxwell Food Centre, Sisaket Thai Food enjoys a steady following from its regular customers. From its decently large menu of Thai cuisine, we decided to try their rendition of Phad Thai (S$6.50), a classic in Thai cuisine.

Before the phad thai arrived on our table, we could already smell its smoky and eggy aroma wafting towards us. On its own, it was too sweet, but with a squeeze of calamansi juice, this version of phad thai became bold, punchy and truly shone with all of its flavours taking centre stage.

The springy rice noodles were savoury, sweet and tangy all at the same time. The bean sprouts and peanut shavings elevated the dish further by providing a hard and crunchy contrast to the soft and chewy noodles. This was one of the best versions of phad thai I’ve ever had in Singapore, especially in this price range.

Mon: 12pm – 8.30am
Tue to Sat: 10am – 8.30pm
Sun: 10am – 12am

5. Baguette Huong Viet

Those who used to frequent the now-closed Golden Mile Complex may remember the quaint banh mi kiosk that used to be located right outside the supermarket. Following the sad closure of the complex, Baguette Huong Viet has relocated to Maxwell Food Centre. Rest assured, it continues to delight its loyal supporters with authentic Vietnamese fare here.

Baguette Huong Viet offers 8 kinds of banh mi, including Traditional (S$6.50), which is filled with 3 types of Vietnamese ham, and Beef (S$7.50), which is stuffed with stir-fried beef and onions. Each baguette is served toasted and crispy, with delicious savoury ingredients to complement the buns.

Other Vietnamese delights include the Beef Noodle Soup (Pho) (S$7.50), perfect for those who are in need of a hot, soupy dish. For something dry, opt for the Grilled Pork with Spring Rolls & Vermicelli (S$7), Grilled Pork Rolls (S$6) and Vegetarian Summer Rolls (S$5.50).

+65 8772 2138
Mon to Fri: 9am – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm

6. Sultan Kebab

Turkish hawker stalls may be harder to come by in Singapore, but not all hope is lost; they’re not completely obsolete — Sultan Kebab is an authentic Turkish stall in Maxwell Food Centre for you to get your fix of kebabs, falafel and hummus.

The classic Kebab Wrap is a good option, available filled with Chicken (S$9), Beef (S$10), Lamb (S$13) and Mix (S$11). If you prefer something extra creamy, go for the Hummus Wrap, priced at a dollar more for each filling option. This wrap contains a dollop of hummus, which pairs perfectly with the juicy meat and fresh veggies.

Other options to try are the Tombik, which resembles a burger, the Falafel, which starts from S$7, Pide, Musakka and Baked Pasta. Heading there with a group? Grab some Shakshuka to share — this saucy dish is available with Cheese (S$12), Chicken (S$15) or Beef (S$16).

Sat to Tue & Thu: 10am – 9pm
Wed: 9am – 9pm
Closed on Fri
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7. Hock Lai Seng Teochew Fishball Bak Chor Mee

Hock Lai Seng Teochew Fishball Bak Chor Mee is helmed by a 4th-generation hawker, Marvin Kan. His family runs Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodles. After learning the trade from his family, Marvin opened his very own stall in 2023, serving bak chor mee and fishball soup.

With just 6 items on the menu, you won’t face choice paralysis. Choices range from the traditional Bak Chor Mee with no soup (S$5) and Bak Chor Mee with soup (S$7) to Pigblood Curd (S$5) and Pork Liver (S$5) for the more adventurous. 

We tried the Bak Chor Mee with soup and chose mee pok noodles. Besides mee pok, you can also choose from a variety of other noodle options such as mee kia, mee tai mak and kway teow. The bak chor mee was tossed in a concoction of vinegar, ketchup, sambal and mushroom braised sauce, creating a saucy yet not overly drenched bowl of mee pok noodles. Topped with pork lard, each mouthful of the dish was a flavour bomb. 

Not to mention the large bowl of soup, which had a generous amount of ingredients inside. There were handmade fishballs, a meatball, fishcakes, liver slices, sliced meat and vegetables in the delightful soup. The soup was full-bodied with a natural sweetness despite its clear appearance.

Tue to Sat: 7am – 3pm
Closed on Mon & Sun

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8. Mr Appam

While most people would expect an appam stall like Mr Appam to be run by an Indian person, the stall is actually manned by a Vietnamese lady! The owner, Madam Nguyen Thi Kieu Kanh, won the bid for the stall and had intended to turn it into a Vietnamese stall, unaware that she could not change the stall’s assigned cuisine. Hence, she rolled up her sleeves and learnt to make appam from scratch!

Mr Appam offers 16 appam flavours, including Banana (S$3.80), Pandan Brown Sugar (S$3.20), Egg, Ham & Cheese (S$4.30) and even Cempedak (S$5). You can also enjoy Putu Mayam (S$3) and Pandan Putu Mayam (S$3.20), served with vermicelli-like noodles, shredded coconut and red sugar. Each appam is filled with a nice amount of filling. Pro tip: try breaking off the edges of the crispy appam and dipping it into the centre. 

Mon & Wed to Sun: 11am – 8pm
Closed on Tue

9. Lakeview (Upper Thomson) Kim Goreng Pisang

Craving a fried fritter while dining at Maxwell Food Centre? Lakeview (Upper Thomson) Kim Goreng Pisang has got you covered. This stall sells a plethora of vegetarian fritters, with prices ranging from S$1 to S$3; you’ll definitely find a snack to your liking. 

Grab a piece of their signature Fried Banana (S$1/S$1.20/S$1.50) or indulge in other crispy fried fritters, like the Butterfly Bun (S$1), Red Bean Bun (S$1), Carrot Fingers (S$2/S$3) and Curry Puff (S$1.40).

I absolutely loved the 3-in-1 Nian Gao (S$1.40), which was filled with sweet potato, yam and nian gao. The nian gao gave the crispy fritter a chewy, mochi-like texture, while the earthy flavours of the yam and sweet potato balanced out its sweetness nicely. The Sesame Ball (S$1.20) was pretty satisfying too, albeit a tad oily for my liking.

Tue to Sun: 8am – 10pm
Closed on Mon
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10. Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice

You’re probably familiar with the wildly popular Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, which frequently sees unending queues that wind all the way to the block behind the food centre. If you need an alternative with a much shorter queue but of similar quality, Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice is your best bet.

Funnily enough, Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice was founded by the ex-head cook of Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. He left the famous hawker after 20 years of work to open his own stall after a dispute with the founder’s daughter.

A plate of Hainanese Chicken Rice comes in at S$5, S$6 or S$7, and is topped with glistening pieces of tender chopped steamed chicken. You can also opt for a set at S$6 or S$8 — this set includes oyster sauce vegetables and soup, on top of the usual chicken and rice. If you want some sides to go along with your chicken rice, how about some Crystal Chicken Feet (S$5) or Viscera (inner organs) (S$3) to further satisfy your cravings?

Wed to Mon: 11am – 7.30pm
Closed on Tue
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11. Pakistani Dum Biryani SG

Pakistani Dum Biryani SG offers a bit of an unusual sight — despite being located within a humid hawker centre, the cooks here all wear chef’s outfits, including a chef’s hat! Their commitment to dressing the part certainly does not go unnoticed. This Maxwell Food Centre stall serves Pakistani biryani, which is rarer to come by in Singapore than the more common Indian biryani.

Pakistani Dum Biryani SG serves pulao and biryani, each of which is available plain, with chicken or with mutton. The Plain Pulao and Plain Biryani come in at S$5, making it an affordable meal. If you need something with meat, the Chicken Pulao and Chicken Biryani cost S$8 each. 

For the mutton lovers, the Mutton Pulao and Mutton Biryani cost S$9 each. The stall is praised for its flavourful spices, tender meat and generous portions, so I can’t think of a better way to enjoy dum biryani.

+65 8812 3844
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 8pm
Sat: 10.30am – 4.30pm
Closed on Sun
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12. Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia

The long queues at Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia serve as a testament to its quality and popularity— this stall in Maxwell Food Centre has been widely praised for its large portions and low prices. Here, you can enjoy different kinds of roast meat served with rice and noodles, with prices starting at S$4.50.

I got the Mixed Meat Noodle and Mixed Meat Rice, both of which cost only S$4.50 each. Both dishes came with generous amounts of char siew, roast pork and roast duck, and for the massive portion I received, this was such a steal, especially given that dishes like these easily cost double the price at other stalls.

Though the meat was a tad tough, I loved the roasted flavours that shone through in both dishes. This was one of the best value-for-money roast meat stalls I’ve patronised in recent years, and I’ll definitely be back when I’m craving roast meat. 

Mon to Fri: 12pm – 5pm
Sat: 11.30am – 8pm
Closed on Sun

13. Jiang Nan Wei Dao 江南味道

Jiang Nan Wei Dao 江南味道 is helmed by Mr Sun and his wife, who are natives of Shandong, China. Mr Sun is a former Din Tai Fung chef, and hence serves a variety of Din Tai Fung-style dishes such as egg fried rice and la mian. Mr Sun apparently spent an entire year tweaking his own recipe to successfully replicate the taste of the beloved fried rice and pork chop, and I was excited to try it out.

The Spicy Pork Chop Noodle (S$7) is not to be missed, as it is served with a huge piece of pork and the noodles carry a strong scallion oil aroma. Add in some of the stall’s homemade chilli to further zhng up the dish with spice and it all comes together very well.

If you prefer rice instead of noodles, opt for the Pork Chop Egg Fried Rice (S$7), reminiscent of a certain restaurant chain. For those who enjoy soupy dishes, the Prawn Wanton Soup (S$7) is a cleaner, lighter dish to try out.

+65 8342 9898
Mon to Fri & Sun: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Closed on Sat
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14. Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue

Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue is arguably one of the more popular Western stalls at Maxwell Food Centre. You’ll likely spot its snaking long queues before the actual storefront. This famous stall serves Hainanese Western food and has been in operation for over 50 years.

Though prices are a little steeper here compared to neighbouring stalls, with dishes priced from S$10.50 to S$25 each, Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue is lauded for its generous portions.

The huge Chicken Chop (S$10.50) is one of the more popular items on the menu. The dish is served with crinkle-cut fries, mixed vegetables and a soft bun. The standout element of this dish is the tender chicken meat that has a nicely caramelised surface.

The Chicken Cutlet (S$11) is a crispier alternative, with a nicely breaded crust and a juicy interior. Other picks to try are the Pork Chop (S$10.50), Fish and Chips (S$11) and Lamb Chop (S$18.50). If you wish to try all the different meats, opt for the Mixed Grilled (S$25). It’s served with chicken, pork and lamb.

Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm & 6pm – 9pm
Closed on Sat & Sun

15. Fish Village 小渔村

Fish Village, as its name suggests, serves seafood. Patrons of the stall have praised it for the generous portions of fresh, delicious seafood. The stall offers 6 different options of fish, with differing styles of cooking. Options range from Miso Salmon Fish Head (S$7/S$9) to HK Style Steamed Pomfret (S$18). Besides fish, dig into their other selection of seafood dishes that includes Thai Sauce Sotong (S$18) and HK Style Steamed Prawns (S$9/S$11).

One of the more flavourful options is the Sour and Spicy Fish (S$22). The delicate and moist fish pairs well with punchy, fragrant chilli sauce. The chilli sauce here is on the watery end, great to pour over the fish or dip it into. Green onions scattered over the fish add a fresh aroma and slight crunch to each bite.

Mon to Wed: 11am – 9pm
Thu to Sat: 11am – 8pm
Closed on Sun

How to choose the right stall at Maxwell Food Centre

Choose Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake, Lakeview (Upper Thomson) Kim Goreng Pisang, or Mr Appam for a snack, while Tong Xin Ju Special Shanghai Tim Sum suits dumpling cravings.

For lighter meals, consider Yi Jia Teochew Fish Porridge Fish Soup 一家潮州魚粥.魚湯 or Baguette Huong Viet. Sisaket Thai Food, Hock Lai Seng Teochew Fishball Bak Chor Mee, Jiang Nan Wei Dao 江南味道, and Pakistani Dum Biryani SG suit noodle or rice cravings, while Sultan Kebab offers Turkish fare.

For larger portions, choose Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia, Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue, or Fish Village 小渔村. Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice suits those seeking chicken rice with a shorter queue than Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.

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