The trifecta of roast meats typically includes char siew, roast pork, and roast duck, though some may argue for the inclusion of roast chicken.
In every hawker centre, food court, and coffeeshop in Singapore, you’ll find a dedicated roasted meat stall. What, in your perspective, defines the perfect roast meat? Is it the exquisite caramelisation or the rich fat content in the char siew, or perhaps the remarkable crispiness of the roasted pork?
With that said, let me share my guide (in no particular ranking) to the 11 best roast meat stalls in Singapore for a shiok meal. Please note that this list is entirely subjective, and your perspective may differ. I encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments section.
1. Char Siu Lang
Char Siu Lang used to have a branch at Bukit Merah across from ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, but it has since ceased operations. Thankfully, their second outlet at 340 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 is closer to my house, which was opened to target the residents.
Pork belly is used for the char siew here and it’s roasted for a minimum of 1.5 to 2 hours using charcoal. The meat is basted every 5 minutes to ensure that there’s a shimmering layer on its surface.
What distinguishes Char Siu Lang from the majority of roast meat stalls is that customers have the option to specify their meat preference: fatty, a mix of fat and lean, or lean.
I ordered the Char Siu Roast Pork Noodles (S$5.50) which came with my choice of half fat char siew and roasted pork resting on a bed of mee kia with minced pork. The char siew was not only tender but possessed a caramelised and sticky texture. It had a well-balanced flavour with palatable melt-in-the-mouth fatty layers.
The roasted pork featured an irresistible combination of crackling skin, sinfully-juicy meat, and the perfect amount of delectable fat. The noodles were also tasty and were the ideal accompaniment to the succulent meats.
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340 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, #01-1697, Singapore 560340
+65 9677 5212
Thu to Tue: 11am – 6pm
Closed on Wed
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2. 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist
Started by 50-year-old Martin Ong who is both a former restaurant chef and ex-hawker, 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist consistently draws long queues, particularly during busy lunch hours and weekends.
You can truly let the meat shine for itself by ordering the 2 Meat Platter (S$10 for small, S$20 for medium). The roasted pork has crackling skin, soft meat and a layer of fat which melts in your mouth upon first bite.
On the other hand, the char siew has a good balance of lean and fatty portions with its subtly sweet roasted flavour.
The Roasted Duck Noodle (S$5.50) features fragrant duck with a perfectly crispy skin, roasted to a level where the fat beneath the skin is impeccably rendered, resulting in exceptionally tender meat.
You may also get a Duck Drumstick for S$8 or take home a Whole Roasted Duck (S$50) and 1 Kg Char Siew (S$60) for large family gatherings.
308 Lavender Street, Singapore 338814
+65 8225 2495
Mon to Sat: 10am – 8pm
Closed on Sun
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3. Fei Fei Roasted Noodle
To avoid disappointment, it’s highly recommended that you patronise Fei Fei Roasted Noodle around 9am. This hawker stall at Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre is known for its lengthy queues, and popular items like the char siew tend to get snagged up by 10.30am.
I recommend getting the Char Siew Rice (S$4.50). The charcoal-roasted char siew here promises a lovely smokey flavour. The impeccable balance of meat and fat coupled with a delicious glaze coating truly sets it apart.
I was impressed by my plate of Roasted Pork & Duck Noodle (S$6.50). The duck exuded a delightful aroma and was roasted at the precise temperature and duration.
In contrast to other places where the roast duck can be tougher and get wedged between your teeth, each bite here was effortlessly tender, sparing the need for a post-meal toothpick hunt— a testament to its quality. The roasted pork was great too; pillowy-soft meat coupled with crispy skin.
This stall has also earned a spot in the 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Tue to Sat: 8.30am – 11.55am
Closed on Sun & Mon
4. Sinful Roast 幸福
Sinful Roast 幸福 is located within the Happy Hawkers kopitiam at 531 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10. Established in 2017, this stall slowly roasts their char siew for about 2 hours and it mimics the Malaysian-style ‘glass char siew‘ (a layer of translucent fats around the meat).
Similar to Char Siu Lang (listing #1), customers are given a choice on their preferred cut of the char siew. Whether it’s the fatty part, half fatty or the lean version, there’s something for everyone.
I ordered Dual Mix Rice (S$5.50) which consisted of a heap of chicken rice topped with chopped siu yuk and slices of char siew. The roast pork was excellent, boasting an extremely crunchy skin with soft meat filled with unctuous layers that felt like a cloud in my mouth.
While the char siew was beautifully caramelised and flavourful, I felt that it was best enjoyed with rice; eating it on its own became slightly salty after the third piece. Be sure to dunk your pieces of meat into their tangy and spicy chilli sauce.
I was pleased that they served chicken rice instead of plain rice, elevating the overall experience with added fragrance. Additionally, the daikon soup with chicken and cabbage on the side was also a delightful accompaniment.
+65 9117 8667
Daily: 11am – 7pm
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5. Tiong Bahru Lee Hong Kee Cantonese Roasted
Tiong Bahru Lee Hong Kee Cantonese Roasted is not just another roast meat stall nestled within Tiong Bahru Food Centre— this establishment has its roots in humble beginnings, originating as a pushcart vendor in the 1960s on Kim Tian Road.
The business is currently headed by 2nd-gen hawker, Mr Jackson Lee, who inherited the craft from his father. He still practises the traditional way of roasting duck, pork belly, and char siew using charcoal.
The menu showcases the usual suspects: Char Siew Rice (S$3.50), Roasted Pork Rice (S$4.50), Roasted Duck Rice (S$4.50) and Roasted Chicken Rice (S$3.50). If you’re not a fan of rice, you can swap it over for noodles at an additional S$0.50.
The roast pork stands out as a crowd favourite, offering an ideal meat-to-fat ratio while the roast duck impresses with its moist texture and perfectly crispy skin. Additionally, the menu proudly showcases their in-house handmade Chinese sausage.
30 Seng Poh Road, #02-60, Singapore 168898
Fri to Wed: 9am – 8pm
Closed on Thu
6. Fatty Cheong
Those who frequent ABC Brickworks Food Centre will surely know the existence of Fatty Cheong. With 34 years of experience, they’ve earned themselves a name for serving up one of the best char siew in Singapore.
The menu includes the standard roast offerings like Roasted Duck Noodle (S$5), Dual Meat Combo Rice (S$6). For those hosting a huge party, the stall also has a Whole Roasted Chicken and Roasted Duck priced at S$26 and S$40 respectively.
When placing your order, it’s worth noting that you have the option to specify whether you prefer lean or fatty char siew. The meat is impeccably charred and offers a harmonious blend of sweetness and contains the right level of fattiness.
The roast pork and duck are scrumptious with an addictively crispy skin. Be sure to get the staff to drizzle your meats with the rich, dark sauce for an extra dimension of savouriness to your meal.
6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-52, Singapore 150006
Mon to Wed, Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Closed on Thu & Sun
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7. Hua Fong Kee Roasted Duck
The flagship outlet and other outlets of Hua Fong Kee Roasted Duck are all located within the Toa Payoh district. This Cantonese roast meat business has been running for over 30 years since 1988 and I visited the outlet just outside exit B of Braddell MRT.
The extensive menu has a plethora of noodle and rice options like the classic Roast Pork Rice (S$4) and Char Siew Noodle (S$4).
I ordered the Char Siew + Roast Pork + Duck Rice (S$8.50) which had a dark and luscious gravy poured on top and garnished with Chinese celery, a side of sliced Japanese cucumbers and half a tomato.
The char siew, with its lean composition and a thin layer of fat, didn’t quite align with my personal preference; it also appeared slightly dry.
In contrast, the roast pork was the star of the meal. It boasted crispy skin, tender meat, and rich, melt-in-your-mouth fats. The duck, too, impressed me with its tenderness, and its skin was delicious.
The chilli sauce served alongside reminded me of chicken rice chilli, albeit with twice the amount of garlic— loved it!
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116 Lor 2 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310116
+65 6253 5192
Daily: 7am – 9.30pm
128 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310128
+65 6253 2884
Daily: 8am – 7.30pm
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With its impressive 4.6-star rating on Google (at time of writing), my anticipation heightened as I made my way to Maxwell Food Centre in search of Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia.
As I reached the stall, I was even more hopeful when I spotted the number of people queueing in front of it, marked by its radiant green signage embellished with bold, red Chinese characters.
The dishes on the menu include Wanton Noodle (S$4), Duck Drumstick Rice (S$7) and Roasted Meat Rice (S$4).
I ordered 2 items: the Roasted Duck Rice (S$5) and Mixed Meat Noodle (S$4.50). The former had a layer of tasty roasted skin but I felt that the meat wasn’t tender enough. However, the gravy served alongside managed to salvage it a little.
The latter blew me away more. Those with a penchant for leaner meat cuts will enjoy the roasted pork, which had a subtle smokiness and a lower fat content, yielding a richer portion of meat in every bite.
The char siew was cut into thick slices and had a nice caramelisation on its surface. Though every bite was a burst of creamy indulgence, I’ve had better ones.
1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-71, Singapore 069184
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 8pm
Sun: 12pm – 8pm
9. Mei Mei Roast Meats
Mei Mei Roast Meats is hidden in a kopitiam within the Ubi Industrial Estate, an area bustling with car showrooms and workshops. Mdm Lee and her elder sister used to work at Kay Lee Roast Meats before departing to set up her very own roasted meat stall.
A 1-woman show, Mdm Lee wakes up at 4am everyday to prepare for the stall’s operations, including roasting the meats like the roast duck, char siew and roast pork. If you think that’s all there is, you’re mistaken. The menu also has an assortment of braised items as well as boiled soups.
The menu features items like Roasted Duck Drumstick (S$9.50), Triple Selection Of Meats (roast pork, char siew and roast duck) (S$10 for 1 pax), Whole Roasted Duck (S$58) and 1kg Char Siew (S$60).
Furthermore, for those who prefer rice, there is an option to pair your choice of meats with it. A Single Meat Selection is priced at S$4, a Dual Selection at S$6, and for those seeking variety, the Meat Trio is available for S$10.
Ubi Road 1, Blk 3014, Singapore 408702
+65 8891 7629
Mon to Fri: 10am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 3pm
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10. The Legend Roasted Meat Rice & Noodle
The Legend Roasted Meat Rice & Noodle is a hidden gem at Hong Lim Market and Food Centre that hasn’t received much media coverage. The hawker stall has an exclusive char siew that hits max indulgence.
The Fat Lady Char Siew Noodles (S$7.50) may come with a slightly high price tag but is totally worth it. It’s only available on the odd days of the week. This exclusive meat is of a substantial cut and has delectable marbling. Its flavour was remarkable and boasted a perfect harmony of fat and lean meat that effortlessly melts in the mouth.
Some parts are slightly charred so you’ll get a wonderful smokiness to the taste. The handmade noodles that come with it are also springy and pair really well with the meat.
The Roast Pork (S$5), which comes with char siew and rice/noodles, uses the same type of pork for The Legend Roasted Meat’s char siew, which is no doubt one of the more premium cuts of pork in the market. It has a lovely distribution of fat and a great succulence. Pay attention to the audible crunch emanating from the top crust.
531A Upper Cross Street, #01-50, Singapore 051531
Mon to Fri: 8am – 2pm
Closed on Sat & Sun
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11. New Rong Liang Ge
Listed in the 2023 Michelin Guide, New Rong Liang Ge at Queen Street opens as early as 7am. So go ahead, early risers— feel free to indulge in a breakfast of succulent roasted meats (no one is going to judge you).
The prices on the menu are generally affordable with choices like Roasted Pork Noodles (S$4) and Roasted Duck Noodles (S$4.50). The stall also has unique options like Char Siew Wanton Spinach Noodle (S$4) and Malaysian-Style Dry Noodles (S$5).
The roast duck, char siew and roast pork are decently tender and you can opt for a savoury and dark gravy to be slathered on top for a more satisfying experience.
The stall also boasts unique condiments displayed at the front, such as fried garlic bits, sambal, green chilli, garlic oil, and dark braised sauce to enhance your plate of roasted meats.
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+65 9099 9489
Daily: 7am – 9pm
+65 9821 0906
Daily: 6am – 10pm
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