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11 best stalls in Whampoa Makan Place that pack a tasty wham
Whether you call it Whampoa Makan Place, Whampoa Market or just 'that food centre in Whampoa,' one thing's for sure: it's a treasure trove of great eats.
Interestingly, this food centre is split into 2 blocks: 90 and 91 — the latter catering to early risers with its breakfast picks, while the former houses stalls for the lunch-and-dinner crowd. Either way, you're bound to find something you fancy no matter what time you swing by.
Here are 11 best stalls in Whampoa Makan Place that pack a tasty wham.
Feeling peckish? A plate of nasi ayam from Mat Noh & Rose Authentic Ginger Fried Chicken Rice will do just the trick. This Muslim-owned stall may be tucked away in a far corner of the food centre, but that certainly hasn't stopped it from achieving main character status for its stellar ginger fried chicken rice.
The Standard Chicken Rice (S$4.50) features a mound of fragrant basmati rice accompanied by a hunk of fragrant Malay-style fried chicken, crowned with a distinctive sliver of vibrant orange skin and a smattering of fried batter bits that lend the tender, ginger-perfumed chicken a satisfying crunchy contrast. Equally delicious are the chilli and soy sauce, both of which elevate everything on your plate.
Drop by early if you're eyeing their Begedil (S$1), or, jazz up your meal with add-ons like Tofu/Tempeh (S$0.50), Stir-fried Vegetables (S$1) or Chicken Skin (S$1) anytime.
+65 8400 2206 Tue to Sat: 9am – 3pm Closed on Sun & Mon Facebook | Instagram
It's not every day that a fish soup stall earns a Michelin Bib in Singapore, but Beach Road Fish Head Bee Hoon is 1 of just 4 stalls to do so. Better yet, it's clinched the coveted award twice in a row, in 2023 and 2024. A third on the horizon, perhaps?
But yes, be prepared to queue during peak hours. It's pretty much a rite of passage.
They've got your usual fish soup offerings, including Sliced/Fried Fish Soup/Rice, Sliced/Fried Fish Bee Hoon, Fish Porridge and even Special Tom Yum Soup, all priced at an affordable S$5.50 each.
The Fried Fish Soup is your answer to any rainy day. It boils down to its addictive, umami-rich broth, naturally sweet from hours of simmering fish bones. Add in the lightly battered fried fish slices — crisp on the outside, meaty and fresh within — and you've got comfort in a bowl.
Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun: 9am – 2pm Closed on Mon, Wed & Fri
Not to be confused with the famed Taiwanese Eat 3 Bowls, Three Bowls 来三碗 doles out bowls of Sarawak kolo mee. And though it opened just last December, this new kid on the block has already been drawing a steady stream of patrons — and for good reason.
One bite of the Pork Chop Kolo Mee (S$6.50) was all it took to earn a spot among my favourites. The noodles stood out from other renditions I've tried — think mee kia-style springiness with a firm, chewy bite and none of that off-putting alkalinity. Tossed in ample lard oil and chilli powder, they were slurp-worthy and moreish till the very end. The savoury minced pork and crispy Din Tai Fung-style pork chop made for excellent complements, too.
If you're more of a traditionalist, the Home Taste Kolo Mee (S$4.50/S$5.50) is a great shout. Otherwise, the Chicken Chop Kolo Mee (S$6.50), Fish Roll Fish Ball Kolo Mee (S$4) and Wanton Kolo Mee (S$4) are solid picks if you're craving other protein options.
Wed to Mon: 12pm – 9pm Closed on Tue
Amoy Street Lor Mee… at Whampoa Makan Place? Sounds geographically confusing, I suppose. But make no mistake, this stall is touted as the 'best lu mian in town'. And well, there's only one way to find out: give it a go.
Good news for the indecisive — the stall offers just 2 menu items: the signature Lor Mee (S$4) and the amped-up Jumbo Meal (S$5).
The standard bowl features the usual suspects: pork belly, ngoh hiang, fried dory fish nuggets and batang fish, all generously portioned to go with every slurp of thick, aromatic gravy. Be sure to hit it with vinegar, garlic and pepper too.
As for the Jumbo Meal, expect upsized portions of all 4 ingredients and an onsen egg — a surefire choice for the seriously hungry. Trust us, this one's not for those with small appetites.
Daily: 6.30am – 3pm Facebook
Widely regarded as one of the best rojak stalls in Singapore, Balestier Road Hoover Rojak is a must-eat for fans of the beloved (and admittedly acquired-taste) dish. This acclaimed stall traces its roots back to the 1960s, when it began as a humble Toa Payoh pushcart run by its late founder. Today, his son carries on the legacy — continuing to please crowds with their rojak year after year.
As straightforward as it gets, the menu features just their signature Rojak in S$4 and S$5 portions. Each plate is a wonderfully messy medley of ingredients like fresh cucumber, turnip, tau pok and youtiao, as well as rarities like green mango and chewy jellyfish slivers.
Everything's thoroughly tossed in a sweet, tangy Penang-style sauce made with fermented prawn paste, sugar and ginger flower, then finished with a plentiful shower of crunchy peanut shavings. showered with crunchy peanut shavings.
Wed to Sun: 9.30am – 2.30pm Closed on Mon & Tue
Yes, you read that signboard right. You can still get a plate of char kway teow for just S$3 in this economy at Chuan Kee Fried Kway Teow. Naturally, the regular snaking queues are a package deal with this stall. Rumour also has it that it sells out before its official 3pm closing time on some days.
Each plate is fried to order by a solo elderly uncle said to wield decades of experience under his belt. Don't let the price tag fool you either; you'll be dealt with a sizable mix of yellow noodles and kway teow, fried with egg, fish cakes, cockles, taugeh and lup cheong.
The noodles lean on the drier, savoury side, with a well-balanced profile that's neither too sweet nor salty — perfect for those with lighter palates. And yes, there's wok hei to go around.
Wed, Thu & Sat to Mon: 11am – 3pm Closed on Tue to Fri
12 best char kway teow stalls in Singapore that will hit the sweet spot
Even if you're not the biggest fan of wanton mee, Golden Roast Char Siew's rendition is bound to knock your socks off. This 34-year-old stall is run by an elderly couple and has called Whampoa Makan Place home since 2020, after years of shifting around various coffeeshops across Singapore.
Now, just take a look at that mountainous display of glistening roast meat and golden-brown ngoh hiang rolls, and tell me you're not already salivating.
The Wanton Mee is priced at S$4.50 (Small) and S$5.50 (Large), with each plate featuring a bed of chewy noodles tossed in a savoury soy-based sauce and surprisingly potent chilli, topped with vegetables and char siew that's roasted in-house on the daily.
A bowl of warm, peppery soup is served on the side, with silky wantons that I enjoyed for their toothsome meat filling. I was also impressed by the char siew which, despite its run-of-the-mill appearance, had a meaty bite and tender mouthfeel. Truly a cut above the rest.
I also couldn't resist ordering a piece of Ngoh Hiang (S$1.50). The bolstery beancurd roll was chock-full of five-spiced pork and was deep-fried to a perfect amalgamation of crunchy and soft.
Sat to Thu: 8am – 7pm Closed on Sun
If you're down for a bowl of hearty beef noodles, make a beeline for the father-son-run Kim Huat Teochew Beef Noodles. Although, if you can't spot the name, just keep an eye out for the striking red signboard with its name in stylised Chinese calligraphy.
This stall comes with quite the backstory. It started out in the 1960s as a pig organ soup pushcart, only pivoting to beef kway teow in the early 2000s after weathering a series of setbacks. Call it a comeback, and a delicious one at that!
The stall's offerings include 3 varieties of beef noodles: Sliced Beef Noodles (S$6/S$8), Mixed Meat (S$6/S$8) — which adds tripe, brisket and tendon to the tender beef slices — and a Mixed Soup & Noodles Set (S$7/S$8) for the best of all worlds.
You can opt for either soup or dry versions, but we'd argue that the X-factor lies in the broth. Made with a secret recipe, the soup is rich, savoury and absolutely slurp-worthy — one that you'll savour down to the very last drop.
Tue to Sun: 9.30am – 5pm Closed on Mon Facebook | Instagram
Early birds, this one's definitely for you. Tanglin Halt A1 Carrot Cake fires up the wok at 5am and wraps up by lunchtime, dishing out chye tow kway and Teochew kueh to start your day on the right note.
Choose from Black or White Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4/S$5), both featuring soft radish cake cubes stir-fried with eggs and loads of umami-rich chye poh — the former slicked with sweet dark sauce while the latter sports a crispy crust of even more eggs. It's no surprise that each has its own share of devotees. Our advice? Just get them both.
If you're looking to zhng up your plate or simply aren't in the mood for chye tow kway, you can go for their pan-fried Teochew kueh in the likes of Soon Kueh (S$1.40), Png Kueh (S$1.30) and Ku Chye Kueh (S$1.40).
Tue to Sun: 5am – 12pm Closed on Mon
Team Cookie or Team Flaky egg tarts? If you're in the latter camp like I am, Qinde Egg Tart will be right up your alley. Nestled in the centre lane of Whampoa Makan Place, this gem of a bakery specialises in Portuguese egg tarts (or pasteis de nata) — great as a snack or post-meal treat.
Priced at just S$1.80 a pop, the tarts come in 3 flavours: Original, Pandan and Chocolate.
I snagged the Original and Pandan tarts while they were still warm and toasty, and I was far from disappointed. The custard fillings were velvety, pleasantly gelatinous and brimming of milky richness, with a fragrant kiss of pandan in the latter. They weren't too sweet either, and beautifully contrasted with the flaky, not-too-greasy golden pastry.
The owner's really friendly, too, so there's no doubt I'll be back for more of these creamy, bite-sized morsels.
Mon to Thu: 9.30am – 6.30pm Fri to Sun: 9.30am – 7pm Facebook
And that's not all for the sweet tooths! Rounding off this list is Nyonya Chendol, which impressively stands as the only chendol stall in Singapore with a spot on the Michelin guide. Here, the acclaimed dessert comes in 4 variations: Original (S$2), Red Bean (S$2.50), Sweet Corn (S$2.50) and D24 Durian (S$3.50).
Picture this: a mountain of shaved ice doused in sweet, smoky gula melaka syrup and creamy coconut milk, topped with earthy azuki beans and chewy pandan jelly noodles. Pretty much teh ultimate antidote to Singapore's sweltering heat, if we do say so ourselves.
Feeling extra? Go for the D24 Durian Chendol, which crowns your bowl with a scoop of pungent-in-the-best-way D24 durian purée, adding an indulgent, creamy twist to this already iconic dessert.
Mon to Fri: 11am – 8.30pm Sat & Sun: 11am – 9pm Facebook
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