Singapore | Chinatown

Situated near major attractions like the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Sri Mariamman Temple, this sprawling hawker centre on the second floor of Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre is where you should head to before and after sightseeing. There's much to see in the Chinatown area, and even more to eat here — all day long. While the air-conditioned one Michelin-starred Hawker Chan along Smith Street may be tempting, we urge you to try the original stall here, Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle (#02-126). The queue may be long, but for this perfectly cooked, succulent and flavourful bird (from $7), it'll be well worth the wait. Make the most out of your order and add on their Char Siew (from $2.50, barbecued pork) too, thick cuts of glistening fat with caramelised edges that will leave you wanting more! If you're in a group, consider ordering the hearty Claypot Rice (from $5) from Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice (#02-198/199) to share. Cooked upon order, expect tender chunks of chicken meat, salted fish, lup cheong (Chinese preserved sausages) set atop a bed of white fluffy rice. Be sure to scrape out all the charred bits at the side of the claypot as you mix the dish with black sweet sauce and chilli. If you're here in the evening, chill out with craft beers on tap from Smith Street Taps (#02-062) or On Tap Fresh Brew Craft Beer (#02-75) — prices start from an affordable $6/pint!
Photos by Burpplers Sarah Wong, I Makan SG and Burpple Tastemaker Russell Leong