Maxwell Meals Centre is a kind of uncommon hawker facilities in Singapore that’s extremely standard with vacationers and on the identical time, is held in excessive esteem by locals for its genuine and conventional hawker dishes. The principle purpose for that is that Maxwell Meals Centre is the present dwelling of a myriad of age-old road stalls that initially plied the world round China Sq. (now a part of the CBD). Many of those institutions have been round for 80 years or extra and proceed to be managed by the identical household, albeit the 2nd or third era. Aside from that, patrons can discover fairly a variety of comparatively uncommon hawker dishes right here reminiscent of Fuzhou-style oyster cake, peanut pancake and extra and at any given day, one can discover Singaporeans from close to and much descending upon this humble-looking hawker middle queueing for varied specialties.
Personally, Maxwell Meals Centre is certainly one of my most frequently-visited hawker facilities in Singapore as I take pleasure in strolling to this place throughout my lunch hour each time I’m trying to clock in additional steps. My favorites listed below are a mixture of a few of the authentic China Sq. hawker stalls in addition to newer ones began by enterprising children. Nonetheless, it stays to be one of many tougher hawker centres for me to cowl as a consequence of their comparatively excessive turnover. That is certainly one of Singapore’s OG hawker centres and a variety of the unique stalls have closed completely because of the retirement of the homeowners. New ideas have sprouted to exchange them, with various levels of success.
With out additional ado, listed below are a few of the meals you need to attempt the subsequent time you end up at Maxwell Meals Centre.
Style of Jiang Nan
style of jiang nan | maxwell meals centre
That is the place to go in case you are searching for some Din Tai Fung-esque meals at a less expensive worth. Their Pork Chop Fried Rice is certainly one of my favorites right here, as are their number of dumplings – most particularly the Purple Oil Spicy Dumplings.
pork chop rice from style of jiang nan
Tip: This stall doesn’t have an outlined relaxation day. They are going to announce their relaxation days upfront through their Fb web page right here so pls test it out earlier than heading right down to keep away from disappointment.
Stall Quantity: #01-62
Opening Hours: Every day, 12PM to 3PM / 5PM to 8PM
Telephone: 8342 9898
Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake
maxwell fuzhou oyster cake | maxwell meals centre
oyster cake from maxwell fuzhou oyster cake
One among an ever dwindling variety of institutions in Singapore nonetheless serving this conventional snack, Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake might not be the very best place in Singapore to seize certainly one of these UFO-shaped delights. However given the rarity issue and their variety of years within the enterprise, I nonetheless patronize them each time I discover myself in Maxwell Meals Centre. The oyster muffins listed below are barely thinner with much less oysters in comparison with one other oyster cake stall I frequent at Berseh Meals Centre.
Stall Quantity: #01-05
Opening Hours: Every day besides Sunday, 9AM to 8PM
Mr Appam
mr appam at maxwell meals centre
Mr Appam opened in 2021 by Vietnam-born Nguyen Thi Kieu Hanh. Hers is an inspirational story as she initially needed to promote Vietnamese meals however ended up being required to promote Indian meals as dictated by the bidding course of for the actual stall she was awarded. Regardless of having no experience in getting ready Indian meals, she determined to make do with the alternatives given to her by promoting appam – the South Indian pancake which is standard as a breakfast dish.
pandan coconut brown sugar appam
Kieu Hanh didn’t handle to simply get by however her stall is slowly thriving as nicely due to some offbeat flavors she presents reminiscent of Pandan Brown Sugar Coconut Appam and Ice Cream Appam alongside extra typical ones like Princess Appam. A Vietnamese hawker might be the final particular person you’d anticipate finding getting ready appam behind the counter so kudos to her for making essentially the most out of her circumstances and doing it with zeal.
Stall Quantity: #01-99
Opening Hours: Every day besides Tuesday, 8AM to 8PM (opens at 10AM from Wednesday to Friday)
Alimama
alimama | maxwell meals centre
The Inexperienced Chili Hen Rice at Alimama is a must-try particularly in case you are searching for some spice. Whereas comparisons might instantly be drawn with the inexperienced chili hen stall at Sims Vista Meals Centre, there’s little doubt that that is the one place serving this extremely standard dish within the metropolis centre. Through the time of my go to, I discovered the hen crispy with out being too dry. The inexperienced chili right here gave it a reasonably extra pronounced spicy impact as in comparison with the one I attempted at Sims Vista.
Stall Quantity: #01-09
Opening Hours: Every day, 11AM to eight:30PM
Telephone: 8484 3944
Tian Tian Hainanese Hen Rice
tian tian hainanese hen rice | maxwell meals centre
By far essentially the most well-known stall at Maxwell Meals Centre, Tian Tian Hainanese Hen Rice gained worldwide fame when it was featured by Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay, the previous having commented at how aromatic the hen rice was. I’ve personally been to Tian Tian fairly a couple of instances myself. Whereas I did discover the hen rice aromatic, I didn’t discover it to be any extra so than these from my very own neighborhood hen rice retailer. What I discovered notable nonetheless, was how plump and juicy the strips of hen have been. I would definitely take into account the hen rice right here to be above common.
Stall Quantity: #01-10/11
Opening Hours: Every day besides Monday, 10AM to 7:30PM
Telephone: 9691 4852
Fifties Espresso
the Fifties espresso at maxwell meals centre
The Fifties Espresso stall here’s a department, the principle one being positioned not too distant at Chinatown Complicated. Anticipate fragrant cups of kopi and toast to go alongside your morning drink. Their do-it-yourself Ice Lemon Tea can also be value getting throughout heat siesta-inducing afternoons. It’s value noting that whereas the principle outlet at Chinatown Complicated Meals Centre is closed on Mondays, the Maxwell department stays open.
Stall Quantity: #01-90
Opening Hours: Every day, 8:30AM to 4PM
Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon
jin hua fish head bee hoon | maxwell meals centre
I noticed certainly one of this meals centre’s longest queues at Jin hua Fish Head Bee Hoon, not a nasty feat contemplating they’ve been round for some 2 many years or so. The stall is well-known for its Cantonese fashion Fish Head Bee Hoon. Grouper must be your fish of selection right here. They fry it with a lot of the bone intact to realize a sweeter taste. Clients can select to have their soup with or with out milk.
Stall Quantity: #01-77
Opening Hours: Every day besides Thursday, 11:15AM to 7:30PM
Previous Nyonya
previous nyonya | maxwell meals centre
Previous Nyonya is a stall serving Malay-influenced Peranakan delights in Maxwell Meals Centre. You may count on a variety of breakfast-friendly dishes right here reminiscent of Mee Siam, Mee Rebus and Lontong. They’re significantly well-known for his or her Laksa. For one thing heavier, you possibly can try their Curry Hen and Rendang Hen. They don’t precisely compete head-to-head with the opposite Peranakan retailer in Maxwell Meals Centre as Previous Nyonya has a better Malay inclination.
Stall Quantity: #01-04
Opening Hours: Every day besides Wednesday, 11AM to eight:30PM
Telephone: 8366 9311
Ri Xin Snack Delights
ri xin snack delights
Through the “dine-in ban” that occurred in phases in 2020/2021, there was a “unhappy uncle” that went viral after footage of him sitting with a depressing expression amid unsold meals within the night. That unhappy uncle is the proprietor of Ri Xin Snack Delights, one of many authentic stalls at Maxwell Meals Centre (as prompt by the store signal). The stall sells varied sorts of kueh, together with Ang Ku Kueh, Huat Kueh and the more and more uncommon Wa Kueh. That is the one hawker stall I do know nonetheless promoting Wa Kueh except for Ah Kong Wah Kuih in Chinatown Complicated Meals Centre.
After I did go to this stall throughout one Sunday afternoon, I noticed uncle in the identical depressing expression and felt a little bit of pity. The kuehs aren’t costly, round S$1 or extra per piece. I’d positively go and assist each time I’m on this hawker centre.
Stall Quantity: #01-55
Opening Hours: Every day, 4PM to 9PM
Conventional Delight
conventional delight | maxwell meals centre
Initially began as a Chinese language desserts store, the idea of Conventional Delight has shifted considerably they usually now provide fried snacks and fritters. This appears to work higher for them as there are already a variety of stalls promoting Chinese language desserts in Maxwell Meals Centre and a few of them didn’t survive. I personally vouch for his or her Candy Potato Balls. In contrast to the hole kind that one normally finds within the evening markets, those they promote listed below are clearly self-made with a denser focus of candy potatoes contained in the fried balls. It is a vegetarian-only stall they usually additionally promote different goodies reminiscent of sesame balls, kueh ko swee, vegetable fritters and extra.
Stall Quantity: #01-29
Oriental Stall Duck Rice and Duck Noodle
oriental stall duck rice | maxwell meals centre
That is the place to go for reasonable braised duck rice – for as little as S$3.50 a plate. The yam rice that accompanies the braised duck is flavorful and one can actually make out the beneficiant parts of yam on it.
Stall Quantity: #01-19
Opening Hours: Every day, 10AM to 7PM (opening and shutting instances might differ +/- half-hour relying on the day of the week)
Hup Kee
hup kee | maxwell meals centre
With the closure of China Road Fritters, the one ngoh hiang stall that’s left at Maxwell Meals Centre is Hup Kee. With a snaking queue the norm throughout lunch time, loyal clients normally go for his or her reliable combo of Bee Hoon with Ngoh Hiang and Purple Sausages.
Stall Quantity: #01-97
Opening Hours: Every day besides Wednesday, 11:30AM to 6PM
Telephone: 8113 7015
Heng Heng Tapioca Cake
heng heng tapioca cake | maxwell meals centre
As denoted by their signboard, Heng Heng is one other stall which got here from the unique China Road hawkers previous to the existence of Maxwell Meals Centre. Heng Heng prides itself in varied sweets, most notably their ondeh ondeh and tapioca cake. I significantly loved their kueh kosui which got here with a beneficiant quantity of coconut shavings. Their kueh kosui is much less sticky and extra jelly-like in texture – wobbly and smooth to the contact.
Stall Quantity: #01-31
Opening Hours: Every day besides Sunday, 7AM to 1PM
Chee Cheong Enjoyable Membership
chee cheong enjoyable membership
This humble stall permits diners to expertise chee cheong enjoyable in methods which are unusual in Singapore. Except for the same old bouncy sort with black sauce, you may additionally order the chee cheong enjoyable with curry or laksa combined along with different components like fish muffins, tofu pores and skin ang ngoh hiang.
Stall Quantity: #01-38
Opening Hours: Every day besides Monday, 7:30AM to 2PM
SweeT.Rex
candy.rex
For one thing not normally present in hawker facilities, try SweeT.Rex for its cafe fashion Souffle Pancakes – made upon ordering and possessing a smooth and bouncy texture. Select to have it in its authentic kind with maple syrup and vanilla ice cream or with different toppings reminiscent of caramel or chocolate. Except for pancakes, in addition they promote cheesecake in addition to bottled milk tea.
Stall Quantity: #01-12
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9AM to 8PM
MS Dessert Store (花姐）
MS Dessert Store sells conventional desserts reminiscent of Pulut Hitam, Purple Bean Soup and Inexperienced Bean Soup. My private favourite from this stall is the Peach Gum Dessert which they serve both sizzling or chilly for simply S$2.5o, a lot decrease than what different dessert stalls cost for peach gum. My bowl got here brimming with loads of the collagen-rich jelly-like substance alongside longan and wolfberries.
Stall Quantity: #01-68
Opening Hours: Every day, 9AM to eight:30PM
Sisaket Thai Meals
Situated on the final row of stalls dealing with the street, Sisaket Thai Meals is the one Thai meals possibility in Maxwell Meals Centre. They’re identified for allotting staples reminiscent of Pineapple Fried Rice, Thai Basil Fried Rice and Curry Hen in addition to bigger dishes reminiscent of Fried Seabass and Tom Yum Scorching Spot at comparatively affordable costs.
Stall Quantity: #01-85
Opening Hours: Every day, 11:30AM to 4PM, 6PM to 8PM
Shi Nian
Stroll inside Maxwell Meals Centre on any given day and as a consequence of their excessive turnover, you’d be certain to discover a new stall popping up. One of many newest to open is Shi Nian which makes a speciality of Braised Pork Rice. Take your choose from the just about totally pork menu – from pork trotters to leg and even gut to go alongside your rice. For many who are extra well being aware, you possibly can go for the Braised Lean Meat Rice.
Stall Quantity: #01-64
Opening Hours: Every day, 10:30AM to 9PM (opens at 10AM on weekends)
Avoca Brooo
avoca brooo | maxwell meals centre
For a keto-approved possibility, try Avoca Brooo which makes a speciality of varied avocado-based drinks. Pair your avocado smoothie with basic flavors reminiscent of coconut or gula melaka, or one thing extra novel reminiscent of banana, mango, chocolate and even bitter plum. They’ve non-avocado choices as nicely together with mango, mangosteen, lychee in addition to extra typical ABC juice.
Stall Quantity: #01-83
Opening Hours: Every day besides Wednesday, 12PM to 8PM
