Built up an appetite while exploring Singapore’s Chinatown? Tackle your hunger with gusto on Chinatown Food Street!
I first stumbled upon this buzzy street, located in the heart of Chinatown, on my first night in Singapore. And, as the ever-dedicated foodie I am, it popped up in my daily itineraries more often than not!
No matter how many times I visited, I loved walking down Chinatown Food Street to soak up its graceful Chinese merchant houses, peppered with an eclectic collection of 24 hawker stalls and restaurants. For sampling tasty Singaporean food, I could hardly find a better backdrop than this extraordinary historical setting!
Not sure where to start exploring Chinatown Food Street? In this quick & easy guide, I’ll take you through some of my favourite dishes, street kiosks, and restaurants along this cool historic street…
What to expect
Chinatown Food Street is officially known as Smith Street. Its semi-official name, however, seems to be the more fitting of the two to me!
Speaking to locals, I learned that this street has long been a popular haunt for street food in Singapore. After a recent redevelopment project, though, its popularity was kicked into high gear.
Although I never experienced the “original” Chinatown Food Street, the redesign is epic. With added glass canopies and a cooling system, this outdoor space is surprisingly comfortable. (Anything that can shield you from the oppressive daytime heat of Singapore is a big win in my books!)
During the redesign project, the road was also fully pedestrianized. Compared to other busy streets I’ve experienced in Chinatown, it’s an inviting, spacious, and relaxing atmosphere for an evening meal or drink.
Already been busy eating delicious local cuisine at Singapore’s hawker centres? You’ll have an idea of what awaits at Chinatown Food Street.
Like at the nearby Chinatown Complex Food Centre, I found all the local Singaporean favourites at the stalls and restaurants here. On the menus, I spotted popular dishes like satay, BBQ stingray, char kway teow, and roast duck. It’s the perfect setting for enjoying Singapore’s unique interplay of Chinese, Malay, and Indian flavours.
Where & what to eat
Chinatown Food Street stretches along Smith Street between New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road. No matter which end of the street I started on, I was able to find delicious Singaporean dishes that appealed to my tastes.
Here are a few of my favorite places to eat along Chinatown Food Street…
Boon Tat Street BBQ Seafood (#1/#3)
If you’re a fan of seafood, don’t miss the opportunity to devour BBQ stingray while visiting Singapore. This was one of my favorite places in Chinatown to try it.
The stingray here is succulent with just the right amount of sambal for an extra kick. The price starts at around S$10. It’s a reasonable price considering what formal sit-down restaurants around Singapore would charge.
NOTE: The Chinatown location is now closed, but there are two other locations still open at Chomp Chomp Food Centre and Satay by the Bay.
Food Street Fried Kway Teow Mee (#8)
For me, char kway teow was love at first bite. The dish tosses together silky fried noodles doused in a smoky & savoury sauce with ingredients like cockles and pork. It’s super filling and simply magical!
If you want to try char kway teow on your Chinatown Food Street culinary adventure, I’d recommend this popular food stall. It’s budget-friendly, too, starting at only S$5.
NOTE: This stall has moved next door to floor two of the Chinatown Complex.
Old Airport Road Satay Bee Hoon & BBQ Steamboat (#2)
It would be a shame to leave Singapore without tasting a juicy skewer of satay. While the satay here is of note, noodle nuts will love this stall’s satay beehoon. The dish combines their homemade spicy satay peanut sauce with thin vermicelli noodles. Prices start at just S$5.
NOTE: This stall has permanently closed.
Geylang Lor 9 Fresh Frog Porridge (#10)
Got adventurous eating in your Singapore trip plans? Check out the claypot frog porridge at the Chinatown location of this legendary Geylang hawker stall.
Choose between one of the stall’s two specialties. If you’re craving a dash of spice, go for the kung pao. Otherwise, I’d recommend the ginger spring onion for enjoying sweet & savoury flavours.
NOTE: The Chinatown location is no longer open. You can still find this restaurant at 235 Geylang Road in Geylang.
Katong Keah Kee Fried Oysters (#5)
The orh lua (Teochew fried oyster omelette) at this popular stall was one of the tastiest I tried in Singapore. Starting at just S$8, I found the orh lua here to be light and fluffy on the inside.
It’s also got the right amount of crispy finish on the outside and is topped with chunky & juicy oysters.
Tiong Bahru Meng Kee (#7)
You don’t need to head over to Beijing to get some of the world’s finest roast duck. Like the parent hawker stall in Tiong Bahru Market, the duck here is perfectly cooked and juicy. Topped with its classic thick sweet sauce, it’s simply divine!
NOTE: All the locations of this hawker stall have closed. (Apparently, its quality was slipping, so I can’t say I’m too bummed out about it.)
Getting there
Chinatown Food Street is located in the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown. The closest MRT station is Chinatown MRT.
From Exit A, walk two blocks south to Smith Street to access the hawker stalls & restaurants.
