Got a growing obsession with yummy Singaporean food? Toss a visit to the legendary Old Airport Road Food Centre into your Singapore itinerary!
Opened in 1973, Old Airport Road Food Centre offers one of the most classic hawker centre experiences in Singapore. With over 150 hawker stalls, this bustling food court is one of the largest in Singapore and one that no foodie should skip on their visit. It’s insanely popular among locals and a favourite for Singaporeans living throughout the city.
Sure, it’s further afield than other top Singapore hawker centres. But this hawker centre is a must for rounding out your appreciation of the food scene in Singapore.
Not sure where to start exploring? Discover the best foods and hawker stalls at Old Airport Road Food Centre with this quick & easy guide…
Looking for more ideas for your trip? Check out our Singapore Travel Guide for recommendations on what to do, see & eat, and where to stay!
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What to expect at Old Airport Road Food Centre
Already spent time in other food courts in Singapore? Then you won’t be surprised by the variety of dishes available at the Old Airport Road Food Centre.
Truthfully, there aren’t many dishes in the Singapore food repertoire you won’t find here!
Compared to hawker centres in and around the Singapore CBD, there’s a more local feel here. Many of the stalls here are family-run—in some cases for generations!
Wandering through the maze of stalls, you’ll see locals filter to their favourites. Follow their lead and grab a hearty plate of rojak, satay, bee hoon, or char kway teow at a top food stall.
Best part? You can get it all for around the price of a cup of Starbucks coffee.
(And which do you think is more fulfilling? Easy answer.)
Where & what to eat at Old Airport Road Food Centre
Like most hawker centres in Singapore, my advice is the same: To find the best food her, follow your nose and the queues to the most popular stalls.
That being said, keep on the lookout for these top hawker stalls on your visit…
- Xin Mei Xiang Zheng Zong Lor Mee (#01-116): Awarded a Michelin Plate and a local People’s Choice food award in 2018, this popular stall serves up delicious lor mee. The dish tosses thick yellow noodles in a thick egg & starch gravy. It’s full of savoury flavours with a dash of spice.
- Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodles (#01-98): Whether you choose the dry or soup versions, doesn’t matter. The prawn noodle dishes at this famous hawker stall might become new Singaporean food favourites! The classic pork rib version is most palatable for the average Westerner. (Unless you love the thought of pork liver or eat on the more adventurous side.)
- Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee (#01-02): To attack your noodle cravings with a vengeance, grab a bowl of the signature wonton noodles at this famed hawker stall. They’re the perfect texture and packed with umami.
- Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee (#01-32): This noodle joint is one of the most famous stalls here. The signature hokkien mee bursts with prawn, squid, eggs, bee hoon, and egg noodles. It’s a game-changer! Expect a long wait in the queue.
- Toa Payoh Rojak (#01-108): Rojak is one of the specialties at Old Airport Road Food Centre. And this is one of the best stalls to try it. The rojak here is as fresh as it gets. It features a mix of bean sprouts, spinach, and tofu topped with a sweet & savoury shrimp sauce and crushed peanuts.
- Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun (#01-155): For its silky texture, chee cheong fun became one of my go-to delights on my Singapore trips. This hawker stall is a great place to get it here. Try the char siew (BBQ pork) version. It’s got a dash of flavour that’ll change your appreciation of chee cheong fun forever.
- Lao Ban Soya Beancurd (#01-127/#01-107): Got a sweet tooth? Take this Singapore dessert on for size! This popular stall serves up some of the silkiest soya beancurd in Singapore. It’s the perfect cap to your Old Airport Road hawker experience.
Getting there
By MRT: Via Singapore’s public transportation, the easiest way to get to the Old Airport Road Food Centre is by MRT. The closest MRT Station to the hawker centre is Dakota MRT (CC8) on the Circle Line.
From Exit A, it’s a quick 5-minute walk.
