Categories > Guides and Tips
This guide to Amoy Food Centre will make you say “Amoy oh, my!”
If you’ve ever tried to beat the Amoy Street Food Centre lunch crowd, you’ll know it’s part survival, part sport, but entirely worth it. I’ve queued, sweated, and power-walked my way through this CBD icon more times than I can count.
It’s one of the best hawker centres in SG with everything from Michelin-recognised curry puffs to grain bowls that taste good. Amoy’s got something for every craving and budget, so here’s the lowdown on where to queue and how to eat like a lunchtime regular.
History of Amoy Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre was established in 1983 to house former street hawkers in a cleaner, more organised space. It quickly became a go-to lunch spot for nearby office workers in the CBD.
Over the years, it has undergone upgrades to improve hygiene (5-star rating under Singapore’s Happy Toilet Programme!) while preserving its old-school charm. Today, it stands as a modernised but still deeply nostalgic slice of Singapore’s hawker culture.
Things to Know
Address: 7 Maxwell Road
Contact: +6562255632
Hours: Daily, 6.30 AM–9 PM
Accessibility: Ramps, elevators, and wide walkways, navigable layout, aisles wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs
Amenities: Clean public toilets, ceiling and wall-mounted electric fans
Pet-friendly? No
Rules and restrictions:
- Patrons must return trays and clean tables after dining
- Avoid reserving tables (‘chope’-ing)
- Tables and seats are on a first-come, first-served basis
- Don’t bring outside food and drinks
- No smoking or vaping inside or outside the food centre
How to Get There
By MRT: The closest MRT station is Telok Ayer Station (Downtown Line, DT18). Take Exit G and it’s just a short walk to the food centre. If you take the MRT to Maxwell Station (Thomson-East Coast Line, TE18), it’s about a 5-minute walk away.
By bus: Nearby bus options include Tg Pagar Rd (Opp Fairfield Meth CH, bus 80, 145, 166, 197), Sth Bridge Rd (Opp Sri Mariamman Tp, bus 61, 166, 197), and Anson Rd (Tanjong Pagar Stn Exit C, bus 57, 131, 167, 186).
Most stops are within a 3 to 7 walk from the food centre.
By car or taxi/drop-off: Set your GPS to Amoy Street Food Centre on 7 Maxwell Road. While there’s no dedicated drop-off point, taxis can drop off passengers along Maxwell Road or nearby Cross Street.
For parking, options include the Amoy Street Open Air Carpark at 88 Amoy Street, or public parking along Amoy, Telok Ayer, and Stanley Streets.
Must-Try Stalls at Amoy Food Centre
A Noodle Story
Media from prinsyp
Location: Stall 01-39
Hours:
- Monday to Friday, 10 AM–8 PM
- Saturday to Sunday, 10 AM–4 PM
Price: $$
A Noodle Story is what happens when Singapore hawker swagger meets Japanese culinary precision. Here, the pork belly melts, the wontons punch back, and the potato prawn deserves a Michelin Bib Gourmand award (which it has).
You’ll queue like everyone else, but the payback is real. We’re talking XO sauce, lava egg, and a whole decadent noodle mess in one bowl that hits the spot.
Pro-tip: Go before noon to beat the lunch crowd. Portions run out fast, and the stall doesn’t skimp on quality even early during the day.
Han Kee Fish Soup
Media from hankeefishsoup
Location: Stall 02-129
Hours: Monday to Friday, 11 AM–3 PM
Price: $
Han Kee’s fish soup is the cleanest-tasting food you’ll eat in the CBD, and that’s saying something. The broth is light but somehow still hits like a warm hug.
The stall doesn’t mess around with gimmicky plating or garnishes; you’ll simply get generous cuts of fresh fish swimming in umami. You queue, you sweat, you slurp, and then you understand the hype.
Pro-tip: Ask for batang (Spanish mackerel) if you like your fish firm and flavourful. It holds up the best in hot broth.
Ah Seng (Hai Nam) Coffee
Media from don_don80
Location: Stall 02-95
Hours:
- Saturday to Monday, 5.30 AM–3 PM
- Tuesday, 6 AM–3 PM
- Wednesday, 5.30 AM–3 PM
Price: $
Ah Seng’s kopi hits with that deep, roasted edge you don’t get from chain cafes. Suffice it to say it wakes you properly.
The kaya toast is crispy, buttery, and unapologetically old-school. There’s no rush at this stall; just the rhythm of a true kopitiam. It’s breakfast the way your grandparents liked it, still holding its ground.
Pro-tip: Watching your sugar intake? Order your kopi “siew dai” (less sugar) to really taste the roast. Then dunk the kaya toast for the full nostalgia hit!
Hong Kee Beef Noodle
Media from li_wei_sg
Location: Stall 01-42
Hours:
- Monday, 9.30 AM–2 PM
- Tuesday to Friday, 11 AM–6.30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday, 9 AM–2.30 PM
Price: $
Hong Kee’s broth is so rich, it feels like it’s been simmering since the 70s (I’m willing to bet my grandpa’s slippers it has!). The beef is tender, the noodles are springy, and thrown together, it’s a hearty combo in a bowl.
It’s the kind of meal that makes you stop mid-slurp just to nod in approval. Dry or soup, you won’t walk away unimpressed or hungry.
Pro-tip: Get the dry version with soup on the side. You’ll get the best of both worlds: intense sauce-coated noodles and that deep, beefy broth to sip.
Wah Kee Noodle
Media from ortega_sg
Location: Stall 02-125
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 AM–2.30 PM
Price: $
Wah Kee’s noodles have that perfect QQ bite, and the char siew is the right kind of smokey-sweet. The dumplings are also fat and juicy, and packed like they’ve got something to prove.
It’s wanton mee done the old-school way, with no frills, no shortcuts, just solid hawker skill. The regulars keep coming back to queue for it, and I honestly don’t mind because I get why.
Pro-tip: Ask for extra chilli! It’s house-made, slightly smokey, and gives the noodles an extra kick without overpowering the dish.
J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff
Media from tastetweed1
Location: Stall 01-21
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 AM–3 PM
Price: $
I can say with all honesty that the crust alone at J2 is worth the long-ish queue. It’s flaky, golden, and shatters just right to coat your top with delicious pastry bits.
Between the sardine’s spicy punch and the mellow black pepper chicken, you’ll likely want both because it’s hard to choose. The sardine one has a nice burn, but I usually grab the chicken version first, as it’s so good.
Pro-tip: The sardine is best eaten when it’s still warm and its crust extra crispy.
Pepper Bowl
Media from peanutloti
Location: Stall 02-102
Hours: Monday to Friday, 11 AM–2.30 PM
Price: $
Pepper Bowl’s black pepper hor fun doesn’t just sizzle, but smacks your mouth with intense flavour. The gravy is bold, the beef is generous, and the noodles glide like silk.
It’s one of those hawker bowls that feel more expensive than it is. It’s cheap, messy, and satisfying, just the way hor fun should be.
Pro-tip: Ask for an onsen egg on top. The yolk blends with the pepper sauce and levels up the whole dish.
Lagoon in a Bowl
Media from lagoonbowl
Location: Stall 01-48
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 11 AM–3 PM, 6–8 PM
- Friday, 11 AM–3 PM
Price: $$
Lagoon in a Bowl makes grain bowls look, feel, and taste indulgent. The seared mentaiko salmon always manages to steal the show, and the blue pea rice looks pretty but tastes even better with crunchy cucumber slices and sweet corn bits.
I love going to this stall for clean eating without the sad salad energy. Honestly, I also come for the colour and stay for the umami.
Pro-tip: Don’t be shy about asking for extra mentaiko sauce. It’s what ties the entire bowl together.
Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodles
Location: Stall 01-14
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7 AM–3 PM
Price: $
Ah Ter’s bak chor mee is the kind of bowl that reminds you why classics don’t need gimmicky fixing. It has spot-on springy noodles, a punchy sauce, and tasty pork liver.
I prefer going dry at this stall and adding a splash of vinegar, and have never regretted it. It’s old-school flavour, with just the right portion for a famished diner, and zero fuss in the way hawker comfort food should be.
Pro-tip: If you’re paying with cash, try to bring small notes or exact change to make queues move faster.
Coffee Break
Media from firdaus_bunny
Location: Stall 02-78
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7.30 AM–2.30 PM
Price: $
Coffee Break doesn’t just do coffee, but experiments, and it works most of the time. I find its sea salt caramel a winner, more so than its macadamia one.
But it’s in its toast where the stall shines. The black sesame version is rich, crisp, and cut so thin, it feels fancy without trying!
Pro-tip: You can mix and match the flavoured toast. Half portions let you try more without the carb overload.
