Hawker Centres Near Singapore’s Best HDB Estates: A Foodie’s Guide to Living Local

Hawker culture forms a vital aspect of what Singapore is: it is a cosmopolitan city-state offering affordable and delicious local cuisine to anyone looking at it. To the foodie looking to indulge in this paradise, being able to live near these popular hawker centres isn’t a good dream; it’s a great dream. Happily, all the best HDB estates in Singapore house some of the best hawker centres around, making them ideal locations not only for all these food enthusiasts but also for those seeking the best urban convenience with a side of character.

Let us go through some of the best HDB estates along with their hawker centres, which serve some fantastic culinary experiences:

Tiong Bahru: A Mix of Heritage and Hip

Tiong Bahru is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Singapore and among the most charming. The foodie’s paradise among the locals must be the Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre- an understated two-story complex with over 80 food stalls. There you can find traditional local favourites – steamed rice cakes with preserved radish, lor mee (braised noodles), and world-known Tiong Bahru Pau.

Beyond the hawker centre, this neighbourhood is a thriving landscape of trendy cafes and bakeries offering that perfect blend of the old traditional and modern culinary experiences. For those in the market for HDBs for sale in Singapore, Tiong Bahru’s mix of old-world charm and contemporary amenities makes it attractive to prospective buyers.

Bedok: An East-bound Food Haven

On the east side of Singapore is a mature estate called Bedok, which has not one but two hawker centres – namely, Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre and 85 Fengshan Centre, popularly known as Bedok 85. It is well known for local dishes such as Bak Chor Mee and Prawn Mee within the former.

On the other hand, Bedok 85 comes alive at night through its famous BBQ stingray, oyster omelette, and Teochew-style minced pork noodles. Its abundance of food options together with its proximity to East Coast Park makes a pretty good reason to look at it as a desirable location for HDB flats in Singapore.

Ang Mo Kio: A Foodie’s Haven in Heartland

Ang Mo Kio is one of Singapore’s biggest housing estates and boasts hawker delights galore. To run the gamut of the fabulous range of dishes served at the local institution that is the Ang Mo Kio Central Market and Food Centre, try everything from Hokkien mee to curry rice. Other don’t-misses include the institutionally famous Ang Mo Kio 453 Wanton Noodle and the crispy Hainanese-style chicken cutlet at Lola’s Cafe.

With excellent connectivity, the neighbourhood also takes pride in its mix of old-school coffee shops and modern eateries, which is probably why many people will want to buy or rent HDB in Singapore.

Chinatown: Tracing Where Tradition Meets Modernity

While not technically an HDB estate, Chinatown is surrounded by public housing and offers some of the best hawker experiences in Singapore. Chinatown Complex Food Centre actually houses the largest hawker centre in Singapore, over 260 food stalls within it, and boasts the first Michelin-starred hawker stall ever in the world – Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle.

Other must-visit hawker centres in the vicinity are Maxwell Food Centre and Amoy Street Food Centre. Its highly accessible location coupled with its strong cultural heritage puts it as the most in-demand place for people in search of a resale HDB flat in Singapore.

Toa Payoh: A Mature Estate with Timeless Flavours

Some of Singapore’s oldest towns harbour much love for hawker centres, and one of the places is Toa Payoh. The Toa Payoh West Market and Food Centre is famously known for its lor mee and Teochew fishball noodles. The Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market and Food Centre offered excellent char kway teow and wonton mee.

The neighbourhood of maturity, hence is well-equipped with all kinds of amenities and green spaces, so it still remains an attractive option for one looking to rent or buy HDB in Singapore.

Geylang: The Food Paradise at Late Night Hours

Geylang, a buzzing nightlife preserve, is also the ultimate haven for the foodies. While there are countless hawker centres, among the must-visit ones is the Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre renowned for Malay and Indian Muslim cuisine. From my side, I can never miss the legendary Seng Kee Black Chicken Herbal Soup, besides the aromatic nasi lemak at Hajah Mona Nasi Lemak.

Geylang’s reputation is a bit of mixed pudding. The food scene, however, and its central location make it quite an interesting choice for people looking for HDB flats to rent in Singapore.

Living from around these hawker centres can satisfy your cravings but at the same time give a glimpse of varied Singapore food culture. Bear in mind, however, that increased popularity will consequently increase rental or buying prices. So far this year 2024, HDB rental prices have, in fact, risen because people are clamouring to stay in areas where the hawker centres are already established.

If you plan to lease HDB in Singapore, look early and don’t be surprised to face some competition even in the most popular areas like Tiong Bahru or Chinatown. Websites like 99.co compile detailed listings for HDB flats up for rent; therefore, you could find that perfect home nearer to your favourite hawker centre.

Another significant fact is that the Singapore government has been trying to preserve and publicise hawker culture. In 2020, Singapore’s hawker culture was registered on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity thus recognising its cultural significance. Therefore, the government has been increasing the support given to hawkers through new entrant subsidies and upgrading the centres.

Another plan is to build new hawker centres in developing estates, thus ensuring that this great segment of Singaporean culture will continue to thrive. As one example, at Sengkang, a new Fernvale Community Hub is likely to offer a new hawker centre as part of the food option within this pretty young estate.

Conclusion

Living near the hawker centre in Singapore provides more than convenience in readily available tasty yet cheap food. It, in fact, opens up to other living experiences from such primary culture in Singapore. It almost gives you the feeling of belonging when you get into such a culture. For a local or an expat who needs to buy or rent HDB in Singapore, proximity to hawker centres may greatly improve living in Lion City.

HDB flats are also available for rent or purchase, depending on personal preference. Consideration should also be given to where the nearby hawker centres are as good food is truly a way of life in Singapore.