Singapore is well-known for its world-class shopping and delicious food. Less familiar are its many neighborhoods in Singapore, where travelers can enjoy simple, delicious food in the many local hawker centres. Locals know that for fresh, high quality, affordable food, there are no better choices than found at the hawker centres. An immersion into the city’s hawker culture will also afford the best overview of the city’s best hotels, neighborhoods, and people.
Photo via Trover by Jitesh The East Coast Lagoon Food Centre gets high marks for its food and atmosphere. This lesser-known Hawker Centre is home to the Bright Hill Temple, also known as Phor Kark See Kong Meng San, that has the distinction of being the largest monastery in Singapore. This temple is filled with paintings and sculptures, and as you walk its rooms, you will feel as though you are in a maze. Regular interfaith programs are a staple at the Bright Hill Temple, which is why you will meet visitors of many faiths. Photo via Trover by Jimmy Dau The holdings in the Singapore ArtScience Museum cross multiple cultures and centuries and should not be missed. On the day you visit this flower-shaped design and technology building, why not have lunch at the Singapore Food Trail Food Center? This Hawker Center is on Raffles Avenue and reportedly is host to a curated choice of the best hawker stalls on the island. You will certainly be able to sample char kwy teow, popiah, carrot cake, and fried oyster if any of these delicacies sound yummy to you. Photo via Trover by The Whites Blog The Hawker Center at Makansutra Gluttons Bay offers old style open-air food-stall meals in a slick and iconic section of Singapore — Gluttons Bay. The atmospheric location looks out over Marina Bay is made more enjoyable because the food is superb and the prices are cheap. Feast on Barbecue Squid or Chicken Rice followed by a glass of Tiger Beer while watching the sun set. The Esplanade Theater and Concert complex is within walking distance. Photo via Trover by Mark Vogler Some persistence is required to visit Bukit Timah Market & Hawker Centre. It’s an easy half-hour ride by public transportation from City Center, then a 15-minute walk from the train station to Bukit Timah Market. However, because this is away from the popular tourist enclaves, your experience will be that of an everyday citizen. There are about 84 stalls in this complex, but its claim to fame is the hawkers prepare recipes that have been passed down for generations. Walk off your delightful meal in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve before heading back to the city center. Photo via Trover by Allan Tan Urban legend says the essence of a thing is not only difficult to understand but more difficult to teach. Yet, the different Hawker Centres offer travelers a glimpse into Singapore society through food. In neighborhoods and stalls, descendants carry on food traditions that capture this essence in the retention of food preparation techniques that go beyond the ingredients. |
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