This Chinatown cheap eats crawl links four food centres, a few snack shops and some drink stops into one easy half-day walk. You graze on small plates as you go, so you try more dishes for less money. Plan on about four hours and roughly S$20 to S$30 per person for food. Prices change, so check stall boards.
Start in the late morning, when stalls are open but the lunch rush has not begun. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water and bring small notes.
How the Chinatown cheap eats crawl works
The route runs from Chinatown MRT station to Telok Ayer MRT station. It covers roughly two to three kilometres on foot, with plenty of rests.
- Portions: order one small dish per stop and share it.
- Payment: carry small notes. Many stalls also take cards or QR codes.
- Closures: stalls take different rest days, and food centres close for cleaning a few times a year.
- Manners: return your tray after eating. Our guide to hawker centre etiquette covers the rest.
Stop 1: Hong Lim Market and Food Centre
Leave Chinatown MRT station and walk to Hong Lim Market & Food Centre on Upper Cross Street. It is a busy food centre known for its noodle stalls. One well-known stall is Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee.
Share a small plate of char kway teow, flat rice noodles fried with egg and dark sweet sauce. It is a good, filling start to the walk.
Stop 2: Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Next, walk through the shophouse streets to Chinatown Complex Food Centre on Smith Street. The food centre is upstairs, above a wet market and shops. It has hundreds of stalls, so take a slow lap before you choose.
Pick something light, such as a few dumplings or a small plate of roast pork. Then get a cup of sugarcane juice or kopi from one of the drinks stalls. If you want a full plate instead, our guide on how to order economy rice helps you keep it cheap.
Stop 3: Snack streets and temples
From the food centre, wander along Smith Street, Trengganu Street and Pagoda Street. These old shophouse streets are lined with snack shops, souvenir stalls and old-style bakeries. Follow our Chinatown Heritage Walk if you want the history too.
Snacks to look for:
- Bak kwa: sweet, grilled dried meat, sold by weight. Buy a small amount to taste.
- Egg tarts: small pastry tarts with a soft egg custard.
- Dried fruit and nuts: sold loose in many shops.
- Herbal drinks: cooling herbal teas and grass jelly drinks.
If you want to take bak kwa home, check your country's rules on bringing in meat first.
Then take a free break at two places of worship on South Bridge Road. Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a few minutes further along. Finish your snacks before you go in, and cover your shoulders and knees. Remove your shoes where asked and follow the signs inside.
Stop 4: Maxwell Food Centre
Maxwell Food Centre sits across the road from Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. It is one of the easiest food centres for first-time visitors. Its best-known stall is Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, which often has a queue at lunch.
Share a plate of chicken rice here. If the queue is too long, other stalls sell fishball noodles, rice porridge and fried snacks. Our chicken rice queue tips help you time your visit. Maxwell MRT station is close by if you want to cut the walk short.
Stop 5: Amoy Street Food Centre and Thian Hock Keng
Walk a few minutes east to Amoy Street Food Centre. It feeds office workers from the business district, so it is busiest at weekday lunchtimes. Later in the afternoon it is calmer, though some stalls close after lunch. Stop for a dessert, a fresh juice or a final kopi.
End at Thian Hock Keng Temple on Telok Ayer Street, one of Singapore's oldest Chinese temples. Entry is free. Dress modestly and keep your voice low inside. Telok Ayer MRT station is a short walk away.
For more budget ideas, read how to eat cheaply in Singapore or browse our Cheap Eats guides.
FAQs about the Chinatown food crawl
How long does this Chinatown food walk take?
About four hours at an easy pace, including the temple visits. You can shorten it by skipping a stop.
How much should I budget for the crawl?
Around S$20 to S$30 per person if you share dishes. Prices change, so check stall boards as you go.
Which MRT stations are best for this route?
Start at Chinatown MRT station and finish at Telok Ayer MRT station. Maxwell MRT station is near the middle of the route.
Can I do the crawl in the evening?
Partly. Some stalls close once they sell out, and Amoy Street Food Centre is much quieter after office hours. Check opening hours before you set out.
