Zhen Zhen Porridge

Zhen Zhen Porridge is a hawker stall at Maxwell Food Centre, in unit #01-54. It serves Cantonese-style congee, with the rice cooked down until it is thick and creamy. It is one of the most popular stalls at Maxwell, and there is usually a line.

The stall is a small two-person operation. People have been lining up here for more than 20 years, and it is mainly a breakfast and lunch spot. A bowl here is simple, filling and gentle on the stomach, which makes it a good first meal of the day.

What to order

There is one smooth base porridge, and you choose what goes in it. Bowls come in a few sizes. These are the popular picks:

• Sliced fish porridge: fresh fish slices in the hot congee.
• Sliced fish, shredded chicken and century egg: the mix that food guides mention most often.
• Chicken porridge: shredded chicken, for a milder bowl.
• Raw egg: an add-on that you stir in for a richer texture.

Each bowl is finished with fine shreds of ginger, spring onions and crisp fried shallots. Some guides also mention a scatter of sesame seeds. Portions are generous, so the smaller size is often enough for breakfast.

Century egg is a preserved duck egg with a dark, jelly-like white and a creamy yolk. It has a strong taste, so skip it if you prefer something plain. The fish-only bowl is the safest choice for first-timers.

Good to know before you go

• Queues: expect a wait of around half an hour, and longer in the busy tourist season. Early weekday mornings tend to be quieter.
• Check before you go: the stall does not open every day, so look at recent listings before you make a special trip.
• Finding a seat: Maxwell fills up at meal times. Read how to chope a seat at a hawker centre before you arrive.
• Ordering: if this is your first hawker meal, our guide on how to order at hawker stalls will help.
• Allergies: ask at the counter about anything you avoid, and see our tips on eating at hawker centres with food allergies.

Getting there

Maxwell Food Centre is at 1 Kadayanallur Street, at the edge of Chinatown near Tanjong Pagar. It stands close to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. The nearest MRT station is Maxwell, on the Thomson-East Coast Line.

Nearby

Maxwell makes a good starting point for a food walk. Follow our Chinatown cheap eats crawl, or read what a hawker centre is if this is your first visit. For more ideas, browse our hawker favourites, more Chinese restaurants in Singapore and all restaurants in Marina Bay and the CBD.