The Maxwell Road Hawker Food Centre is well known for its affordable, tasty and huge variety of local hawker food. There are a few favourites at Maxwell Food Centre and they are easily identified from the long queues at these food stalls.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre Stall 10 and 11)

One of the most famous one has to be Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Stall 10 and 11). Most people say that it is the fragrant and tasty rice that makes them want to come back for more. It is not just the locals who are fascinated by Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice but even world renowned food experts e.g. Anthony Bourdain and even Gordon Ramsay.

If you just have to try chicken rice at Maxwell Food Centre but can’t tolerate the long queues for Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, you can also consider Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice (Stall 7) – it was founded by a former chef of Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is open from 11am to 8pm (or until sold out whichever is earlier) and they are closed on Mondays.

Zhen Zhen Porridge (Maxwell Food Centre Stall 54)

For one of the best traditional congee served with pork/chicken and century egg, you have to check out Zhen Zhen Porridge (Stall 54). This stall is well-known for its generous servings of porridge ingredients – every spoonful of porridge is full of ingredients be it chicken meat (or fish slices) and century egg. The yu sheng rice porridge garnished with raw fish slices is also a crowd favourite. Zhen Zhen Porridge is open from 5:30am to 2:30pm and they are closed on Tuesdays.

Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon (Maxwell Food Centre Stall 77)

Fish soup lovers have to check out Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon (Stall 77). This stall is located just opposite Zhen Zhen Porridge. Here at Jin Hua, you can expect Cantonese-style fish head noodle soup with milky broth and served with generous sprinklings of fried shallots and vegetables. Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon is open from 11am to 8:30pm and they are closed on Thursdays. Be prepared to wait even during non-peak hours as the chef cooks only two pots at the time.

You can expect super long queues and long waiting time with the above three stalls – if you still want to try good food at Maxwell Food Centre – there are other alternatives with shorter or almost no queues.

Special Shanghai Tim-Sum Tong Xing Ju 同心居 (Maxwell Food Centre Stall 92)

One of them is Special Shanghai Tim-Sum (Stall 92) – it is well-known for its fried guotie (dumpling), which has a unique crispy thin skin and delicious juicy fillings. Their Hot & Sour Soup ($4) is another crowd favourite as it is quite thick and only slightly spicy. Special Shanghai Tim-Sum is open from 11.30am to 8pm and they are closed on Mondays.

China Street Fritters (Maxwell Food Centre Stall 64)

Another affordable eating place is the China Street Fritters (Stall 64) where you choose from a selection of deep fried prawn fritters, fish cakes, ngoh hiang (local sausages), etc.

Zhong Xing Fu Zhou Fish Ball & Lor Mee (Maxwell Food Centre Stall 62)

Zhong Xing Fu Zhou Fish Ball & Lor Mee (stall 62) serves an excellent dish of lor mee filled with barbecue pork, fishcake and bean sprouts. The servings are quite generous considering that it is only $3. Zhong Xing Fu Zhou Fish Ball & Lor Mee is open from 7:30am to 5pm.

Thankfully, while indoors, my Transitions Signature lenses are completely clear – enabling me to see what I am eating. I am also comforted to know that the Transitions Signature lenses will get darker under the midday sun as I walk back to my car after lunch at Maxwell Food Centre. I need not bring both my sunglasses and spectacles out for lunch – with Transition Signature lenses, I just have to put on my spectacles and I am good to go! Find out more about Transitions Signature on their website: http://www.transitions.com/en-sg/products/transitions-signature

Maxwell Road Food Centre is located at the corner of Maxwell Road and South Bridge Road
Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184, Singapore

Nearest MRT station: Tanjong Pagar (Take Exit G and walk about 6 minutes to Maxwell Road). You can also reach Maxwell Road Food Centre by bus – 80, 145, NR5 (About a 1-minute from bus stop B05269).