As an proud Eastie, I’ve always maintained that “east side is best side”, largely due to the dizzying variety of F&B options we have, ranging from quaint cafes and hidden eateries to swankier date night spots.
Even the recently refurbished Tampines 1 is shaping up to be one of the hottest foodie destinations in the east, as it’s now home to popular brands like Mister Donut, San.wich, fieldnotes, and Wanpo Tea Shop, just to name a few.
Fans of hearty hawker fare aren’t missing out either, as Hawkers’ Street, a 238-seater food court, has also opened in the mall.
It features a diverse mix of 12 stalls, including Michelin Bib Gourmand brands and household hawker names with rich heritage, all under one roof.
We can foresee most visitors flocking to the two Michelin Bib Gourmand awardees, the first being Tai Wah Pork Noodle.
Often considered the direct rival of Michelin-starred Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, the popular stall’s Signature Tai Wah Pork Noodle (S$9.90) boasts springy mee pok noodles with toppings like minced meat, liver, and sole fish, topped with lashings of lard oil, chilli, and vinegar.
The second, Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice is practically a housename name; the OG stall at Tiong Bahru Market pulls in both locals and tourists.
If you wanna have the best of both worlds, go for the Duo Chicken Rice (S$6.50), comprising steamed and roasted chicken with rice and a side of oyster sauce vegetables.
If you consider Koung’s Wan Tan Mee in as one of your top spots for wanton mee, you’re in luck, especially since they’ve got only one other outlet in Aljunied.
Head straight for their beloved old-school Wanton Noodle (S$5.90) — I personally think the dry version is superior — comprising springy egg noodles, succulent charcoal-roasted char siew, and handmade chilli sauce.
For a taste of tradition, head over to Pang’s Hakka Yong Tau Foo, yet another popular stall by by a pastry chef-turned-hawkerpreneur specialising in Hakka delicacies. Yes, this means you won’t need to travel to Yishun or Bukit Merah in order to enjoy their Signature Hakka YTF Noodle (S$7.80) and Pang’s Hakka Thunder Tea Rice (S$6.80).
The same goes for East-dwelling fans of Garden Street Kway Chap from Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre (their second outlet is in Bukit Panjang).
Those dining solo can indulge in the Kway Chap Set for 1 (S$6.50); it comes chock full of ingredients like pork belly, pig stomach, pig intestines, fried fishcake, egg, and tau pok. Pair it with a bowl of Kway Chap (rice sheets, from S$1) and slurp up all that comforting herbal broth.
Speaking of comfort food, Jiak Song Mee Hoon Kway by former MasterChef Asia finalist Aaron Wong may just be one of the most talked about mee hoon kway joints in town. You won’t go wrong with the Signature Mee Hoon Kway with Minced Pork, Pork Slices, Pork Ball and Shrimp Ball (S$6.30) that’s best enjoyed on a rainy day.
The remaining stalls are Nikmat Nasi Lemak, King of Fried Rice, Hill Street Hainanese Curry Rice, Old Teochew Satay Bee Hoon & Mee Siam, Hill Street Coffee Shop, and the halal-certified Fire Western ‘N’ Grill — plenty of options for all.
Which of these well-loved Hawkers’ Street stalls will you be ordering from first on your next visit to Tampines 1?
Hawkers’ Street @ Tampines 1
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📍 10 Tampines Central 1, #05-05/06/07, Singapore 529536
🕑 8.30am–10pm
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I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨