11 best stalls at Yuhua Market & Hawker Centre that’ll drag you out of the malls
Jurong folks might have come across this sign on their bus commute through the Yuhua area. Yuhua Market & Hawker Centre lies just behind the building emblazoned with the name ‘YUHUA PLACE’. Even as the malls one station down have become a shopping haven of the West, this hawker centre remains popular among nearby residents for its affordable local eats.
To repent for having shunned it over the years, I decided it was high time to document the best stalls at Yuhua Market & Hawker Centre. Maybe you’ll be as surprised as I was to learn that it’s home to 3 Michelin award recipients.
1. Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice (#01-202)
It would be criminal not to mention Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice first. Outside of Tuesdays when the stall takes a break, a persistent queue stretches to the centre of the hawker centre, sometimes spilling over to the neighbouring row of stalls during lunch. Makes sense that they have a Michelin plate (freshly minted last year).
The extra effort to queue calls for a plate of Chicken Rice with extra rice and chicken (S$6). With rice that’s consistently fragrant and delightfully moist with flavour, depleting the chicken first is never a cause for concern.
To elevate the succulent chicken, dipping them in chilli or ginger sauce is a must. I find emptying the saucer directly on the chicken immensely satisfying. It’s worth noting they only serve steamed chicken here. If you’re not so much a fan of plain chicken rice, they also have Drumstick & Wing with Rice (S$6.80), a 2-fer that’s both affordable and filling. Bigger portions to be shared around are a Quarter Chicken at S$11, Half at S$15, and a Full Chicken costing S$30.
You might want to act fast as they are known to sell out before closing time.
Wed to Mon: 7am – 2pm
Closed on Tue
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2. Lai Heng Handmade Teochew Kueh (#01-218)
A top contender for longest queue, Lai Heng Handmade Teochew Kueh is another Michelin plate recipient at Yuhua Market & Food Centre — their third consecutive year at that. Run by a friendly couple with a number of helpers, who you can usually see hand-making kueh in bulk before lunchtime. Quite a spectacle to behold while you’re waiting in line.
Chap Chye, Ku Chye, and Soon Kueh all cost S$1.10 steamed while their pan-fried counterparts are S$1.20. My favourite here is the Png Kueh (S$1.40), which has flavourful rice enveloped by a beautiful soft skin that stretches satisfyingly with each bite.
The bits of shrimp and nuts contribute greatly in both texture and scent. Be sure to dip the kueh in black sweet sauce for extra depth and flavour. I would even argue that the kueh’s potential is not reached without at least one dunk in the sauce.
+65 9455 6341
Tue to Sun: 6.30 am – 2.30 pm
Closed on Mon
3. Hua Xing Bak Kut Teh (#01-171)
It’s practically impossible to ignore the constant activity as you pass by Hua Xing Bak Kut Teh. Bak Kut Teh has never done it for me, but older folk are undeniably big fans of the herbaceous broth and its accompanying platter.
Service is always incredibly efficient albeit slow at peak hours and the staff carry warm smiles throughout, which is quite impressive for how busy it gets. Their Rou Gu Cha (S$6) is skewed towards peppery, quite different from other herbal-y concoctions. Some favourites are the Xian Cai (S$3), which complements the soup well, along with their pristine intestines (S$6), which bring a wholly different texture.
Since the steamed fish stall adjacent opened, many patrons also order fish to pair with their big rou gu cha meals. Did I mention the stall is also on the Michelin list?
+65 9818 2588
Tue to Sun: 8.30am – 2pm
Closed on Mon
4. Ah Wei Jing Dian 阿伟经典小笼包拉面 (#01-220)
The first of my biased picks makes its appearance – Ah Wei Jing Dian. If there’s a dish I hardly ever tire of, it would be jiao zhi. While many prefer theirs in Dumplings Noodles (S$5), I like my Chinese dumplings served up in massive, unholy, unhealthy quantities.
Ah Wei Jing Dian makes it ridiculously simple with the consistent quality of their Pan-fried Dumplings (S$7.50) at 10 per plate. My proudest achievement of gluttony (I kid you not) was guzzling 30 whole dumplings.
While I used to prefer the Steamed Dumplings (10 for S$6.50), the crispy skirt achieved when they are pan-fried has converted me into an enjoyer of guo tie. I have no other stall but Ah Wei Jing Dian to thank for that.
Dipped in their vinegar alongside some properly cut ginger, the sour elements are swirled with the subtle sweet pork stuffing to produce multiple heavenly bite-sized parcels of perfection.
They also make Xiao Long Bao or Steamed Mini Buns (S$6 for 7pcs), which tickle my fancy on occasion. Noodle lovers have Sour & Spicy Noodles (S$4) and Szechuan Spicy Noodles ($5) as well.
Thu to Sun: 9.30am – 8.30pm
Closed Mon to Wed
5. Jing Jing (#01-208)
Everyone and their mother knows at least one famous carrot cake place, so I was hesitant to include Jing Jing. Not because it’s been reviewed to hell and back, but rather how under the radar the stall has remained despite their quality. Really, it just proves how saturated the good carrot cake hawker scene is (which is a good thing).
If we’re talking queue lengths, Jing Jing draws in a crowd disproportionate to its renown.
I never hesitate to order the biggest serving of Black Carrot Cake (S$3/S$4/S$5/S$6), and their White Carrot Cake shares the same price structure. The distinctly crisp wok hei’ed bits are to die for, especially with sweet soya sauce bolstering the smokiness.
Jing Jing Carrot Cake separates their chai poh from the cooking process, adding them right before the carrot cake is served. This means you get to portion those sweet and savoury treasures of your own accord.
They also tout their signature dish, Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee (S$4/S$5).
I’m unsure if this would count as a gate-kept spot but it’s definitely one stall not many staying outside of Yuhua would be privy to.
Thu to Tue: 6am – 4pm
Closed on Wed
6. Guang Tai Lor Mee (#01-189)
Supposedly one of the oldest hawker stalls at Yuhua Market & Food Centre, Guang Tai Lor Mee made its debut alongside the hawker centre’s opening in the 1980s. It’s been over 36 years!
I heard from a bunch of older chaps that they used to sell all sorts of noodle dishes but have gradually streamlined to just lor mee. There were 2 friendly aunties running the place and I was told the third usually returns home after cooking is done for the day (apparently under the weather of late).
Their gravy may seem jelak, but it’s much runnier than it looks. I opted to have bee hoon Lor Mee (S$4) for a change of pace and it worked well at coalescing the thicker gravy between its thin strands. The overly generous noodle portions meant I had to sift through the noodles in search of ngoh hiang and meat that had been buried.
Definitely go for their chilli and vinegar condiments as the gravy is given a whole other dimension to tinker with your taste buds. Since the only variation is in choice of noodles (between kway teow, bee hoon or yellow noodles), Guang Tai Lor Mee is a good pick for the indecisive.
Tue to Sun: 6.30am – 1.30pm
Closed on Mon
7. Chao Yang Teochew Porridge (#01-173)
Chao Yang Teochew Porridge is a cai fan or economy rice stall that sees long queues made up of mostly the elderly. It’s conveniently situated right beside Hua Xing Bak Kut Teh, which has made the 3-stall space a hotspot for senior citizens to share large meals.
The 2 other cai fan places at Yuhua Market & Food Centre don’t receive quite the same patronage, although I am a frequent patron of 1 in particular (Wellcome Food).
My bowl of porridge and accompanying plate of ingredients cost only S$3.20, quite possibly making this the most value-for-money stall at Yuhua Market & Food Centre. The suppressed flavours are specifically catered to older palates, and I can confirm. Still, the meal was enjoyable and anyone on a budget would have no trouble filling their stomach.
Their (mostly) definitive price list is as follows: 3 Veg (S$2.40++), 1 Meat 2 Veg (S$2.90++), 2 Meat 1 Veg (S$3.50++), and 2 Meat 2 Veg (S$3.90++) with rice.
Daily: 9am – 8pm
8. Chong Jia Food (#01-226)
Chong Jia Food is a relatively new face in the sea of familiar, more traditional stallfronts. I won’t lie, the stall being at the furthest corner of the hawker centre has kept it beyond my line of sight for a good 2 years. And what a shame, because their simple Taiwanese fare caught me completely by surprise — in a good way.
The jovial auntie recommended Signature Minced Pork Rice (S$5.50), which is served with pretty big portions of minced meat and peanuts alongside a bowl of soup. This is quite a steal compared to other more acclaimed Taiwanese establishments that charge a premium.
The tender minced pork has the sweet-savoury profile that makes Taiwanese lu rou fan and rou zhao fan so damn addictive. If you opt for Signature Minced or Braised Pork Noodle, they cost S$5.50 as well.
Their Taiwanese Salt & Pepper Chicken (S$5.50) was a tad bit too salty for me but hey, it’s in the name. Overall, I found myself unexpectedly falling in love with the food here.
They also run another outlet at Pasir Panjang Food Centre.
Mon to Fri: 9am – 6pm
Sun: 9am – 2pm
Closed on Sat
9. Mohd Niyaas Muslim Food (#01-191)
Mohd Niyaas Muslim Food has been an enduring part of Yuhua Market & Hawker Centre, and of my childhood, since 2002. I basically grew up having their prata for breakfast (when permitted), though that routine has long ceased. The current owner took over his father in 2007 and the third generation is primed to help out in the coming years.
I had a Plain Prata (S$1.20) and Egg Prata (S$1.20) to relive those ‘massive’ indulgences, as well as a bowl of beef curry that I avoided when I was younger. Flaky on the initial chew and doughy enough to meld with the deeply savoury curry, both pratas didn’t last long.
I’m already intent on trying their Cheese Prata (S$2.50), Honey Prata (S$1.80), Masala Thosai (S$2.50) and Ghee Thosai (S$1.80) next time.
Their menu also offers Muslim-friendly staples like Nasi Briyani (S$4.50), Mee Goreng (S$3.50), and Mee Kua/Rebus (S$4).
Tue to Fri: 5.30am – 10.30am
Sat & Sun: 5.30am – 11.30am
Closed on Mon
10. Stall #01-176 (#01-176)
The pioneer generation couple that runs Yuhua Market & Food Centre’s only hot and cold dessert joint is adamant about not attaching a name to their stall. It’s been that way for over 20 years and even suppliers just refer to them by their stall number – #01-176.
We already know Ice Kacang (S$1.80) and Chendol (S$1.80) are the most common picks, so I asked what else younger customers leaned towards. According to the stall owner, it’s the Red Tea Pudding Longan (S$2.70). The longan’s light sour notes always make good additions to these shaved ice desserts, especially since ours wasn’t so syrup-ed up to be saccharine.
It was our lucky day as they were also selling Tang Yuan (S$3) – which only happens on specific dates each year. The warm globules were remarkably soft and readily yielded to reveal black sesame and peanut fillings.
If you’re looking for a refreshing beverage, #01-176 sells Lychee drink (S$1.80) and Longan drink (S$1.80), as well as Soursop juice (S$2.70).
Thu to Mon: 6.30am – 6pm
Closed on Tue & Wed
11. Mala Hot Pot (#01-190)
When every stall has shuttered for the day and you’re scrambling to devise a dinner plan, mala can be a great contingency. It certainly doesn’t make the healthiest meal, but that applies to most things you’ll be eating at that hour anyway.
Mala Hot Pot has your typical spread of ingredients ranging from healthy picks like cabbage, beansprouts, enoki mushrooms and lotus roots to processed favourites such as imitation crab, sausages and cheese tofu.
Like most mala places, they charge by weight; vegetables at S$1.20/100g, meat at S$3/100g, beans and mushrooms at S$2.20/100g and seafood at S$3.50/100g – with a minimum spending of S$5. Spice levels are also the standard affair from no spice, mild spicy, medium spicy to super spicy.
Sichuan dishes like Potato Floss (S$6), Mapo Tofu (S$6), and Sauerkraut Fish Soup (S$8.50) are also prepared at the stall.
Tue to Sun: 11am – 9.20pm
Closed on Mon
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