Kampong Admiralty Hawker Centre: 9 Food Stalls to Try

I’d come to Kampong Admiralty Hawker Centre early for a S$3 plate of nasi lemak, then return at lunch for seafood pao fan with crispy rice and fried egg floss. And if I’d already had my fill of rice and noodles that week? A chicken kebab with a heap of salad would do nicely. Here are nine stalls I’d keep in mind the next time I’m in Admiralty.

01. Fu Xing Economic Bee Hoon Nasi Lemak

The hardest part here is deciding between nasi lemak and fried bee hoon. At S$3 a set, I’d happily alternate between the two. My favourite bit is the chicken wing, especially the crisp skin around the edges. The queue can stretch on weekends, so I’d make this my first stop if I were here for breakfast.

Signature dishes | Fried bee hoon and nasi lemak
Operating hours | 6am–2pm, closed on Thursdays

02. Ai Xing Fu Zhou Oyster Cake · #02-29

This is the stall I’d swing by when I have room for one more bite. Ai Xing makes its Fuzhou oyster cakes by hand and also sells a prawn version, both at S$3.50 each. If I were sharing, I’d get one of each and split them. It’s a good excuse to try both fillings in one visit.

Signature dish | Fuzhou oyster cake
Operating hours | 10am–9pm, closed on Mondays

03. Meng Ji Noodle House · #02-06

The chilli on the dry wanton mee had just enough kick to keep me going back for another forkful. The char siew was lean and a touch dry for my liking, so I found myself reaching for the soup between bites. That turned out to be the best part of the meal. The broth had plenty of flavour, and the wantons held a generous amount of meat.

Signature dish | Wanton mee
Operating hours | 6.30am–8.30pm, closed on Mondays

04. Jia Le Yong Tau Foo · #02-04

I always look at how much fish paste goes into my yong tau foo, and Jia Le was generous with it. The pieces were substantial enough to give each bite some heft, and the seasoning was savoury with the salt kept in check. Given the size of the pieces, I thought the price was fair.

Signature dish | Yong tau foo
Operating hours | 9.30am–9.30pm daily

05. Lobster King Pao Fan & Ramen · #02-38

I went for the Prawn and Fish Paste King Pao Fan (S$6.80). The broth had a deep seafood flavour, and my favourite spoonful was the first one after tipping in the crispy rice and fried egg floss. Both still had crunch at that point. A few minutes later, they’d soaked up the broth, and I was fishing out the last bits with my spoon.

Signature dish | Pao fan
Operating hours | Mon–Fri 9.30am–9.30pm, Sat–Sun 9.30am–9.30pm

06. Gong Fu Yuan Vegetarian · #02-01

I keep going back for the vegetarian ban mian soup, mainly for the broth. It has a distinct herbal fragrance, and I usually take a sip before getting to the noodles. It’s the bowl I’d pick on a rainy afternoon, though I’d go early on weekends since the stall closes at 2.30pm.

Signature dish | Vegetarian ban mian soup
Operating hours | Mon–Fri 6.30am–8.30pm, Sat–Sun 6.30am–2.30pm

07. Saamsudeen · #02-43

I liked that the freshly made egg prata had egg right through to the edges. Even the last corner I tore off had some, which is exactly how I want my egg prata. The fish curry was fragrant and milder than I usually go for. I gave each piece a proper dunk and ended up finishing most of the curry anyway.

Signature dish | Prata
Operating hours | Mon–Fri 6am–7pm, Sat–Sun 6am–4pm

08. Xi Wang Bak Kut Teh · #02-19

At S$6, I got plenty of soup and a good helping of pork. The clear broth had that old-school peppery aroma and a gentle sweetness at the end. The chilli padi brought the sharper heat, so I’d add it a little at a time. The pork had some chew and a few fattier pieces that had taken on the broth’s flavour. I did come across small bone fragments, so this is a bowl I’d eat slowly. The owner was friendly, too.

Signature dish | Bak kut teh
Operating hours | 11am–10pm, closed on Mondays

09. Taibah · #02-36

For S$7, my chicken kebab with salad came with a generous pile of chicken and enough greens to hold their own on the plate. I went with the staff’s recommendation and could see myself ordering it again after a workout. It’s a satisfying lunch when I want something with plenty of protein and a big serving of salad.