Ah, Maxwell Food Centre. Itās the haven for all white-collar folks in Singaporeās central business district area, which sits in between the train stations of Outram Park and Raffles Place.
In 2022, Maxwell received its first-ever namesake train station, making the trip easier for those tourists and locals looking to feast on some hawker fare. Of course, such a popular food centre also means huge crowds for old-fashioned hawker food.
Whatever time you decide to descend upon its grounds, thereās no doubt itās full of must-try food. Instead of highlighting the popular stalls, weāve decided to showcase the different cuisines available, giving you different ways to diversify your options with some of the best local food on this island.
1. Indonesian
Maxwell Food Centre and āchicken riceā are usually uttered in the same breath. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice has grown to be a steady behemoth in the hawker centre for its adherence to delicate taste, texture, and customer satisfaction. But what if we told you that Maxwell offers delicious chicken rice that isnāt from Tian Tian or any of its equally talented competitors?
One glance at Alimamaās stall may induce a slight whiplash, for the signature dishes below its name on the signboard introduce both green chilli chicken rice andā¦ prawn noodles? Sure, seeing a hawker handle two very different dishes wouldnāt inspire confidence in the regular hawker centre patron. But trust us when we say Alimama whips up a storm in both offerings. Here, weāll focus on its chicken rice dish, which moves it away from Hainan tradition and into Indonesian fare.
Alimamaās green chilli chicken rice (S$7.50) is most reminiscent of the classic ayam bakarāexcept that instead of chicken thatās grilled to barbecued perfection, the piece of chicken is lovingly deep-fried, ayam penyet-style. Add a dollop of Alimamaās famous green chilli, along with a side of fried tofu and a hard-boiled egg, and youāll find a unique take on chicken rice that feels effortlessly Indonesian.
Another Indonesian dish offered at Maxwell is soto ayam, a classic bowl of comforting chicken noodle soup that is well-loved by many people. The Green Leaf sells each bowl filled to the brim with thick cuts of rice cakes and chunks of fried chicken at a low cost of S$3.50. They're serving up good local food from Indonesia at wallet-friendly prices! Actually, all their dishes are incredibly affordable as prices are kept below S$5 here. Come in the morning, and youāll be sure to see all the nearby office workers getting their breakfast fix.
Alimama Green Chilli Chicken Rice & Prawn Noodle
Unit number: #01-09
Opening hours: 11:00am to 8:30pm
The Green Leaf
Unit number: #01-100
Opening hours: Monday to Friday ā 7:00am to 8:00pm
2. Chinese
In Singapore, itās common to find Chinese dishes at any hawker centreāthink the likes of zi char, fish soup, or even cai fan (rice with veggie or meat dishes that one chooses) that makes every Singaporeanās tummy full and happy during a workday lunch. We could attempt to list all of them, but because of the sheer number of Chinese food stalls here, you might be reading this piece till morning, so weāll only talk about our favourites.
At Maxwell, what stands out is its selection of traditional delicacies that vary from snacks to full plates. Some of the unique offerings that consistently draw queues are Zhen Zhen Porridgeās Cantonese-styled bowls of thick, creamy porridge (S$4-5), Maxwell Fuzhouās delectable oyster cakes (S$2.50), and the dough fritters of China Street Hum Jin Pang (S$1 for six pieces).
Thereās also the newish kid on the block, Danlao, which gives the familiar chicken cutlet rice (S$6) a new twist with a bed of soft, Hong Kong-styled scrambled eggs. Every Singaporean knows the winning formula to good local food is super simpleājust egg and soy sauce on a bed of white rice, and Danlaoās already got that base down pat. Take it from us: Donāt skimp on their chilli.
Zhen Zhen Porridge
Unit number: #01-52
Opening hours: Friday to Monday and Wednesday ā 5:30am to 2:00pm
Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake
Unit number: #01-05
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday ā 9:00am to 8:00pm
China Street Hum Jin Pang
Unit number: #01-28
Opening hours: 3:00pm to 8:00pm
Danlao
Unit number: #01-73
Opening hours: 11:00am to 8:30pm
3. Indian
While weāll be talking about Indian food, the stall Mr Appam is interestingly run by not a grizzled Indian food veteran but a Vietnamese woman. Mr Appam gets its appeal with its homely name and a straightforward menu item: the humble appam, a fluffy, fermented pancake usually served with a sweet or savoury side.
Here, Mr Appam offers several flavourful twists on the snack: you can eat appam with chocolate sauce (S$3.30), banana (S$3.30), peanut sugar (S$2.80), durian (S$4.00), ham and cheese (S$3.30), or even ice cream (S$3.30)! Its trademark has to be the princess appam (S$3.30), which marries a sunny-side-up egg with melted cheese, butter and brown sugar. A royal delight!
Itās interesting to note that Singapore has a larger population of South Indians and Indian Muslims than North Indians, thus, most Indian food stalls in Singapore are catered towards the Indian Muslims like biryani and fish dhal.
One where you can tuck into such familiar mamak dishes like prata (S$1.20) and mee goreng (S$5) at Hajmeer Kwaja Muslim Food, which serves up delicious halal food. Sometimes simplicity is best, and thatās crispy, fluffy, chewy, freshly made prata served with mutton curry. If youāre with a group of friends (or with an appetite that can rival a party), theyāve also got hearty servings of mutton chops (S$8) and mutton steaks (S$8) to gorge yourself silly on. The resulting food coma is worth it.
Mr Appam
Unit number: #01-99
Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday ā 8:00am to 8:00pm, Tuesday ā 9:30am to 6:30pm
Hajmeer Kwaja Muslim Food
Unit number: #01-103
Opening hours: 9:00am to 10:00pm
4. Peranakan
Itās not as common to find Peranakan food at hawker centres, which makes Old Nyonya all the more special with its operations at Maxwell.
While Maxwell Food Centre has only been around since 1987 (it was just a regular market prior), Old Nyonya sports a proud sign saying itās famous since 1960. So you can rest assured that thereās legacy and authenticity in spades here.
Its menu is homely and accessible: here, you can find familiar dishes like curry chicken, mee rebus, lontong and laksa. Aside from special dishes, these items are acclaimed for their rich flavours and thick portions.
Now, of course, youād want to know what else keeps people coming back for more from Old Nyonya all these years. This can be accredited to both its Rendang Chicken Rice (S$7) and Royal Laska (S$12), the latter of which includes Lobsters and Scallops. For Old Nyonya, itās a simple recipe for an exceptional lunch: come early and come (very) hungry.
Old Nyonya
Unit number: #01-04
Opening hours: Thursday to Tuesday ā 11:00am to 8:30pm
5. Thai
A familiar sight around these parts, and really, across the island, is the vibrant array of Asian food, with Thai cuisine being a particular favourite. At Maxwell, you can find a store with a bright signboard and a menu that shines forth, no matter the size of its wandering crowd.
Sisaket Thai Food is its name, and affordable Thai food is its game. Here, familiar delights like seafood tom yum soup, pad thai, and mango salad will make you feel like youāre amidst the thick smoke and chatter of Golden Mile Complex (RIP).
According to the famous food blog Miss Tam Chiak, the stall was opened back in 2014 by Ms Viparat Saibua. Ms Saibua first stepped onto our shores in the 2000s, later perfecting her craft at an Orchard Road food court before establishing Sisaket Thai Food. You canāt go wrong with a Tom Yum Noodle Soup (S$6) or Green Curry Chicken (S$6), but if youāve got a party with you, then youād definitely have to get the Old Town Recipe Fried Seabass (S$19) to indulge in.
Like many Maxwell stalls, Sisaket gets busy during lunchtime, but Ms Saibuaās casual demeanour and approachable service make the wait that much easier before the food satisfies your tummy.
Sisaket Thai Food
Unit number: #01-85
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday ā 10:30am to 7:00pm
Maxwell Food Centre may seem intimidating from the outside, with its fair share of long queues and curious tourists checking out every stall. But we hope this guide shows just the stunning variety thatās under one roofāa variety that awaits you with every visit. Just plan accordingly, let your heart soar and your tummy roar!
Still hungry for more foodie adventures? We've got you covered!
Check out our guides on "Fusion of Flavours: Fascinating stories behind some of Singapore's most popular dishes" and "Midnight cravings: Top late-night food haunts in Singapore" to satisfy your curiosity and conquer those late-night hunger pangs.
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