Felt a little uncomfortable at first due to the wet and dirty look of the place, but then I realize this is just how south east Asia is. I absolutely loved all the food I tried from Hainan chicken rice to fish ball soup with very affordable prices. Everyone including the fellow diners were super nice and were constantly helping me out since I basically had noob written on my face. I highly recommend this place!

If you're over in Chinatown Singapore to perhaps visit the Chinatown Street Market don't forget to walk across the street and up the block to Maxwell Food Centre! It's a marvelous hawker centre full of so many good options. We grabbed some black truffle soup dumplings at one vendor, a wonderful tamarind juice drink at another, some noodles at another and on and on. Truly a wonderful and delicious journey through all the hawkers tasting this and that as you move through. An absolute must try.

We spent a day and a half in Singapore last month, and one of the only things on my to-do list was to eat at a hawker centre. Maxwell Food Centre is an iconic one, and as it was also right by a train station a short walk from our hotel, we ended up both eating there and passing by it several times during our 36-hour trip. There were over a hundred stalls running up and down both sides of a couple of long corridors. Most of the stalls were closed when we first dropped in, around 9 on a Saturday morning, but there were plenty of people there getting breakfast. Tons of fancy unlocked bikes in front, a novel sight for a couple of American tourists. We left for a few hours to see Gardens by the Bay and came back hungry for lunch. The place was packed, crowded and lively with what seemed like a mix of locals and tourists. We hit Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice, Old Nyonya, and Fu Shun Roasted Meat Specialists, as well as K3 Cafe for a couple of cold cans of Tiger Beer. There were lines for the chicken rice and the duck rice at Fu Shun, but Old Nyonya, where I got a bowl of laksa, was wide open. All the food was cheap and delicious, like $5-6 an item in Singapore dollars. We paid in cash, which we were able to get out of an ATM. It seems like most of the vendors take cash or payment through an app, but not credit cards. Seating was a free-for-all, mildly stressful but part of the experience. There were lots of tables, all communal, with most seats full most of the time. Turnover was constant, though, with customers sitting down just as long as it took to eat a plate or two (there were exceptions, of course, but they were highly visible norm breakers). I sat at two different tables with different sets of people, and it was all kind of fun and congenial. When we were done with our food, we returned our trays, bowls, etc. to a central area, as we were legally bound to do ("No Table Littering By Law," per a prominently posted sign). We ate well, but we barely scratched the surface of this place. I get the sense that I could eat at Maxwell Food Centre every day for a year and never run out of new things to try. I hope to come back one day, to return to the stalls I loved and visit several more.

Maxwell is one of my favorite food centers. They have so many fantastic hawker style choices including chicken rice, steamed fish, royal, and craft beers and not just that but they are one of the few food centers with a substantial amount of stalls still open at night. If you find yourself too warm, definitely time to grab that ice cold lime juice from one of the many stalls!

Great selection. Seating can be tricky, but worth the hassle. Train line nearby. The scene is ridiculously subversive. Lots of people, handle yourself they're here for the same reason why you're here. Bring cash for convince and an empty stomach. Lots to choose from. Doesn't disappoint.

This market is amazing. We've been here nearly every day since we arrived in Singapore and haven't been to the same stall twice. I know there are lots of other Hawker markets to explore, but this one is so diverse and so close, it's hard to find a reason to go elsewhere! Note for folks traveling from internationally. Most stalls don't take credit cards so be sure to bring cash. Some of them will take QR code payments but there isn't WiFi at the market so cash is your best bet.

I'm happy that CRA brought so much spotlight to Newton Food Centre... but I'm all about Maxwell! Hawker centers are a way of life here in Singapore and Maxwell is super pack! And good reasons for it! Like so many yummy treats here... (yes, we did compare the food to Newton!). Service equates to - queue up, getting your food, move aside and wait for food! lol. We tried the famous Tian Tian Chicken! Longest line... but moves quickly. Chicken rice was excellent... but honestly feels a little over hyped... I think the version we have in nyc at the Urban space is just as delicious. I also tried another spot... and for sure it's not good (the rice was hard! And chicken was dry!). We also tried Laksa - this one was quite yummy! Very flavorful and mild kick! Mmm.... If only we weren't dripping in sweat... We also got stir fry noodles and Chendol! The shaved ice was a great melt down to close out our lunch.... (But the guy used his glove less hand to shape the ice... I wasn't very happy to see that... he noticed it... and just shrugged... ugh that's why I bring pepto with me...) for sure - get the sugar cane drink w lemon! Overall, this is a must hit. We enjoyed every stall (except the Heng Heng Chicken Rice shop... that one sucks). We definitely prefer Maxwell over Newton! #yelpeats #travelfoodlog #singapore

5 stars! Definitely worth the trip here if you are visiting Singapore! It houses the incredibly famous Tian Tian Hainan chicken stall featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. Trust Anthony and his impeccable taste by ordering the large portion and pairing it was the super tasty ginger spicy sauce! Also, within the same hawker center, is the the roast pig and cha siu rice combo that is located the next 2 rows over. I don't know what it is called because the name is in Chinese...just look for the glass display filled with roast duck, pork, and cha siu and that infamous line! Any stall with a line is worth getting into! If you don't know, ask the locals because they are all serious about their food and know what's good. Keep in mind though, this is an outdoor est

With over a hundred stalls, what should you choose? Teh (tea). Kopi (local coffee). Curries. Porridge. Red bean-filled fritters. Soup. But in the end, it comes back to just one main choice... Who makes the best Hainanese Chicken Rice? Do you go for the Michelin stars and the mile long que? Or do you hit the local favorite that is literally two booths down? Or both? Tian Tian or Ah Tai. Too full from breakfast to order two, so went with a choice from Jando. That was my Houston Yelp CM's top recommendation which was echoed by our Indie Singapore tour guide. Ah Tia Hainanese Chicken Rice was so delicious. Moist poached chicken. Rice flavored with chicken broth. Savory thick soy sauce. Vinegared chili...and a bowl of warm chicken broth. Bring cash. Each meal is about $5 USD. So delicious. Hawker markets trace their roots to the early 1800s in Singapore. During that time, street vendors known as hawkers sold their tasty dishes as they travelled from street to street. Over time, the hawker system became organized into more regulated booths. Today, the hawker centers are a great way to enjoy a delicious meal for a reasonable price. In fact, Singapore's hawker centers received an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity designation in 2020. So, definitely visit the Maxwell Food Centre in Singapore. Grab a table. Bring cash. Order a delicious meal...and make sure to clean your table. If not, you may get a hefty fine.