Lau Pa Sat

Considered a historic building, this market-turned-food-centre is a must-visit whenever you’re in the CBD area. Aside from its stunning architecture, this hawker centre is fully loaded with scrumptious local food. But unlike your typical hawker centre, each stall is clearly labeled with the specialty it serves, from North Indian to Vietnamese. Plus, it’s not just menus that are synonymous with Singapore’s national dishes, it includes other Asian cuisines and Western delights including a Costa Rican favourite, Mamacitas. Come night-time, the Boon Tat Street side of Lau Pa Sat makes way for satay, the perfect spot for after-work nosh.

TRY: There’s a reason why the queue stands long at Seng Kee Local Delights — customers swarm the stall for its hot-off-the-wok fried Hokkien prawn mee soaked in rich gravy for less than $5. Get a taste of Costa Rica with chicken or beef burrito, chicken or beef-filled chalupas, or arroz con mariscos or pollo at Mamacitas. For our Muslim friends, head over to Chicky Fun for halal Hainanese chicken rice, as well as authentic chicken char siew wanton noodles.