Experience
Eating at Singapore's Hawker Centres
Shared, affordable open-air food centres, and a practice on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
2020
UNESCO listing
123 markets and hawker centres
Centres
Tekka Centre, Little India
Good first stop
What it is
A UNESCO-listed way of eating
Hawker culture, the practice of shared, affordable open-air food centres, is on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, inscribed in 2020. Singapore's National Environment Agency runs 123 markets and hawker centres.
How to do it
Eat here before you book a restaurant
Eat at hawker centres rather than restaurants. Vegetarian stalls exist at many centres, though it varies stall by stall, so check before you order. Tekka Centre in Little India is the easiest start for South Indian food.
Questions
Frequently asked
Is hawker food suitable for vegetarians?
Vegetarian stalls exist at many hawker centres, but it varies stall by stall, so check before ordering. Tekka Centre in Little India is the easiest start for South Indian food.