main image credit: Zhen Shan Mei Depot Road Claypot Laksa
The hawker centre culture of Singapore is well known. For non-locals though, familiar options are often difficult to find.
If you do not wish to eat local food, but still want to enjoy the buzz of a hawker-centre, try Alexandra Village Food Centre. Across the road from IKEA, the sprawling food market is popular for its Hainanese Chicken Rice. But we discovered a few more hidden gems. Our top picks of what to eat here:
3 Thai Angels
There are two outlets right in the beginning of the hawker centre that serve Thai food, each as good as the other. However, you may find this one attracting greater crowds. The green curry is excellent and a portion good enough for two. There are plenty of other options on the menu including a whole steamed fish, popular basil minced chicken, prawn cakes, etc.
Biryani Box
Other hawker centres in the city serve the Malay/ Indonesian version of biryani. Historically, this rice dish travelled from the Middle-East to India first, before it reached South-East Asia. India has many types of Biryani, the most flavourful of which is known as Dum Biryani from Lucknow, which is slow cooked in a clay pot covered with dough. Recently opened, Biryani Box is run by two young men driven by passion, who work in MNCs on weekdays and serve authentic biryani on weekends. Try the mutton biryani made with basmati rice.
Auguste Western Food Set Meal
In the mood for some crunchy deep-fried grub? The fish cutlet served at this outlet is pretty good and served with a generous portion of fries. You could also choose fried chicken from the menu, if you prefer. Or good ol’ fish and chips.
Shanghai La Mian Xiao Long Bao
Move over Din Tai Fung, there’s a new king in town. If you are a regular at the popular Taiwanese dimsum house, you will absolutely love the dumplings here. This lesser-known gem serves xiao long bao (soup dumplings) that rival the acclaimed ones at Din Tai Fung. If your spice tolerance is relatively high, you must also try the wontons in chilli oil. Encased in silky skin, the wontons are juicy, spicy and dangerously addictive. The lines can be long though. When it comes to good food, word travels fast.
Mr.Avocado Exotic Juice
A speciality of this food centre, there are multiple stalls that sell avocado juice. Mr.Avocado claims to be the original and has newspaper clippings that speak of its 20-year history. This unique drink is a blend of fresh avocado, evaporated milk and fresh milk and is sold at merely $2.50 for a large mug.
Zhen Shan Mei Depot Road Claypot Laksa
Ok, this does count for local food, but who can resist a Laksa every now and then? Zhen Shan Mei Depot Road Claypot Laksa is well known throughout the city for its unique take on Laksa, often touted as the undisputed King of Laksa. Its Depot Road outlet featured on the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand list and word has it that the present owners of this stall bought the recipe from them. The laksa is slow cooked over two hours, which results in a thicker gravy than usual and is served in a claypot which keeps it warm (besides being Instagram-friendly).
