Must-Try Foods In Chinatown Street Market (Smith Street) (Chinatown Singapore) For Tourists 2026 - 2027

Food History of Chinatown Street Market (Smith Street), Chinatown Singapore, Singapore

The Chinatown Street Market on Smith Street, also colloquially known as Food Street in Chinatown, is a vibrant and historical location, rich with culinary traditions that reflect Singapore’s multi-ethnic society. The intersection of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and other cultures has turned this place into a gastronomic wonderland. The food here is a testament to the area’s history as an enclave for early Chinese immigrants, who brought their cuisophilic heritage and fused it with the spices and techniques of Southeast Asia. Over the years, hawker stalls and small eateries have become a cornerstone of this bustling district, serving generations of locals and tourists alike with authentic and delectable street food.

Must-Try Top 10 Food Dishes in Chinatown Street Market (Smith Street) for Tourists

1. Hainanese Chicken Rice (Non-Veg): A quintessential Singaporean dish, it consists of poached chicken and seasoned rice, served with chili sauce, ginger paste, and dark soy sauce.
2. Char Kway Teow (Non-Veg): This stir-fried noodle dish combines flat rice noodles with eggs, prawns, and Chinese sausage in a savory sauce.
3. Chilli Crab (Non-Veg): A renowned Singaporean seafood dish, the crab is cooked in a thick, sweet, and spicy tomato-based sauce.
4. Laksa (Non-Veg): A spicy noodle soup that includes coconut milk, curry soup base, noodles, and usually comes with shrimp or fishcake.
5. Satay (Non-Veg): Grilled skewered meat, often chicken or lamb, served with a side of peanut sauce for dipping.
6. Popiah (Veg/Non-Veg option available): A soft, thin pancake filled with stewed turnip, fried tofu, peanut, and sweet bean sauce.
7. Rojak (Veg): A traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish mixed with a tangy tamarind sauce, peanuts, and lime.
8. Fish Head Curry (Non-Veg): A spicy curry dish where the head of a red snapper is semi-stewed in Kerala-style curry with assorted vegetables.
9. Bak Kut Teh (Non-Veg): A herbal soup dish consisting of pork ribs simmered in a complex broth of herbs and spices.
10. Vegetarian Bee Hoon (Veg): Stir-fried rice vermicelli with various vegetarian ingredients like mock meats, tofu, and vegetables.

Top Famous Restaurants in Chinatown Street Market (Smith Street), Chinatown Singapore, Singapore

Chinatown Complex

335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335
The largest hawker centre in the area offering a diverse range of food options like Hainanese Chicken Rice (Non-Veg).

Maxwell Food Centre

1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184
Famous for its authentic local hawker delights including Char Kway Teow (Non-Veg).

Tong Heng Delicacies

285 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058833
A traditional pastry shop known for its Egg Tarts (Veg).

Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle

78 Smith Street, Singapore 059872
This Michelin-starred hawker stall is famed for its Soya Sauce Chicken Rice (Non-Veg).

Ananda Bhavan

95 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207671
One of the oldest Indian vegetarian restaurants in Singapore, offering a variety of Vegetarian Dishes.