Best stalls run by young hawkers in Singapore
When I think of hawker centres, I imagine the noisy clatter of utensils, unbearable heat, and grumpy aunties and uncles whipping up plates of char kway teow. But like most Singaporeans, I associate the place with much fondness. It is somewhere I think of when I’m looking for affordable and delicious comfort food. Lately, more young hawkers are seen working day and night to keep our hawker culture vibrant, so here are 10 stalls run by young hawkers to show your support!
1. Ryotai
You have probably seen popular egg-over-rice dishes from Running Egg or Danlao appear on your feed at least once on social media platforms in 2024. Added to this list in 2025 is Ryotai, a hawker stall located at Guan Guan Kopitiam, just a 15-minute walk from Paya Lebar MRT Station. Run by three Malaysians in their 30s, the stall serves up a fun blend of Japanese omurice and Thai green curry.
Each omurice comes with a silky, smooth, and well-seasoned tornado egg. As for the green curry, you can expect chunks of boiled carrots and potatoes, which help to cut through the cream and grease. We recommend the Prawn Katsu Eggrice ($13.90), as the fried prawn boasts a nice crisp exterior and a sweet-savoury prawn paste on the inside.
Read our Ryotai review.
Address: 1015 Geylang East Avenue 3, Singapore 389730
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Tel: 9220 6166
Website
Ryotai is not a halal-certified eatery.
Ryotai Review: Thai-Japanese Green Curry Omurice Under $10 In Paya Lebar
2. Jiak Mee
Believe it or not, Jiak Mee was started by three then 20-year-old friends awaiting matriculation. Located right outside Junction 8 at Bishan Cafeteria, you can get classic mee hoon kueh, ban mian, you mian, and ee mian here.
The signature Dry Mee Hoon Kueh ($5.30) comes with mani cai, poached egg, minced meat, anchovies, shallots, and dark sauce doused over the noodles. Though the noodles may be slightly starchy for some, the juicy and generous minced meat gives you enough reason to grab a bowl for yourself. The Soup Ban Mian ($4.80) and Crispy Luncheon Meat ($6) are also must-tries here!
Read our Jiak Mee review.
Address: 514 Bishan Street 13, Singapore 570514
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 8:30pm
Website
Jiak Mee is not a halal-certified eatery
3. What The Puff!
Image credit: What The Puff!
What The Puff! is helmed by two siblings and their friend, with the founder being a SUSS undergrad who mans the stall all while pursuing a finance degree.
Image credit: @whatthepuffsg
Here, puffs are sold in traditional flavours such as Curry Chicken ($2), Sardine ($2), Black Pepper Chicken ($2.50), and Cheese Curry Puff ($2.50), and each pastry is baked to achieve a buttery yet non-greasy mouthfeel. If you’re in the area and craving a quick bite, their house-made puffs make for a delicious and affordable treat!
Address: 2 Changi Village Road, #01-52, Changi Village Hawker Centre, Singapore 500002
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 7:30am to 3:30pm
Website
What The Puff! is not a halal-certified eatery.
4. Ah Gong KKM
Image credit: Mart Lee
Ah Gong KKM needs no introduction. Gen Z hawker Fang Yu, a 23-year-old NUS student, chose the hawker life to pay homage to her ah gong, who used to cook her ke kou mian after a long day at school. After seeing overwhelming success at her first stall in Bras Basah in late 2024, she quickly moved to open a second stall in Tampines and a third in Punggol.
Image credit: @shifufoodcourt
Each item has a spicy and non-spicy variation. For non-spicy ke kou mian options, you can choose from Pork (from $4.80), Prawn (from $5.80), Clam (from $6.80), and Combo (from $7.50), the latter featuring a mixture of chewy pork balls, huge prawn pieces, and fresh clams. Do note that you have to pay an additional $0.70 for the spicy variation.
Website | Full list of outlets
Ah Gong KKM is not a halal-certified eatery.
5. Style Palate
Another Gen Z-owned hawker stall is Style Palate at Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre. Started by two ITE graduates, Style Palate serves up affordable European fusion dishes you rarely see at hawker centres.
A crowd-favourite is the Duck Confit ($12), a classic French dish featuring duck leg that’s slow-cooked till tender and paired with mashed potatoes. The Cold Umami Angelhair also gives you a bang for your buck; you get delicate angel hair pasta tossed in fragrant truffle oil and topped with a generous serving of tobiko for just $6—a price that’s hard to beat in this economy.
Check out our Style Palate feature.
Address: 202C Woodleigh Link, #01-30, Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre, Singapore 363202
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 11:30am to 9pm
Website
Style Palate is not a halal-certified eatery.
This New Hawker Stall Has Duck Confit And Truffle Pasta In Woodleigh
6. Liu Da Xia
Image credit: JK Ong
Right next to Style Palate is Liu Da Xia, a newly opened stall serving Singapore’s first white curry prawn noodles. The stall was founded by then 24-year-old Xiao Xuan, who happens to be the wife of one of Style Palate’s owners.
Image credit: @liuda.xia
What’s amazing about Liu Da Xia is its customisable menu. For mains, you can choose from the most affordable Signature Prawn Noodle ($4) to the priciest Premium Junbo Noodle ($15). Next, pick your soup base; the Original comes at no extra cost, while the Special White Curry Soup is available for an additional $0.50. Then, select your desired spice level, noodle type, and optional add-ons for an extra charge. Some add-ons include Abalone ($4.50 for two), Pork Lard ($0.50), and Scallop ($4 per piece).
Address: 202C Woodleigh Link, #01-31, Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre, Singapore 363202
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 9pm
Website
Liu Da Xia is not a halal-certified eatery.
7. M+ Fried Rice Paradise
Image credit: JK Ong
Just a few units from Style Palate and Liu Da Xia is M+ Fried Rice Paradise. Opened by 27-year-old owner Nurameera and her partner, the stall specialises in zi char-style fried rice with a fun twist: the dish is made using a machine that fries the rice with the press of a button, allowing the hawkers to whip up each plate with excellent consistency, all without breaking a sweat.
Image credit: Ming
Prices start at $3.20 for a classic Egg Fried Rice, $5.50 for the Salted Chicken Fried Rice served with a thick chicken cutlet and a side of sambal, and $8.30 for the Sakura Shrimp Fried Rice. Online reviews tout the fried chicken as crispy with a tender, juicy interior, so if you’re a fried chicken lover, add this to your list of to-visit eateries!
Address: 202C Woodleigh Link, #01-11, Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre, Singapore 363202
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 9:30am to 9:30pm
Website
M+ Fried Rice Paradise is a halal-certified eatery.
8. Nan Xiang Chicken Rice
Image credit: @nanxiang1986
If you can’t tell by now, Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre has many stalls owned by young entrepreneurs. Another one is Nan Xiang Chicken Rice run by Shaun, a 26-year-old who took over the business from his mother. Even with a marketing degree, Shaun realised the importance of continuing his mom’s legacy and made the bold decision to take up the baton.
Image credit: @nanxiang1986
Their signature Steamed Chicken Rice ($4.50) features smooth, silky meat, which is the hallmark of a good plate of chicken rice. If you’re not too big a fan of chicken rice, opt for the Shredded Chicken Porridge ($3.20), Chicken Cutlet Rice ($5.50), with side dishes such as Thai Style Beancurd ($4), Thai Style Chicken Cutlet ($3.80), or Beansprout ($3.80).
Address: 202C Woodleigh Link, #01-28, Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre, Singapore 363202
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 9:30am to 9:30pm
Website
M+ Fried Rice Paradise is a halal-certified eatery.
9. Yam Mee Teochew Fishball Noodles
For a hearty bowl of fishball noodles and laksa, visit Yam Mee Teochew Fishball Noodles. For the past three decades, the Tan family has been serving their signature fish ball noodles to loyal customers at 209 Kovan Hawker Centre. Regular patrons would be familiar with the elderly couple behind the stoves, as well as their daughter, Anthea Tan, who has been helping out at the stall for years.
Everything on the menu is sold at $5 for a regular or $6 for a large. Go straight for the Laksa, which comes with a choke-full of tau pok, bean sprouts, dried shrimps, fishcakes, and cockles. The laksa gravy has a thick consistency and carries a small kick of spice. The Curry Chicken Mee is also a popular choice among diners. The ingredients are similar to those of the laksa, but the broth is slightly spicier and has a gritty texture.
Read our Yam Mee Teochew Fishball Noodles feature.
Address: 209 Hougang Street 21, #01-35, Kovan Market & Food Centre, Singapore 530209
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 9pm
Yam Mee Teochew Fishball Noodles is not a halal-certified eatery.
This Third-Gen Stall Sells Hearty Laksa With Super Thick Gravy In Kovan
10. Jia Le Yong Tau Foo
Owner Pamela Low entered the hawker trade to spend time with her mother, who has been single-handedly running a dessert and yong tau foo stall for years. Despite having no prior experience in the food industry, the ex-banker derived great satisfaction in being able to lessen the burden on her mother and decided to further the business by opening her first stall, Jia Le Yong Tau Foo, in Woodlands.
Get the Happiness Bowl ($5) or the Fried Yuan Yang Yong ($6) for a satisfying mix of savoury yong tau foo and a variety of sauces. Each bowl offers a comforting yet affordable meal that reminds us of home-cooked meals, and the ingredients served also come in huge pieces, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth here.
Address: 676 Woodlands Drive 71, #02-04, Kampung Admiralty, Singapore 730676
Opening hours: Daily 9:30am to 9:30pm
Jie Le Yong Tau Foo is not a halal-certified eatery.
Guide to Gen Z hawker stalls in Singapore
Even with the increasing spotlight given to discussions of the dying hawker culture in Singapore, not many dare to step up as a hawker and brave the hardships that the job entails. The young hawkers listed in this article, however, have braced the wind and taken the step to do what most others of their age would consider impossible.
For more great hawker fare, check out our guide for the best hawker centres to bring your tourist friend to. Alternatively, check out our list of best old-school breakfast spots for charcoal-grilled kaya toast, putu mayam and more!
10 Best Singapore Hawker Centres Worth Taking Your Tourist Friend To
Feature image adapted from @nanxiang1986, @shifufoodcourt, @whatthepuffsg, and @liuda.xia
The post 10 Stalls By Young Hawkers For Japanese Omurice, Duck Confit And More appeared first on Eatbook.sg – Local Singapore Food Guide And Review Site.
