Not Your Usual Hawkers: 10 Trendy food courts & hawker centres in Singapore

Lim Han 01 Jun 2018 updated the 4 June 2018 à 15:41

1/10
Pasarbella
With a name that translates into "market" in Italian, Pasarbella is certainly not your typical food centre. This hip establishment founded on a food court concept has a ton of diverse stalls up its sleeves. You've got wholesome foods for the health freaks and decadent fare for those who aren't. Most importantly, they all come from various cuisines to please every palate. Get messy with the lip-smacking tacos from The Lime Truck, ranging in flavours from Slow Braised Pork Belly to Grilled Barramundi. For a healthier option, Pimp My Salad will leave your head in a whirl with its overwhelming variety of toppings.

#01-455-461 North Wing, Suntec City, 3 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038983

Photo: @yongweikai
2/10
Five Square
Is it a bar? A lounge? Or a food court? Well, it's all of them rolled into one. Boasting of three concepts, Five Square houses The Bar, The Recess, and most importantly, The Bazaar. Whether you're craving for Vietnamese, Japanese or Western, this snazzy dining establishment has got your back. Settle down with the Pulled Pork Senate Bowl from Senate for a healthy indulgence or dive right into the Kaisen Don from Teppei Syokudo that's slathered in thick chunks of smooth sashimi.

1 Pickering St, #01-03 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659

Photo: Five Square Facebook
3/10
Yishun Park Hawker Centre
Yishun is certainly tearing down its reputation as the "ghetto of Singapore" with their spanking new Yishun Park Hawker Centre. This sophisticated hawker shelters a wide selection of delectable food, some with a modern twist. The Hakka Tofu Rice Bowl from Ah Lock Tofu is a case in point. This groundbreaking creation fuses elements from Yong Tau Foo and Thunder Tea Rice together, all founded on a donburi concept. If that isn't rad to you, we don't know what is. If you're feeling peckish, hit up Munchi for mouthwatering min chiang kuehs that come in a customisable array of flavours!

51 Yishun Avenue 11, Singapore, 768867

Photo: @yappei
4/10
The Bedok Marketplace
Tucked away in the foodie hotspot of Simpang Bedok, The Bedok Marketplace sure stands out with its modern hipster look. This well-furbished establishment with a hawker concept has made a name for itself with its line-up of unassuming but incredible hawker stalls. If you're craving for pizza, why not try the sourdough pizza creations from Mr Kneady's? Not only do they make their own sourdough, their bread is all-natural and brags of a soft chewy texture. For a luxurious dinner, The Burning Oak will do you no wrong with their Wagyu Beef Rump Cap and Iberico Pork Cheeks that have been grilled to succulent perfection.

348 Bedok Road Level 2, The Bedok Marketplace, Singapore 469560

Photo: Bedok Marketplace Facebook
5/10
Timbre+
Where music meets gastronomy, Timbre+ is an urban dining hall that houses delicious grub and live music performances from local talents. Their graffiti walls and dim bulbs are just a preview to the lively atmosphere you'll be dining in. Their food spans from restaurant-worthy fare to affordable yet scrumptions eats. Tuck into the crispy Lechon Cebu, that is Filipino-style roasted pork belly, from Iskina Cebu or the rich Oxtail Pasta from Garçons for a French-esque dinner. We can't think of a better place to spend your Friday night at, celebrating the arrival of the weekend.

73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, JTC LaunchPad @ one-north, Singapore 139957

Photo: Timbre+ Facebook
6/10
FOMO
Muslim friends, rejoice! Here's one more name to add to your list of dining spots in Singapore. Spearheaded by a bunch of young entrepreneurs, FOMO is a tropical-themed food court that houses many Halal-certified stalls. One glance at their interior and you'd think you're dining at an upscale cafe. I mean, check out their dangling plants and warm lighting. Heck, they've even got a swinging sofa chair. But, we digress. Dig into Gangsta Maki from Maki Masho for mentaiko goodness or their Seafood Nasi Lemak Ambeng from Mr Wholly's for a resplendent feast.

38 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198486

Photo: FOMO Facebook
7/10
AlibarbaR Hawker Bar
A modern kopitiam by day and elegant bar by night, AlibarbaR allows you to relish in good ol' hawker fare without the discomfort of dirty tables and stuffy ventilation. Their assemblage of stalls offers quite a good variety, from local delights to even Mediterranean food. Feast on the Yong Huat Hokkien Mee, which entails slippery noodles loaded with fresh prawns and sotong, or go for the Foie Gras Beef Burger from Burger Bar for a buttery juicy treat. Their wide drinks selection will spoil you for choice, but we recommend their Trump Beer and refreshing fruit juices.

125 East Coast Rd, Singapore 428810

Photo: @v.jzx
8/10
Wild Market
As if we needed one more reason to flock to Beach Road. Already flourishing with dining hotspots, Beach Road now entertains one more popular dining establishment - Wild Market. This hybrid of a coffeeshop and an elegant food court will satisfy all your cravings in one place. Try out Ding's Salted Egg Yolk Carrot Cake for a unusual but incredible food pairing and Pork Rib Bak Chor Mee from Seng Huat for a comforting lunch. Wild Market also houses Wild Bar which serves up coffee brews and alcoholic drinks, amongst bar snacks and bites.

#01-27, 100 Beach Rd, Singapore 189702

Photo: @mitsueki
9/10
Essen
A food court housed within the contemporary residential blocks of The Pinnacle, one can only expect Essen to emanate the same modern aura. And, it certainly does. This chic dining hall plays host to an array of diverse stalls. You've got everything you need under one roof - pasta, Thai food and more. If you take a stroll around the place and peek at random plates of other diners, you're bound to catch a glimpse of the Mushroom Beef Burger from Burger Buddies. Loaded with creamy shitake mushrooms resting on a juicy beef patty, it's every foodie's dream come true.

1 Cantonment Rd #01-01, Singapore 080001

Photo: @tianl
10/10
District 20
This posh-looking food court boasts more than just its appearance. Safeguarding over 6 shops, District 20 is your one-stop destination for restaurant-grade grub albeit at slightly higher prices. One of their hidden gems has got to be Seasalt, a seafood joint that serves up tantalising fare, from Fish & Chips to Fresh Canadian Clams in A Pot. Their Grilled Snapper will amaze you with its buttery soft flesh, paired with their signature lemon butter sauce. For a pasta indulgence, The Hideout serves up superb spaghetti creations such as Smoked Duck Aglio Olio and Japanese Mentaiko Pasta.

38 Jln Pemimpin, Singapore 577178

Photo: The Hideout at District 20 Facebook

It’s every local foodie’s dream come true.

Hawker centres and food courts aren’t the most glamorous dining spots, but we’ve definitely got a soft spot for these uniquely local establishments. Although they might sometimes lack that elegant ambience and spanking clean tables, the affordable delicious eats offered there more than make up for those shortcomings.

What if we told you that these dining establishments have now undergone a total revamp? We’re talking snazzy signboards, aesthetically pleasing lights and modern furniture all within your neighbourhood hawker centre or coffeeshop. (Don’t be surprised if you mistake it for a new cafe or casual restaurant.)

Sprouting up across the city, these trendy yet traditional dining spots can be found all the island. Whether your tastebuds are pining for classic Italian fare or good ol’ local delicacies, you’ll be able to get your fix of them all at any one of these establishments. Take your family to Pasarbella at Suntec City for a scrumptious dinner in a whimsical laidback setting or to FOMO for an extravagant Halal feast.

We’ve gathered 10 of these trendy food courts and hawker centres that will cater to all the hungry hipsters and foodies. Scroll through our gallery and begin your feisty chowdown!

Lim Han

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