# Hawker Centres in Chinatown

NEA's list (August 2026) covers 123 markets and hawker centres, including 16 newer socially-conscious centres run by operators. Each closes for cleaning roughly once a quarter, so check NEA's closure dates before going. Return your tray: first-time offenders get a written warning, repeat offenders a $300 composition fine or court action.

## Key facts
- Listings: 75
- Median years in business: 2

## Licences
- **Hawker stall tenancy and SFA stall licence** (National Environment Agency (NEA) / Singapore Food Agency (SFA), required): Stallholders rent from NEA (or a town council or appointed operator) and each cooked-food stall must be licensed by SFA. The stall licence shows the SAFE grade. Check: https://go.gov.sg/sfa-track-records
- **MUIS Halal Certificate** (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), optional): Voluntary, but MUIS is the only body that can issue halal certificates in Singapore (Administration of Muslim Law Act). Certified outlets must display the original, valid certificate; photocopies are not allowed. Check: https://muis.gov.sg/Halal/Halal-Certification/Certified-Eating-Establishments

## How to choose
- Check the closure schedule first. NEA publishes each centre's quarterly cleaning dates on data.gov.sg, and longer repairs-and-redecoration closures can run two to three months.
- Look at the stall's SFA licence for its SAFE grade (A, B, C or NEW). Hawker stalls are graded on their own track record, not the centre's.
- Bring cash and a payment app: most stalls accept SGQR/PayNow, but small stalls may not take cards.
- Halal stalls display the MUIS certificate; non-certified stalls may still be Muslim-owned, but MUIS recommends caution if in doubt.
- Popular stalls often sell out by early afternoon and many close one or two days a week – check the stall's own rest day, not just the centre's.

## Red flags
- A stall licence showing SAFE grade C.
- Halal-looking signage without a MUIS certificate.
- Leaving trays and crockery on the table – this is an offence enforced by NEA and SFA officers.

## Listings (top 30)
- [Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee](https://lookup.sg/biz/ah-heng-curry-chicken-bee-hoon-mee), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St, #02-58/59 Hong Lim Market & Food CentreSingapore · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2007
- [Coffee Queen](https://lookup.sg/biz/coffee-queen), Chinatown · 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-88 Maxwell Food Centre · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2019
- [Maxwell Satay](https://lookup.sg/biz/maxwell-satay), Chinatown · 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-40 Maxwell Food Centre · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2023
- [Nanyang Fried Chicken Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/nanyang-fried-chicken-rice), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St, #02-09 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2024
- [叮当板面 Ding Dang Ban Mian](https://lookup.sg/biz/ding-dang-ban-mian), Chinatown · Smith St, Chinatown complex#02-089 · 2 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2023
- [Heritage Tanglin Puff Since 1952](https://lookup.sg/biz/heritage-tanglin-puff-since-1952), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St, #02-34 Hong Lim Market & Food Centre · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2025
- [Hong Lim Curry Puff (Maxwell Food Centre)](https://lookup.sg/biz/hong-lim-curry-puff-maxwell-food-centre), Chinatown · 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-09 Maxwell Food Centre · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2026
- [AiXin Wanton Noodle 爱心云吞面](https://lookup.sg/biz/aixin-wanton-noodle), Chinatown · 335 Smith Street , #02-149 , Chinatown Complex Redzone , all the way towards the end, facing temple · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2026
- [Tang Kay Kee Fish Head Bee Hoon](https://lookup.sg/biz/tang-kay-kee-fish-head-bee-hoon), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St, #01-70 · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff](https://lookup.sg/biz/tanglin-crispy-curry-puff), Chinatown · BLK 531A Upper Cross St, #02-36 Hong Lim Market & Food Centre · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Poy Kee Yong Tau Foo](https://lookup.sg/biz/poy-kee-yong-tau-foo), Chinatown · 32 New Market Rd, #01-1066 · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Weng Kiang Kee Porridge](https://lookup.sg/biz/weng-kiang-kee-porridge), Chinatown · 335 Smith St, #02-082 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu](https://lookup.sg/biz/yong-xiang-xing-dou-fu), Chinatown · 32 New Market Rd, #01-1084 · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre](https://lookup.sg/biz/chinatown-complex-market-and-food-centre), Chinatown · 335 Smith St · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Midas Every Touch Is Gold](https://lookup.sg/biz/midas-every-touch-is-gold), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St, #02-07 Hong Lim Market & Food Centre · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/lian-he-ben-ji-claypot-rice), Chinatown · 335 Smith St, #02-198/199 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [168 CMY Satay](https://lookup.sg/biz/168-cmy-satay), Chinatown · Smith St, 335号, Market & Food Centre, Chinatown Complex, #02-168 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Ann Chin Popiah](https://lookup.sg/biz/ann-chin-popiah), Chinatown · 335 Smith St, #02-112 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa](https://lookup.sg/biz/famous-sungei-road-trishaw-laksa), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St, #02-66 · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee](https://lookup.sg/biz/outram-park-fried-kway-teow-mee), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St, #02-17 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Chuan Bee Lor Mee](https://lookup.sg/biz/chuan-bee-lor-mee), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Heng Kee Curry Chicken Noodles](https://lookup.sg/biz/heng-kee-curry-chicken-noodles), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St, #01-58 Hong Lim Market & Food Centre · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Chai Wee Cuttlefish](https://lookup.sg/biz/chai-wee-cuttlefish), Chinatown · 335 Smith St, #02-59 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Tong Xin Ju Shanghai Tim Sum](https://lookup.sg/biz/tong-xin-ju-shanghai-tim-sum), Chinatown · 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-92 Maxwell Food Centre · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT
- [Morning Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/morning-bak-kut-teh), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St, #01-72 · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Boon Heng Atas Hainanese Chicken Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/boon-heng-atas-hainanese-chicken-rice), Chinatown · 32 New Market Rd, #01-1102 People's Park Food Centre · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu](https://lookup.sg/biz/xiu-ji-ikan-bilis-yong-tau-fu), Chinatown · 335 Smith St, #02-88 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Chang Ji Gourment](https://lookup.sg/biz/chang-ji-gourment), Chinatown · 335 Smith St, #02-110 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Dapur F. Faiz](https://lookup.sg/biz/dapur-f-faiz), Chinatown · 531A UPPER CROSS STREET #02-51 HONG LIM FOOD CENTRE · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Hong Lim Complex Food Centre](https://lookup.sg/biz/hong-lim-complex-food-centre), Chinatown · 531A Upper Cross St · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT

## FAQs
### What is the fine for not returning your tray at a hawker centre?
Since 1 June 2023, enforcement officers take down the particulars of diners who leave trays, crockery or litter, without a prior verbal reminder. First-time offenders get a written warning; second-time offenders face a $300 composition fine, and further offences can go to court. The rule applies at hawker centres, coffeeshops and food courts.

### How do I know when a hawker centre is closed for cleaning?
NEA publishes the dates on data.gov.sg in the 'Dates of hawker centre closure' dataset, listing each centre's four quarterly cleaning periods plus any longer works. NEA cleans centres it manages; HDB-owned centres are cleaned by town councils. Cleaning closures usually last one to a few days, while repairs and redecoration can take two to three months.

### How many hawker centres are there in Singapore?
NEA's hawker centre list dated 17 August 2026 contains 107 markets and hawker centres plus 16 newer hawker centres run by appointed operators, 123 in total. More are planned under the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme 2.0, announced in March 2025, which includes five new hawker centres.

### Is Singapore hawker culture a UNESCO heritage?
Yes. 'Hawker Culture in Singapore: Community Dining and Culinary Practices in a Multicultural Urban Context' was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 16 December 2020. It was Singapore's first inscription on the list.

### Can I bring my dog to a hawker centre?
No. Although SFA relaxed rules from 1 January 2025 so pets can join diners at the outdoor areas of restaurants and cafes, hawker centres and their outdoor areas remain closed to pets island-wide.

## Sources
- NEA – List of hawker centres (17 August 2026): https://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/hawker-centres-documents/list-of-hcs_-17-august-2026.pdf
- data.gov.sg – Dates of hawker centre closure (NEA): https://data.gov.sg/dataset/dates-of-hawker-centres-closure
- NEA – Stepped-up enforcement against table littering from 1 June 2023: https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/advisories/index/stepped-up-enforcement-against-table-littering-from-1-june-2023
- MSE – Written reply to PQ on fines for not returning trays: https://www.mse.gov.sg/latest-news/written-reply-to-pq-on-fines-for-not-returning-trays/
- NEA – Hawker culture is Singapore's first inscription on UNESCO's Representative List: https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/news/index/hawker-culture-is-singapore-s-first-inscription-on-unesco-s-representative-list-of-the-intangible-cultural-heritage-of-humanity
- SFA – No additional approvals needed for pets at outdoor refreshment areas from 1 Jan 2025: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/news-publications/newsroom/no-additional-sfa-approvals-needed-for-patrons-to-dine-in-with-pets-at-outdoor-refreshment-areas-from-1-jan-2025
- SFA – New Safety Assurance for Food Establishment (SAFE) framework: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/news-publications/newsroom/new-safety-assurance-for-food-establishment--safe--framework--to-strengthen-food-safety

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.