# Hawker Centres in Kovan 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: 13 - Median years in business: 6 ## 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 13) - [Simon Road Oyster Omelette](https://lookup.sg/biz/simon-road-oyster-omelette), Kovan · 212 Hougang St. 21 · 4 min walk from Kovan MRT - [Fried Oyster Omelette](https://lookup.sg/biz/fried-oyster-omelette), Kovan · 965 Upper Serangoon Rd · 3 min walk from Kovan MRT - [De Tai Roast 德De泰Tai 燒臘 Roast](https://lookup.sg/biz/de-tai-roast-de-tai-roast), Kovan · 209 Hougang St 21, #01-09 · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT - [Singapore Halal Food](https://lookup.sg/biz/singapore-halal-food), Kovan · 92 Tampines Rd · 8 min walk from Kovan MRT · registered 2010 - [Ponggol Nasi Lemak](https://lookup.sg/biz/ponggol-nasi-lemak-kovan), Kovan · 965 Upper Serangoon Rd · 3 min walk from Kovan MRT · registered 2016 - [Star Western](https://lookup.sg/biz/star-western), Kovan · 941 Upper Serangoon Rd · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT · registered 2020 - [Yuan Ting Gourmet](https://lookup.sg/biz/yuan-ting-gourmet), Kovan · 209 Hougang St 21, #01-28 · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT · registered 2020 - [鼎特楽 上海生煎包](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-534713), Kovan · 949 Upp Serangoon Rd · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT - [Kovan Rojak](https://lookup.sg/biz/kovan-rojak), Kovan · 209 Hougang St 21, #01-39 · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT - [Yam Mee](https://lookup.sg/biz/yam-mee), Kovan · Kovan Hougang Market & Blk 209 Hougang St 21 · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT - [Bedok North 85 Fried Oyster](https://lookup.sg/biz/bedok-north-85-fried-oyster), Kovan · 209 Hougang St 21, #01-30 @ Kovan 209 Market Hawker Centre · 1 min walk from Kovan MRT - [Teow Heng Cooked Food](https://lookup.sg/biz/teow-heng-cooked-food), Kovan · Kovan Hougang Market & 209 Hougang St 21 · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT - [Hougang Hawker Center](https://lookup.sg/biz/hougang-hawker-center), Kovan · 7 min walk from Kovan 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 --- 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. 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