Overview
North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre is a hidden gem located in the Lavender area of Singapore. This traditional hawker centre offers an impressive variety of affordable, authentic local dishes that rival more popular spots like Chomp Chomp and Old Airport Road Food Centre.
Location: Lavender, Singapore
Type: Traditional Hawker Centre
Price Range: $2 – $5 per dish (Very Affordable)
Best For: Budget-friendly local hawker fare, late-night supper, traditional desserts
Comprehensive Stall Reviews
1. Soon Huat Prawn Noodles (#01-105)
Specialty: Prawn Mee
Price: From $3.50
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-12:30pm
Review: Soon Huat stands out as one of Singapore’s most affordable prawn noodle stalls without compromising on quality. The basic bowl includes peeled prawns, fish cakes, and lean pork meat in a rich, flavorful broth. The portion is generous enough that you won’t need add-ons, though pork ribs are available for an extra $1.
What Makes It Special:
- Unbeatable value at $3.50
- Prawns come already peeled for convenience
- Rich, umami-packed broth
- Generous portions that fill you up
Order Recommendation: Stick with the original $3.50 bowl – it’s already filling and delicious.
2. Ah Lock Curry Rice (#01-109)
Specialty: Curry Rice with Self-Selected Ingredients
Price: Variable (based on selection)
Hours: Daily, 8am-5pm
Review: This traditional curry rice stall operates on the classic “choose your own ingredients” model. The curry sauce is the star here – rich, aromatic, and generously ladled over your selections. Popular items include char siew, pork chop, and stir-fried vegetables, but these tend to sell out during lunch rush.
What Makes It Special:
- Customizable portions and ingredients
- Generous curry sauce servings
- Daily operation (no rest days)
- Home-style curry flavor
Pro Tip: Arrive before 11:30am for the best ingredient selection, especially if you want char siew or pork chop.
3. Koka Wanton Mee (#01-99)
Specialty: Wanton Mee
Price: $4 per plate
Hours: Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday, 10:30pm-3am
Review: A unique late-night hawker experience, Koka Wanton Mee operates only four hours nightly but delivers exceptional quality. The springy noodles are tossed in a slightly spicy sauce that’s incredibly addictive. Each plate comes loaded with thinly sliced char siew, wantons, mushrooms, shredded chicken, and vegetables.
What Makes It Special:
- Perfect for late-night cravings
- Unique spicy sauce blend
- Multiple protein components (char siew, chicken, wantons)
- Springy, well-textured noodles
- Hardworking hawkers dedicated to quality
Best Time to Visit: After midnight when you need quality supper food.
4. Tian Yi (#01-112)
Specialty: Traditional Chinese Sweet Soups
Price: $2 per bowl
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:10am-3pm
Review: Tian Yi is a treasure trove of traditional Chinese desserts. Their signature green bean soup contains an impressive 22 ingredients, while the red bean soup has 23. Each spoonful offers contrasting textures from sago, lotus seeds, and orange peel, creating a refreshing and complex flavor profile. They also serve savory options like cuttlefish peanut porridge.
What Makes It Special:
- Incredibly complex flavor profiles
- 22-23 ingredients in signature soups
- Both sweet and savory options
- Authentic old-school preparation methods
- Extremely affordable at $2
Must-Try: Signature Green Bean Soup or Red Bean Soup for a taste of traditional Chinese dessert-making.
5. Ke Shuang Xing (#01-104)
Specialty: Teochew-style Lor Mee
Price: $4 (add-ons $2)
Hours: Sunday-Tuesday, Thursday-Friday, 8am-2pm
Review: After switching from carrot cake to lor mee, this stall has perfected the Teochew style. The thick, starchy gravy is balanced by fresh chili and minced garlic. What sets them apart is offering three types of noodles to choose from, allowing customization of your bowl.
What Makes It Special:
- Teochew-style preparation (lighter than Hokkien style)
- Choice of three noodle types
- Perfect chili-to-garlic ratio
- Optional add-ons: fried wonton pieces or braised pork belly
Customization Tip: Try mixing different noodle types for varied texture.
6. Special Yong Tau Fu (#01-87)
Specialty: Yong Tau Foo
Price: Variable
Hours: Daily, 2am-9am
Review: Don’t let the simple name fool you – this stall offers a superior yong tau foo experience. Their selection includes less common items like pork belly and blanched kiam chye (preserved mustard greens). Each bowl is finished with fresh coriander and aromatic fried shallot oil, elevating the dish beyond typical yong tau foo.
What Makes It Special:
- Unique ingredients (pork belly, kiam chye)
- Aromatic fried shallot oil topping
- Fresh coriander garnish
- Early morning operation (perfect for breakfast)
- Often sells out before lunch
Important: Arrive early (by 7am) as they sell out quickly!
7. Hoe Hokkien Mee (#01-93)
Specialty: Fried Hokkien Mee
Price: From $4 (large portion)
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8am-5pm
Review: Exceptional value for fried Hokkien mee with large portions starting at just $4. The noodles maintain perfect texture throughout, simmered in thick prawn broth that infuses every strand with seafood flavor. Crispy pork lard adds textural contrast, while the homemade chili packs serious heat.
What Makes It Special:
- Consistent noodle texture
- Rich prawn broth flavor
- Generous pork lard topping
- Potent house-made chili
- Large portions at low prices
Best For: Hokkien mee purists who appreciate traditional preparation.
8. Hua Mei Zhen (#01-119)
Specialty: Wok Hei Fried Rice
Price: Small to Large ($20 for large)
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30am-1:30pm, 5:30pm-8:30pm
Review: This Chinese cuisine specialist excels at achieving authentic wok hei (breath of the wok). Their signature fried rice combines seafood, vegetables, and rice with that elusive smoky aroma that comes from high-heat wok cooking. The stall also serves excellent noodles and dumplings.
What Makes It Special:
- Authentic wok hei flavor
- Colorful seafood-vegetable combinations
- Family-style large portions available
- Two service periods (lunch and dinner)
- Beyond fried rice: quality noodles and dumplings
Group Dining: Order the large portion ($20) to share among 3-4 people.
9. Lao Huang Hakka Niang Tou Fu (#01-108)
Specialty: Hakka-style Yong Tau Foo
Price: Variable
Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday & Saturday-Sunday, 7:30am-1pm
Review: This family-run stall distinguishes itself through hand-stuffed yong tau foo pieces filled with minced meat, rather than serving them plain. Each bowl comes topped with additional generous portions of minced meat. The fried pieces are prepared fresh upon order for maximum crispiness.
What Makes It Special:
- Hand-stuffed with minced meat (labor-intensive)
- Extra minced meat topping
- Fresh-fried upon order
- Hakka-style preparation
- Family-run authenticity
Texture Lovers: Request extra fried pieces for that crispy contrast.
10. Shan Yuan Teochew Kway Teow Noodle (#01-95)
Specialty: Minced Meat Noodles (Bak Chor Mee)
Price: From $3.50-$4.50
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 24 hours
Review: A Michelin-recommended stall that operates around the clock (except Sundays). Their minced meat noodles exemplify authentic Teochew-style bak chor mee with quality ingredients and balanced flavors. They also offer variations like fishball noodles and fish dumpling mee tai mak.
What Makes It Special:
- Michelin-recommended
- 24-hour operation (ultimate convenience)
- Authentic Teochew preparation
- Multiple noodle varieties
- Consistent quality at all hours
Any-Time Craving: Perfect for 3am bak chor mee cravings or early breakfast.
11. Xiao Ling Fried Carrot Cake (#01-103)
Specialty: Fried Carrot Cake & Deep-Fried Carrot Cake Sticks
Price: $3-$4 for traditional carrot cake
Hours: Sunday-Tuesday & Thursday-Friday, 8am-2pm
Review: Xiao Ling offers both traditional fried carrot cake (white or black) and the increasingly rare deep-fried carrot cake sticks. The sticks are crispy outside with chewy interiors, resembling potato wedges in shape. The traditional versions maintain that perfect balance of crispy edges and soft center.
What Makes It Special:
- Rare deep-fried carrot cake sticks
- Both white and black versions available
- Old-school preparation methods
- Perfect textural contrast
- Nostalgic hawker experience
Adventure Pick: Try the carrot cake sticks for something different from the usual fried version.
Signature Dishes Analysis
Price Analysis
- Budget Champion: Tian Yi desserts at $2
- Best Value: Soon Huat Prawn Mee at $3.50
- Most Expensive: Hua Mei Zhen large fried rice at $20 (serves 3-4)
- Average Price Range: $3-$5 per dish
Cuisine Variety
- Noodles: Prawn mee, wanton mee, lor mee, bak chor mee, Hokkien mee, yong tau foo
- Rice Dishes: Curry rice, fried rice
- Desserts: Traditional Chinese sweet soups
- Specialty: Late-night options, 24-hour service, old-school preparations
Operating Hours Breakdown
- Early Birds (2am-9am): Special Yong Tau Fu
- Breakfast/Lunch: Most stalls (8am-2pm range)
- 24 Hours: Shan Yuan (Monday-Saturday)
- Late Night: Koka Wanton Mee (10:30pm-3am)
- Dual Service: Hua Mei Zhen (lunch and dinner)
Sample Recipe: Homemade Prawn Mee (Inspired by Soon Huat)
Ingredients (Serves 4)
For the Broth:
- 500g prawn heads and shells
- 200g pork bones
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 shallots, sliced
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1.5 liters water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Salt to taste
For the Bowl:
- 400g yellow noodles
- 200g rice vermicelli
- 300g medium prawns, peeled
- 200g lean pork, sliced thin
- 4 fish cakes, sliced
- 4 hard-boiled eggs, halved
- Bean sprouts
- Water spinach (kangkong)
- Fried shallots for garnish
- Fresh coriander
For the Chili:
- 10 dried chilies, soaked
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons shrimp paste (belacan)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Prawn Stock (2 hours)
- Heat oil in large pot over high heat
- Fry prawn heads and shells until fragrant and red (about 5 minutes)
- Smash shells with spatula to release maximum flavor
- Add garlic and shallots, fry for 2 minutes
- Add pork bones and water
- Bring to boil, then reduce to gentle simmer
- Simmer for 1.5-2 hours, skimming scum regularly
- Strain stock through fine mesh, pressing solids to extract all liquid
- Season with sugar and salt
- Stock should be rich orange color with intense prawn flavor
Step 2: Prepare the Chili Paste
- Blend soaked chilies with garlic until smooth
- Toast shrimp paste in dry pan until fragrant
- Combine blended chilies, shrimp paste, sugar, and lime juice
- Mix well and set aside
Step 3: Prepare Proteins
- Blanch pork slices in boiling stock for 3 minutes
- Remove and set aside
- Poach prawns in stock for 2 minutes until pink
- Remove immediately to prevent overcooking
Step 4: Assemble the Bowl
- Blanch yellow noodles and vermicelli together for 30 seconds
- Add bean sprouts and kangkong in final 10 seconds
- Drain well and place in bowl
- Arrange pork slices, prawns, fish cake, and egg on top
- Ladle hot stock over everything
- Garnish with fried shallots and fresh coriander
- Serve with chili paste on the side
Pro Tips:
- Use fresh prawns with heads and shells for best flavor
- Don’t skip smashing the shells – this releases oils
- Stock should simmer gently, not boil vigorously
- Noodles should be drained well to prevent diluting broth
- Serve immediately while piping hot
Time Required:
- Prep: 30 minutes
- Cooking: 2 hours
- Total: 2.5 hours
Full Menu Summary by Stall
Noodle Specialists
Soon Huat Prawn Noodles
- Prawn Mee: $3.50
- Add Pork Ribs: +$1
Koka Wanton Mee
- Wanton Mee: $4
Ke Shuang Xing
- Lor Mee: $4
- Add Fried Wonton/Braised Pork Belly: +$2
Hoe Hokkien Mee
- Fried Hokkien Mee: From $4
Shan Yuan Teochew Kway Teow Noodle
- Minced Meat Noodles: $3.50
- Fishball Noodles: $3.50
- Fish Dumpling Fishball Mee Tai Mak: $4.50
Lao Huang Hakka Niang Tou Fu
- Hakka Yong Tau Foo: Variable pricing
- Choice of noodle types
Special Yong Tau Fu
- Yong Tau Foo: Variable pricing
- Includes pork belly and kiam chye options
Rice Dishes
Ah Lock Curry Rice
- Self-service style, variable pricing
- Popular items: char siew, pork chop, vegetables
Hua Mei Zhen
- Wok Hei Fried Rice: Various sizes up to $20 (large)
- Noodles: Available
- Dumplings: Available
Specialty Items
Tian Yi
- Signature Green Bean Soup (22 ingredients): $2
- Signature Red Bean Soup (23 ingredients): $2
- Cuttlefish Peanut Porridge: Available
- Glutinous Rice: Available
Xiao Ling Fried Carrot Cake
- White Carrot Cake: $3/$4
- Black Carrot Cake: $3/$4
- Deep-Fried Carrot Cake Sticks: TBD
Delivery Options
Current Situation
North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre operates as a traditional hawker centre, and delivery availability varies by individual stall. Based on typical hawker centre operations:
Delivery Platforms to Check:
- GrabFood – Most likely to have participating stalls
- Foodpanda – Secondary option
- Deliveroo – Limited hawker centre coverage
Stalls Most Likely Available for Delivery:
- Shan Yuan Teochew Kway Teow Noodle – 24-hour operation makes delivery logistics easier
- Hua Mei Zhen – Established operation with set meal times
- Hoe Hokkien Mee – Popular item that travels well
Stalls Less Likely for Delivery:
- Tian Yi – Dessert soups don’t travel well
- Special Yong Tau Fu – Limited hours (2am-9am)
- Koka Wanton Mee – Late night operation only
Delivery Considerations:
- Best for Delivery: Fried rice, dry noodles (wanton mee, lor mee)
- Challenging for Delivery: Soup-based dishes (prawn mee), desserts
- Peak Delivery Times: Lunch (12pm-2pm), Dinner (6pm-8pm)
Recommendation: Visit in person for the authentic hawker experience and to access stalls with limited hours. The atmosphere and freshness make the trip worthwhile.
Visitor Tips
Best Times to Visit
- Early Birds (before 9am): Access to Special Yong Tau Fu, best ingredient selection at Ah Lock
- Lunch (11am-1pm): Most stalls open, but expect queues
- Late Afternoon (2pm-4pm): Less crowded, but some stalls closing
- Late Night (after 10:30pm): Exclusive access to Koka Wanton Mee
- Midnight-3am: Shan Yuan for 24-hour bak chor mee
Money-Saving Strategies
- Stick to basic portions – they’re already filling
- Share large portions (like Hua Mei Zhen’s $20 fried rice)
- Most dishes under $5
- Skip add-ons unless you’re very hungry
- Tian Yi desserts at $2 are incredible value
Queue Management
- Arrive before 11am to avoid lunch crowds
- Koka Wanton Mee: Go after midnight for shorter waits
- Ah Lock Curry Rice: Before 11:30am for best selection
- Special Yong Tau Fu: Before 8am (sells out early)
What to Avoid
- Arriving at Special Yong Tau Fu after 9am (likely sold out)
- Lunch rush at popular stalls (11:30am-1pm)
- Expecting Koka Wanton Mee during day hours
- Sunday visits to Shan Yuan (closed)
Final Verdict
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Strengths:
- Exceptional value across all stalls
- Authentic, traditional preparations
- Unique operating hours (24-hour, late-night options)
- Less crowded than famous hawker centres
- Diverse cuisine styles (Teochew, Hakka, Hokkien)
Areas for Improvement:
- Limited English signage
- Inconsistent operating days
- Some stalls close very early
- Delivery options limited
Best For:
- Budget-conscious foodies
- Late-night eaters
- Traditional hawker experience seekers
- Those avoiding tourist crowds
Worth the Visit? Absolutely. North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre punches well above its weight, offering quality comparable to famous hawker centres at even lower prices. The variety of operating hours means you can enjoy quality hawker food almost any time of day.
Note: All prices and operating hours are based on the source document from June 2023. Please verify current information before visiting, as hawker stalls may update their hours or prices. None of the reviewed stalls are halal-certified.