(Photo: Miss Tam Chiak)

Hong Heng has consistently been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2016 despite only serving 1 dish: fried sotong prawn mee. 

Since then, this humble stall has attracted some of the longest queues for food at Tiong Bahru Market, and it’s not hard to see why. Its Sotong Prawn Mee is made to order in small batches served alongside a spicy homemade sambal. The resulting dish looks unassuming at first glance but is exceedingly fresh, piping hot, and coated in a rich prawn stock that delights with every bite.

📍 Unit no.: #02-01
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
⏰ Opening hours:  Tue to Sat, 10:30am – 2:30pm and 4:30pm – 6pm

(Photo: Why Q)

Within the wide world of food at Tiong Bahru Market, Zhong Yu Yuan Wei’s claim to fame is their “Bu Jian Tian” (literally “meat that doesn’t see the sky”) Char Siew Wanton Noodles, which come with an oft-neglected cut of pork — the armpit.

Armpit meat might sound gross, but a visit here will have you hankering for more. Because this part is protected from the surrounding environment, its meat is softer and more marbled than other cuts. 

The stall takes full advantage of this by marinating the slices for hours and roasting them over charcoal, so every bite is flavourful and soft without being too fatty.

📍 Unit no.: #02-30
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
⏰ Opening hours:  Wed to Thu and Sat to Sun, 7am – 1pm
📞 Contact: 9657 9957

(Photo: Michelin Guide)

Another Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice has been in business for over 30 years. This stall owes its success to a slew of clever spins on the typical hawker chicken rice formula, such as soaking the chicken in iced water for more tenderness and cooking the rice with onion for heightened flavour.

Clearly, they’re onto something here, as the stall has expanded to multiple branches islandwide, all of which follow the original secret recipe.

📍 Unit no.: #02-82
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
⏰ Opening hours:  Wed to Sun, 10am – 4pm

(Photo: Daniel Food Diary)

Crowned by many as one of Singapore’s best curry joints, Loo’s has been drawing crowds with its secret Hainanese curry recipe since 1946 — and the quality has hardly changed. 

Each batch of curry is prepared days in advance, including 2 days dedicated to chopping ingredients and 1 day for machine grinding. 

There’s no doubt that the stall takes pride in its curry. Just about anything you can order comes drenched in the sweet, sumptuous curry sauce, from their oozy Braised Cabbage to their satisfyingly heaty Sambal Sotong. Don’t forget to pair your rice with some Braised Pork Belly for that extra hit of indulgence.

📍 Unit no.: #02-67/68
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
⏰ Opening hours: Fri to Wed, 8:30am – 2:45pm
📞 Contact: 9617 0052

(Photo: Why Q)

Ali Corner brings delicious Jakartan food to Tiong Bahru Market, and its tantalising Mee Bakso (Indonesian meatball and noodle soup) is sure to get you hooked. The bakso balls come in generous sizes, and every bite is full of savoury goodness. If you’re looking for other familiar comfort foods at Tiong Bahru Market, Ali Corner also offers a wide selection of classics, including the mighty fine Nasi Lemak.

📍 Unit no.: #02-17
🍴 Halal status: Muslim-owned
⏰ Opening hours: Tue to Sat, 7am – 2pm

(Photo: Skirt & Dirt)

Skirt and Dirt’s eye-catching neon logo sets it apart from its neighbours and immediately tells you that this is not your typical Tiong Bahru Market food experience.

It also has the illustrious honour of being Singapore’s first-ever stall to serve Cheese Skirt Burgers. These burgers wouldn’t look out of place at Disneyland, and are named after the dramatic “skirt” of cheese that fans out from all sidesThis gives it a cheesy touch that contrasts nicely with the 100% beef rump patties that are custom-ordered from local sources.

If crunchy cheese isn’t your thing, Skirt and Dirt also has a range of more conventional burgers as well as delicious sides to pair them with, such as their Truffle Mushroom & Rockets Beef Burger and Cheese Dirt Fries. 

📍 Unit no.: #02-66
⏰ Opening hours:  Tue to Sun, 11:30am – 8pm
📞 Contact: 8434 0119
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: snd.com.sg 

(Photo: Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup)

Another multi-Michelin Bib awardee, Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup, is backed by a family tradition that has been passed down across 3 generations for nearly 70 years.

Here, every part of the pig is an opportunity for a new, exciting flavour (after rigorous cleaning and preparation of course). Even the bones are used to lend their namesake soup its distinctive, sweet flavour. Come early to get a side of pig intestine, which is hand-stuffed with glutinous rice, pork belly, and chestnuts.

Unit no.: #02-29
Opening hours: 9:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 7:30pm daily
Contact: 8113 7218
Halal status: Not halal
Website: facebook.com/KohBrotherPigOrganSoup

Pro tip: No matter what you plan on eating, it’s always a good idea to come to Tiong Bahru Market early. Lots of stalls close up in the early afternoon, and signature dishes get snapped up quickly!

When you’re done filling your tummy, don’t forget to check out other things to do in Tiong Bahru.

(Photo: Thatch)

These fishballs are all fish, no flour. They’re also made from fresh wolf herring, giving the fishballs just the right amount of give under the tooth and enough oil so that you won’t feel guilty for gorging yourself on them. 

If you prefer to get your fish fix in a less spherical form, this stall also serves up fishcakes, otah, and a slew of other fish and seafood options, all made with minimum flour for maximum flavour.

📍 Unit no.: #02-20
⏰ Opening hours: Thu to Sun, 7am – 3pm
🍴 Halal status: Not halal

(Photo: Why Q)

When it comes to the wide range of options for food at Tiong Bahru Market, it’s not uncommon to see long queues. Few, however, are able to command wait times of longer than 20 minutes without losing precious patrons.

Enter the Michelin Guide-featured Lor Mee 178. The noodles here have a lighter flavour and consistency, making them perfect for breakfast. For a reasonable additional fee, you can also top your bowl up with the signature crispy shark nuggets, which retain their crunch even when soaked in the thick gravy.

Unit no.: #02-23
Opening hours: Thu to Tue, 7am – 1:45pm
Halal status: Not halal

(Photo: SG Food on Foot)

Here’s our personal take: the only time anyone should eat thin, runny, and flavourless porridge is when they’re sick. All other times, we deserve Hwa Yuen’s thick and aromatic Cantonese-style porridge.

Prepare your tongue for a satisfying bowl of hot porridge that’s sweet, yet subtly flavoured, so your meal remains delicious even when you’re done with your toppings.

Speaking of, Hwa Yuen doesn’t skimp there either. The stall offers a range of classic toppings to go with their porridge, from Fish Belly to Shredded Chicken Century Egg. But if you’re feeling extra adventurous and have a few extra dollars burning a hole in your pocket, get the Frog Leg, which has a chicken-like texture and a unique, mild taste.

Unit no.: #02-74
Opening hours: Tue to Sun, 7am – 3pm
Halal status: Not halal

Love porridge? Then you can’t miss this rare and affordable Teochew porridge buffet in Novena.

(Featured photo: On the Grid)