Remember the thrill of discovering a new food spot? That feeling of walking into a place for the first time, your nose leading the way, and the sheer joy of finding your next favourite dish? Well, get ready, because there's a new food haven in town.
The Punggol Coast Hawker Centre is officially open, and let me tell you, it's overflowing with great eats. It's a vibrant space buzzing with the energy of old-school hawker legends and the fresh excitement of new-generation chefs. Located conveniently next to the Punggol Coast MRT station and Punggol Coast Mall, it’s the perfect place to explore with a few friends or bring the whole family for a delicious, no-fuss meal.
Here's my personal guide to what you absolutely have to try at this amazing new hawker centre.
01 • Monster Chili Mala Hotpot
Love a good challenge? You have to make a beeline for Monster Chili Mala Hotpot. Their signature Mala Xiang Guo is a tongue-numbing, spicy sensation that will set your taste buds ablaze in the most delightful way.
While the numbing Sichuan flavours can be a little too intolerable for me, Monster Chili Mala Hotpot is two-steps ahead; they’ve developed their own house-blend Mala Paste, localising this iconic Chinese dish to suit the Singaporean palate.
📍 Stall number: #02-K63
🍴 Halal status: Halal
02 • Tidjai Thai Food
I love nothing more than some authentic Thai cuisine, and Tidjai Thai Food really hit the spot! Affordable delicious eats are a rare find in this economy, but Tidjai Thai has delivered. Quality ingredients, hearty portions and flavourful, this stall has it all.
My go-to is the Seafood Pad-Thai. Theirs has a boatload of fresh, plump seafood swimming in their springy rice noodles, which were perfectly coated in a fragrant, umami sauce. The dish is not overly greasy, and its flavours are balanced out by beansprouts and peanuts, whose crunchy textures added another dimension.
If, for whatever reason you’re holding back on these bold flavours, their Thai Mango Salad hits the spot. Slightly sweet and zesty with a hint of spice and a good crunch from the mangoes and nuts, this dish’ll get you and your taste buds raving.
📍 Stall number: #02-K74
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
03 • South Buona Vista Braised Duck
When I was a kid, my dad used to bring my family to this braised duck spot in the middle of nowhere in the Buona Vista area. My little mind never really understood that I was truly in the presence of some culinary legends, but all I remembered was the good food. Then they moved to Desker Road and we followed them there. My heart broke when they closed in 2023 due to rent hikes.
Imagine my delight when they announced that they’ve reopened at Punggol Coast Hawker Centre. Do be prepared for long winding queues, but trust me, it is worth the wait. The Teochew-styled duck is so tender it practically melts in your mouth, drenched in a rich, savoury sauce that you'd want to drizzle over every grain of your rice.
📍 Stall number: #02-K59
⏰ Opening hours: Thu to Tue, 11am – 4pm
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
04 • Hock Hai (Hong Lim) Curry Chicken Noodle
Being one of the Michelin Bib Gourmand awardees to grace Punggol Coast Hawker Center, this Curry Chicken Noodle store is a must-visit when you are here. For all its hype, it's surprisingly affordable.
Their Curry Chicken Noodle is drenched with rich, lemak curry broth, infused with the perfect amount of spice and served with generous chunks of chicken and potatoes. It’s a hearty, satisfying dish that feels like a warm hug in a bowl.
📍 Stall number: #02-K64
⏰ Opening hours: 9am – 8:30pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
05 • Hakka Leipopo
Before visiting Punggol Coast Hawker Centre, I'd never heard of Lei Cha. For anyone else confused, it is a traditional Hakka dish consisting of a vibrant mix of herbs, vegetables, and nuts, offering a satisfying and earthy flavour that’s totally different from your typical hawker fare.
Hakka Leipopo is an up-and-coming Lei Cha store that’s been readily gaining popularity. Jumping on the hype train, I went to try their food. I was greeted with vibrant hues of green vegetables lying atop a bed of fluffy rice, garnished generously with peanuts, dried tofu bits, and dried shrimp. They serve it with a bright green tea soup. It sounds a little odd, but it was deliciously fresh, herbal, and nutty.
Overall, the meal was refreshing, clean, and flavourful. The best part is how great and energised I feel after the meal, rather than the usual sluggish haze of a food coma. If you’re not keen on the usual greasy hawker meals, this is an amazing alternative.
📍 Stall number: #02-K65
⏰ Opening hours: 10am – 8pm (Closed on Mondays)
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
06 • Jade’s Chicken
Jump on the latest K-wave with Jade’s Chicken. This stall brings the beloved Korean fried chicken right to the heart of the hawker centre.
Their chicken is incredibly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and you can get it tossed in a variety of delicious sauces. Whether you go for the savoury soy garlic, the classic spicy flavour, or the slightly sweet honey butter, you're in for a treat. It's the ideal meal for a group of friends or a family looking to share a bucket of golden, crispy goodness.
📍 Stall number: #02-K78
⏰ Opening hours: 11am – 8pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Halal
07 • Whampoa Traditional Fried Oyster
This Singaporean classic always brings me a wave of nostalgia. I remember picking out Oysters just to enjoy some starchy greasy scrambled eggs as a child. Now that I’m older, I can finally appreciate this dish in all its glory, and Whampoa Traditional Fried Oyster is the best place to go for that.
The omelette is cooked with a light and crispy batter that's not overly starchy. Tucked inside are plump, succulent oysters that burst with a fresh, briny flavour. It’s a beautifully balanced dish that’s both indulgent and incredibly satisfying. The stall's mastery of the griddle results in a golden-brown omelette that’s crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, a wonderful textural contrast to those juicy oysters.
📍 Stall number: #02-K56
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
08 • Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee
The smell of a good plate of Hokkien Mee can stop you in your tracks, and the one here is no exception. The noodles at Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee are cooked with an incredible amount of wok hei — that smoky, charred flavour that only comes from a blazing hot wok.
It’s a symphony of textures, with plump prawns, tender squid, and crispy pork lard woven into a savoury seafood broth that coats every strand of the yellow and white noodles. You'll definitely want to mix in a generous dollop of their sambal for an extra kick!
📍 Stall number: #02-K81
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
09 • Hee Hee Hee Steamed Fish and Seafood
For a lighter, but equally flavourful option, you have to try the seafood from Hee Hee Hee. The star of the show is definitely their steamed fish. The fish is incredibly fresh, steamed to a delicate, flaky delight, that just melts in your mouth.
It's simply prepared with a light savoury soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, allowing the natural sweetness of the seafood to shine through. They also offer a variety of other fresh seafood like prawns and lala. They’re all steamed to highlight their pure, clean flavours that will keep your taste buds heehee and haahaa-ing. It’s ideal for when you’re craving a wholesome and comforting meal.
📍 Stall number: #02-K58
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Thu, 11am – 2pm, 4pm – 8pm | Fri to Sun, 11am – 2pm, 4pm – 9pm
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
10 • SJ Sickander Ammal Muslim Food
If you're craving some delicious and aromatic Indian Muslim food, this is your go-to spot. They offer a variety of local favourites, from fragrant nasi briyani with tender chicken to the moreish mee goreng. But the real stars of the show are their roti prata and murtabak.
The prata is fried to crispy, flaky goodness, and the murtabak is stuffed with a generous amount of spiced meat. It's the kind of hearty food that's great for sharing with friends or family on a laid-back weekend morning.
📍 Stall number: #02-K52
⏰ Opening hours: 8am – 10pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Halal
11 • What the puff!
What the puff! is another emerging hawker stall, run by young innovative minds with big dreams. These aren’t your average curry puffs; they’re little pockets of pure deliciousness. While the classic curry puff is packed with the savoury flavour of chicken and potatoes, they’ve cooked up a creative twist to this well-loved fare.
One of their show-stopping creations is the cheesy puff. When you break it open, you'll be greeted by a satisfying stringy cheese pull that makes for a foodie’s dream photo. Decadent, savoury, and greasy, it’s a great little bite to grab when you want to indulge.
📍 Stall number: #02-K56
⏰ Opening hours: 7am – 2:30pm (Closed on Wednesday)
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: whatthepuff.sg
12 • Pin Wei Hong Kong Style Chee Cheong Fun
Pin Weu Hong Kong Style Chee Cheong Fun is a legacy hawker stall that has been operating for 3 generations. Having perfected their craft, they are a Michelin Guide recognised stall.
If that fancy accolade is not enough to impress you, this fun-fact might. This iconic store has been visited by French President Emmanuel Macron on his trip to Singapore. So if you’re a dim sum connoisseur, you might want to consider dropping by.
The chee cheong fun here is incredibly smooth and silky, with thin, almost translucent sheets of rice batter. They're prepared to order, so you get them fresh and hot, filled with fresh prawns, flavourful char siew, or other delicious ingredients. Each piece is lightly drizzled with a sweet soy sauce that lovingly embraces the fillings. It’s no wonder this stall is so popular — the quality and craftsmanship really stand out.
📍 Stall number: #02-K87
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: pinweiglobal.com
13 • Kedai Salima
Tucked away in the hawker centre, Kedai Salima is a true gem offering authentic Malay cuisine. You’ll find all the comforting classics here, from a fragrant plate of nasi lemak to a rich and hearty lontong. But these few specialty dishes that really show you what this stall is all about.
Their mee siam has a unique flavour profile that’s less sweet than others I’ve tried, and their kacang pool, a rich, spiced bean stew, is a unique and flavourful find. It’s a great place to explore traditional flavours with a modern touch.
📍 Stall number: #02-K80
🍴 Halal status: Halal
(Featured photo adapted from: National Geographic, Little Day Out, AsiaOne, Deliveroo)
