Built in 1981 for the last of Chinatown’s street hawkers, Chinatown Complex is Singapore’s largest market and hawker centre, with around 700 stalls.
The complex was built to resettle some 300 street hawkers from Smith, Trengganu, Pagoda and Temple streets; after a 2008 upgrade it had more than 700 stalls. The wet market fills the floor below, at its best in the morning, and the food centre is on the second floor. Upstairs, look for claypot rice, yong tau foo, popiah and satay.
Lian He Ben Ji Claypot (#02-198/199) takes 20 to 45 minutes per pot, so order first and find a table while you wait. Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu (#02-87/88) joined the Bib Gourmand list in 2026. Many popular stalls take cash only, so carry small notes, and return your tray when you finish.
