Where’s a good place to eat in Little India? Two words: Tekka Centre. Here are the top food stalls you should hit up when you’re there.
Little India is a vibrant neighbourhood with everything you need. Shopping for groceries or souvenirs? You can drop by Mustafa Centre, which opens till 2am daily. If you’re interested in spotting street art, keep your eyes peeled for spectacular murals all over the enclave. Of course, we can’t talk about this heritage district without mentioning Tekka Centre and its plentiful hawker food options. You can lap up almost everything from biryani and nasi lemak to international cuisine and even artisanal coffee. Can’t decide what to eat at this sprawling complex? We’re here to help.
What to eat at Tekka Centre: Best hawker food stalls
1. Allauddin’s Briyani
True foodies know this hawker complex is the epicentre of the world’s greatest battle. Nope, we’re not talking about the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef — it’s a fight for the best biryani in Singapore. This decades-old stalwart is a firm favourite among many, and the daily snaking queues testify to its popularity. The briyani is fluffy and flavourful, served generously with tender chicken or mutton meat. Allauddin has another stall in the food centre selling other familiar favourites like prata, Maggi goreng, and murtabak.
Allauddin’s Briyani, #01-229, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
2. Temasek Indian Rojak
Unlike Chinese rojak, which features fruits and you tiao tossed in prawn paste, the Indian counterpart is all about crispy fried fritters worth skipping the diet for. We’re talking vadai, potatoes, fish cake, and prawns slathered in a generous amount of rich, sweet-spicy peanut sauce. Hungry? We sure are! This is the only stall you should patronise if you’re craving Indian rojak.
Temasek Indian Rojak, #01-254, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
3. Hanifa’s Briyani Specialist
Here’s another contender in the battle for best biryani stall. You can get the usual proteins (chicken, mutton, fish), but we’d like to draw your attention to the quail briyani, which you rarely see at hawker centres. If you love eggs, you have no choice but to order this one. What else can you get here? If you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend the mutton soup or sup tulang merah. Be careful eating the latter – it’s a messy affair.
Hanifa’s Briyani Specialist, #01-257, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
4. Delhi Lahori
This stall specialises in Indian and Pakistani fare, making it stand out from the sea of hawker stalls in Tekka Centre. The naan is baked in a tandoor (electrical charcoal oven), producing a fluffy yet crispy flatbread that pairs well with the butter chicken dish. You can also get other types of flatbread like chapati, tandoori roti, and paratha. If rice is your carb of choice, we recommend getting the chicken masala rice set. Spicy but oh so good.
Delhi Lahori, #01-266, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
5. 545 Whampoa Noodles
Prawn noodle lovers should know about this stall, which has resided in Tekka Centre since post-war Singapore. The recipe is passed down through generations; the stall is currently helmed by a third-generation owner. Choose between the soup and dry portions, both of which include yellow noodles, prawns, pork slices, and topped with fried shallots. The undeniable highlight of this dish is its rich, flavourful broth, made with pork bones and prawns.
545 Whampoa Noodles, #01-326, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
6. Neha Tiffin Centre
After a savoury, carb-laden meal, cleanse your palate with some sweet treats. Make a beeline for this humble stall, which offers various traditional Indian desserts. Its putu mayam – rice flour noodles topped with orange palm sugar – tends to sell out fast, so get it if you’re here. You can also sink your teeth into other sweets like laddu, gulab jamun, and halwa, or go for savoury options such as samosa and masala vadai.
Neha Tiffin Centre, #01-274, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
7. Heng Gi Goose and Duck Rice
This stall has existed for over 60 years and is well-known among foodies on our sunny island. Despite its name, Heng Gi only serves braised duck nowadays due to the restriction on goose meat imposed by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore. (Darn you, bird flu!) But that hasn’t deterred folks (and fans) from patronising the stall. A plate of duck rice is accompanied by herbal soup; you can add sides such as tofu, braised egg, and duck liver.
Heng Gi Goose and Duck Rice, #01-335, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
8. Imaroy Thai Food
Besides local food, diners can spot stalls at Tekka Centre hawking international fare. This one offers authentic Thai cuisine without breaking the bank. The usual suspects can be found here, like pad Thai, tom yum soup, pineapple rice, and mango salad. Not feeling Thai food? No problem, you can also dig into beef kway teow, ‘balachan’ fried rice, or hor fun.
Imaroy Thai Food, #01-277, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
9. Generation Coffee
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that whenever you’re in a hawker centre, you must have a cup of hot kopi. At first glance, this coffee stall may seem a little out of place, but its steady stream of customers proves otherwise. Besides the standard coffee and tea drinks, Generation brews cuppas you normally find in cafes, like long black, flat white, and matcha lattes. Just be prepared to queue for a while.
Generation Coffee, #01-321, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
10. Ming Fa Fishball
Who doesn’t love fishball noodles? If you crave the dish, here’s where you can slurp up a comforting bowl – and it’ll only set you back $3.50. In this economy? That’s right, folks. You can swap out the fishballs for meatballs, fried dumplings, or mushroom minced meat. Those who are still peckish can add crispy pancakes, seafood vegetable fishcakes, or ngoh hiang to their order.
Ming Fa Fishball, #01-304, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
11. Old Amoy Chendol
Do you know what’s good to eat on a hot day? Chendol, of course! This stall serves the ice-cold dessert only, so you don’t have to rack your brain deciding what to eat. We like that everything is made from scratch daily, including the pandan worm-like jelly. Each bowl costs $2.50, which is a steal in this day and age. You can also adjust the sweetness level to your liking.
Old Amoy Chendol, #01-305, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
12. Guan Chun Seng Mixed Veg Rice
So you’ve reached that time of the month when you need to tighten your purse strings. What can you have that won’t cost an arm and a leg? Obviously, economic rice. You can get homely sides like steamed egg, stir-fried bitter gourd, and soy sauce ginger chicken. If you’re not in the mood to pick or just you’re nipping out for a quick lunch, go for the trusty Chinese-style nasi lemak.
Guan Chun Seng Mixed Veg Rice, #01-267, Tekka Centre, 664 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
13. Siti Rodiah Nasi Padang
One thing we love about Tekka Centre is how Muslim-friendly it is. Besides nasi padang, this stall offers other familiar Malay rice dishes. Care for a hearty plate of nasi rawon (a Javanese rice dish in black beef soup made from buah keluak)? Nasi sambal goreng and nasi lemak are popular choices too. Don’t forget to add a bagedil or two!
Siti Rodiah Nasi Padang, #01-263, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665
How to get to Tekka Centre
You can take the North East or Downtown lines and get off at Little India station. From there, head to Exit C; Tekka Centre is a five-minute walk away.
Remember to make space in your stomach for all the food places in Tekka Centre!
