Old Airport Road Food Centre: 10 Must-Try Stalls at Singapore’s Hawker Icon
Widely regarded among locals as one of Singapore’s best hawker centres, Old Airport Road Food Centre has been a local favourite for more than half a century since it opened in 1973.
Its weathered exterior hints at decades of history, while the maze-like interior is lined with food stalls and buzzing with diners. The atmosphere is unmistakably authentic, giving the place a character and charm all its own.
If you’re ready to venture beyond the tourist-friendly hawker centres, it’s time to take on the “final boss” of Singapore’s hawker scene.
Getting There & Floor Map
Getting to Old Airport Road Food Centre
Old Airport Road Food Centre sits just south of Geylang, along Old Airport Road — a stretch that once marked the boundary of the former Kallang Airport.
The food centre lies almost halfway between Mountbatten and Dakota stations on the MRT Circle Line, making it an easy 6–7 minute walk from either station.
For those familiar with Singapore’s bus network, getting off at Blk 39 is another convenient option, with the food centre just steps away.
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Floor Map and Layout
Old Airport Road Food Centre is home to an impressive 168 stalls, making it one of Singapore’s largest hawker centres.
The stalls are arranged in three long, back-to-back rows, with dining tables set up in the open spaces along the walkways.
Unit numbers are a useful guide when locating a particular stall. For example, #01-31 indicates unit 31 on the first floor.
The middle and rear rows can feel slightly dim and tend to get warmer due to limited airflow.
For a brighter and breezier seat, the roadside row is recommended — its open-air layout with no walls allows natural light and fresh air to flow through.
Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee
#01-116: The Queue-Worthy Lor Mee Stall
One of the longest queues at Old Airport Road Food Centre is for Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee, often hailed as serving one of Singapore’s best bowls of lor mee.
This hearty noodle dish, which originated in China’s Fujian province, features flat noodles served in a thick, savoury gravy.
While still relatively unfamiliar to international visitors, it remains a beloved staple among Singaporeans.
Each bowl is generously covered with rich gravy and topped with flaked white fish, fish cake, and a braised egg. Black vinegar, chilli, and minced garlic are served on the side, allowing diners to customise the flavours to their liking.
Before eating, give everything a good mix to blend the spiced gravy with the tangy vinegar. The fragrant garlic and fresh coriander add another layer of aroma, while the springy flat egg noodles soak up the rich, piping-hot gravy beautifully.
The result is a satisfying bowl of lor mee that captures the distinctive flavours and textures of this Singaporean classic.
Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee
Roast Paradise
#01-121: Signature Char Siew
Located along the same row as Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee is Roast Paradise, a stall that shot to fame shortly after opening in 2016 and has since become one of the most popular stalls at Old Airport Road Food Centre.
The highlight is the rows of char siew hanging at the front of the stall.
Glazed with a sweet and fragrant sauce, the beautifully caramelised char siew has a glossy finish and a rich, savoury-sweet flavour.
The char siew can be enjoyed with rice or noodles, or ordered on its own for those who simply want to savour the succulent meat.
Roast Paradise
Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee
#01-32: Michelin Bib Gourmand Hokkien Mee
Alongside Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee, Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee is another stall renowned for its long queues at Old Airport Road Food Centre.
While a wait is still to be expected, the stall now uses a buzzer system, meaning customers no longer need to queue at the stall. The overall waiting time, however, remains largely unchanged.
Nam Sing’s signature Hokkien mee is served in a drier style with minimal gravy. Despite its dry appearance, the noodles deliver a rich seafood flavour alongside a satisfying juiciness. The dish comes together beautifully, with the noodles retaining their texture while staying wonderfully moist.
The stall has also earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee
Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow
#01-12: Classic Char Kway Teow
Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow is a well-loved stall known for serving one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic hawker dishes, char kway teow.
It has also earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
The dish features wide flat rice noodles stir-fried with prawns, eggs and bean sprouts over high heat, creating the distinctive smoky aroma known locally as wok hei.
Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow
Whitley Rd Big Prawn Noodle
#01-98: Top Prawn Mee Contender
Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodle is one of two well-known stalls at Old Airport Road Food Centre widely regarded as top contenders for prawn mee, alongside Albert Street Prawn Noodle.
The signature prawn noodles here come with three large, shell-on prawns. The springy egg noodles are served in a rich, flavourful prawn broth. Both soup and dry versions are available.
Albert Street Prawn Noodle (#01-10) is next on the list to try.
Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodle
Hin Fried Hor Fun with Prawn Beef Sliced Fish
#01-163: A Soothing Bowl of Hor Fun
For those who enjoy hor fun, Hin Fried Hor Fun with Prawn Beef Sliced Fish is well worth a try.
This popular dish features wide, chewy rice noodles in a silky gravy with delicate egg ribbons, filled with beef, prawns, fish slices and vegetables.
The gentle, savoury sauce coats the noodles beautifully, making this comforting meal especially welcome when taking a break from richer, heavier local flavours.
Hin Fried Hor Fun with Prawn Beef Sliced Fish
Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun
#01-155: Silky Smooth Chee Cheong Fun
This beloved dim sum staple takes centre stage at Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun.
Popular across the wider Chinese-speaking world as a breakfast favourite, these steamed rice noodle rolls are served from 8am to welcome early diners.
The fillings range from classic choices such as BBQ pork and prawns to less common combinations rarely seen in chee cheong fun, including century egg, otah and scallops.
True to its name, every portion is prepared fresh on the spot.
The silky‑smooth rice noodle rolls have a wonderfully soft texture and pair beautifully with the sweet‑and‑savoury sauce served with the BBQ pork, making this an easy dish to enjoy down to the very last bite.
Freshly Made Chee Cheong Fun
Wang Wang Crispy Curry Puff
#01-126: Singapore’s Classic Curry Puffs
Wang Wang Crispy Curry Puff specialises in curry puffs, a classic Singaporean snack enjoyed for generations.
These crescent‑shaped pastries are defined by their beautifully layered crimped edges. Beneath the crisp, flaky exterior lies a generous amount of savoury filling.
The puffs come in four varieties, priced at $2–$2.20 each:
- Curry Puff
- Sardine Puff
- Black Pepper Puff
- Yam Paste Puff
Perfect for a quick bite between meals, these curry puffs make a satisfying snack.
Wang Wang Crispy Curry Puff
Wang Ji Shanghai Xiao Long Bao
#01-109: Juicy Xiao Long Bao
Wang Ji Shanghai Xiao Long Bao is a popular hawker stall specialising in freshly made xiao long bao and dumplings.
Steamed to order, the xiao long bao is served piping hot, with each delicate wrapper packed with a generous amount of rich, savoury broth.
The pan-fried dumplings are equally delicious and pair wonderfully with a cold beer.
With five pieces of xiao long bao priced at $4 and five pan-fried dumplings at $4.50, the stall offers excellent value for money.
Wang Ji Shanghai Xiao Long Bao
Toast Hut (Relocated)
A Local Breakfast Gem
Toast Hut is a well-loved spot for kaya toast and kopi—two staples of a classic Singaporean breakfast.
Its sudden closure in 2024 left many regulars disappointed, but Toast Hut made a welcome return in 2025 after relocating to Bukit Merah.
Alongside its signature toast options, the updated menu now includes local favourites like fried bee hoon and economy rice. The iconic yellow cups featuring the Toast Hut name remain a familiar sight.
Final Thoughts
Old Airport Road Food Centre remains one of the true giants of Singapore’s hawker scene.
With its sheer number of stalls, incredible variety of dishes, and consistently high quality, it represents the very best of this beloved food culture.
Despite its deeply local atmosphere, exploring this iconic food centre offers a rewarding experience for those seeking an authentic taste of Singapore’s culinary heritage.
Old Airport Road Food Centre
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