Having covered Maxwell Food Centre, People’s Park Food Centre, and Hong Lim Food Centre so far on our listicles, we will be bringing you to Chinatown Complex Food Centre this week. Indulge in a plethora of scrumptious dishes including Beef Brisket Noodles and DucK Rice Bento Sets as well as unique ones like Sachima and Wa Kuih! Not forgetting some affordable craft beers for the perfect pairing!
1. Fatty Ox HK Kitchen
Over the years, Fatty Ox HK Kitchen has amassed a reputation for its delicious, authentic Hong Kong-style roasted and braised meats. Although they serve up pretty tasty meats like their Roasted Duck, Soya Sauce Chicken and Char Siew, their Beef Brisket is definitely what draws customers back.
While most beef brisket noodles in Singapore are either Teochew or Hainanese versions, Fatty Ox serves the Cantonese version, which is certainly a rare gem. Sink your teeth into scrumptious pull-apart tender beef and melt-in-your-mouth tendons that will have you craving for more!
Unit: #02-84
Operating Hours: Wed to Sun, 7.30am to 2.30pm
2. Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck & Kway Chap
Pleasing to the eye and to the palate, Jin Ji’s Duck Rice Bento Sets are not only delectable, but they are incredibly insta-worthy as well! Giving you the best of both worlds, the bento is a beautiful fusion of Teochew braised duck rice and Kway Chap, with Japanese influences. Indulge in incredible ingredients including sweet daikon, braised duck, soft-boiled egg, pork belly, pig stomach and intestines, pickled vegetables, and yam rice moulded into tiny balls.
Unit: #02-156
Operating Hours: Daily, except for Fri, 10am to 6pm
3. Shang Hai Fried Xiao Long Bao
Ever tried Fried Xiao Long Bao before? Also known as Sheng Jian Bao, Shang Hai Fried Xiao Long Bao’s Fried Pork Buns are larger compared to your xiao long bao and have a similar thickness to your typical steamed bao. The bottom has a delightfully crispy layer that adds a slight char as well. The soup and filling inside are flavourful, with the pork being juicy as well. Additionally, the flavours are bolder compared to your usual xiao long bao, making them reminiscent of your Da Pao (big steamed bun).
Their Fried Shrimp Buns are lighter in flavour and are cleaner compared to the pork version, tasting more closely to the classic xiao long bao. The flavour of the prawn shines through with each bite and its bouncy texture blends well with that of the pork. Pair the dumplings with vinegar and ginger, and with some chilli for a delightful burst of acidity, spice, and umami that blends together harmoniously.
Unit: #02-104
Operating Hours: Daily, except for Wed and Fri, 10.30am to 3.30pm & 5.30pm to 8.30pm
4. Chef Leung’s Authentic Hand-Milled Rice Noodle Rolls
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Run by ex-Raffles Hotel chef, Chef Leung, his stall has since become a popular spot, drawing snaking queues despite only opening in 2021. His chee cheong fun is made from scratch with house-milled rice batter which is time-consuming and painstaking work, but the result however is well worth it. Choose from an array of flavours – Original, Pork, Char Siew, Prawn, and Tuna. Chef Leung also offers Hong Kong-style congees like Salted Pork Ribs with Century Egg Congee, and Dried Oyster, Pork & Century Egg Congee.
Unit: #02-096
Operating Hours: Tues to Sun, 7am to 2pm
5. Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu
What makes Xiu Ji stand out from others is that their fish paste is handmade! While this dish might look plain and unassuming, the fish paste is both fresh and flavourful, with each bite bringing you a sense of nostalgia. Their most popular menu item is YTF with dry noodles, topped with ikan bilis that’s made with their secret recipe. Another unique point of their stall is their chilli, which is similar to chicken rice chilli. Though it might seem like a weird combination, trust us when we say it works. The amazing flavour combination will leave you coming back for more!
Unit: #02-88
Operating Hours: Tues to Sun, 5am to 1.30pm
6. Chang Ji Gourmet
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Serving their dishes at only $1.20, Chang Ji Gourmet is the perfect spot for a budget-friendly meal. Choose from three dishes – Economical Bee Hoon, Economical Fried Mee, and Fish and Peanut Porridge. Comforting and tasty, enjoy a satisfying meal here without having to burn a hole in your wallet. Do head down early as they are sometimes sold out as early as 10am!
Unit: #02-110
Operating Hours: Wed to Sun, 6.30am to 2pm
7. Pan Ji Cooked Food
In Singapore, Pan Ji Cooked Food is one of the only few spots where you can get your hands on handmade Sachima. A traditional Chinese snack that originated in the 1600s, it is made up of fried dough crisps that are bounded together with maltose and sugar syrup.
The owner Mr Poon kneads the dough, cuts them into strips, deep-fries them, and then coats them in malt sugar. After it is coated, it is sliced into blocks. This results in a crispy sweet treat to the tastebuds, often compared by others to American Rice Krispies Treats. Â The stall closes daily at 2pm so do head down early to not miss out on this delicious treat!
Unit: #02-78
Operating Hours:Â Daily, 8am to 2pm
8. Ah Kong Wa Kuih
Another rare gem to be found here, Wa Kuih is a traditional Hokkien snack that is quickly disappearing in Singapore. This steamed rice cake dish was once sold by street peddlers in Singapore over 50 years ago. While chwee kueh is topped off with chai poh after it is steamed, wa kuih has toppings steamed together, offering more variety as well.
Texturewise, it is firmer in comparison to chwee kueh. Additionally, you can enjoy a variety of different toppings including dark soy sauce, minced garlic, dried shrimp, mushrooms, and sambal. Do head down early as they are usually sold out before their closing time.
Unit: #02-116
Operating Hours:Â Tues to Sun, 7.45am to 2pm
9. Smith Street Taps
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
For an affordable pint of beer in Chinatown, Smith Street Taps is just the spot to head to with your drinking buddies. Enjoy local and international craft beers on tap from only $14! Featuring up to 20 varieties of beer, the selection includes locally brewed Saturday Saranghae from Alive Brewing, Pentrich Brewing Co’s Shine Like Trillions,  Siren Craft Brew from Britain, and MOA from New Zealand. Sapporo beer is also a permanent menu item, perfect for fans of Japanese beers. As their drink roster changes regularly, each visit offers you a new experience!
Unit: #02-062
Operating Hours
- Tues to Thurs, 6pm to 10.30pm
- Fri, 6pm to 11pm
- Sat, 2pm to 11pm
Try All These Delicious Food At Chinatown Complex Food Centre Today!
What are you waiting for? Hurry down to Chinatown Complex Food Centre and try all these amazing food today!
Cover Photo: @eatwherelocaleat (Instagram), @smithstreettaps (Instagram), @hellozizilovepanda (Instagram)
For more listicles, check out the 9 Best Stalls At Beauty World Food Centre You Must Try!
–
We would like to invite you to join our New Private Community Group! Here you are free to ask questions, share your love for food, and explore the Singapore community! We will also regularly post about casual promos and the latest findings.
Click on the button below and hunt good food with us today!
