Where chic cafes and polished eateries abound in the Bukit Timah vicinity, Adam Road Food Centre has kept things deliciously old-school since the 1970s. Just a short hop from the Singapore Botanic Gardens, this hawker haven has long been a favourite pit stop for anyone craving a fuss-free local feast.
With just a little over 30 stalls under its roof, it’s far from the biggest food centre in Singapore — but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in personality, and especially in legendary stalls serving up nasi lemak, mutton soup, prawn mee and more that draw loyal crowds from all over the island.
So the next time you’re wandering around the area or cooling off after a stroll through the Botanic Gardens, skip the usual brunch spots and pull up a seat here instead. Here are 11 best stalls at Adam Road Food Centre worth a-dam good try.
1. Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak (#01-02)
A huge part of why I wanted to curate this guide in the first place was so I’d get to rave about Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak all over again. The source of one of the food centre’s longest queues, it’s one of Singapore’s most popular nasi lemak stalls — the best, if I may.
Now, don’t start planning your escape; waiting in line is pretty much a given no matter the time of day. But for the delicious fare you’ll get? I promise it’s absolutely worth it.
An attraction in and of itself, Selera Rasa’s nasi is prepared with premium basmati rice cooked in coconut milk to achieve an irresistible fragrance. Honestly, it’s good enough to enjoy on its own or with just a dollop of aromatic sambal — exactly why the simple Regular Meal (S$4) with a fried egg is something I’d gladly pay for.
Beyond that, you’ll find 6 other nasi lemak sets on the menu. The Royal Flush (S$6.50) offers bang for your buck, pairing your rice with an ultra-crispy chicken wing, otah, begedil, fried egg, ikan bilis and peanuts. Otherwise, the dependable Chicken Wing Meal (S$5) or Fish Meal (S$5) will satisfy you just as well.
+65 9843 4509
Sat to Thu: 7am – 3pm
Closed on Fri
2. Adam Rd Noo Cheng Big Prawn Noodle (#01-27)
Another one often found on “best of” lists of its kind, Adam Rd Noo Cheng Big Prawn Noodle is a must-try with a Michelin Bib Gourmand to back it up. This iconic establishment is part of a family of hae mee heavyweights run by a trio of brothers, of which it’s the pioneer. At its helm is Teo Aik Cheng, the family’s younger twin, who took over his father’s stall and created his very own recipe after much experimentation.
If you like your prawn mee old-school, Noo Cheng’s rendition will be right up your alley. Steeped in pig oil, pork bones and pig skin, the broth is as traditional as it gets — a fine balance of sweet prawny notes and robust porky undertones.
Enjoy it with tender pork ribs and fresh wild-caught prawns in the Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle (S$7/S$10), which comes with your choice or noodles dry-tossed or in soup. Go for the highly-raved latter if you’ve got a penchant for spice, as the noodles come coated in a punchy, house-made chilli sauce that ties everything together.
Got a penny to spare? The 3 in 1 Prawn Noodle (S$12/S$15) featuring fish maw and fatty pork belly along with your prawns, or the Big Prawn Noodle (S$18) starring hulking prawns, might just catch your eye.
+65 9693 7961
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 4.30pm & 6.30pm – 9pm
Closed on Mon
3. Warong Pak Sapari (#01-09)
The best mee soto and mee rebus in Singapore? Many (my parents included) award those titles to the Michelin-recommended Warong Pak Sapari. A humble stall with over five decades under its belt, it’s known for comforting Malay soups made with recipes as rich as its history. Seriously, a whopping 21 ingredients go into the making of their mee soto broth alone.
The star of the show, the Mee Soto (S$4.50) features yellow noodles swimming in an almost mind-blowingly flavourful broth, rich with the savoury flavours of chicken and a lightly sweet spice from a touch of sambal kicap pedas that the stall will gladly add upon request. Trust us when we say this liquid gold is good enough to savour on its own, though you might like to add a Bergedil (S$1.20) to soak up every drop.
Also excellent is the Mee Rebus (S$4.50), a classic plate of noodles blanketed in luscious, nutty gravy and topped with the usual suspects of boiled egg, tofu, green chilli slices and lime. Signatures aside, the stall also offers a range of hearty soups such as Sup Ayam (S$6), Sup Babat (Beef Tripe) (S$7) and Sup Kaki Ayam (Chicken Gizzards) (S$6).
+65 6312 8775
Mon to Thu: 8am – 7.30pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 3pm
Closed on Fri
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4. Bahrakath Mutton Soup (#01-10)
If there’s a queue that bests those of the three stalls above, it’s Bahrakath’s Mutton Soup’s. With a Michelin Bib Gourmand (yes, another!) and a recent documentary feature to boot, it’s been quite the crowd magnet. A fixture at Adam Road Food Centre since 1973, its sup kambing continues to warm souls — right up till midnight on most days, too.
Their signature Mutton Soup comes in six varieties, from the simple Mutton Meat (S$7/S$10) and Mutton Leg (S$8/S$12) options to more adventurous picks like Mutton Tripe (S$8/S$10), Brain (S$8) and Tongue (S$8).
One sip and you’ll get exactly why so many swear by it. The soup’s base is an expertly balanced blend of herbs and spices like coriander, cumin and turmeric, lending a bright lift to its otherwise rich, creamy profile. It’s best enjoyed with French Loaf Bread, which is available as an add-on for S$1.
Fret not if mutton soup isn’t your thing, the stall also offers mains such as Mutton Briyani (S$8), Chicken Briyani (S$8), Chicken Rendang (S$7) and Mutton Rendang (S$8), the latter two paired with toasted French loaf.
+65 8510 8197
Tue to Sun: 11am – 12am
Mon: 10.30am – 10.30pm
5. Adam’s Indian Rojak (#01-05)
“One & Only Best In Town” — that’s how Adam’s Indian Rojak proudly touts itself. Judging by rave reviews online, and as someone who personally enjoys Indian rojak more than I do the Chinese version, I’m inclined to believe so. Prices are also incredibly wallet-friendly, with ingredients starting from just S$1 a pop.
The selection here is pretty straightforward, with staples like Coconut Dough (S$1), Potato Dough (S$1), Fish Cake (S$1.50), Prawn Roll (S$1.80), Fish Fillet (S$1.80) and many more that go into your self-curated smorgasbord of sinfully delicious fritters topped with cucumber, onion and green chilli slices.
What really makes this Indian rojak shine, though, is its tasty kuah. Made with peanuts, beans and spices, this flavour-packed sauce is sweet and spicy all at once, making for the ultimate dipping companion for every glorious fried bit.
+65 9710 3990
Tue to Fri: 10.30am – 8.30pm
Fri: 10am – 8.30pm
Sat: 9am – 8pm
Sun: 10am – 6pm
Closed on Mon
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6. Hokkien Fried Prawn Noodle • Fried Kway Teow • Fried Oyster • Carrot Cake (#01-22)
Now, this is one underrated gem of a stall! Hokkien Fried Prawn Noodle • Fried Kway Teow • Fried Oyster • Carrot Cake is its name — or rather, lack thereof — and it just about sums up everything they have to offer. The stall barely has an online presence, though I can tell you that I was seriously impressed to find it being run solo when I visited.
While I’d intended to snag a plate of Char Kway Teow (S$4/S$5/S$6), the sight of many ordering plates of piping hot Black Carrot Cake (S$4/S$5/S$6) proved too tempting to resist. This was some solid chai tow kway for sure, featuring supple radish cake cubes fried with eggs and savoury chye poh fried in a decadent amount of sweet black sauce. I’m glad I caved, but I’ll definitely be back for that Char Kway Teow.
Their Hokkien Prawn Mee (S$5/S$6/S$7) also seems to be a crowd favourite, with wok-tossed noodles slathered in tantalising prawn broth. Alternatively, go for the Fried Oyster Omelette (S$6/S$8/S$10) if you’re after something crisp-edged and indulgent; or the Fried Prawn Omelette (S$6/S$8/S$10) if those chubby morsels aren’t your jam.
Wed to Mon: 10am – 7pm
Closed on Tue
14 Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre stalls worth forgoing your ideal bod for
7. Adam Chicken Rice (#01-08)
You’ll never catch me saying no to an indulgent plate of nasi ayam goreng, and that’s exactly what Adam Chicken Rice brings to the table. This isn’t your usual Hainanese chicken rice stall (see #8 instead), but one that specialises in Malay-style nasi ayam and ayam penyet.
Walk around the food centre and you’ll spot plenty of diners digging into their Ayam Penyet (S$7). A slab of smashed golden-brown fried chicken is crowned with crispy batter bits, and paired with fiery sambal and a mound of rice that takes on a deep yellow hue — and a deeply fragrant profile to match. If fried fish is more your thing, there’s Ikan Penyet (S$7) as well.
And of course, you can’t go without trying their namesake Chicken Rice (S$6). Here, that same signature yellow rice is served with roasted chicken, its moist flesh embellished with tasty, paper-thin skin.
+65 8688 3248
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 5pm
Closed on Sat & Sun
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8. Hua Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice (#01-23)
Ah, here’s one for the Hainanese chicken rice loyalists. Hua Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice is arguably the most popular among Adam Road Food Centre’s numerous chicken rice stalls. Its queue showed no signs of shortening on either of my afternoon or night visits, so I was left with no choice but to see what the fuss was about.
Priced at S$4.50, their Chicken Rice is one of the most affordable around. Interestingly, the main attraction here isn’t the steamed chicken but its roasted counterpart. Although I did find its meat a tad dry, its seasoning and sauce more than made up for it. I also loved how well it paired with the fragrant, gingery rice and especially the piquant chilli.
Beyond the classics, the stall serves up crispy Lemon Chicken Rice (S$5) and Thai Style Chicken Rice (S$5). They’ve also got an omu rice-style Omelette Chicken Rice series, with protein pairings like Fried Fish (S$5.50), Fried Scallop (S$5.50) and Fried Prawn (S$6).
Daily: 12pm – 8pm
9. Adam Fishball Noodle (#01-25)
I doubt any food centre is complete without a resident fishball noodle and bak chor mee stall — and Adam Fishball Noodle aptly takes that spot at Adam Road Food Centre. A staple since the 1980s, this stall now helmed by its second generation but continues to dole out the same homely bowls locals grew up with.
There’s Mushroom Minced Meat Noodles (S$5/S$6/S$7) and Fishball Noodles (S$4/S$5/S$6), then there’s the Speciality Noodles (S$8) that fetches you a little of everything. A must-try is their double-stuffed meatball, its meaty exterior encasing a chunk of savoury meat filling. Accompanying it are regular meatballs and delightfully bouncy fishballs, plus springy, saucy mee pok to pair.
Another best-seller is their Laksa (S$6/S$7), which you’ll want to swing by early for. Featuring slippery thick bee hoon, prawns, tau pok and more in an aromatic moreish gravy, it’s no wonder this one tends to sell out fast.
+65 9638 4934
Thu to Mon: 8am – 8pm
Closed on Tue & Wed
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10. Adam’s Desserts (#01-31)
My parents are far from sweet tooths, so you know a dessert stall’s legit if they can proudly call it their favourite. That’s Adam’s Desserts for them, and I figure it’d be a disservice to leave it out. Formerly known as Teck Kee Hot & Cold Dessert, this long-time fixture is the spot to visit for old-school sweet treats.
Dabao-ing a bowl of Tau Suan (S$2.50) is an almost-weekly affair for my parents. Served warm, this comforting bowl of soft mung beans in velvety soup is crowned with plenty of crispy you tiao pieces and feels like a hug in dessert form. Another staple of the old-school faction is the Cheng Tng (S$2.50) which, in my opinion, is best enjoyed cold.
A hot day would ironically be great news, because you won’t want to miss the fruit-filled Ice Jelly (S$3) and the Ice Kachang (S$3) — a mountain of flaky shaved ice, corn, jellies, red beans and more, all drenched in gula melaka and evaporated milk.
+65 9388 0478
Tue to Sun: 11am – 10pm
Closed on Mon
11. Fruitopia (#01-29)
Finally, who needs bubble tea when you’ve got fresh juices and ice blends from Fruitopia? With an extensive lineup of beverages, they’ve got you covered for that post-meal fun drink — and for washing down all the feasting you’ve done.
In case the quirky avocado mascot at its front didn’t give it away, the stall’s signature is its avocado milkshakes. The Power Avocado series — as it’s so coolly named — features creamy shakes like the titular Power Avocado (S$3.50), Power Avocado Banana (S$3.50), Coco Avocado (S$5.50), Power Avocado Strawberry (S$3.90) and more.
For something more refreshing, go for none other than the Refreshing series. My personal favourite is the tangy yet candy-like Strawberry Soursop Snow (S$3.50), though picks like the Dragonfruit Soursop Snow (S$3.50), Lychee Margarita Snow (S$3.50) and Mango Snow (S$3.50) are just as ideal for cooling off from Singapore’s humidity.
Or keep things simple with classic fresh fruit juices like ABC Juice (S$2.50/S$3), Celery + Apple + Carrot Juice (S$2.50/S$3), good old Orange Juice (S$2.50/S$3).
+65 8455 2313
Mon, Wed to Fri: 11am – 9pm
Tue: 11am – 3pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
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