The cheapest and most popular places to eat in Singapore are hawker centres, essentially former pushcart vendors directed into giant complexes by government fiat. Prices are low ($2-5 for most dishes), hygiene standards are high (every stall is required to prominently display a health certificate grading it from A to D) and the food can be excellent — if you see a queue, join it!
Ambience tends to be a little lacking though and there is no air-conditioning either, but a visit to a hawker centre is a must when in Singapore. However, be leery of overzealous pushers-cum-salesmen (especially at the Satay Club in Lau Pa Sat, and Newton Food Centre at Newton Circus) — Check to see what is on offer.
To order, first chope (reserve) a table by parking a friend or just a packet of tissues on it, note the table’s number, then place your order at your stall of choice. They’ll deliver to your table, and you pay when you get the food. Note that some stalls (particularly very popular ones) have signs stating “self-service”, meaning that you’re expected to get your food yourself — but if it’s quiet or you’re sitting nearby they’ll usually deliver anyway. At almost every stall you can also opt to take away (called “packet” or ta pao), in which case they’ll pack up your order in a plastic box/bag and even throw in disposable utensils. Upon finishing your meal, you are not required to assist in clearing your utensils, even in crowded centres with other patrons waiting for your table, since the tables are usually cleared by hired cleaners.
Every district in Singapore has its own hawker centres and prices decrease as you move out into the boonies. For tourists, centrally located Newton Circus (Newton MRT), Gluttons Bay and Lau Pa Sat (near the River), are the most popular options — but this does not make them the cheapest or the tastiest, and the demanding gourmand would do well to head to Chinatown instead. Some of Singapore’s favourite eating places (that are cheap and oh so good!) are located in the heartland like Bedok, Toa Payoh or Geylang. And if you somehow miss western food, Botak Jones in several hawker centers offer amazingly good, authentic and generously-sized American-restaurant style meals with the price of ‘hawker center’.
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