Tekka Market and Food Centre, originally named Kandang Kerbau Market, has returned after a few months’ renovations.
You would find a new coat of paint, bigger fans, new tables, new flooring, and better ventilation now.
Originally named Zhujiao, this hawker place in Little India was renamed “Tekka” to make it easier for non-Chinese locals to pronounce it.
(The name “Tekka” is derived from the Hokkien dialect term “Tek Kah,” which means “foot of the bamboos.” This is believed to reference the bamboo plants that were once common in the area.)
Located in Little India, after a meal at Tekka Centre, you can explore the surrounding area filled with colorful shops, temples, and vibrant streets that showcase Indian heritage and traditions in Singapore.
The allure of Tekka Centre lies in its vast array of culinary delights, catering to diverse palates.
It is a melting pot of Singapore’s multicultural cuisine. With its multitude of stalls, you can sample dishes from various Singaporean ethnic groups under one roof. Here’s more at Tekka Food Centre:
Allauddin’s Briyani
Tekka Centre #01-232
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)
Briyani (also called “Biryani” depending on region) is a type of mixed long-grain Indian rice dish flavoured with spices such that it is rich and flavourful; with the word derived from a Persian word “birian” which means fried before cooking.
At the Michelin-recommended (though no Bib Gourmand yet) Allauddin’s Briyani, choose from Mutton, Chicken or Fish Briyani for $7, and customers can top up with chicken sambal ($4), fried chicken ($4), fried fish ($4) or mutton cutlet ($4).
Compared to most other briyani I had, I noted that the yellow-orange grains were more evenly coloured, and quite gentle in terms of spice level.
It was flavourful but not as robust as I would have expected; the pro is it is not as greasy or cloying as well (that I could actually finish the packet.)
Read more at: Allauddin’s Briyani (Tekka Centre)
Prata Saga Sambal Berlada
Tekka Centre #01-258
Opening Hours: 7am – 1pm (Mon – Sun)
Prata Saga Sambal Berlada at Tekka Centre is a hawker stall that has gathered quite the reputation. And rightfully so.
Their prata is the blend of fluffy insides and crispy edges. But the real showstopper is their sambal.
Made from fresh red chillies and with a hint of belachan, it adds a fiery and flavourful kick.
The stall offers a variety of options like Prata Egg, Prata Cheese, and different Murtabaks such as Murtabak Mutton, Murtabak Chicken, and Murabak Sardines.
The plain Prata, which at $2.40 for 2 pieces, felt like a steal – if you are in the mood for a spicy and satisfying treat.
Heng Gi Duck Rice
Tekka Centre #01-335
Opening Hours: 8am – 3pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
If you find the taste at Heng Gi rather similar to Ah Heng Duck Rice at Hong Lim Food Centre), that is because both are helmed by “disciples” of the original owner Uncle Yang.
The stall sells traditional Teochew-style braised duck (meat, wings, feet) offal, pork belly, pig ears, pig head meat, tau kwa, and egg.
There is usually a queue during lunch time. It is not uncommon that they run out of duck before they close for the day, so come early.
If you are dining solo, go for the Duck Rice for 1 person ($4.00), which comes with a plate of duck meat, a bowl of steamed white rice drizzled with the braising sauce, and a bowl of herbal-flavoured soup.
The duck meat is lightly braised yet flavourful, tender and not too fat.
Read more at: Heng Gi (Tekka Centre)
545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles
Tekka Centre #01-326
Opening Hours: 7am – 1:30pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun
This hae mee stall is helmed by a young hawker Ruifang who graduated in finance and economics, but made that career switch.
There are both dry and soup versions of their famous prawn noodles, and you have the option to choose from different types of noodles as well.
What I liked about the dry Prawn Noodles was combination of the spicy chilli sauce, sweet ketchup, and mixture of fried garlic and shallots which added light crisp.
There are customers who enjoy their soup version more. I found the soup light, not too greasy and zhong kou wei, that you could finish the entire bowl without having a heavy feeling.
Read more at: 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles (Tekka Centre)
Grandma Mee Siam
Tekka Centre #01-311
Opening Hours: 8am – 3pm (Mon, Wed – Sat), Closed Tues, Sun
This stall at Tekka Centre is running successfully for over 40 years, so one can only imagine the homely flavours with a recipe of Mee Siam passed down from generations.
What is special about this stall is that you can also order ngor hiang pieces on the side, with items such egg roll, sausage, cuttlefish, fried fish fritters, and meat balls (priced between $1.20 to $4 per item).
At only $3 onwards, the Mee Siam itself was quite inexpensive and filling, with plenty of spring onions for garnishing and a touch of sambal for that kick.
The gravy itself had some slight sweetness and tanginess, though I would think some may refer a gravy that is richer and more robust.
Chuan’s Ladle 家传记
Tekka Centre #01-317
OpeningHours: 8am – 2pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
I chanced upon Chuan’s Ladle 家传记 at Tekka Centre and was intrigued by their “Ladle Cake” ($2.50).
At first glance, it reminded me of the “Hei Pia” or prawn fritters from pasar malams. However, their deep-fried snack is distinct, shaped like a mini-UFO and filled with a delightful mix of shredded turnip, minced pork, and tau kwa.
It is their family’s special touch with recipe passed down the generations. There are also options for those who prefer it spicy or with coriander.
The scallion noodles, a steal at $1.50, was my favourite. They might seem straightforward, but the process is intricate.
The scallion oil alone requires green onions to be patiently fried for nearly an hour, capturing their essence.
Combined with thin noodles and a soya sauce concoction, the noodles while a tad oily, was both aromatic and flavourful.
Raja Bojun Sri Lankan Food
Tekka Centre #01-280
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 9:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Tekka Centre’s Raja Bojun Sri Lankan Food is where you can find a haven of authentic Sri Lankan flavors.
For those unfamiliar, Sri Lankan cuisine offers a tantalizing mix of rich spices, coconut-based curries, and unique textures.
From the vast menu, you can dive into staples like rice and curry or try the delectable string hoppers, known locally as Indiappa. The rottis come in various fillings, be it vegetable, mutton, or fish.
The devilled prawns and eggs provide a spicy kick, while traditional dishes like gotukola sambola and pol sambola give a glimpse into the island’s culinary heritage.
The dhal curry and mango curry are recommended, with their comforting and tangy flavours respectively.
If you are unsure where to start, you can go for the Rice & Chilli Chicken or other sets priced from $7.50.
Ming Fa Fishball
Tekka Centre #01-304
Opening Hours: 8am – 3pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
With its roots tracing back to a humble pushcart in the bylanes of Chinatown, Ming Fa has come a long way.
Their story, spanning over seven decades, is a testament to their commitment to taste and tradition.
Among the myriad of offerings from Chicken Chop Noodles ($4), Laksa ($3) to Fuzhou Fishball Soup ($4), their Minced Pork Noodles ($4) and Fishball noodles ($3.50) stand out.
The noodles, tossed with crispy pork lard, vinegar, and chilli, serve as the perfect base for their fishballs.
Notably, these fishballs are crafted daily using only yellowtail fish paste, ensuring freshness with every bite.
Generation Coffee
Tekka Centre #01-321
Opening Hours: 7am – 10:30am, 11am – 2:45pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Generation Coffee at Tekka Centre with its Expobar espresso machine sells both artisanal and traditional local coffee to shake up the hawker coffee scene.
They might not have been the first to pull shots in a hawker centre, but they were prominent and attracted customers from all over.
The specialty coffee is priced very economically compared to a trendy sit-down café. An Espresso goes for $2.60 and a Long Black is $3.10.
Both a Flat White and a Latte are $3.60. The Latte I had was medium-bodied with lovely chocolate notes.
I loved that you are able to find good specialty coffee (as good as those served in the better cafes) in a hawker centre at affordable pricing.
Read more at: Generation Coffee (Tekka Centre)
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Ming Fa noodle overrated. Preferred the Kim Seng Minced pork noodle stall.