Although Singapore is a small nation, this food paradise proudly boasts of 114 markets and hawker centres! One of the oldest, and still very much loved by the locals, is ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre.
Built in the 1970s, this sprawling hawker centre was recently renovated in 2020 and is now open again to cater to the whims of fussy Singaporean’s taste buds. It is located in Jalan Bukit Merah, a bustling neighbourhood that is more popularly known for IKEA. Even after decades, people all over Singapore still come here to stuff their faces with sumptuous local delicacies, especially on weekends.
Do you know how ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre got its name? Well, it is believed to be thus named because the former Archipelago Brewery Company was situated nearby, and also because of the brickworks factories that used to be located in the vicinity. Regardless, the name stuck and locals affectionately refer to it as the ABC market.
If you are a first-timer, you would probably be intimidated by its massive size and sheer variety of hawker stalls. A simple hack would be just to look for where the locals are queuing!
You cannot come to ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre without trying this famous Western Food stall called Wow Wow West. Owned by a couple with an endearing love story of 7 years, this humble stall that has been around for more than 20 years serves up simple but scrumptious western food delights.
They only have 10 items on their menu and the all-time favourites are its Chicken Chop, Fish & Chips and juicy sausages. How to find them? Simply spot the long snaking queue during lunch and dinner time!
Bak Chor Mee (Minced Pork Noodles) is a staple at any Singapore hawker centre and you cannot go wrong with the noodles at Hosay Mee Pok. At only $6, their Signature Mee Pok is an upgraded version of what the usual hawkers sell and it is value-for-money.
Firm and springy noodles are paired with a generous amount of fresh ingredients such as sliced pork, minced pork, scallops, clams, perfectly-cooked pork liver and crispy fried fish strips. They also sell yummy porridge and seafood soup that will warm you up on rainy days.
As you walk down the rows of hawker stalls, this brightly-lit shop with a neon signboard is unmissable. Tofully sells handmade Hakka Yong Tau Foo (a dish of vegetables and mushrooms stuffed with fish paste or minced pork) with a modern twist.
Owner Keith, winner of Mediacorp TV series Hawker, Academy, has a desire to bring Singapore’s hawker heritage to greater heights and he did it. Go for the Signature Tofully Bowl that uses premium noodles similar to the texture of ramen, topped with ingredients that are a wonderful balance of flavours.
For those who like a little spice, ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre has a great selection of Halal food stalls! You can find almost anything here, from the usual crowd-favourites such as Nasi lemak, Mee Goreng and Nasi Padang to hearty Indian-Pakistani curries. One thing you have to try is the traditional Malay Kueh-Kueh (sweet or savoury bite-sized snacks) at Mohd Zaid Kueh Mueh.
You may miss this nondescript hawker stall selling the tastiest Malay snacks but it is worth the hunt. Made fresh daily, these unpretentious snacks evoke nostalgia and taste just like the good old days. The prices are delightfully affordable (starting from just $0.60sgd), which means you can try a variety of everything.
If you are overwhelmed by the choices, some recommended must-tries are the Kueh Dada (coconut pancake roll), Goreng Pisang (banana fritters), Sardine Epok-Epok (Sardine puff) and Popiah Goreng Sayur (fried vegetable roll).
Beyond the cooked food stalls are some shops selling clothing, toiletries, dried food and even plants. Unlike the retail shops found in air-conditioned malls, these old-school stalls are typically run by the older generation and their products cater mainly to the residents living nearby. It is a unique aspect of hawker centres that even some young Singaporeans are not aware of, so do take the time to visit this slowly fading-out scene.
