Amoy Food Centre: What the CBD Eats for Lunch

At noon, the CBD moves with purpose. Office workers stream towards familiar hawker stalls in search of a reliable lunch.

We spent a weekday at Amoy Food Centre to see what keeps the crowd returning — from heritage staples to newer, unexpected finds.

Located between Telok Ayer and Amoy Street, Amoy Food Centre has long been a lunchtime refuge for the surrounding office crowd. From heritage stalwarts to newer, more experimental stalls, it reflects the evolving tastes of the CBD workforce.

Amoy St Lor Mee

It's been a while since my dad was here so he just had to introduce me to his all time guilty pleasure, Amoy St Lor Mee. Serving up filling bowls of Lor Mee since 1959, this is one of the rare stalls that has kept its prices affordable. At  $4.50, we managed to get ourselves a medium serving of Lor Mee.

The signature yellow noodles are covered in that oh-so-sinful but oh-so-delicious gravy. Our portion came garnished with fried toppings of fish, minced chicken and tofu skin. The dish came together in a perfect blend of punchy flavours that will make you think, what’s life without a little sin? 

Gan Lao Zai

I, on the other hand, was feeling a little more of a fusion twist, which led me to Gan Lao Zai. Inspired by a fusion of Chinese and Japanese influences, this stall was whipping together noodle dishes like no other. I settled on the Honey Glazed Pork Belly Noodles ($6.50). If Chinese Zha Zang Mian and Japanese ramen had a foodie baby, it would be this dish. 

A rich and slightly tangy black bean sauce coats springy egg noodles, topped with sweet char-grilled honey pork belly and of course, an ajisen egg. While in theory a simple dish, its simplicity is what made it shine. No outlandish flavour combinations, just simple and easy-to-understand fusion flavours that go hand in hand.

Liberation Co.

While finding a place to sit, a sign caught my eye. 

With such brazen instructions, I couldn’t help but be drawn in to investigate. Liberation Co. is one of the new kids in Amoy Food Centre serving up omakase-style tacos. The mechanisms are simple: The Chef grills up the tacos according to either a vegetarian or meat option and You eat whatever he makes!  

Served up with fresh lime to add that acidity quintessential to Mexican Cuisine

I ordered 2 pieces of their meat tacos ($7.50) and although I’ve never had hawker centre tacos before, I was impressed. The tacos were served on soft tortillas, open-faced with Mexican spice marinated chicken atop a bed of freshly cut lettuce and onions. Together, they’re exactly what you’d expect from a well-rounded taco, filling, affordable and flavourful. 

Petite Krumbs

In true cbd fashion, lunch was followed by an imminent meeting. Naturally, that meant picking up pastries to go. Helmed by a former executive pastry chef, this hawker boulangerie serves up both classic and modern pastries baked right there in-house. 

After perusing their enticing display case I settled a selection of four of my favourite classics.

From left to right: Canelé ($3.50), Sourdough Brownie ($2), Strawberry Matcha Madeline ($2), Pain Au Chocolate ($3.80)

Of the lot, my favourite was definitely the Canelé ($3.50). A caramelised exterior with a densely custardy inner is exactly the type of canelés I missed from my time in Paris.

The meeting hit was the Strawberry Matcha Madeline ($2). With a bunch of girls in their early 20s, there was no doubt that this earthy matcha packed madeline with a hint of the sweetness wasn’t going to be a showstopper.

Amoy Food Centre still remains one of the most affordable food options in the CBD.

However, as the working culture shifts and preferences change, the stall owners at Amoy Food Centre are determined not to be left behind. Whether you’re looking for something new to try or just a plate of comfort food, you’ll find this culmination right here, in the heart of town! 

📍Amoy Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road Tanjong Pagar, Singapore 069111 Singapore