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A trip to Singapore is not complete without visiting Lau Pa Sat, the most popular food center in the city, or what locals refer to as “hawker center.”

If you're a foodie, this is a certified paradise because not only is it surrounded by Singapore's tallest buildings, t also offers an array of food choices for every palate -- from chicken rice to satay to kaya toast.

Lau Pa Sat, Singapore / Source: @javan (IG)

For you to find Lau Pa Sat, make your way to the Raffles Place MRT station and walk around five minutes towards Boon Tat Street. By the time you find a Victorian building characterized by its cast-iron pillars and terracotta roof with a clock tower, you're sure to have made it to your destination.

Because there are plenty of stalls to choose from, the best way to gauge which one is the best is for you to walk around and check what others are eating. The prices are also very reasonable because you can find a dish starting at S$5.

If you're still scratching your head, we've listed down five distinct dishes to try from the hawker center as recommended by Drew Arellano.

1. Fishball Noodles

Fishball Noodles / @nickblitzz (IG)

Stall suggestion: Lau Pa Sat Fishball Minced Meat Mee

Lau Pa Sat Fishball Minced Meat Mee started in 1973 by “Noodle Master” Jason and his wife Jenny. In 2017, their stall at Lau Pa Sat was awarded one of Singapore's Best Foods.

Their best seller? As the name suggests, their Fishball Minced Meat that Jason cooks himself and is made from fresh fish every day.

2. Banmian

Banmian / @wensdelight

Stall suggestion: Qiu Lian Ban Mian

Banmian is a popular Chinese noodle dish, consisting of handmade noodles served in soup. The term “banmian” comes from the Hakka method of cutting the noodle into straight strands using a wooden block as a ruler.

In Lau Pa Sat, find the stall Qiu Lian Ban Mian which is famous for its version of the noodle soup with minced meat, fried anchovies, and vegetables, all for the price of S$4.

Upon taking a sip of the banmian, Drew couldn't help but say, “Now we're talking! Panalo 'yung broth niya.”

3. Hokkien Mee

Hokkien mee / @shootandspoon (IG)

Stall suggestion: Seng Kee Local Delights

Hokkien mee is a popular Southeast Asian dish, mainly in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, which has its origins in the cuisine of China's Fujian province.

Now, each variety has its distinct type of Hokkien mee but for the Singapore variant, it consists of egg noodles and rice noodles stir-fried with egg, slices of pork, prawns, and squid, and garnished with vegetables and lime.

Seng Kee Local Delight serves one of the best Hokkien mee in Singapore known for its smooth and juicy texture along with its tasty and rich flavors, and it all costs S$5.50.

4. Satay

Singapore satay / @best.satay (IG)

Satay is a Southeast Asian food which consists of diced or sliced meat, mostly chicken, goat, beef, pork, fish, and sometimes tofu skewered in bamboo sticks that are either barbecued or grilled over a wood fire.

In Singapore, satay stalls in Lau Pa Sat are very popular with tourists because it mimics the open-air dining style of previous establishments. These skewers are often paired with peanut sauce but can also be dipped in other dressings like soy sauce or pineapple puree.

5. Laksa

Singapore laksa / @_lizzieluvs (IG)

Stall suggestion: Seng Kee Local Delights

Of course, this list wouldn't be complete without the spicy noodle soup that is laksa. Made of thick wheat noodles, laksa is complimented by many toppings such as chicken, prawn or fish, and is served in a spicy soup made of curry coconut milk or sour tamarind.

In Singapore, there are so many varieties but if we can suggest one, we say go for the Katong laksa which is famous for its distinct spicy soup stock flavored with coconut milk and dried shrimp.

With all these delectable dishes and convivial atmosphere, Lau Pa Sat is the perfect venue for first-timers and travel enthusiasts all over the globe.

The fact that it's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, fitting this stopover into any itinerary is very easy.

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