Guide to Golden Mile Food Centre: underrated gems and time-tested hawkers

This humble stall is known to serve up restaurant-quality pasta at affordable prices by a chef whose previous stint was at the iconic Pete’s Place at Grand Hyatt. The signature sizzling seafood spaghetti arrives as a tangy treasure trove from the sea. Garlicky tomato sauce is perfectly reduced till it hugs each al-dente pasta strand. The whole plate is then bejewelled with mussels, scallops, and prawns. At $8.40, the quality and value of this plate remain unrivalled. Other signatures include the popular carbonara and aromatic aglio olio medley as observed on a busy midweek lunch rush. One thing’s for sure, we’ll be back for more.

This modern fusion hawker stall headlines with hearty bowls of braised pork rice. At $3.50, the standard works come with blanched vegetables and half a Japanese-style soft-boiled egg. The stall also offers other choice cuts of the hog including belly, shank, and tender cheek. Don’t expect a traditional braise though, the owner developed his own unique braise recipe that is both sweet and savoury with a vinegary finish. There is also the accompaniment of a zesty chilli to help cut the fat. Overall, a tasty meal that is of extremely good value.

People flock to this unassuming stall bright and early for one thing and one thing only – steamed fish. The standard set ($5.50) features a generous slab of clean-tasting sea bass doused in light soy sauce and topped with fragrant fried garlic. Other varieties of fish include the golden pomfret (from $7) and the highly sought-after grouper. Those in search of bolder flavours can go with either the savoury black bean paste or the fiery chopped chilli topping ($6.50). Some glass noodles are hidden below to soak up all the delicious essence. Each set also comes with a luscious steamed egg and a bowl of rice to complete a balanced meal.

It’s not every day you find proper Latin American food in restaurants, let alone in a hawker centre. But the folks behind Tee Kitchen are out to change that with hearty plates of Colombian chicken. The recipe is inspired by an old family friend from Colombia and is authentic as it gets – some Colombian customers even said it reminded them of their grandmother’s cooking. Each plate is bang for your buck – $5.50 will get you a meaty thigh and drumstick drenched in the signature yellow-hued gravy, olive rice, some salsa and a punchy chilli paste. The stew-like gravy is unlike any other; there is sweetness from onions as well as earthy and floral notes from turmeric, coriander, cumin and pepper. Go easy on the chilli if you’re not big on spice as it packs a ton of heat.

Helmed by a mother and daughter duo, this hawker bakery churns out whimsical French-inspired bakes at a bargain. From the silky smooth chocolate ganache tart to classic financiers and madeleines, prices start from just $1.50 a pop. Each month, the former hotel pastry chef dreams up seasonal flavours to entice her large following – think pistachio raspberry bundt, lemon meringue tart, and black sesame financiers. And while basic ingredients are used to keep the costs low, the bakes here do enough in the flavour and texture department to rival those of some boutique bakeries. The wait time averages 30 minutes or more, so your best bet is to pick up a number card before you go on a hunt for lunch and come back after.

Oat milk is most definitely a trendy beverage today but almost all of them come out of a package. Except at this corner stall with a cheeky moniker that produces fresh oat milk on the daily. Au naturel is the modus operandi at Oatla, as owner Sam takes no prisoners when it comes to production. No sugars, no sweeteners, no additives, and none of the nasties. The result is a fresh pint (from $2.50) that drinks smooth, creamy, and nutty. In his signature cup ($3), he tosses in chewy oat groats for some texture and a boost in fibre. Sam is also quite experimental with his blends. Have a go at his watermelon oat milk, one designed to beat the heat.

Making oyster cakes great again, Oyster Boy is a former marketer’s love letter to his favourite traditional Fuzhou snack. The signature combination sees generous amounts of minced meat, prawns, and oysters, all encased in a crisp and light batter. And unlike most oyster cakes elsewhere, they don’t arrive all drenched in oil. At $3, you can expect plump oysters, snappy prawns, and a mildly peppery mince in each cake. The fairly new stall is located at the fringe of the food centre so keep your eyes peeled for the eye-catching royal blue signage.