Tekka Centre
Hawker center · Farrer Park ·
Bustling hawker centre & market with diverse Indian & South Asian cuisine
Bustling hawker centre & market with diverse Indian & South Asian cuisine
"A sprawling multi-use complex in the heart of Little India, this long-standing trade and culture hub has evolved since its 1915 origins, cycling through names from Kandang Kerbau (“buffalo pens”) to Tek Kia Kha (“small bamboos’ foot”), then Tekka Pasar and Zhujiao Centre before settling on Tekka Centre in 2000. Inside, multiple levels brim with heritage retail—from textiles to Taoist paraphernalia—alongside a wet market and a bustling hawker centre filled with multiethnic eats. Many stalls have been handed down through generations, so you’ll find great food at every corner if you’re willing to brave the weekend crowds." - Alvin Lim
"Located in Little India, this bustling centre offers a wide spectrum of Indian and South Asian cuisines—from tangy rojak and Indian Muslim specialties to Pakistani tandoori meats and kebabs—and serves as a neighborhood hub for affordable, diverse Indian flavors." - Dan Q. Dao
"A multi-use complex at the entrance to Little India combining a wet market, food centre, and retail shops; known as a prime place to sample Indian and South Asian hawker food with a large concentration of biryani, thosai, murtabak and other regional specialties." - Charlene Fang
"A bustling hawker centre in Singapore where skilled hawkers smash, fold, and flip stretchy dough into golden-brown, flaky roti prata served with hot curry for dipping; vendors also 'pull' frothy teh tarik by pouring milky black tea between vessels. The centre functions as a vibrant communal space with long lines for prawn noodles, mutton biryani, and curry puffs, reflecting Singapore’s multicultural hawker heritage that evolved from 19th-century immigrant street hawkers. As one of the country’s best-known food markets, it has become central to efforts to preserve hawker culture—through government mentorships, grants, succession planning, and equipment subsidies—and was part of the successful push to inscribe hawker culture on UNESCO’s Representative List. Despite its cultural significance and local pride, vendors face challenges from ageing stall owners, low profit margins, and changing labour choices; community-led initiatives and social-media-driven group buys have helped sustain stalls during crises such as COVID-19." - BySonia Chopra
"Singapore's Indian community likes to hang out here for a familiar taste of home, and it's easy to see why: Standouts include Allauddin's Biryani, Teochew dumplings and cakes from Yan Seng Traditional Teochew Kueh, prawn vadai (Indian fried dough fritters) from Sky Lab Cooked Food, and dosa stuffed with marsala-spiced potatoes from Anna Dosai Stall." - Annette Tan