13 Holland Drive Food Centre Stalls For Famous Claypot Rice, $3 Roast Meat Rice And More

Even though I attended school near Holland Village for two years, I had only ever been to Ghim Moh Food Centre, for it is Holland Drive Food Centre’s better-known sibling. Only after I graduated did I come across this food haven, that is just a mere bus stop away from Buona Vista MRT Station.

Here is a list of my favourite stalls that I’ve collated after visiting this underrated hawker centre near Holland Village a couple of times.

• 1. Traditional Carrot Cake

Should you have any cravings for good ol’ chai tow kway, Traditional Carrot Cake will be more than happy to serve you a comforting plate of old-school Black/White Carrot Cake ($3/$4/$5). In the mix of eggs fried to crisp and soft radish cake, lies a trove of crunchy chye poh, giving the dish a salty burst of flavour.

Sprinkled with some chopped spring onions, this dish is definitely worth the calories. Find out where to get more cheap and good fried carrot cake in Singapore! Unit number: #02-20

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6:30am to 1pm Traditional Carrot Cake is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 2. Cheng Heng Kway Chap And Braised Duck

From the never-ending queue at Cheng Heng Kway Chap And Braised Duck, it’s easy to tell that this stall is surely a crowd favourite. Their Kway Chap ($4.50) comes with a bowl of silky smooth kway, glistening in a slightly herby broth, as well as generous portions of braised offal, braised duck meat, and braised eggs.

Unit number: #02-05 Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 2:30pm

Cheng Heng is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 3. Ru Ji Fishball Noodles

After hearing many sing praises about Ru Ji Fishball Noodles, I decided to give their Dry Mee Pok Fishball Noodles (from $4) a shot. The al dente noodles were laced with traces of their house-made chilli and showered with a generous amount of pork lard. The aroma whetted my appetite, but the springy and surprisingly sweet fish balls had all my attention.

Apparently, the QQ fishballs are handmade daily by the boss alone. His efforts are truly commendable, and his fishballs are definitely worth braving the queue for.

Unit number: #02-28/29 Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 1pm

Ru Ji is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 4. Hakka Noodles

The two ladies who own Hakka Noodles start preparing for their day at 3:30am every morning and usually finish selling everything by noon. Their Yong Tau Fu (from $5) comes with a fixed set of handmade ingredients and a bowl of springy noodles doused in a savoury house-made concoction.

Ask nicely and you are most likely able to switch your least favourite ingredients for your best pick. Down the last drop of their tasty YTF soup to end this homey meal!

Unit number: #02-15 Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 3am to 2pm

Tel: 9470 3110 Hakka Noodles is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 5. Yap Kee Wanton Mee

This is where I go for a fix of good wanton mee. The owners of Yap Kee Wanton Mee capture the hearts of customers with their springy noodles, house-made chilli, handmade wanton, and also their friendly and chatty personalities.

It is with reason that customers return continuously despite the long waiting time. Give the mee a good mix and slurp those noodles up; the tantalising flavours of the dish will have you swooning.

Prices start from $4.50 for a bowl of wonton mee. Unit number: #02-04

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 6:30am to 2pm

Website

Yap Kee Wanton Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 6. Nasi Lemak by Aini Muslim Food

My favourite part about Aini Muslim Food’s Ayam Penyet ($5) is the sambal. The fiery sauce tingled my taste buds and whetted my appetite.

Aside from that, the crispy fried crumbs that came atop the tender ayam were so addictive. Don’t forget to add the lime, as it adds a refreshing touch and cuts through the greasiness. Unit number: #02-14

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7:30am to 2pm Aini Muslim Food is a Muslim-owned eatery.

• 7. Leong Wei Roasted Delights

When I see Char Siew Roasted Pork Rice at $3, I order. Leong Wei Roasted Delights may command a long queue, but the thought of the crispy skin on the sio bak and tender char siew always keeps me in that long chain of hungry people.

The sauce that’s drizzled all over the plate has a lightly sweet and charred flavour. Their Braised Duck Rice and Roasted Duck Rice start from $3 too, a price that’s hard to beat!

Read our Leong Wei Roasted Delights feature. Unit number: #02-36

Opening hours: Sat-Wed 11:30am to 7pm Leong Wei is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 8. New Lucky Claypot Rice

With a Bib Gourmand award under its belt, it is no wonder that New Lucky Claypot Rice boasts a long queue at all times. Their Claypot Wu Wei Rice (from $15) is topped with chunks of tender chicken, smoky lap cheong, and a handful of salted fish.

Season the dish to your liking with sesame oil and dark sauce. Remember to get the charred bits at the bottom!

Those are the real treasures of this pot. Check out our New Lucky Claypot Rice feature. Unit no: #02-19

Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 10:30am to 12:30pm, 5pm to 7:30pm New Lucky Claypot Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 9. Fifty Yong Tau Fu

Praised for its great value and generous portions, Fifty Yong Tau Fu is where it’s at for wallet-friendly Hakka-style YTF. Their prices start at $4, but opt for their largest $5.50 portion, which comes with 8 different types of Ampang-style ingredients, including QQ fishballs, fish paste dumplings, and stuffed bittergourd, served atop mee kia that’s tossed in a fried shallot oil dressing and a piquant house-made chilli paste.

Unit number: #02-37 Opening hours: Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 8am to 1:30pm

Fifty Yong Tau Fu is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 10. Shima’s Kitchen

Shima’s Kitchen is a popular nasi padang stall in Holland Drive Food Centre. Queues tend to be long, and dishes sell out early, so you ought to head down before the lunch crowd if you want to be sure to nab their ingredients. Prices vary, but expect to spend around $7.50 on their nasi padang.

If you’re here for breakfast, their Lontong ($3.50), dressed with a creamy, coconutty curry, is a crowd fave. Unit number: #02-12

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7am to 2:30pm Shima’s Kitchen is a Muslim-owned eatery.

• 11. Blanco Court Kueh Chap

Another big name kway chap eatery at Holland Drive is Blanco Court Kueh Chap. The eatery traces its roots back to the 1950s, operating out of the now-defunct Blanco Court. They specialise in a lighter style of kway chap, so expect less of that intense, herbal soy flavour that typically comes with the kway and innards.

Still, the offal is prepared well, the innards are clean, and the sheets of kway are silky smooth—all hallmarks of decent kway chap. A portion starts at $4.

Unit number: #02-02 Opening hours: Wed-Sun 7am to 2:30pm

Blanco Court Kueh Chap is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 12. Ru Fa Bao Dian

If you’re looking for the best handmade bao in Singapore, then you’ll know Ru Fa Bao Dian is a must-visit. Aside from your traditional char siew and lian rong bao priced from $1.10, the stall offers other more inventive steamed bao fillings, including their signature Otah ($1.80), Yam ($1.10), Curry Chicken ($1.30), and Chicken Cheese ($1.20).

Read our Ru Fa Bao Dian review. Unit number: #02-09 Opening hours: Tue-Sun 6:30am to 2pm

Ru Fa Bao Dian is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 13. Sweet Bistro

Sweet Bistro sells quite a variety of dishes, from kueh to house-made pound cakes, madeleines, sandwiches and more. What fans rave about here, though, is their signature Penang Fried Kway Teow (from $4.50). Steeped with wok hei, this aromatic, smoky CKT is one of the most legit takes on the Penang version of the noodle dish that can be found in Singapore, according to some fans.

Unit number: #02-24 Opening hours: Wed-Mon 7am to 3pm

Best stalls at Holland Drive Food Centre

Now you know where to go when the lines at Ghim Moh get too frustrating. Note that some stalls may sell out early, which means closing earlier than the stated time.

So remember to go down earlier to catch these delicacies. Check out Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Food Centre for more gems!

Or if you’re an office girlie, check out best CBD hawker food next time you’re lunching with your coworkers! Address: 44 Holland Drive, Singapore 270044

Nearest MRT Station: Buona Vista

Featured image adapted from @iris.nihao and @ken_leem

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