2nd Mini Steamboat Delight
Choose chicken mild or tom yam lethal soup, add in your choice of ingredients and chow away. The menu is vast and includes lots of exotic and expensive seafood choices, but if you stick to the basics portions are cheap and generously sized. Try the fish glue $4, a spicy fish paste that tastes much better than it sounds.
Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice
This no-frills restaurant wins no prizes for appearance or service, but it gets packed every evening with crowds who want to sample their famous chicken rice. The roasted chicken is better than steamed, ask for boneless to make it easier to eat. Also try the shui jiao dumpling with minced pork and prawns.
Newton Circus
Known for its seafood, but is also one the few places in Singapore where touts and overcharging can be a nuisance — double-check the price of any seafood you order. Still, the hawker centre has always had a special spot in the hearts of Singaporeans, especially those in the heartlands. Other than its famed seafood stalls, the hokkien mee, oyster omelette, popiah, BBQ chicken wings, ice kachang, satay and fried rice are popular with locals. Renovated in July 2006, and has now a better atmosphere and more outdoor seating. No smoking.
Founder Bak Kut Teh
Has a respectable claim to being the first bak kut teh joint on the road, and is certainly the only one with air-con. The sour pickled vegetables and pig's organ soup are also worth a try. Watch out though: their soup is very peppery indeed.
House of Tau Sar Piah
Not necessarily the original, but certainly large and popular. Offers a wide variety of fillings, try the savoury tau sar piah with a salty butter filling.
Loong Fatt Eating House & Confectionary
Arguably the original tau sar piah shop, which has received Makansutra's highest rating of "Die, die must try".
Balestier is locally famous for two products: the flaky bean jam pastry tau sar piah, and the pork rib soup bak kut teh. Thanks to the crowd they serve, most restaurants in Balestier are open until the wee hours.
Food around here is cheap and plentiful.
Novena Peranakan Cuisine
The restaurant promises "typical home-cooked nonya food", and that's what you get, with Peranakan classics like ayam buah keluak chicken with keluak nuts and babi pontek pork stew. No frills, but well priced with lunch sets from $3.80 and mains from $6.
Teo Seng Teochew Porridge
Large eatery serving up Teochew-style porridge, which means a bowl of watery soup or steamed rice if you wish and lots of tasty side dishes. Best experienced with a larger group, so you can sample.
Cafe De Hong Kong
Offering Authenic Hong Kong cuisine. Recieve good rating from Makansutra. The french toast here is a must try, probably the best in Singapore.