Sims Vista Market and Food Centre which is situated in 49 Sims Place and some minutes stroll from Aljunied MRT Station, has all the time appeared fairly underrated to me. Size-wise, it’s thought-about fairly an enormous hawker centre with 5 “blocks” translating to not less than 10 rows of meals stalls. At first look, the scale of this hawker centre appears disproportional to the neighborhood it’s serving. An informal go to revealing quite a few stalls with restricted opening hours and even some completely vacant ones appear to strengthen this remark.
To perceive why such a big hawker centre is in-built a neighborhood of modest dimension, it’s extra apt to derive some perspective on the property of Sims Drive/Sims Place. It was a denser neighborhood than it’s right now. The space round Sims Drive was full of HDB blocks which have been slowly demolished through the years. Some of the HDB blocks have been changed with condos, condos underneath building or are empty heaps now ready for the following authorities tender. There are nonetheless among the older HDB blocks that stay inhabited. These have been constructed in 1976 – the identical yr Sims Vista Market and Food Centre was constructed. It was upgraded in 1976 and underwent its most up-to-date renovation in 2021. I was fairly bothered by the quite darkish atmosphere (even within the day) in addition to the variety of pigeons flocking to feed on scraps – however these points have been principally taken cared of after the 2021 renovation.
Sims Vista Market and Food Centre is one among my most steadily visited hawker facilities in Singapore so listed here are my suggestions on the place to eat the following time you head down right here. The stalls are organized in no explicit order.
Fang Kee Nonya Kueh
One of the mainstays in Sims Vista Food Centre, Fang Kee has been providing quite a lot of kuehs – together with rainbow kueh, ball-shaped sooh kueh, kueh kosui and even butter muffins. This stall is among the earliest to open every morning with their kuehs normally bought out earlier than lunch time.
Stall #: 01-74
Opening Hours: 5AM to 1PM
Uncle Sim Fishball Noodle
Uncle Sim is a comparatively new stall at Sims Vista Food Centre. It is considerably affiliated to the opposite Uncle Sim stalls in different hawker centres. While the stalls elsewhere promote the likes of lor mee, the stall right here in Sims Drive sells Fishball Minced Meat Noodle. I attempted their Traditional Dry Mee Pok which was on the lighter facet. It was not as oily as those I attempted elsewhere and I used to be additionally fairly shocked to seek out enormous chunks of steamed lard / pork fats included with my noodles versus the fried ones.
Stall #: 01-72
Green Chilli Chicken Rice
As of this writing, that is most likely the stall with the longest queue in Sims Vista Food Centre. The rooster rice right here is quite addictive and there are a selection of causes which makes it value a strive. First is the long-grain basmati rice used which provides all the dish an added perfume. The inexperienced chili used right here just isn’t too spicy. It’s appropriate even for many who can’t tolerate very heaty, numbing meals. Rather, the inexperienced chili really enhances the bitter/savory notes of the rooster. It is greatest to slather the inexperienced chili sauce on prime of the rooster itself and luxuriate in whereas peeling off and gulping down the crispy pores and skin.
Tip: They open at 11AM nevertheless it’s greatest to move down a couple of minutes earlier to beat the queue.
Stall: #01-09
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:30AM to 1:30PM
Phone: +65 8280 0096
Nain Food Stall
Nain Food Stall is a reliable nasi padang institution in Sims Vista. While the choice isn’t notably broad, their staples, reminiscent of Beef Rendang and Ayam Masak Merah normally do the trick.
Stall: #01-07
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7AM to 7PM
Fried Carrot Cake
Sims Vista Market has not less than 2 carrot cake stalls. The one which appears to be extra standard is the one merely known as “Fried Carrot Cake” or with the identify “顺利” in Chinese – versus the opposite one known as Kim Lee Carrot Cake.
One serving prices S$2.50 on the minimal, and although I selected the smaller sized possibility the portion was quite beneficiant. My plate got here with the fitting proportion of the radish, egg in addition to spring onions. Remarkably, my plate (I selected white carrot cake) turned out much less greasy in comparison with carrot muffins I’ve had elsewhere.
Stall: #01-25
Opening Hours: Daily, 6AM to 2PM
Kim Lee Carrot Cake
The different carrot cake stall in Sims Vista Market and Food Centre is Kim Lee which is manned by a husband and spouse staff. Although it seems much less standard on condition that it’s located on the different finish of the hawker centre close to the porous exits, I needed to wait an excellent half-hour for my order. Part of the rationale could possibly be the value, which begins at a modest S$2.50 per plate. My white carrot cake got here with a pleasant sprint of chili, making for an awesome candy spicy distinction.
Stall: #01-30
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 7:30AM to 12PM
Heng Wang Coffee Stall
The uncle promoting espresso right here is normally up and about as early as 4AM within the morning. While there are many espresso stalls within the neighborhood, Heng Wang appears to be the most well-liked, and for good purpose as properly. The black espresso tastes strong and is delightfully aromatic whereas the tea is sweet as properly. The espresso right here can be among the many lowest priced I’ve encountered in Singapore, beginning at 70 cents for a cup of kopi o.
Stall: #01-20
Opening Hours: 6 Days per Week (relaxation day varies every week), 5AM to 2PM
Jia Confectionery
While quite a few confectioneries in hawker facilities merely resell sweets and pastries constructed from elsewhere, Jia Confectionery bakes nearly all of their merchandise inhouse. The stall is well-known for its bakes like spouse’s biscuit, walnut cake and the like. I personally swear by their swirly teochew puffs which come in several flavors. My favourite is the purple potato one. During main festivals, additionally they promote seasonal merchandise reminiscent of mooncakes and pineapple tarts.
Stall: #01-46
Opening Hours: Daily, 6:30AM to 8PM
Phone: +65 8198 7393
Hollywood Duck Rice
hollywood duck rice
Originally generally known as Lian Kee Duck Rice and beforehand situated in Tanjong Katong, the well-known outlet renamed to Hollywood Duck Rice after shifting to Sims Vista Food Centre. They are well-known for the darkish sauce of their braised duck that gives for loads of taste and goes properly with plain rice. Aside from duck, additionally they promote kway chap.
Stall: #01-73
Opening Hours: Daily besides Wednesdays, 9:30AM to three:30PM
Phone: +65 9084 3407
Warong HJH Kamisah
Warong HJH Kamisah is thought for its Indonesian fare. Their standard dishes embody the Ayam Penyet (smashed fried rooster) or the Ikan Penyet. If you want your fried rooster to return within the dried type, try this stall. Aside from these fried dishes, the stall additionally will get lots of orders for its satay.
If I’ve any complaints about them, it’s that they have a tendency to expire far sooner than their printed closing time of two:30PM. I normally come right here after I resolve to have an early lunch at round 11-ish.
Stall: #01-13
Opening Hours: Daily, 6AM to 10:30AM on Saturdays and Sundays / til 1:30PM on Mondays to Fridays
Soya Bean Drink
You would assume {that a} stall serving simply soya bean drinks can be thought to be a part of the periphery the place hawker facilities are involved. On the opposite, the merely named “Soya Bean Drink” stall at Sims Vista appears to be perpetually drawing the crowds. The queue right here rivals among the cooked meals stalls particularly on weekends with regulars all the time coming again for the acquainted style of their most well-liked soya bean drink. Their recognition is astounding when you take into account that this isn’t even the one soya bean drink stall right here and there’s lots round Geylang as properly. Having been one of many authentic tenants on this hawker middle because it opened in 1976, the stall additionally serves Beancurd, Grass Jelly and Lime Juice.
Stall: #01-27
Opening Hours: Daily besides Mondays, 7AM to 3PM
T3 Airport Minced Meat Fish Ball Noodles
As the identify suggests, this comparatively new stall was situated within the basement of Changi Airport Terminal 3. The proprietor, Madame Lang, hails from China, however has mastered the artwork of prepping a comforting bowl of Bak Chor Mee. Noodles listed here are al dente whereas the chili and black vinegar creates the right spicy and bitter kick. Do word nevertheless, that fishballs don’t mechanically include their bowl of BCM. You should ask for it as further.
Stall #: 01-49
Opening Hours: Daily, 5AM to 2PM
