It may be tucked away in a non-descript, old-timey building located at the very end of the Downtown MRT line, but anyone who’s in the know will tell you that Beauty World Food Centre is one of Upper Bukit Timah’s best foodie treasures.

Located on the top floor of the retail complex, the food centre boast a bright and breezy feel, thanks to the open-air courtyard layout that lets in ample natural light. The stalls here feature a mix of hawkers that have plied their trade for decades, and newer arrivals selling the likes of popular Korean dishes, on-trend bakes and novel Mediterranean fare. Check these out on your next visit.

Beauty World Food Centre | 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road

Top 1 Home Made Noodle

If someone’s travelled all the way here from another part of Singapore, chances are they’ve come to sample the lauded offerings from Top 1 Home Made Noodle. Handmade noodles are paired with all manner of soups and sauces, including tom yum broth, a dark sauce and chilli mixture and even mala.

Our personal pick is the dry noodles – either mee hoon kueh or ban mian. The sauce is rich and robust, the noodles have a firm and satisfying bite and everything is topped with mushrooms, meat and greens. Prices start at $4.

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HaPiHa

It can be rare to unearth good Mediterranean food in the city-state, let alone at a hawker centre. But HaPiHa, which opened last year, sells made-from-scratch items that incorporate ingredients imported from Turkey and Italy.

Choices run the gamut from kebabs, gyros and souvlaki to pizza and chicken wings made with a Mediterranean touch. We recommend the chicken kebab for a fuss-free lunch, or the kofta platter for a filling dinner. Finish your meal with a slice of sticky-sweet baklava. Expect to pay about $10.

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Jin Li Satay Bee Hoon

Fancy a scrumptious, messy plate of satay bee hoon? Then this famous stall, which has been serving the dish for over 35 years, should be your port of call.

For upwards of $4, you can get a plate crammed with ingredients such as thin vermicelli noodles, pork slices, kang kong, prawns, cuttlefish and cockles. Of course, everything is completely drenched in a potent gravy that’s redolent of peanutty notes and offers a warming hit of spice.

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Big Boys Sizzling Hotplate

Lovers of Western food can visit Boy Boys Sizzling Hotplate. It serves a range of moreish grub, including burgers piled high with different components, chicken cutlets, pastas and steaks. We adore the cornflake chicken, which is available in either a burger or cutlet form.

The exterior is oh-so-crackly and shatters as you bite into it, while the chicken thigh on the inside is moist and juicy. The creamy mentaiko fries are also worth sampling, and a meal here costs roughly $10.

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You Peng Noodle Dumpling House

Dumpling lovers will have a field day at You Peng Noodle Dumpling House. It doles out Shanghai-style cuisine such as juicy xiao long baos served in bamboo baskets, pan-fried dumplings, sour and spicy soup and assorted noodle dishes.

Don’t leave without trying the sheng jian baos, an item that’s surprisingly hard to find in Singapore. These fluffy, pillowy buns are filled with minced pork and have crispy, golden-brown bottoms for a lovely crunch. Prices start at $4.

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Pink Candy

Hankering for Korean food but don’t really feel like jostling with the crowds at Tanjong Pagar? At Pink Candy, you can tuck into a myriad of Korean favourites without enduring an hour-long wait to get seated.

You’ll find classic dishes including bibimbap, ginseng chicken and seafood stew, plus plenty of fried chicken. The authentic kimchi – which uses apples for a sweeter taste profile – is a must-order, and bigger groups can consider the Army Stew. A meal here costs upwards of $10 per person.

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ALSO READ: 10 best hawker stalls to try at Marine Parade Food Centre

Syiok

Ever had a mochi pie? If not, why not get a taste at Syiok, one of the newest arrivals at the food centre. For $1.80, you can select a peanut, chocolate or red bean pocket that comes stuffed with plain mochi and the filling of your choice.

They aren’t too sweet, and there’s a nice balance of textures between the flaky pastry crust and the chewy interior. They also sell other baked goods including Portuguese- and Hong Kong-style egg tarts and kueh.

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Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle Rice

This popular stall is a go-to spot for those on the hunt for Hong Kong-style noodles gussied up with succulent meat. We recommend heading straight for the soya sauce chicken noodles, which feature eggy, al dente strands coated in a luscious sauce and topped with well-marinated chicken.

Another stellar option is the dumpling noodles. The dumpling are made by hand daily, and are filled with minced meat, prawns and black fungus for a complex bite. Prices start at around $4.

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Buta Kin

You don’t need to patronise a fancy Japanese joint to get your fill of ramen. Instead, simply join the queue at Buta Kin. It dishes out steaming-hot bowls of ramen and udon (which are priced at just under $7) that are chock-full of tasty ingredients such as cabbage, a thick slab of meat, black fungus, seaweed, spring onions and a soy-marinated egg.

The standard broth is a tonkotsu-based liquid that has a wonderful depth of flavour, and you can jazz it up with black garlic oil or spicy chilli paste.

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Hong Wen Mutton Soup

Hong Wen Mutton Soup is a historic vendor that sells aromatic, comforting mutton soup that’s perfect for a cold and rainy day.

Besides large hunks of fall-off-the-bone meat, the rich, cloudy broth contains a smattering of goji berries, which confer a pleasant sweetness, coriander leaves, shredded ginger and whole garlic cloves. It’s best paired with a bowl of rice and some tangy chilli sauce to cut through the gaminess of the mutton. Prices start at $8 for a substantial helping.

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ALSO READ: 'Honestly, I like it': Hunky fishball noodle hawker on getting attention for his looks

This article was first published in The Singapore Women's Weekly.