Wafer-thin roti prata, a plate of mutton biryani, a dosa as long as your forearm: Tekka Centre in Little India puts them all under one roof. The three-story complex at 665 Buffalo Road combines a hawker centre, a wet market and a shopping floor, and it sits right beside Little India MRT. The first-floor hawker section has more than 100 stalls, mostly North and South Indian, plus Malay, Chinese and vegetarian counters. Meals cost a few dollars, so you can order widely and share. Go hungry and bring cash.
Three markets in one building
Tekka Centre stands on the corner of Buffalo, Race Course and Serangoon Roads, at the entrance to Little India. It works as a hawker centre, a wet market and a shopping mall at once, so locals come for different things on the same visit: lunch, fish and vegetables, or fabric for a wedding.
The wet market sells fresh produce and seafood, and it carries more halal-slaughtered meat than most markets in Singapore. Many of its regular buyers are hawker stall owners shopping for ingredients. Dry goods such as rice, nuts and spices are sold here too.
Eating on the first floor
The hawker section is on the first floor, and with more than 100 stalls it is easy to freeze at the entrance. Pick a direction and follow the smell of the tandoor.
Biryani is the main draw. Allauddin's Briyani is known for its soft mutton over rice and has earned a Michelin Plate. Yakader is another biryani name to look for. For dosa, Anna Dosai Stall serves them, and Sri Tiffin is the stop for masala thosai. SJ Tandoori covers curries and grills, and naan comes hot with curry sauces for dipping. You will also see murtabak and fish head curry on the menus.
The food is not only Indian. There are Malay counters, Indian and Chinese vegetarian stalls, and 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles, a well-loved hae mee stall for anyone who wants a break from spice. Heng Gi has been serving duck rice for about 60 years.
Cool down with a mango lassi or a glass of lime juice. A full meal costs only a few dollars.
Upstairs and around the stalls
The second floor is where South Asian clothing is sold: festive outfits for Deepavali and weddings, jewellery and accessories. There are plenty of tailors, so you can have clothes altered or made to measure. Other stalls sell glassware, flowers and stores' household goods, so the building is worth a walk after lunch.
Where the name and the building come from
The name Tekka comes from the Hokkien Teh Kia Kah, or Tek Kah, meaning the foot of the bamboos. It refers to the bamboo that grew along Rochor Canal. In the early 1900s the market was an abattoir on a site closer to Sungei Road. The present building at the three-road corner replaced that, and its food centre has become one of the best-known hawker halls in the city.
FAQ
How do you pay at Tekka Centre?
Bring cash, because most stalls accept cash only. There is an ATM nearby if you run short.
How much does a meal cost?
A full meal usually costs just a few dollars, so it suits a budget and lets you try several stalls.
What should you eat at Tekka Centre?
Start with biryani, roti prata and masala dosa. Tandoori grills and naan with curry are also popular, and a mango lassi helps with the heat.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes. The first floor has Indian and Chinese vegetarian stalls, and many Indian counters sell vegetarian dishes alongside meat.
How do you get to Tekka Centre?
It is right next to Little India MRT station, at 665 Buffalo Road on the corner with Serangoon Road.
