Berseh Breakfast Gems

Berseh Food Centre is a breakfast paradise. The best time to visit is between 7am and 10am, when the air is filled with the aromas of freshly brewed kopi, frying noodles, and toasting bread. Here are the stalls you must try for a traditional Singapore breakfast, listed by opening time so you can plan your morning visit.

1. Special Chilli Yong Tau Foo (#01-17)

Opens at 5:30am — one of the earliest breakfast stall at Berseh

For an early morning comforting bowl of Yong Tau Foo, Special Chilli Yong Tau Foo is the place to go. Opening at 5:30am, this is the earliest breakfast option at Berseh — perfect for early risers, shift workers, and anyone who wants to start the day with a warm, satisfying meal.

The stall offers a wide selection of ingredients — fish roll, beancurd, bitter gourd, mushroom, fishball, and ngoh hiang — all served in a light, savoury broth. But what truly sets this stall apart is its legendary chilli sauce. Huge buckets of it are placed in front, and it finishes faster than anything else. The sauce has sweetness, heat, and a lot of shiok-ness.

The bowl of Yong Tau Foo is hearty and comforting. The ingredients are fresh, the broth is clean and flavourful, and the chilli sauce elevates everything to another level.

“The chilli sauce is the star,” says a regular customer. “Sweet, spicy, shiok. I always ask for extra.”

Opening Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 5:30am – 12:00pm
Saturday, Sunday: 5:30am – 12:00pm
Closed on Thursdays and Fridays

2. Sheng Kee Curry Chicken Noodle (#01-45)

Opens at 6:00am

For a hearty breakfast, Sheng Kee Curry Chicken Noodle is a must-try. The stall opens at 6am, making it one of the earliest breakfast options at Berseh. By 7:30am, there’s already a queue. The curry chicken noodles are rich, aromatic, and packed with flavour. The curry is thick and coconutty, with a mild spiciness that warms the body and awakens the senses.

The stall owner, a friendly uncle, customises each bowl to the customer’s preference — chicken breast or thigh, extra beansprouts or tau pok. He greets every customer by name, making the experience feel like a visit to a friend’s kitchen.

The curry soup is rich but not overly oily. The bowl comes loaded with tender chicken, bean sprouts, potatoes, tau pok, and fishcakes. Add a spoon of chilli if you want a stronger flavour.

“I used to walk past this stall for years,” says a young customer. “One day I decided to try it, and I was instantly hooked. Now I come here every week.”

Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 6:00am – 3:30pm
Closed on Mondays

3. Tong Heng Coffee Shop (#02-65) — A Berseh Icon Since 1989

Opens at 7:00am

If there’s one place you must visit for breakfast at Berseh, it’s Tong Heng Coffee Shop. This stall has been brewing traditional Hainanese coffee since 1989 — over 35 years of morning tradition.

The kopi is brewed using the old-school Hainanese method, with butter-roasted robusta beans that give it a distinctive, caramelised flavour. The result is a cup of coffee that is smooth, balanced, and full of aroma — the kind that wakes you up and comforts you at the same time.

Pair your kopi with their signature kaya butter toast — crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with a generous layer of homemade kaya and cold butter. The kaya and peanut butter spreads are homemade, giving the toast a personal touch that you won’t find elsewhere.

The soft-boiled eggs are cooked to perfection: runny yolks, firm whites, served with a dash of soy sauce and pepper. It’s the classic Singapore breakfast set that never goes out of style.

Breakfast Sets

“The kopi here is the best in Singapore,” says Mr. Chua, a retired teacher and regular for over 20 years. “Smooth, balanced, not too bitter. It’s the only way to start the day.”

Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 7:00am – 9:30am
Monday, Saturday, Sunday: 7:00am – 11:00am

4. Fu Zhou Poh Hwa Oyster Cake (#02-34)

Opens at 10:30am

For a lighter breakfast or a mid-morning snack, the oyster cake from Fu Zhou Poh Hwa is a perfect choice. Jenny (Poh Hwa) has been making these UFO-shaped oyster cakes since her childhood, first with her grandmother who founded a back lane stall near Queen Street in the 1950s. Jenny started her own stall at Kitchener Road in the 1980s before moving to Berseh Food Centre.

Crispy on the outside, soft and savoury on the inside, it’s a snack that has been delighting customers for generations. The oyster cake is loaded with minced pork, prawns, fresh oysters, peanuts, and dried whitebait. Each cake takes about 8 minutes to fry, so expect a 30–40 minute wait during peak hours.

Order one with a cup of hot teh and enjoy it while watching the morning crowd at Berseh.

Opening Hours:
Monday, Wednesday to Sunday: 10:30am – 6:00pm
Closed on Tuesdays

Breakfast Summary At Berseh Food Centre

Why Breakfast at Berseh is Special

Breakfast at Berseh is more than just a meal — it’s a ritual. For many residents, the morning routine hasn’t changed in decades: wake up, head to Berseh, order a cup of kopi and a plate of toast from Tong Heng, and catch up with friends.

As one regular put it: “I’ve been coming here since I was a child. Now I bring my grandchildren. Some things never change — and that’s a good thing.”

The food centre has been serving the Jalan Besar community since 1975. Many of the stalls have been here since the 1980s, creating a sense of continuity and belonging that is increasingly rare in Singapore’s fast-changing food scene.

Whether you’re an early riser looking for a hearty meal or someone who wants to experience a piece of Singapore’s hawker heritage, Berseh Food Centre’s breakfast offerings are not to be missed.

— Berseh Food Centre, 166 Jalan Besar, Singapore. Open daily 6am–10pm.