We tried and rated 30 stalls selling ban mian in Singapore

The ultimate corporate girlie lunch, the go-to economical noodle dish — there’s just something about ban mian that holds a universal appeal. 

Whether you’re looking for a comforting bowl of noodle soup on a gloomy day, or to satisfy your cravings for a bowl of rich, savoury noodles, this little dish can do it all. 

Its wide-ranging culinary appeal makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes a good bowl of ban mian — is it the soup, the noodles, or its ingredients? 

To most, it doesn’t matter; whether you’re having ban mian in Hougang or ban mian in Jurong West; most of them will satisfy the average diner just fine. 

However, after tasting the ban mian from these 30 stalls listed below, we can safely say: There is a clear difference between good ban mian and great ban mian. Don’t believe us? Make your way through the list and you’ll see what we mean.

1. Bossi Ban Mian — 3.5/5

Serangoon Garden Market, 01-18, 49A Serangoon Garden Way
Open: Sunday to Tuesday, Thursday (8.30am to 4pm), Friday and Saturday (8.30am to 8.30pm)

Why visit? Famous for adding preserved veggies to its soup, Bossi Ban Mian is a Malaysian Hakka-style ban mian stall run by a mother-son duo. It’s also known for its unique green chilli with a sour and spicy kick. 

Our thoughts: We enjoyed the soup, which was served with mee hoon kueh (S$4). It had a rich and savoury flavour without cloying sweetness. Using handmade noodles would’ve elevated the dish further, as the broth was the only standout factor.

2. China Whampoa Home Made Noodles — 3.5/5

Whampoa Market 5, 01-24, 91 Whampoa Drive
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (8am to 2pm)

Fernvale Hawker Centre & Market, 03-12, 21 Sengkang West Avenue
Open: Monday to Sunday (9am to 8pm

Senja Hawker Centre, 02-05, 2 Senja Close
Open: Monday to Sunday (8am to 7.30pm)

Why visit? China Whampoa Home Made Noodles is a fan-favourite, known for its long queues and seafood ban mian. Some are loyal fans of this stall, partly due to nostalgia, since it’s been around since 1989. With its recent expansion to Fernvale Hawker Centre & Market and Senja Hawker Centre, getting your China Whampoa fix has become even easier.  

Our thoughts: The dry mee hoon kueh (S$5.50) comes with two large prawns, homemade meatballs, sayur manis (sweet vegetables), and ikan billis. If you’re a fan of seafood, you’ll love the soup here as it captures the sweetness of the fresh shellfish used. 

A minor gripe was that the mee hoon kueh stuck together and there was almost too much soya sauce, which made the noodles taste strangely, slightly bitter.

3. Chilli Pan Mee (Batu Road) — 3.5/5

Far East Square, 22 China Street
Open: Monday to Friday (10am to 8.30pm), Saturday and Sunday (10am to 7.30pm)

Why visit? A popular pan mee store in the CBD area, Chilli Pan Mee (Batu Road) is part of Restoran Super Kitchen Chili Pan Mee, a popular chain in Klang Valley. It’s conveniently located near Telok Ayer MRT and always draws snaking queues — especially during lunchtime. 

Our thoughts: This was quite pricey at S$8.50 for a bowl of dry chilli pan mee. Every bowl comes with fried anchovies, shallots, minced pork, and — the best part — chunks of lard. We’re not usually fans of lard, but this didn’t feel too oily. In fact, it complemented the savoury noodles very well. 

The chilli actually sits in a jar on the table, so you can add however much you’d like to your noodles. Even if your stomach can’t tolerate too-spicy food, you’ll still be able to enjoy this.

4. Da Shi Dai Ban Mian — 4/5

19 Ghim Moh Road
Open: Wednesday to Monday (6am to 1pm)

Why visit? A relatively new but worthy ban mian contender, Da Shi Dai Ban Mian’s noodles are made from scratch daily and its long queues during lunch are a testament to its good value and fresh ingredients. The stall also offers fish head ban mian (S$7), which you rarely find elsewhere.

Our thoughts: While its appearance was underwhelming, the soup ban mian (S$3.50) provided excellent value. It was served with bits of well-seasoned minced and lean meat, shiitake mushrooms, cai xin (choy sum), and an egg. 

The slight earthy notes from the mushrooms cut through the sweetness of the pork broth well, so polishing off the soup was effortless.

5. Fong Hup Koka Noodle — 3/5

Multiple outlets across the island

Why visit? A late-night supper spot, Fong Hup Koka Noodle is one of the more convenient ban mian stalls to get to, with multiple outlets across the island. While it’s more famous for its koka noodles (S$4), the stall also sells ban mian, mee hoon kueh and more.

Rating: 3/5

Our thoughts: Fong Hup’s noodles are quite decent, considering it’s a franchised brand. The handmade mee hoon kueh (S$4) is thick and chewy with a rich soup base. Every bowl is packed with minced meat, vegetables and a poached egg. On occasion, we have found that the freshness of its ingredients isn’t always consistent; there have been times where its seafood has a slightly “fishy” aftertaste — try it at your own discretion.

6. Formosa Delights — 2.5/5

Multiple outlets across the island 

Why visit? Founded in 1998, Formosa Delight is probably one of the first names that come to mind when you think of accessible, convenient ban mian, with the brand’s multiple outlets housed at food courts across the island. It’s easily accessible, especially if you are in the CBD. 

Rating: 2.5/5

Our thoughts: The portion for the mee hoon kueh (S$5.50) is rather generous. Every bowl is served with standard ban mian ingredients, though the poultry tasted rather bland. While we appreciated the quantity, we weren’t too fazed by the quality — the kueh texture was too thin and lacked springiness.

7. Hai Xia Ban Mian Handmade Noodle — 4/5 

684 Hougang Street 61, 01-967
Open: Wednesday to Monday (6am to 1pm)

Why visit? While its opening hours are brief, a bowl of handmade noodles at Hai Xia costs just S$4.50, making it a worthwhile spot to head to, even if it means you’ll have to get there early. Even on a weekday at 11am, a steady queue was already forming — a testament to its value and goodness. 

If you do end up missing the noodles, take heart — the surrounding coffee shops also house some reliable food stalls, including Sin Heng Kee Porridge. 

Our thoughts: The handmade mee hoon kueh (S$4.50) here takes on a more unusual yellow shade, with a thick but chewy texture. It was reminiscent of the noodles we had at Penang Heng Heng Handmade Noodle, albeit with a more flavourful soup base and a shorter waiting time. 

The noodle texture was a highlight, and with every other aspect meeting our expectations, this was a big win, in our opinion. 

8. He Jia Huan Ban Mian Mee Hoon Kway — 3.5/5

Multiple outlets across the island

Why visit? Located at multiple locations across the island, He Jia Huan Ban Mian Mee Hoon Kway is yet another convenient option if you’re craving ban mian. The brand has been around since 1985 and is no stranger to media coverage of its slurpworthy noodles. 

Its Toa Payoh outlet opens till 2am, making it a great supper option if you’re seriously craving a savoury bowl of ban mian (S$4.50) in the middle of the night. 

Our thoughts: While we can see why this would easily be a fan-favourite with its many outlets and easy accessibility, its soup can be quite overwhelming for some, with a strong, savoury and salty taste. The titular mee hoon kueh (S$4.50) was thin, but overall, did not impress.

9. Hock Chiew Handmade Noodle — 4.5/5

186 Toa Payoh Central, 01-402
Open: Monday to Saturday (6am to 9pm)

Why visit? Many good ban mian stalls close early, so we’re thankful to have found Hock Chiew Handmade Noodle, whose 9pm closing time makes it a feasible choice even for dinner. This family-run stall has been around for over 20 years and is located in a coffee shop near Toa Payoh MRT. 

Our thoughts: The first thing that struck us was how clear the ban mian (S4.50) soup was. One could easily mistake that for a bowl of noodles lacking in flavour, but the soup was still impressively flavourful and light — a tricky balance to get right.

10. Hui Wei Chilli Ban Mian — 4/5

Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre, 01-58, 69 Geylang Bahru
Open: Saturday to Thursday (11am to 9.30pm)

Why visit? Hui Wei Chilli Ban Mian shouldn’t be unfamiliar to ban mian enthusiasts. This Michelin Bib Gourmand stall has earned the recognition of foodies all across Singapore for its fiery chilli and handmade noodles. 

Our thoughts: Thankfully, it lived up to expectations — its signature chilli ban mian (S$5 for a small bowl, S$7 for a large bowl) was, indeed, as fiery and spicy as claimed. The dish reminded me of zhajiangmian (Chinese noodles served with fried bean sauce) because of the minced meat atop the noodles. 

What really surprised me was how good the meatball handmade noodle (S$5 for a small bowl, S$7 for a large bowl) was, too — the meatball and minced meat had a rich and savoury flavour you rarely find in a simple bowl of ban mian.

11. KL Damansara Traditional Chilli Ban Mee — 3/5

534 MacPherson Road 
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)

9 Lorong 27A Geylang 
Open: Monday to Sunday (12pm to 11.45pm)

Bedok Shopping Complex, 314 Bedok
Open: Monday to Sunday (10am to 9pm)

Why visit? There’s no better place to get chilli ban mian than from its birthplace, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With the stall’s name proudly touting its origin, KL Damansara Traditional Chilli Ban Mee prides itself on providing an authentic food street favourite. 

Rating: 3/5

Our thoughts: We wanted to like the signature chilli ban mee (S$5.50) more than we actually did. This bowl of noodles was creamy and rich when mixed with the perfectly runny egg yolk. The meatballs that came with the noodles were pretty decent but lacked bite. 

Overall, the bowl was quite ordinary, and we would return only if the craving hit and we happened to be in the area.

12. Lan Xiang Ban Mian — 4.5/5

Bukit Merah Central Food Centre, 02-06, 163 Bukit Merah Central 
Open: Monday to Friday (11am to 7pm), Saturday and Sunday (11am to 2pm)

Why visit? As a highly rated ban mian stall in the mature estate of Bukit Merah, many of Lan Xiang Ban Mian’s customers have been loyal patrons for years. It’s not uncommon to find a long queue at Lan Xiang, but it moves fast — great for anyone who’s on a tight lunch break. 

Our thoughts: We were initially sceptical that its rave reviews were a byproduct of pure nostalgia, but pleasantly surprised to find that it was worth its while. The portions at Lan Xiang Ban Mian are huge at S$4 for a bowl of ban mian. 

While we enjoyed the bite of the noodles, some may be put off by its al dente finish. The broth also has a light vegetable sweetness to it.

13. L32 Handmade Noodles — 2.5/5

558 Geylang Road, Lorong 32 Geylang 
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (11.30am to 9.30pm)

211 New Upper Changi Road 
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)

Why visit? L32 Handmade Noodles, also known as the Geylang Lor 32 Ban Mian, has a steady stream of loyal fans. The place is often packed during peak hours, with many dropping by to place takeaway orders. 

Rating: 2.5/5

Our thoughts: Perhaps my expectations were heightened by all that hype, but L32 Handmade Noodles was rather disappointing. The meatball soup ban mian was a whopping S$6 and was, overall, an average bowl of noodles. 

The meatball seemed to be the type that’s frozen and store-bought and the soup base was quite plain. Although, we have to commend the excellent, chewy noodle texture.

14. Madam Leong Traditional Ban Mian — 3.5/5

Amoy Street Food Centre, 02-109, 7 Maxwell Road
Open: Monday to Friday (10.30am to 3pm)

Why visit? Madam Leong Traditional Ban Mian, located at Amoy Food Centre, serves up Hakka-style ban mian made using the owner’s mother’s recipe. Besides serving up the usual ban mian ingredients, it also offers the option of having Hakka yong tau foo with ban mian. 

Having garnered plenty of praise from Singaporeans, it was undoubtedly on our to-try list. At 2pm on a weekday, there was no queue in sight, so we managed to have our cravings met pretty quickly. 

Our thoughts: The dry chilli mee hoon kueh (S$5) came with the standard ban mian ingredients and a perfectly fried egg. The chilli packed a punch, compensating for the lack of flavour in the soy sauce base. It’s a good bowl of ban mian, but not one we would make a special trip down for.

15. Madam Tyrant Handmade Noodles — 3/5

Food Tyrant Coffeeshop, 153 Tyrwhitt Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 8pm)

Why visit? You’ve probably seen Madam Tyrant Handmade Noodles’ colourful mee hoon kueh all over your ‘For You’ page on TikTok. It serves up eye-catching mee hoon kueh coloured with natural ingredients such as spinach and pumpkin. For the purists, it also has good ol’, non-colourful mee hoon kueh (S$5 for soup, S$5.30 for dry).

Our thoughts: Given that it was our first time here, we had to try the famed Happy bowl (S$6.50). The noodle texture was good and it looked pretty when we scooped it up, but that was about as happy as we felt. While the pork was nicely marinated, it still tasted lacklustre, lacking full-bodied savouriness.

16. Nam Kee Pau — 3/5

Multiple outlets across the island 

Why visit? Although recognised mostly for its handmade paus, the ban mian enthusiasts will also know that Nam Kee Pau also offers mee hoon kueh at selected outlets across the island. It’s another convenient alternative on our list, given that there are Nam Kee Pau outlets in most heartland locations. 

Our thoughts: We ordered its ban mian noodles (S$4) and were underwhelmed by Nam Kee Pau’s noodles and soup. While we recalled the soup having strong umami flavours from using shiitake mushrooms, based on our past visits, it fell flat on this try. 

Still, the springy noodle texture was enjoyable and we’d choose this over other ban mian noodles typically served at food courts.

17. Ng Kuan Chilli Pan Mee — 3.5/5

941 Upper Serangoon Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (8am to 2.30am)

131 Bencoolen Street
Open: Monday to Sunday (9am to 5am)

Why visit? A go-to supper spot for many in the northeast, Ng Kuan Chilli Pan Mee has cemented itself as a reliable chilli pan mee spot. The menu costs upwards of S$5.80, which is slightly pricey for a bowl of ban mian, but many swear by its chewy noodles and speciality chilli. 

Our thoughts: On its own, the dry ban mian (S$5.80) noodles didn’t impress. However, the combination of runny egg yolk, chilli, ikan billis (fried anchovies), minced pork, crispy garlic, and fried shallots makes for a very rich and savoury mouthful. Without chilli, the dry noodles fell flat. The soup ban mian (S$5.50) also tasted underwhelming and was a miss for us.

18. One More Bowl — 3/5

ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, 01-17, 6 Jalan Bukit Merah
Open: Sunday to Friday (9.15am to 7.30pm) 

Why visit? A relatively underrated and new store at ABC Brickworks, One More Bowl inched its way into the list for us, thanks to its quality handmade noodles. 

Our thoughts: We had the dry mee hoon kueh (S$4) based on the store owner’s recommendation. Its hand-pulled mee hoon kueh is thick and chewy and the noodles’ uneven shapes are reminiscent of a homemade recipe that had us savouring every bite. 

The minced pork was also braised separately, giving it a strong flavour. Sadly, the noodle sauce was lacking in flavour on its own.

19. Penang Heng Heng Handmade Noodles — 3.5/5

205 Sims Avenue 
Open: Sunday to Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (10.30am to 8.30pm), Saturday (12pm to 8.30pm)

Why visit? This TikTok-famous stall gained popularity for its wonderfully chewy and QQ handmade noodles. Many claim it’s the best ban mian in Singapore and willingly make the trek to Aljunied for a taste of it. 

Our thoughts: First-timers should definitely give the stall’s dry mee hoon kueh (S$5) a try, given that it’s the most popular dish there. The portion of noodles was extremely generous and the eggs beautifully poached. 

The only gripe was that the chilli seemed lacklustre and the meal as a whole tasted a bit too light in terms of flavours. If you’re looking for a rich, savoury option, this one might not hit the spot for you.

20. Pin Yi Noodle House — 2.5/5

International Plaza, 01-21, 10 Anson Road 
Open: Monday to Saturday (7.30am to 8pm), Sunday (8am to 4.30pm)

Why visit? Located conveniently at International Plaza, Pin Yi Noodle House is just a short walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT. Despite its CBD locale, the store offers affordable dishes from S$5.50 onwards. The fact that it’s air-conditioned is also a plus.

Our thoughts: We opted for the fresh mushroom ban mian (S$6.50) and were given the option to top-up S$1.40 for a plate of guo tie, a northern Chinese-style dumpling. While we expected more earthy, mushroomy flavours in the soup, it tasted lighter than expected. Overall, it seemed to be an average bowl of noodles. 

21. Qiu Lian Ban Mian — 2/5

Multiple outlets islandwide
Operating hours vary across stores

Why visit? Famed for its history dating back to the 1980s and its ready-to-cook meals launched in recent times, Qiu Lian Ban Mian has made a strong name for itself whether you’re a ban mian lover or not. It has branches at several locations across the island and is easily one of the most convenient and accessible ban mian stalls for your sudden cravings. 

Our thoughts: Visiting the outlet at Plaza Singapura, we found the ban mian (S$6.20) soup thick and overly saccharine. It had a slightly artificial taste to it, and sadly, no other element of the dish made up for this shortcoming. You’d expect more with the hefty price tag it comes with, but it didn’t quite deliver.

22. Qiu Rong Ban Mian — 4/5

Old Airport Road Food Centre, 01-64, 51 Old Airport Road 
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 9pm)

Why visit? One of the best-known ban mian stalls in the famed Old Airport Food Centre, Qiu Rong Ban Mian, has consistently dished out a warm and comforting bowl of noodles and soup to those seeking it. It’s also reasonably accessible and surrounded by plenty of other delicious options. 

Our thoughts: At just S$4 for a bowl of ban mian, Qiu Rong Ban Mian is one of the better and more affordable stores out there. The minced meat given was packed with flavour that enhanced the bowl as a whole. Surprisingly, the dry ban mian (S$4) mixed with a few spoonfuls of soup was equally as good. 

23. Top 1 Home Made Noodle — 5/5

Beauty World Food Centre, 04-44, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road 
Open: Thursday to Tuesday (11am to 6.30pm)

Why visit? Top 1 Home Made Noodle usually sells out by 2pm on weekends, and the snaking queues are telltale signs of its finesse. Fans of spicy food have to head down as Top 1 Home Made Noodle is known for its addictive and fiery chilli. You can even buy a jar of its chilli to take home. If there’s a demand for just the chilli, you know it’s got to be good. 

Our thoughts: While my go-to here is usually the dry mee hoon kueh (S$4.50), I can appreciate almost any other dish here. Everything from the soup to the house-made sauce used for the dry noodles is packed with flavour. You’ll have to add an additional 50 cents for an egg, but even without it, the dish exceeds all expectations.

24. Wang Jiao Handmade Noodle — 3/5

West Coast Market Square, 01-193, 726 Clementi West Street 2 
Open: Monday to Sunday (10.30am to 9pm)

Why visit?  Located in the west, Wang Jiao Handmade Noodle is a comfort spot for the quintessential ban mian, but also has unusual dishes like fermented rice residue mee sua (from S$4.50). Aside from the usual minced pork, Wang Jiao also serves up minced chicken in its ban mian.

Our thoughts: Although the ingredients in the ban mian (from S$4) were fresh, we found the broth and noodle texture to be slightly lacking. The broth was slightly too salty and left a slightly sticky feeling on our palates, while the noodles were overcooked.

25. Xiao Ji Noodle House — 3.5/5

Alexandra Food Village, 01-36, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1 
Open: Monday to Sunday (10.30am to 8.30pm)

Why visit? Located at the foodie hotspot Alexandra Food Village, Xiao Ji Noodle House has some stiff competition in the area, but it easily holds its own with its generous portions and fresh dumplings. 

Our thoughts: At S$3.50 a bowl, the ban mian is easily one of the cheapest on this list. It’s packed with various seasoned meat — minced, sliced and meatball. The soup base is mild, so we recommend adding its homemade chilli oil for an extra kick.

26. Xin Ban Mian — 2.5/5

232 Sims Avenue
Open: Monday to Sunday (24 hours) 

Why visit? Xin’s Ban Mian’s main draw is that it is open 24 hours a day throughout the week, so you’ll always have a ban mian place to satisfy your cravings. The stall also serves many novelty flavours such as the bakkwa you mian (S$4) and the goma (sesame) sauce you mian (S$5.50).

Our thoughts: We weren’t so adventurous and opted for the original taste ban mian, which turned out be rather average. The noodles were quite springy, but nothing else stood out in particular. 

27. Xin Heng Hand-made Noodle — 3.5/5

Amoy Street Food Centre, 02-97, 7 Maxwell Road
Open: Monday to Friday (9am to 4pm)

Why visit? While at Amoy Street Food Centre, we spotted many pink bowls and a quick check revealed that they belonged to Xin Heng Hand-made Noodle, a ban mian store located on the second floor. It also caught our eye with its tom yum variations, as well as the fu zhou fish balls it serves up. 

Our thoughts: We reviewed another Amoy stall on the list (One More Bowl), and in comparison Xin Heng’s ban mian (S$4) suits those who prefer a lighter flavour. It also looked to be of a slightly larger portion and was packed with more greens, making it a good alternative, should the other be too packed.

28. Yanan Ban Mian Noodle — 4.5/5

Telok Blangah Food Centre, 01-29, 79 Telok Blangah Drive
Open: Monday to Friday (7am to 7pm), Saturday and Sunday (7am to 3pm)

Why visit? Yanan Ban Mian Noodle is a hot favourite on our list, by the majority and by us, too. It’s known for its large menu and variety of ingredients available. The dishes were extremely well-priced, starting at just S$3.80 for a bowl of noodles.

Our thoughts: The Chinese wine infused with the handmade pork meatball noodle soup (S$3.80) broth added hints of sweet, sour and umami notes — even though the soup appeared clear, it tasted unassumingly savoury. Needless to say, the handmade meatballs were well-seasoned, providing a very light but delicious meal.

29. Yi Xuan Handmade Banmian Eating House — 3.5/5

35 Circuit Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 11.30pm)

Why visit? Old-school eatery Yi Xuan Handmade Banmian Eating House was extremely promising at first glance, packed with patrons even past 8pm. It’s known for its flavourful broth that tastes like it came out of your childhood and its affordable dishes — a prawn you mian costs just S$4.50.

Our thoughts: The soup ban mian (S$4) was comforting, though the noodles could prove to be too soft for some. The soup was light and the meat was well-seasoned. Interestingly, what we enjoyed the most were the fried dumplings (S$5.50 for eight pieces).

30. Zhen Neng Zhu Ban Mian — 2.5/5

Multiple outlets across the island

Why visit? Established in 1993, Zhen Neng Zhu Ban Mian has over 10 stalls across Singapore. It’s yet another ban mian find that is easily accessible to those looking for lunchtime options in the heartlands. 

Our thoughts: The no-frills ban mian (S$4.30) is rather average. Its flat noodles are on the thin side, and while the minced meat was decently marinated, we felt it could be of better quality. Still, the stall does well at drawing a decent queue during lunchtime, perhaps owing to its convenience.

For more eats, check out this new modern Thai restaurant at Amoy Hotel that’s helmed by four friends, as well as the newly-reopened Bar Cicheti. 

Bossi Ban Mian, Fong Hup, Formosa Delight, Chilli Pan Mee (Batu Road), Hai Xia Ban Mian, He Jia Huan Ban Mian, KL Damansara Chilli Pan Mee, L32 Handmade Noodles, Ng Kuan Chilli Pan Mee, Nam Kee Pau, One More Bowl, Penang Heng Heng Handmade Noodles, Qiu Rong Ban Mian, Xin Ban Mian, Zhen Neng Zhu Ban Mian, Yanan Ban Mian Noodle are on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited. 

Alternatively, book a ride to these ban mian stalls in Singapore. 

Do explore the new GrabFood Dine-in service for awesome deals.