Twelve hawker centers across Singapore will close for one to four days from Oct. 1 for scheduled cleaning to ensure hygiene at the facilities.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said the regular cleaning exercises are carried out to ensure Singaporeans can continue to enjoy affordable food in a clean and hygienic environment, AsiaOne reported.
The hawker centers include popular dining destinations such as Serangoon Garden Market, East Coast Lagoon Food Village and Golden Mile Food Center, according to a list published on the NEA’s website.
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A crowded food center in Singapore. Photo by AFP |
Hawker centers are an integral part of Singaporean culture, offering affordable communal dining and a wide range of cuisines. These large, often open-air complexes house numerous stalls serving local and international dishes.
There are 123 markets and hawker centers in Singapore, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia by nominal GDP according to the IMF.
Some tourists said eating at Singapore hawker centers is exceptionally safe thanks to strict government regulations, regular inspections, and mandatory hygiene ratings.
Here is a list of hawker centers in Singapore that will be closed this month for cleaning:
| Hawker Center | Closure period | |
| Changi Village Blk 2 and 3 | Oct. 1 to 15 | Repairs and Redecoration |
| Jalan Bukit Merah Blk 112 (Blk 112 Jalan Bukit Merah Market and Food Centre) | Oct. 5 | Cleaning |
| Serangoon Garden Market | Oct. 5 to 6 | Cleaning |
| Upper Cross Street Blk 531A (Hong Lim Food Centre and Market) | Oct. 5 to 7 | Cleaning |
| Sembawang Hills Food Center (Jalan Leban Food Centre) | Oct. 12 | Cleaning |
| Sims Place Blk 49 (Sims Vista Market and Food Centre) | Oct. 12 to 13 | Cleaning |
| Teban Gardens Road Blk 37A (Teban Gardens Market and Food Centre) | Oct. 12 to 13 | Cleaning |
| East Coast Lagoon Food Village | Oct. 12 to 14 | Cleaning |
| Toa Payoh Lane 8 Blk 210 | Oct. 12 to 14 | Cleaning |
| Redhill Lane Blk 79 (Redhill Market) | Oct. 26 to 27 | Cleaning |
| Redhill Lane Blk 85 (Redhill Food Center) | Oct. 26 to 27 | Cleaning |
| Golden Mile Food Center | Oct. 26 to 29 | Cleaning |