20 food places where you can spend your CDC vouchers, including Michelin Bib Gourmand hawker stalls and zi char joints

Wondering where to spend your CDC (Community Development Council) vouchers? In case you’ve been living under a rock, each household is entitled to S$500 (up from S$300 last year) worth of vouchers – half of it to spend on heartland merchants (which include hawker stalls and zi char joints) and the other half on supermarkets. The vouchers are available to download now, and will expire on Dec 31, 2024. 

Roughly 23,000 merchants are participating in the scheme this year, about double that of 2021, when it was first introduced. 

To use the vouchers, customers simply need to flash their voucher QR codes when making payment, with a S$150 spending limit per purchase. 

If you haven’t spent them all yet, here’s a handy list of some of 8days.sg’s favourite hawker stalls and zi char joints, plus several Michelin-approved ones to check out.

SIN MING ROAD CHICKEN RICE, FROM S$4.50 A PLATE

This under-the-radar chicken rice joint had humble beginnings as a kopitiam stall in Sin Ming, before it upgraded to a standalone air-conditioned eatery in Bishan in 2022. While both their roasted and poached chicken are popular, 8days.sg prefers the succulent, springy poached white chook doused in a fragrant soya-and-sesame sauce. The flavoursome rice, toothsome and slicked in chicken fat, is some of the best around. We also love the complimentary soup tinged with herbal notes. If you insist on pairing your chicken rice with zi char dishes, the Teochew-style steamed fish is worth a try. 

Sin Ming Road Chicken Rice is located at #01-195 Blk 151, Bishan St 11, Singapore 570151. Tel: 9769 0802.

SIN MING ROTI PRATA, FROM S$4.50 FOR FIVE PIECES OF COIN PRATA

Sin Ming Roti Prata has been around for over 60 years now, and with good reason. It's popular among foodies for its crispy coin prata paired with spicy fish or chicken curry. However, even their regular prata kosong is better than average – crackly on the outside, slightly chewy within. 

Sin Ming Roti Prata is located at #01-51 Ghim Huat Coffeeshop, 24 Sin Ming Rd, Singapore 570024. Tel: 6453 3893.

NO. 18 ZION ROAD FRIED KWAY TEOW, FROM S$5

Having just snagged its Michelin Bib Gourmand nod last year, we dare say No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow serves up some of Singapore’s best char kway teow. The noodles are moist, salty-sweet with a good amount of lard, all kissed with robust wok hei. The downside? There’s usually a queue.

No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow is located at #01-17 Zion Riverside Food Centre, 70 Zion Rd, Singapore 247792. Tel: 9868 5507.

CHARCOAL GRILLED, FROM S$2 A PLATE OF TAU POK

This decades-old stall at Bukit Merah sells grilled veggie-stuffed tau pok for just S$2. The tasty puff is crammed with a mix of cucumber, kang kong and bean sprouts, then slathered with flavourful fermented prawn paste. It’s also served alongside one you tiao and fiery chilli. Besides the grilled tau pok, Charcoal Grilled also sells rojak at an affordable price of S$2.50, plus satay.

Charcoal Grilled is located at  #01-09, Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, 115 Bukit Merah View, Singapore 151115. Tel: 9271 2208.

GOOD GOOD BIRD, FROM S$3 FOR PORRIDGE; S$5 FOR FRIED CHICKEN RICE

Good Good Bird is a new fried chicken rice stall run by two millennials. Its speciality? Ayam goreng berempah (fried chicken leg rubbed in a spice blend) rice sets. 8days.sg recommends their S$5.50 ayam goreng berempah set that comes with juicy chook coated in a crunchy batter and marinated in a punchy housemade rempah made of ginger, onion and masala. This is paired with curry and soup. Another dish worth trying is their S$3 fried chicken porridge, simmered with leftover chicken rice and broth, then topped with chunks of mildly spicy ayam goreng berempah. Very satisfying.

Good Good Bird is located at at FM412 Coffee Shop, at #01-114, Blk 412, Bedok North Ave 2, Singapore 460412.

ROLINA TRADITIONAL HAINANESE CURRY PUFF, FROM S$2 

Rolina’s tasty curry puffs date all the way back to the 1960s, and attained a Michelin Bib Gourmand award back in 2022 (though it has since lost it). While it was initially run by hawker Bren Tham, his 23-year-old ex-restaurant chef daughter took over the reins last year, together with her fiance. The petite but satisfying plump, yummy puffs are handmade in small batches daily. 8days.sg likes the Curry Chicken & Egg Puff generously stuffed with curried potato and chicken meat best.

Rolina Traditional Hainanese Curry Puff is located at #02-15 Tanjong Pagar Market & Food Centre, 6 Tanjong Pagar Plz, Singapore 081006. Tel: 9235 8093.

CHEY SUA CARROT CAKE, FROM S$3

This Michelin Bib awardee sells only one dish – white carrot cake. And we can see that they’ve perfected it. The hawkers make their own radish cake from scratch, then fry it till it’s deeply browned and crispy on the outside and soft inside, with a generous portion of chye poh (Chinese dried radish).  

Chey Sua Carrot Cake is located at  #02-30 Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre, Blk 127 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 313127. Tel: 6254 6323.

MIZZY CORNER NASI LEMAK, FROM S$3.50

One of Changi Village’s most popular nasi lemak joints, halal Mizzy Corner serves up an affordable plate with coconutty basmati rice and the usual suspects of fried chicken wing, ikan bilis and a fried egg, alongside sweet and tangy sambal. If you’d like something other than fried chicken, other meat options include otah and fried fish. 

Mizzy Corner Nasi Lemak is located at #01-23/26 Changi Village Hawker Centre, 2 Changi Village Rd, Singapore 500002.

SELERA RASA NASI LEMAK, FROM S$4

Another famous halal nasi lemak joint, this time at Adam Food Centre. Little surprise that Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak is often called ‘Adam Road Nasi Lemak’ amongst patrons. This stall was one of the first few to kickstart using basmati rice in nasi lemak trend. Their popular Royal Flush set comes with a chicken wing, otak otak, bergedil and fried egg. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong famously served Selera’s nasi lemak to Indonesian president Joko Widodo at the Istana in 2014. 

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak is located at #01-02 Adam Food Centre, 2 Adam Rd, S289876 and Blk 603, 603 Ang Mo Kio Ave 5, Singapore 560603. Tel: 9843 4509.

GENERATION COFFEE ROASTERS, FROM S$1.40 CUP

This hip coffee stall in Bedok Food Centre and Tekka Centre serves up cafe-style drinks at hawker prices. Generation Coffee’s signature blend is made with Vietnamese robusta and Brazilian arabica beans, roasted without sugar and margarine – ingredients typically present in other local Nanyang-style kopis. They also offer more artisanal cups brewed with single-origin beans from places like Brazil and Colombia. We recommend their refreshing Iced Kopi and velvety, fruity Cafe Latte. 

Generation Coffee Roasters is located at #01-32, Blk 216 Bedok Food Centre, Bedok North St 1, S460216 and #01-321 Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Rd, Singapore 210665. Tel: 8891 2911.

KENG ENG KEE SEAFOOD, FROM S$9 FOR MOONLIGHT HOR FUN

Many know popular zi char chain Keng Eng Kee for its well-loved moonlight hor fun dish (S$9) – a Malaysian-style hor fun topped with a runny egg yolk (resembling the moon). Other must-try zi char items on their menu include the crispy, umami Marmite chicken (S$15) and claypot seafood (S$40). Another signature dish not to miss out on is their special Golden Pearl Rolls (S$16), a unique creation of tau pok stuffed with salted egg yolk, prawn, ham and mushrooms. The CDC vouchers can only be used at the main outlet in Bukit Merah.

Keng Eng Kee Seafood is located at #01-136 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150124. Tel: 6272 1038.

CHEOK KEE, FROM S$3.50

Recently awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for the first time in 2023, Cheok Kee is known for its boneless braised duck rice. A regular plate of duck rice here costs just S$3.50, though patrons can add on duck gizzard or liver for an extra dollar. 

Cheok Kee is located at #01-35 Geylang Bahru Market & Food Centre, 69 Geylang Bahru, Singapore 330069. Tel: 9692 2168.

BAHRAKATH MUTTON SOUP, FROM S$7

Also just awarded it first-ever Michelin Bib Gourmand nod last year, this Indian Muslim stall has been around since 1973. It’s known for its mutton soup, served with a bone-in mutton leg and thick herbal broth. While their mutton leg is most popular, customers can also opt for ribs or mutton meat chunks. For the best experience, have the soup alongside bread, which can be added on for S$1. 

Bahrakath Mutton Soup is located at #01-10 Adam Food Centre, 2 Adam Rd, Singapore 289876. Tel: 8510 8197.

HUI WEI CHILLI BAN MIAN, FROM S$5

Another new Michelin Bib Gourmand winner. Its signature chilli ban mian comes topped with minced meat, meatballs and a poached egg. We’ve not tried this yet, but the handmade noodles are said to be chewy and tossed in a generous amount of fragrant and fiery chilli sauce. 

Hui Wei Chilli Ban Mian is located at #01-58 Geylang Bahru Market & Food Centre, 69 Geylang Bahru, S330069.

DA SHI JIA BIG PRAWN MEE, FROM S$7.50

This Michelin Bib Gourmand prawn mee eatery owned by a young couple serves up regular and XXL-sized fresh prawns, with bowls ranging from S$7.50 to a whopping S$25. There’s also a well-loved fried big prawn bee hoon, somewhat like a bee hoon only version of Hokkien mee.

Da Shi Jia Big Prawn Mee is located at 89 Killiney Road, Singapore 239534. Tel: 8908 6949.

SHI HUI YUAN, FROM S$4.80 FOR CHICKEN AND DUCK HOR FUN

Awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for six consecutive years, Shi Hui Yuan serves Ipoh-style duck or chicken hor fun. We haven’t personally tried this, but customers have raved about its aromatic herbal sauce, tender duck meat and silky hor fun. 

Shi Hui Yuan is located at #02-33 Mei Ling Market & Food Centre, 159 Mei Chin Rd, Singapore 140159.

TO-RICOS KWAY CHAP, FROM S$6 FOR A MIXED PLATTER

Michelin Bib Gourmand winner To-Ricos has been around for over 40 years. The kway chap stall serves smooth rice noodles, well-cleaned innards, and fatty slices of pork belly. Last we heard, owner Phua Gek Sia is looking to retire soon, so perhaps it’s best to try it ASAP. 

To-Ricos Kway Chap is located at #01-135 Old Airport Road Food Centre, 51 Old Airport Rd, Singapore 390051. Tel: 8923 0892.

ZAI SHUN CURRY FISH HEAD, MARKET PRICE

This long-time Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient stall sells a curious combination of Teochew porridge and zi char. But it works. Amongst their zi char dishes, they’re most popular for their unique steamed fish options, which include species ranging from the typical red snapper to pricier empurau fish and even shark’s cartilage served with fermented bean sauce. While their namesake tamarind-infused fish head curry is decent, their simpler seafood dishes allow the freshness of the fish to shine better. Also a must-order is the shiok stir-fried salted egg bitter gourd, plus hae bee hiam from the porridge selection.

Zai Shun Curry Fish Head is located at #01-205 253 Jurong East St 24, S600253.

YANG MING SEAFOOD, FROM S$35/500G FOR LIVE PRAWNS

Another seafood-centric zi char fave among foodies. Yang Ming Seafood serves fresh live seafood, often with a gourmet twist via dishes like its signature lobster chee cheong fun (from S$108 for three to four people). The tender lobster is soaked in a richly umami broth, over a bed of silky chee cheong fun. Other seafood options include crabs from S$95, and live prawns from S$35/500g. For a worthy non-seafood dish to order, try the chicken stuffed in pig’s stomach soup (S$78). Do note that only the Bishan outlet is listed on the CDC site.

Yang Ming Seafood is located at 150 Bishan St.11, Singapore 570150. Tel: 8028 9940.

AH SENG DURIAN, FROM S$45/BOX

Durians, an occasional indulgence if you’re so inclined. To our surprise, the famous Ah Seng Durian is included on the CDC list. The business was started by Ah Seng himself, together with his brother in the ’80s. Creamy, bittersweet Mao Shan Wang from Pahang, honest practices along with savvy branding have made Ah Seng a household brand. Their Mao Shan Wang durians are currently priced at S$45/box of 520g and S$26/kg. Both outlets at Ghim Moh and Alexandra qualify for the CDC scheme. 

Ah Seng Durian is located at #01-24 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 151119 and #01-119 20 Ghim Moh Rd, Singapore 270020. Tel: 9159 6160 (Bukit Merah) and 9465 6160 (Ghim Moh).

HOW TO CLAIM CDC VOUCHERS

To claim your CDC vouchers, visit go.gov.sg/cdcv, click on "CDC Vouchers Scheme 2024", and use your Singpass account to log in and redeem the vouchers. You’ll then be sent an SMS with a voucher link, which can be shared with your family members. 

This story was originally published in 8Days.