They refer to the same dish. "Prawn noodles" is the English name, while "prawn mee" or "hae mee" comes from local dialect names for this popular Singapore dish.
The Best 5 Prawn Noodles Stalls in Singapore
Prawn noodles, locally known as "hae mee," is a beloved dish in Singapore that combines springy noodles with sweet prawns and a deeply flavorful broth. After slurping through countless bowls across the island, I've identified the five absolute best prawn noodle stalls that locals and tourists alike swear by.
What Makes Exceptional Prawn Noodles?
Before diving into the top stalls, let's understand what sets apart the ordinary from the extraordinary:
- The Broth: A good prawn noodle soup requires hours of simmering prawn shells and pork bones to create that rich, umami-packed flavor that forms the soul of the dish.
- Fresh Prawns: The quality and freshness of the prawns make a huge difference—the sweeter and snappier the prawns, the better the bowl.
- Perfect Noodles: Whether yellow noodles or bee hoon (rice vermicelli), they should have the right bite and texture.
- Balanced Flavors: The best bowls offer a harmony of savory, sweet, and spicy notes that keep you coming back for more.
Now, let's discover the five stalls that have mastered this craft!
1. Zion Road Big Prawn Noodle
Location: 70 Zion Road, #01-04, Zion Riverside Food Centre, Singapore 247792
Zion Road Big Prawn Noodle (Zhi Wei Xian) has earned its reputation as one of Singapore's best prawn noodle stalls through decades of consistent quality. What makes their broth special is the addition of pork bones that create a balanced flavor profile—savory, fresh, and subtly sweet.
Their signature bowl comes adorned with plump, fresh prawns that provide a delightful textural contrast: crisp yet tender meat that refreshes your palate. The addition of fried pork skin and their housemade chili elevates the entire experience, making each bowl truly memorable.
Key Takeaway: The balanced broth here strikes the perfect middle ground—not too light, not too intense—making it a great introduction to authentic Singaporean prawn noodles.
2. Beach Road Prawn Mee Eating House
Location: 370 East Coast Road, Singapore 428981
A true institution in Singapore's prawn noodle scene, Beach Road Prawn Mee Eating House has been satisfying hungry locals since 1986. This family-run business takes pride in their prawn stock, which is boiled for hours to extract maximum flavor.
What sets them apart is their consistent quality and generous portions. Their soup has a robust prawn flavor with a reddish hue that signals its depth and richness. The standard bowl comes with halved prawns, but serious food lovers should upgrade to the big prawn option for an even more luxurious experience.
The balance of their spicy chili paste and slightly sweet broth creates a flavor profile that keeps customers returning for decades.
Key Takeaway: This is old-school Singapore flavor at its finest—no frills, just consistently excellent prawn noodles with a time-tested recipe.
3. Da Shi Jia Big Prawn Mee
Location: 89 Killiney Rd, Singapore 239534
Da Shi Jia has made waves in the prawn noodle scene with its slightly more upscale approach while maintaining authentic flavors. Their standout creation is the stir-fried prawns with bee hoon (rice noodles), featuring plump and tender split prawns bathed in a rich, savory sauce.
The kitchen team expertly stir-fries the rice noodles with dried onions, garlic, and celery, creating layers of flavor and a satisfying texture. Each bowl is complemented by their exceptional shrimp soup, which adds depth to the overall experience.
For those willing to splurge, their big prawn options feature impressively large and fresh prawns that are sweet and succulent—worth every dollar for prawn enthusiasts.
Key Takeaway: Da Shi Jia offers a slightly elevated prawn noodle experience without losing the authentic flavors that make this dish so beloved.
4. Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles
Location: 41A Cambridge Road, #01-15 Pek Kio Market & Food Centre, Singapore 211041
Wah Kee has earned a loyal following for its focus on premium ingredients, particularly their namesake big prawns. What started as a humble stall has become a prawn noodle destination where people willingly queue for a taste.
Their broth is intensely flavorful—rich with prawn essence and a distinct robustness that comes from long hours of preparation. The signature big prawn noodles feature impressively large prawns that are fresh, sweet, and perfectly cooked to maintain their natural sweetness and snap.
Their chili paste deserves special mention—made fresh daily, it adds a complex heat that enhances rather than overwhelms the natural flavors of the dish.
Key Takeaway: Come here when you want to splurge on extra-large, extra-fresh prawns with a broth that matches their quality.
5. Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee
Location: 2 Jalan Ayer, Lorong 1 Geylang, 389141, Singapore
Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee offers a different take on this classic dish, with a lighter yet still flavorful broth that allows the natural sweetness of the prawns to shine through. Operating since 1965, their decades of experience are evident in every bowl.
Their prawn noodles come with a distinct clarity in the broth—less murky than some competitors but carrying no less flavor. The prawns are consistently fresh and sweet, while their noodles maintain the perfect bite.
What many regulars love about Jalan Sultan is the option to customize your bowl—from noodle type to spice level—ensuring you get exactly the prawn noodle experience you crave.
Key Takeaway: If you prefer a cleaner, lighter broth that still packs flavor, Jalan Sultan offers an excellent alternative to the more robust versions elsewhere.
What To Look For In Great Prawn Noodles
When hunting for the best prawn noodles in Singapore, keep these points in mind:
- Broth Clarity: A good broth should have depth without being cloudy
- Prawn Freshness: Fresh prawns should have a sweet flavor and snappy texture
- Noodle Texture: Whether yellow noodles or bee hoon, they should maintain their texture in the hot broth
- Complementary Elements: Ingredients like pork ribs, fried lard, and homemade chili paste should enhance the main stars
- Balance: The best bowls offer harmony between savory, sweet, and spicy elements
Beyond The Top 5
While the five stalls above represent the cream of the crop, Singapore's prawn noodle scene has other notable mentions:
- Adam Road Noo Cheng Big Prawn Noodle: Offers excellent dry prawn noodles with a shrimp paste that creates a chewy, aromatic sensation
- Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee: Known for their unique take that includes squid and fish fillets
- 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles: A longtime favorite among locals for consistent quality
- Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodle: Famous for generous portions and rich broth
- Udang Udang: One of the few Halal options for prawn noodles in Singapore
Wet vs. Dry: Two Styles of Prawn Noodles
Singapore's prawn noodle stalls typically offer two main styles:
Soup Version (Wet): Noodles served in a rich, flavorful broth made from simmering prawn shells and pork bones. The depth and clarity of this broth often defines a stall's reputation.
Dry Version: Noodles tossed in a savory sauce made from a mix of ingredients that might include sambal, ketchup, and lard oil. The soup is served on the side, allowing you to enjoy two different flavor experiences in one meal.
Most connoisseurs recommend trying both styles to fully appreciate what each stall has to offer.
Conclusion
Singapore's prawn noodle scene represents the city-state's food culture at its finest—unpretentious yet deeply flavorful, combining Chinese influences with local innovation.
The five stalls highlighted here—Zion Road Big Prawn Noodle, Beach Road Prawn Mee Eating House, Da Shi Jia, Wah Kee, and Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee—each bring something special to the table while maintaining the authentic flavors that make this dish so beloved.
Whether you prefer a robust, full-bodied broth or something lighter and more refined, there's a prawn noodle stall in Singapore that will satisfy your cravings. The beauty of Singapore's food scene is that excellence exists at every price point, and these prawn noodle stalls prove that some of the best culinary experiences come from humble hawker settings.
Next time you're exploring Singapore's rich food culture, be sure to set aside time to sample at least one (or all!) of these outstanding prawn noodle stalls. Your taste buds will thank you for the authentic flavor experience that's uniquely Singaporean.
