Food Near Dakota MRT: 17 Best Places to Eat by Exit (2026)
Dakota MRT (CC8, Circle Line) sits right beside Old Airport Road Food Centre, one of Singapore's largest and oldest hawker centres, which opened in 1973 and houses roughly 150-plus cooked-food stalls. The area is best known for heritage hawker fare — char kway teow, lor mee, Hokkien mee, prawn noodles and oyster omelette, several of them Michelin-listed — with a small cluster of cafes and eateries along nearby Cassia Crescent for something more sit-down. Most stalls are a 4-5 minute walk from Dakota Exit B.
Last verified: September 2026. Hours and prices can change — we re-check our guides regularly, but do confirm before a special trip.
- Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee
- Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee
- Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow
- Roast Paradise
- To-Ricos Kway Chap
- Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodles
- Famous Old Airport Fried Oyster
- Western Barbecue
- J&J Special Beef Noodle
- Wooga Bimbowl and Kalguksu
- SALT
- 97 Nasi Lemak
- Fatman Satay
- Sasha Muslim Food Corner
- Nyonya Chendol
- Sweet Garden Dining Cafe
- Second Floor Lab Gelato
The best places to eat near Dakota MRT
Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee Hokkien mee (Chinese) · $
Long-running Hokkien mee stall that fries thin bee hoon in seafood stock using peanut oil rather than pork lard.
- Cuisine: Hokkien mee (Chinese)
- Price: $ · ~$5/$8
- Must-try: Hokkien fried mee (thin bee hoon style)
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-32, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-6pm; closed Mon
- Halal: No
Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee Lor mee (Chinese) · $
Michelin-listed lor mee stall known for its thick, five-spice starchy gravy; often has queues.
- Cuisine: Lor mee (Chinese)
- Price: $ · ~$6/$8
- Must-try: Signature lor mee, Pan-fried fish
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-116, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 7am-4pm; also Fri-Sun 9pm-4am
- Halal: No
Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow Char kway teow (Chinese) · $
Popular char kway teow stall serving smoky, wok-fried flat noodles; frequently cited among the centre's must-tries.
- Cuisine: Char kway teow (Chinese)
- Price: $
- Must-try: Fried kway teow
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-12, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Fri & Sun 11:45am-10pm; closed Sat
- Halal: No
Roast Paradise Cantonese/KL-style roast meats · $
Younger-generation stall famous for KL-style caramelised char siew; shot to popularity after opening in 2016.
- Cuisine: Cantonese/KL-style roast meats
- Price: $ · Char siew rice ~$4.50-$5.50
- Must-try: Char siew rice, Roast pork
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-121, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Sun 10:30am-6:30pm; closed Mon
- Halal: No
To-Ricos Kway Chap Teochew kway chap (Chinese) · $
Well-known kway chap stall (listed by some guides under the name Blanco Court Kway Chap) serving flat rice sheets in braised soup with a platter of braised offal and pork.
- Cuisine: Teochew kway chap (Chinese)
- Price: $ · Mixed platter from ~$8
- Must-try: Kway chap, Braised offal and pork platter
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-135, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-2:30pm; check before going
- Halal: No
Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodles Prawn noodles (Chinese) · $$
Prawn noodle specialist offering dry or soup versions with pork ribs and larger premium-prawn bowls.
- Cuisine: Prawn noodles (Chinese)
- Price: $$ · From ~$5.50; big-prawn options higher
- Must-try: Big prawn pork rib noodles, Prawn noodle soup
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-98, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Sun 9:30am-8pm; closed Mon
- Halal: No
Famous Old Airport Fried Oyster Oyster omelette (Chinese) · $
Fried oyster omelette stall known for the crispy-edged, starchy texture of its orh luak.
- Cuisine: Oyster omelette (Chinese)
- Price: $ · Oyster omelette ~$6; 3-in-1 ~$10
- Must-try: Fried oyster omelette (orh luak)
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-101, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Thu 11am-2pm & 5:30-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-9pm; check before going
- Halal: No
Western Barbecue Western grill · $$
Old-school hawker Western stall around since the 1970s, plating steaks and chops at hawker prices; open late.
- Cuisine: Western grill
- Price: $$ · Mixed grill / sirloin ~$12
- Must-try: Mixed grill, Sirloin steak, Pork chop
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-53, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11am-11pm
- Halal: No
J&J Special Beef Noodle Beef noodles (Chinese) · $$
Beef noodle stall serving braised beef bowls plus higher-end wagyu options.
- Cuisine: Beef noodles (Chinese)
- Price: $$ · From ~$7; wagyu options ~$12
- Must-try: Braised beef noodles, Wagyu beef noodles
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-162, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Sun 10:30am-4pm; closed Mon
- Halal: No
Wooga Bimbowl and Kalguksu Korean · $
Hawker stall serving Korean knife-cut noodle soups (kalguksu) and rice bowls.
- Cuisine: Korean
- Price: $ · ~$8-9.50
- Must-try: Spicy lala kalguksu, Kimchi dumpling kalguksu
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-72, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Sun 11am-2pm & 5-8:30pm; check before going
SALT Modern hawker (Asian fusion) · $
New-wave hawker stall run by a sibling duo, plating chicken cutlet and soy-garlic fried rice with a modern touch.
- Cuisine: Modern hawker (Asian fusion)
- Price: $ · ~$7.50-$8.90
- Must-try: Chicken cutlet with soy garlic fried rice
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-128, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Thu & Sat 12-2:30pm & 5-8:30pm; closed Fri & Sun; check before going
97 Nasi Lemak Malay / nasi lemak · $
Homely nasi lemak stall that uses no pork and no lard; note it is not halal-certified, so confirm on site if that matters.
- Cuisine: Malay / nasi lemak
- Price: $
- Must-try: Nasi lemak, Fried chicken wing
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-96/97, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Sun 7am-2:30pm; closed Mon
- Halal: Muslim-friendly
Fatman Satay Malay satay · $
Long-standing Muslim-owned satay stall (roots at the old Satay Club) grilling skewers in the evenings; one of the area's later-night options.
- Cuisine: Malay satay
- Price: $
- Must-try: Chicken satay, Mutton satay, Beef satay
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-45, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Approx 7pm-12am; closed Tue; confirm before going
- Halal: Halal
Sasha Muslim Food Corner Malay-Muslim · $
Muslim-owned stall serving Malay-Muslim rice dishes such as nasi lemak, rendang and kurma; confirm current certification on site.
- Cuisine: Malay-Muslim
- Price: $ · Nasi lemak ~$5.50; beef rendang ~$6
- Must-try: Nasi lemak, Beef rendang, Chicken kurma
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-58, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Halal: Halal
Nyonya Chendol Dessert (Peranakan) · $
Dessert stall serving traditional chendol with gula melaka, plus a durian version; one of the later-closing stalls.
- Cuisine: Dessert (Peranakan)
- Price: $ · ~$2-$3.50
- Must-try: Chendol with gula melaka, Durian chendol
- Where: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-115, Singapore 390051
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Sun 9:30am-9:30pm; closed Mon
Sweet Garden Dining Cafe Western cafe · $$
Family-run neighbourhood Western cafe near the food centre, known for lamb shank and pasta with no GST or service charge.
- Cuisine: Western cafe
- Price: $$ · Most mains under ~$20; no GST/service charge
- Must-try: Braised lamb shank, Tom yum seafood squid ink pasta
- Where: 32 Cassia Crescent, #01-50, Singapore 390032
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (via Old Airport Road / Cassia Crescent) (~8 min walk)
- Hours: 12-4pm & 5-10pm; closed Mon
- Halal: No
Second Floor Lab Gelato Gelato / dessert cafe · $$
Small dessert cafe near the food centre serving homemade cakes and experimental gelato flavours like gochujang.
- Cuisine: Gelato / dessert cafe
- Price: $$ · Single scoop ~$4.80; double ~$9.50
- Must-try: Gochujang gelato, Chilli & cashew gelato, Homemade cakes
- Where: 32 Cassia Crescent, #01-66, Singapore 390032
- Nearest exit: Dakota Exit B (via Old Airport Road / Cassia Crescent) (~8 min walk)
- Hours: Wed-Sun 12-10pm; Tue 12-5:30pm; closed Mon
At a glance: compare every spot near Dakota MRT
| Spot | Cuisine | Price | Nearest exit | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee | Hokkien mee (Chinese) | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | No |
| Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee | Lor mee (Chinese) | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | No |
| Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow | Char kway teow (Chinese) | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | No |
| Roast Paradise | Cantonese/KL-style roast meats | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | No |
| To-Ricos Kway Chap | Teochew kway chap (Chinese) | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | No |
| Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodles | Prawn noodles (Chinese) | $$ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | No |
| Famous Old Airport Fried Oyster | Oyster omelette (Chinese) | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | No |
| Western Barbecue | Western grill | $$ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | No |
| J&J Special Beef Noodle | Beef noodles (Chinese) | $$ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | No |
| Wooga Bimbowl and Kalguksu | Korean | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | — |
| SALT | Modern hawker (Asian fusion) | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | — |
| 97 Nasi Lemak | Malay / nasi lemak | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | Muslim-friendly |
| Fatman Satay | Malay satay | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | Halal |
| Sasha Muslim Food Corner | Malay-Muslim | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | Halal |
| Nyonya Chendol | Dessert (Peranakan) | $ | Dakota Exit B (toward Old Airport Road) | — |
| Sweet Garden Dining Cafe | Western cafe | $$ | Dakota Exit B (via Old Airport Road / Cassia Crescent) | No |
| Second Floor Lab Gelato | Gelato / dessert cafe | $$ | Dakota Exit B (via Old Airport Road / Cassia Crescent) | — |
Dakota MRT food: your questions answered
What food is Dakota MRT known for?
Dakota is defined by Old Airport Road Food Centre, a heritage hawker centre that opened in 1973 with roughly 150-plus stalls. It is famous for classic local dishes such as char kway teow, lor mee, Hokkien mee, prawn noodles, kway chap and oyster omelette, with several stalls (like Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee) featured in the Michelin Guide.
Are there halal options near Dakota MRT?
Yes, though Old Airport Road Food Centre is a mixed centre with many pork-serving stalls, so look carefully. Muslim-owned options include Sasha Muslim Food Corner (#01-58, Malay-Muslim rice dishes) and Fatman Satay (evening satay). 97 Nasi Lemak uses no pork and no lard but is not halal-certified. Certification can change, so always confirm the current halal status at the stall before ordering.
What are the cheapest eats near Dakota MRT?
The food centre is very affordable. Snacks and desserts are cheapest: chendol from around $2, curry puffs and soya beancurd for a couple of dollars. Most noodle and rice plates fall in the $4-$6 range, so you can eat a full meal for well under $10.
What is open late near Dakota MRT?
Most hawker stalls wind down by early evening, but a few run later. Western Barbecue is open daily until about 11pm, Fatman Satay grills into the night (roughly until midnight), and Xin Mei Xiang Lor Mee runs an overnight session on Friday to Sunday. Hours change, so confirm before making a late trip.
Which Dakota MRT exit is closest to the main food cluster?
Use Dakota Exit B, which faces Old Airport Road; from there it is roughly a 4-5 minute walk to Old Airport Road Food Centre at 51 Old Airport Road. Exit A leads toward Mountbatten Community Club instead. The nearby Cassia Crescent cafes are a slightly longer walk from the same side.