There is something familiar about a bowl of fish soup in Singapore. It arrives quietly, usually with slices of fresh fish resting in a clear broth, a little white rice or bee hoon on the side, and a few minutes where everything slows down.
The best fish soup in Singapore does not always come from the most polished restaurants. Some are found inside older food centres like Maxwell Food Centre, Newton Food Centre, and Tiong Bahru Food Centre, where generations of diners return for the same bowl. Many fish soup stalls also offer herbal seafood soup or mixed soup variations, adding depth to their menus.
- Hup Lok
- Tai Seng Fish Soup
- Soon Lee Fish Porridge Seafood Soup
- Mei Xiang Black & White Fish Soup
- An Shun Seafood Soup
- Jun Yuan House of Fish
- Han Kee Fish Soup
- First Street Teochew Fish Soup
- Arcade Fish Soup (Hup Lee Cafeteria)
The Best Fish Soup Havens in Singapore
1. Hup Lok
Along Havelock Road, Hup Lok offers a different kind of fish soup stop from the food centre stalls elsewhere on this list. The setting is air-conditioned and more comfortable for a longer lunch, but the bowl itself stays focused on fish, broth, and the small things that make people return to the same order.
The main draw is Grandpa’s Pomfret Soup (S$13.80). Instead of the more common batang used in many other fish soups, Hup Lok serves generous slices of pomfret in an ivory-coloured broth made with batang bones, chicken and tee poh. There is no added milk. Sng buay, kiam chye and julienned ginger keep the broth balanced while the collagen gives it more body than a typical clear fish soup.
The pomfret is the part to eat first. Its flesh is softer than batang and continues to cook in the hot broth after the bowl reaches the table. That small detail changes how the meal unfolds. The first few pieces stay particularly delicate, while the soup remains steady enough to drink slowly afterwards. For diners looking for the best fish soup, this is a useful reminder that the category does not have to mean the same fish, the same broth, or the same kind of setting every time.
What to order:
- Grandpa’s Pomfret Soup
- Steamed rice if you want a more complete meal
- Garlic “Kami no Ebi” Prawns if the table is sharing
Good to know:
- Location: 725 Havelock Road
- Price range: $10–$20
- Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:30am–2:30pm and 5:30pm–9:30pm; closed Monday
- Best for: A pomfret fish soup with a fuller broth in a sit-down, air-conditioned setting
2. Tai Seng Fish Soup
Hidden inside Taman Jurong Food Centre, Tai Seng Fish Soup represents the quieter side of fish soup in Singapore. It is the kind of stall where regulars return for familiar flavours, a clear broth, generous portions, and fresh fish slices prepared simply. Their steam fish soup and additions such as bitter gourd slices and egg tofu make for a wholesome meal.
The stall focuses on traditional Teochew-style fish soup, with options ranging from sliced fish soup to fried fish soup. The broth stays light, allowing the natural sweetness of the fish to come through without being overly fishy. The use of fish bones in the broth creates a rich, cloudy soup that is comforting and flavourful.
What to order:
- Sliced fish soup with fresh fish slices
- Fried fish soup
- Fish porridge, including Teochew fish porridge
- Fish head soup
Good to know:
- Location: Taman Jurong Food Centre
- Price range: Around $5–$8
- Best for: A simple bowl of fresh fish soup away from the usual crowds
3. Soon Lee Fish Porridge Seafood Soup
Tucked inside the eating house at 4 Defu Lane 10, Soon Lee Fish Porridge Seafood Soup is easy to miss unless lunch brings you into the industrial estate. During lunch hours, however, the stall has long drawn factory workers, drivers and other hungry customers from the surrounding area. The queue can build quickly during peak hours, which feels slightly unexpected for such an out-of-the-way coffee shop.
The menu stays centred on fish soup, but there is room to build a more substantial bowl. Fish slices can be joined by fish belly, fish roe, prawns or fried fish maw, with rice, bee hoon or other noodles on the side. The fish maw is particularly suited to the soup because it softens as it sits, becoming increasingly soaked with the clear broth rather than remaining a separate topping.
This is the kind of place where the long queue tells you more than the surroundings do. There is little about Defu Lane that suggests a food destination at first glance. Yet the routine is already established: arrive around midday, choose the fish and additions, then find a table among the workers doing much the same thing.
What to order:
- Sliced fish soup
- Fish soup with fried fish maw
- Bee hoon or yi mian with the soup
- Prawns or fish belly if you want a fuller bowl
Good to know:
- Location: 4 Defu Lane 10, Singapore 539185
- Price range: $3–$10
- Best for: A less obvious fish soup stop in an industrial estate, especially if you like choosing your own seafood and noodle additions
4. Mei Xiang Black & White Fish Soup
At Berseh Food Centre, Mei Xiang stands out because of its black-and-white approach. Instead of choosing between fresh fish and fried fish, diners get both styles together. The generous amount of fish slices and fried fish, sometimes accompanied by fish maw, creates a more interesting bowl. Soft sliced fish sits alongside crispy fried fish, while the clear, slightly cloudy soup brings everything together. For those who enjoy texture, this is one of the more memorable fish soup stalls to visit.
What to order:
- Black and white fish soup
- Fried fish soup
- Fish bee hoon
- Sliced fish soup
Good to know:
- Location: Berseh Food Centre
- Price range: Around $5–$8
- Best for: Diners who enjoy both fried fish and clear soup flavours
5. An Shun Seafood Soup
An Shun Seafood Soup offers a more residential take on fish soup. Away from the central food centres, this stall gives Hougang residents a reliable seafood soup option built around comforting bowls and generous portions. Their seafood soup includes a mix of fresh fish, fish roe, and green veggies, complemented by bitter gourd slices and tofu cubes.
What to order:
- Seafood soup
- Sliced fish soup
- Fried fish bee hoon
- Fish soup with vegetables
Good to know:
- Location: Hougang
- Price range: Around $5–$10
- Best for: A neighbourhood fish soup fix with seafood variety
6. Jun Yuan House of Fish
Jun Yuan House of Fish brings fish soup into a more restaurant-style setting. Compared with hawker stalls, it offers a wider menu and a more comfortable dining environment, making it suitable for families and longer meals.
The restaurant is known for its richer variations, including XO-style soups and premium seafood options. Their herbal seafood soup is a highlight, offering a complex flavour profile that balances the richness of fish bones and pork bones used in the broth. For diners who prefer something beyond a traditional clear fish soup, this is where the flavours become deeper.
What to order:
- XO Double Fish Soup
- XO Fried Fish Soup
- Black Grouper Soup
- Fried Batang Fish Head Soup
Good to know:
- Location: Old Airport Road, Dawson Road, Pasir Ris
- Price range: Around $10–$20
- Best for: Families and diners who prefer a restaurant-style fish soup experience
Popular Fish Soup Favorites
7. Han Kee Fish Soup
Located at Amoy Street Food Centre, Han Kee Fish Soup has become one of the most recognisable names in Singapore’s fish soup scene. The queue says a lot, but the bowl itself is what keeps people returning.
The focus is simple: thick slices of fresh fish, clear broth, and generous servings. The fish slices are the highlight, with a clean taste that pairs naturally with rice or bee hoon. Additions like bitter gourd slices and pork lard enhance the soup’s flavour and texture.
What to order:
- Sliced fish soup
- Fish bee hoon
- Fresh batang fish slices
- Fried fish soup
Good to know:
- Location: Amoy Street Food Centre
- Price range: Around $7–$12
- Best for: First-timers exploring classic fish soup in Singapore
8. First Street Teochew Fish Soup
First Street Teochew Fish Soup stays close to the traditional style many diners associate with fish soup. The focus is on clear soup, fresh fish, and the natural flavour of quality ingredients.
The stall offers different fish choices, including batang fish and other seasonal options. Instead of a heavy broth, the appeal comes from restraint, allowing the fish to remain the centre of the bowl. You can also add fish maw or bitter gourd slices to customize your bowl.
What to order:
- Teochew fish soup
- Batang fish slices
- Fish porridge
- Fish bee hoon
Good to know:
- Location: Upper Serangoon
- Price range: Around $6–$10
- Best for: Those looking for traditional Teochew-style fish soup
9. Arcade Fish Soup (Hup Lee Cafeteria)
For office workers around Collyer Quay, Arcade Fish Soupis a familiar weekday stop. Located inside The Arcade, this stall serves the kind of straightforward bowl that fits easily into a lunch break.
The soup focuses on batang fish, clear broth, and simple accompaniments. It is not designed to be complicated. It is meant to be dependable, especially when you need a warm meal in the middle of the workday. The broth is often cloudy, rich in flavour from fish bones and pork bones, and served with green veggies.
What to order:
- Batang fish soup
- Fried fish soup
- Fish bee hoon
- Fish slices with soup
Good to know:
- Location: The Arcade, Collyer Quay
- Price range: Around $6–$10
- Best for: CBD workers looking for a quick and comforting lunch
What Makes a Good Bowl of Fish Soup?
A memorable bowl of fish soup usually comes down to three things: the fish, the broth, and the balance between them. Fresh fish slices should have a firm texture and clean taste. Whether it is batang fish, Spanish mackerel, pomfret fish soup, or other white fish, the ingredient should remain the focus. Pomfret fish soup is especially prized for its fine texture and rich flavour.
The soup also matters. Some diners prefer a clear fish soup with a slight sweetness, while others enjoy a milky broth made by adding evaporated milk or adding milk. Fried garlic, fried shallots, spring onions, preserved vegetables, fish roe, and fish sauce can add extra depth without covering the original taste.
A good bowl should not rely only on seasoning. The best versions allow the flavour of the fish fresh to stay present.
Finding Your Next Fish Soup Fix
Singapore’s fish soup culture is built on small differences. One stall may focus on clear Teochew broth. Another may add fried fish, seafood, or richer soup bases. Some are hidden dining spots inside food centres like Maxwell Food Centre and Albert Food Centre, while others have become everyday favourites.
From Tai Seng Fish Soup’s traditional approach to Han Kee Fish Soup’s generous slices and Jun Yuan House of Fish’s modern variations, each place offers a different way to enjoy this familiar dish. Sometimes the best meal is still the simplest one: a warm bowl of soup, a few slices of fresh fish, and a quiet moment at the table.
For more hidden gem discoveries in Singapore, visit Hidden Eats Around to find great food places at Fortune Centre Food.