The Old Raffles Place

Collingwood’s ultimate cure for hawker centre homesickness. Step past the Johnston Street entrance—bam, instant old-school Singaporean nostalgia. Vintage photos line the walls. The sweet auntie running the floor treats everyone like family. Expat purists map their weekends around the chye tow kueh—a gloriously sticky, sweet black sauce carrot cake that's an absolute rarity in Melbourne. Same goes for the wildly comforting chicken rice that notoriously sells out early. The hor fun? A slurp-worthy masterpiece hitting every authentic note. Expect massive, unapologetic portions of salted fish fried rice and spice-dusted eggplant piled high with crispy curry leaves. Grab a BYO bottle, pay the corkage, and settle in. Diners chasing legit Southeast Asian comfort food know this is the definitive spot for a proper, soul-warming bowl of soupy Hokkien mee.