Why hawkers before stars
HK short trips that book only one starred room often miss daily Singapore rhythm. Chicken rice, laksa, char kway teow, satay are the decision menu — finish one place per dish, not five half-portions for photos.
Common mistake: two big hawker centres one day
Maxwell chicken rice in the morning; Lau Pa Sat satay atmosphere after ~7:30 — do not wedge a deep Tekka meal between; gut and transit both break. Katong laksa waits for an east day.
Who should add a starred meal
Celebration / business: one MBS or Civic night. Other evenings stay hawker-and-walk. With toddlers: hawker seats and AC edges beat Michelin queues.