The complete guide to Dunman Food Centre in Katong, Singapore.
Welcome to the complete, step-by-step guide on how to get to the Dunman Food Centre in Singapore.
We have written this guide to ensure that you can make it to Dunman Food Centre in the fastest, most stress-free manner ever! And this means that you can follow the directions outlined below regardless of where you are starting your trip in Singapore.
Getting to Dunman Food Centre is interesting because it is actually not located right near an MRT station.
Consequently, most people either walk, cycle or take a public bus from one of the neighbouring MRT stations to get there. You can also drive or take a taxi and get dropped off right near the entrance of the Food Centre.
You will find different pros and cons with each mode of transport. Choose the one that works best for you after you read this guide.
Eating at Dunman Food Centre
Dunman Food Centre is conveniently located about 100 m west of Joo Chiat Road in Katong Singapore. With approximately 30 stalls spanning 2 floors, it isn’t one of Singapore’s largest hawker centres, but it is known for excellent hawker food!
As you might expect, this Food Centre has competitive prices and solid value.
Dishes and drinks here come at a fraction of restaurant prices, so if you’re on a budget, it’s a great spot to fill up.
Some of the most popular and delicious meals that you can eat at Dunman Food Centre include:
Tau Kwa Pau
Char Siew Wan Ton Mee
Char Siew & Roasted Pork Rice
Rojak
Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle
Fried Oyster
Carrot Cake
Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodle
Black Pepper Lamb Chop
Chicken Cutlet
Sliced Beef/Fish In Chili Oil
Steamed Pork Ribs with Soy Sauce
San Lou Hor Fun
Yangzhou Style Fried Rice
Wanton Mee
After eating at Dunman Food Centre, you can easily explore attractions such as the Peranakan Houses along Koon Seng Road and the Intan.
Heading south from the Food Centre will bring you to a series of popular shopping malls scatted around Katong.
Getting to the Dunman Food Centre by MRT and Bus
You definitely have some choice when it comes to getting to Dunman Food Centre.
A popular way to get to this Food Centre is to take the MRT to a nearby station.
Once you are there, either bike, walk or connect with a public bus to the Food Centre.
In the section below, we will explain how to get to Dunman Food Centre using a combination of MRT and public bus services.
Step 1: Walk to the most convenient MRT station.
Try to book a room in Singapore that is within convenient proximity to an MRT station.
You will get around the city faster, cheaper and without unnecessary headaches.
Getting to this Food Centre is no exception.
Take a look at the Singapore metro map before you choose your area to stay in the city.
Here are two properties that we recommend based on reviews and location:
Fullerton Hotel (3 minutes away from Raffles Place Station)
Marina Bay Sands (2 minutes away from Bayfront Station)
Once you access the MRT at these stations, you can quickly navigate your way to Dunman Food Centre.
Step 2: Map out your route to Dunman Food Centre.
Currently, the most convenient station for getting to Dunman Food Centre via MRT and public bus is
Dakota Station (CC8)
Dakota Station is located along Singapore’s Circle Line.
It has a shortcode of CC8 to denote that it’s the eighth stop on the line.
The Circle Line is shown in orange colour on Singapore’s route map.
Step 3: Buy your ticket to Dakota Station (CC8).
You can buy several types of tickets/cards in Singapore.
Here is a summary of the three main types:
- Tourist Passes
- Stored Value Cards
- Multiple/Single Trip Tickets
Singapore Tourist Passes might be a perfect choice if you are only in Singapore for a few days and plan on doing a lot of sightseeing.
We used the second option above while learning how to get to Dunman Food Centre by MRT and bus. Stored value cards are popular amongst Singaporeans and long-term guests, and they work for both trains and buses within the city.
Single or multiple journey tickets can be purchased at machines right near the entranceway to the MRT. You can also use credit cards with a ‘wave feature’ in a similar manner to Tourist Passes and stored value cards.
Choose one of these options on your way to the Food Centre and you should be good to go!
Step 4: Complete any needed line transfers and travel on the MRT to Dakota Station (CC8).
Refer to route maps and on trains to make your way to Dakota Station on the Circle Line.
You should hear verbal announcements on the trains for upcoming stops.
Dakota Station has two neighbouring stations that you should be familiar with:
Paya Lebar (north)
Mountbatten (south)
It’s also possible to connect from these stations to the Food Centre, but they are both a bit farther away.
Step 5: Alight at Dakota Station (CC8).
As you approach Dakota Station (CC8), move closer to an exit on the train and then alight. Bring all your stuff with you.
Step 6: Travel from Level B2 to Level 1 at Dakota Station.
Dakota Station is built under Old Airport Road, at the junction of Jalan Dua near Geylang River.
It consists of three levels:
Level 1 – Street Level
B1 – Concourse
B2 – Train platforms
You will arrive at Level B2, where the Circle Line train platforms are located.
Make your way up to Level 1 to access the station exits using either the stairs, escalator or elevators.
Dakota Station has two exits to choose from at street level, Exits A and B.
Take Exit A to access the bus services to Dunman Food Centre.
Step 7: Walk from Dakota Station to the Bus Stop.
Once you arrive at Dakota Station, the walk to the most convenient bus stop is short and sweet.
Exit A at Dakota Station will bring you to Old Airport Road, which is directly north of the station.
Cross to the other side of Old Airport Road.
Walk west until you reach the following bus stop:
Dakota Stn Exit A/Blk 99 – Stop ID: 81181
Once you are there, wait for the bus.
Bus Directions from Dakota Station (CC8) to Dunman Food Centre
Wait at the bus stop and then get on Bus 16, 16M or 33 to reach Dunman Food Centre.
Stay on Bus 16/16M/33 for a few stops as it travels east along Dunman Road and then get off at this bus stop:
Opp Maranatha Hall – Stop ID: 82131
Once you’re off the bus, simply walk east along Dunman Road. You should see the Food Centre on the opposite side of the road at the corner of Onan and Dunman.
Approximate Bus Ride Length (including walking): 8-10 minutes
Bus Pick-up Frequency: Approximately every 10 minutes
Walking Directions from Dakota Station (CC8) to Dunman Food Centre
Consider walking from Dakota Station to the Food Centre if you want to get some exercise or don’t feel like waiting for the bus.
Cycling is another quick, green mode of transport from the Dakota MRT station.
Once you take Exit A at Dakota Station, just walk east along Old Airport Road until it converts into Dunman Road.
Continue east along Dunman Road until you reach Dunman Food Centre.
Approximate Walking Distance: 16-18 minutes (1.5 km)
Getting to the Dunman Food Centre by Public Bus
With Dunman Food Centre being at least 10 minutes from the nearest MRT station, you might want to bypass the MRT altogether.
Instead, you could hop on public bus services and then head straight there, saving time and headaches!
There are a few bus stops near Dunman Food Centre to consider.
Bus Stop |
Bus Numbers |
Approximate Walking Time from the Bus Stop to Dunman Food Centre |
| Opp Maranatha Hall
Stop ID: 82131 |
16, 16M, 33 | Less than 1 minute (100 m) |
| Maranatha Hall
Stop ID: 82139 |
16, 16M, 33, 33B | 3 minutes (300 m) |
| Bef Koon Seng Rd
Stop ID: 82149 |
33, 33B | 3 minutes (240 m) |
As you can see above, Bus 16 and 33 are the most popular for getting to Dunman Food Centre. The walk from the closest stations is 3 minutes or less, making the public bus a very convenient option for getting there.
Taking a Taxi or Driving to Dunman Food Centre
Also, consider taking a taxi directly to Dunman Food Centre. One of the benefits of cabbing it here is that you don’t have to worry about parking or entering stations/buses on the way.
The Food Centre is not beside an MRT station, making carpooling to the Joo Chiat area a practical transport choice. You will save time by taking a cab here, and the expense might be low by sharing the ride with others.
The official address for Dunman Food Centre is
271 Onan Rd, Singapore 424768
You can also drive a vehicle to Dunman Food Centre in Katong. However, according to our experience and other reviews, parking is limited. There are parking spots available right in front of the Food Centre, but if they are taken, then you might have to park elsewhere.
What to see and do near Dunman Food Centre?
One of the coolest things about eating at Dunman Food Centre is that it’s within walking distance of Katong’s best attractions and shopping malls.
Once you’re done eating, walk over to the beautiful Peranakan Houses on Koon Seng Road (Directions). Take a few photos and then walk to other cultural points of interest, such as the Eurasian Heritage Gallery and the Intan.
Walking south from Dunman Food Centre will lead you through Katong’s shopping district. This is where you will find several excellent shopping malls within minutes of Joo Chiat Road.
Some of the most convenient malls in this area of Singapore include
Parkway Parade (Directions)
I12 Katong (Directions)
Katong V (Directions)
Katong Square (Directions)
Flow @ East Coast
Katong Plaza
Roxy Square 1
Katong Shopping Centre (Directions)
If you like visiting Temples, walk over to Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple.
A walk from Dunman Food Centre all the way north to Paya Lebar Station will allow you to visit Geylang Serai Market (Directions) and Joo Chiat Complex (Directions).
These places are known for competitive prices, and they are located across from each other which makes for very convenient shopping.
East Coast Park is one of Singapore’s best outdoor areas. Head here for some fun in the sun or some superb cycling. You can even make it from here all the way to Changi Jurassic Mile on your wheels.
Accommodation Choices near the Food Centre
Most of the accommodation near Dunman Food Centre is scattered close to Joo Chiat Road. You can find some great deals here in the 3-4 star range and much cheaper properties than in Marina Bay or on Sentosa Island.
The properties on Sentosa Island, for instance, tend to be in the 5-star range.
Check out the properties below and see which one suits you best:
Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy (top choice)
Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong
Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong
Village Hotel Katong
Santa Grand Hotel East Coast
We recommend checking several areas and several hotels before finalizing where to stay in Singapore. You might save hundreds of dollars over the course of 3-4 nights in the city.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this complete guide on how to get to Dunman Food Centre in Singapore has been informative and useful.
We want you to save time and money getting there!
You definitely have several transport options for getting to the Food Centre because it is not right beside an MRT station.
The walk from Dakota Station should take you about 18 minutes. So, if that sounds too long, then consider connecting with a bus.
The buses run directly down Dunman Road from Dakota Station, so it won’t take long from there to the station.
You can also get to Dunman Food Centre from Paya Lebar Station. Consider this option if you want to walk south along scenic Joo Chiat Road – one of Singapore’s best social streets. Joo Chiat road is known for its delicious restaurants, hip cafes, and bars.
Bypassing the MRT altogether is not a bad option if you are near bus 33 or 16. Both of these stop near the Food Centre.
Parking is often limited at the Food Centre, so taking a taxi there is a better option in most cases.