On 28 September 1974, Mr E W Barker officially opened Adam Food Centre at its present location on the corner of Adam Road and Dunearn Road. The original food centre had entrances constructed with raised platforms and steps to prevent floodwater from entering the centre due to frequent Bukit Timah floods and its proximity to the Bukit Timah Canal. However, in 2002, the food centre was closed for five months for a $1.73 million upgrading and the entire food centre was raised higher and lit with solar energy powered lights. Many of the stalls such as Teck Kee Hot and Cold Dessert stall and the Nasi Singapura stall have been there since the food centre was built.
However, in the early 1970s, before relocating to its current location, the food centre was known as the Adam Road Hawker Centre. Originally located by the Bukit Timah Canal beside the A & W Restaurant, the food centre was moved across the road to its present location due to the construction of the old Adam Road flyover. Later, the old flyover was knocked down to build the present underground pass in its place with a new Adam Road flyover linking Adam Road.