Singaporean food is known worldwide, making the country one of the top food destinations in the world, mostly due to its unique food halls called Hawker Centers. A food lover’s paradise, they can be found all over the island. But Singapore is also home to some of the world’s best restaurants, some of them with multi-Michelin stars to their name.
But you’re probably wondering what the must-try food items of Singapore are. Well look no further! This post is going to go in depth on the top 10 foot items you need to try when you’re at the Lion City. These delectable dishes are in no particular order, and please remember that if you’re dining at Hawker Centers, some stalls only accept cash. So get ready to feast on some mouthwatering dishes!
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Hainanese Chicken Rice
A Singaporean food staple, Hainanese Chicken rice is a poached chicken dish. It’s widely considered to be Singapore’s national dish. You can find it at the two Hawker Centers in Chinatown: the Chinatown Complex and the Maxwell Food Centre, among other places. I personally had it in the Maxwell Food Centre in this one stall that had a very long line. It was totally worth it! The chicken was soft and flavorful, and I now understand why people would stand in line for it. Would highly recommend it!
Char Kway Teow
One of the few noodle dishes on this list, Char Kway Teow is cooked with a few different things, including eggs and sometimes seafood. The dish includes flat rice noodles served with a wok. It can be found in Chinese restaurants and Hawker Centers around the island, and is a must try if you’re into spicy food as it is sometimes served with chili paste. I never got to try this on my last visit, but it’s definitely on the top of my list to try next time I’m in the country!
Kaya Toast
The signature Singaporean breakfast, Kaya toast can be found in most hawker centers and in chain restaurants that specialize in the dish, such as Killiney Kopitiam and Ya Kun Kaya Toast. It consists of two slices of bread, butter, kaya (coconut jam), a soft boiled egg, and kopi (coffee). It’s a simple dish, but one that you should not miss. I was able to try the Kaya Toast at Killiney Kopitiam and believe me when I say it’s worth trekking to these restaurants so early in the morning just to try it.
Chili Crab
The messiest Singaporean food item of them all, Chili Crab is crab cooked in a spicy chili sauce that, interestingly enough, is actually tomato ketchup based. But this meal is not for the faint of heart and requires a little participation on the diners part. You’re usually given a tool to crack the crab open and, traditionally, you also eat it with your hands. Don’t worry about it getting on your clothes though because they normally provide you with a bib to keep your clothes clean. I’ve personally never had it as I’m allergic to shellfish, but I would highly recommend it for all the seafood lovers out there.
Orchard Road Ice Cream Sandwich
I don’t know if a similar concept can be found in other countries, but Orchard Road has stalls that line its sidewalks with vendors selling ice cream sandwiches. Only this time, the ice cream isn’t sandwiched between chocolate or other sweets. It’s instead sandwiched between a slice of bread! Vendors take out a rectangular block of ice cream and put it between sweetened bread, all for a dollar (well more like a $1.5 now but still very cheap)! These really hit the spot, especially on hot summer days. I was fortunate enough to find a vendor when I was in Orchard Road and was able to try this and, let me tell you, it was so good! Definitely put it on your list of things to try!
Roti Prata
A popular Singaporean food that is featured in other Southeast Asian countries as well, this Indian dish is a flatbread with a side of curry to dip it in. It can also be filled with a variety of different things such as onion and cheese. I had roti at the Tekka Center in Little India and it was definitely a highlight for me. I remember the curry being especially flavourful, but unfortunately I can’t tell you which stall I got it from. But don’t worry, you’ll find multiple stalls selling this in the Tekka Center!
Nasi Lemak
Nasi Lemak is as rice based dish, served with a variety of sides. This dish was a Malaysian staple before it was adopted by Singaporeans. You can find it at most hawker centers, and while I wasn’t able to try it when I was in Singapore, just like the Char Kway Teow, it is high on my list of trademark Singaporean food I need to try when I’m back over there.
Laksa
The second noodle dish on this list, Laksa is a spicy noodle soup. It has a very strong kick to it, and just like the chili crab is not for the faint of heart. It’s the perfect dish to have when it’s cold and rainy outside (Ok, maybe just rainy. The weather in Singapore never gets that cold). Just like the other dishes on this list, Hawker Centers and restaurants probably carry the dish. I’ve never had this because I’m not a spicy food fan, but if you are you should definitely try it!
Satay
This, in its simplest form, is essentially grilled meat skewers. It’s usually served with a spicy peanut sauce, but when I had them at the Lau Pa Sat hawker center, I did away with the peanut sauce as I’m not a fan of spicy food. It was still incredibly tasty even without the sauce. It’s usually served as a starter and on wooden sticks cooked over a charcoal fire. So I would recommend checking out Satay Street in Lau Pa Sat or Satay by the Bay near the Gardens by the Bay to get your satay fix.
Carrot Cake
This was the surprise winner of my trip for me. I remember having it in a roadside food-court in Clarke Quay called SG Hawker and found it to be incredibly flavourful and delicious. Made from rice flour and radish, it actually has nothing to do with carrots, despite the name. I didn’t see it in hawker centers when I was there, but I probably just didn’t notice it. You can probably find it in hawker centers for less than what I paid at SG Hawker, but if you can’t then I highly recommend the Clarke Quay establishment.
What are some of your favorite Singaporean foods? Let me know down below!
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