30 Singaporean Dishes to Strive – WildJunket

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Final Up to date on August 9, 2022 by Nellie Huang

As a proud Singaporean, right here is my curated checklist of the perfect Singaporean meals and the place to attempt these Singaporean dishes!

Born and raised in Singapore, I’m proud to be Singaporean. Regardless of residing overseas for the previous 17 years, I’ll at all times contemplate Singapore house. 

Singapore meals is a vibrant melting pot of flavors from totally different ethnic teams: a mirrored image of how multi-cultural we’re. And regardless of the place within the metropolis, there are at all times loads of selections in terms of Singapore meals: from conventional hawker meals to gourmand heritage eating places serving genuine Singapore dishes.

To share a few of my heritage with you, I’m bringing you on a culinary journey into the world of Singapore delicacies. For these questioning what to eat in Singapore, listed here are among the greatest Singaporean meals and the perfect locations to eat in Singapore!

Greatest Singaporean Meals

Because of its geographical location, Singapore is on the cultural crossroads of Asia. Singapore’s inhabitants is made up of primarily ethnic Chinese language, Malay, and Indian. (I’m ethnically Chinese language in the event you’re questioning.)

Within the 1800s, our ancestors got here from neighboring China, Malaysia and India, and introduced alongside their culinary cultures. Because of this, Singapore meals is a phenomenal mix of influences from Malay, Chinese language and Indian cuisines. Some attention-grabbing cultural fusion have additionally emerged, reminiscent of Peranakan/Nyonya meals (marriage of Chinese language and Malay meals).

We share many similarities with Malaysia, and so our meals are rightfully comparable. Malaysia and Singapore have at all times fought over which dishes are uniquely ours and theirs, however I believe we must always cease arguing and simply hold consuming!

best food in singapore - nasi lemak

Singapore Meals Tradition

In Singapore, consuming is our nationwide pastime and obsession. Singaporeans actually eat across the clock: we eat 5-6 meals a day! You’ll usually discover Singapore’s hawker centres full of individuals even after midnight. 

Meals is a well-liked speaking level in Singapore. We’re at all times arguing about which rooster rice stall is the perfect or which restaurant serves the perfect chilli crabs. Additionally, Singaporeans will journey from one finish of the island to the opposite, or wait in line for an hour simply to get the right plate of noodles.

As a multi-cultural nation, Singaporeans from totally different ethnic teams usually eat collectively. Muslims don’t eat pork and Hindus don’t eat beef, however we’re respectful of one another’s tradition. In each hawker centre, you’ll at all times discover Singapore dishes of assorted ethnicities below one roof.

best hawker food in singapore

The place to Eat in Singapore

The most effective locations to eat in Singapore are in hawker centres: open-concept meals courts however an establishment of their very own. They serve what you’ll name Singapore road meals, with every hawker stall specializing in a single dish.  

Hawker centres are the place you’ll get the most cost effective and greatest meals in Singapore. They’re the place you go to expertise the true Singapore and style genuine Singapore dishes. Costs are actually inexpensive: A plate of noodles prices round S$3 (or US$2), whereas a full seafood meal units you again lower than S$30 (US$21) per individual. 

You’ll find these hawker centres in each neighborhood and residential space. They’re clear and arranged, and distributors have to stick to sure hygiene ranges by legislation. For those who’re touring Singapore with children, don’t fear about meals hygiene right here.  There’s quite a lot of debate of that are the perfect hawker centres in Singapore; these are my private favorites.

Greatest Hawker Centres in Singapore

hawker centre in singapore - best places to eat in singapore

Greatest Meals in Singapore

There are SO many Singapore dishes that it’s troublesome for me to slim them down. However I’ve chosen the 30 greatest meals in Singapore to share with you. I’ve additionally included the perfect locations to attempt every of those Singapore dishes. Time to eat!

Singapore Breakfast Dishes

1. Kaya Toast and Comfortable-Boiled Eggs

Essentially the most conventional Singaporean breakfast dish is kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs, served with espresso or tea. You will see it in virtually each hawker centre and meals courtroom (normally on the drinks stall). This can be a should eat in Singapore, particularly if you’re a morning individual.

Mainly, it’s evenly toasted white bread lathered with kaya, a a candy creamy unfold produced from coconut milk. The toast is accompanied with soft-boiled eggs. Most hawkers use huge XL eggs and so they serve the eggs with soya sauce and pepper. 

The place to seek out the perfect kaya toast and eggs

kaya toast and soft boiled eggs - best food in singapore for breakfast

2. Chwee Kueh 

Chwee Kueh is my private favourite Singapore meals for breakfast. This conventional Singapore dish is made up of steamed white-flour rice desserts topped with fried pickles. We normally have 6-8 of them in a single serving. 

They’re served on a brown meals paper, with a wallop of pink sambal chilli. For a lot of, chwee kueh appears too oily for a breakfast dish. My Spanish husband can not perceive my love for chwee kueh. Too dangerous for him!

 The place  to seek out the perfect chwee kueh

  • Jian Bo Shui Kueh in Tiong Bahru is the OG of chwee kueh stalls. 
  • Bedok Chwee Kueh is without doubt one of the most well-known chwee kueh stalls in Singapore with a number of branches across the island.
  • Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh has been making chwee kueh by hand for greater than 50 years.

chwee kueh

3. Roti Prata

Crispy on the surface, mushy on the within, roti prata is without doubt one of the greatest meals in Singapore to have for each breakfast and supper. I’ve fond reminiscences of going for roti prata after an evening of partying with associates.

Roti means ‘bread’, and prata means ‘flat’ in Hindi. Roti prata is a South Indian flat bread made by frying stretched dough flavored with ghee(Indian clarified butter). It’s normally served with fish or mutton curry.

Whereas the traditional variations are served with curry, there are actually many trendy variations reminiscent of cheese, chocolate and ice cream (superior for these touring Singapore with children!).

The place to seek out the perfect roti prata

roti prata

4. Fried Carrot Cake 

Singapore’s model of the carrot cake is nothing like its British or American counterparts. The Singapore carrot cake, also referred to as Chai Tou Kway, is a salty fried dish produced from steamed radish desserts. It’s fried to crispy perfection, and sprinkled with spring onions.

There are two variations: black or white carrot cake. The black carrot cake is sweeter and made with black candy sauce, whereas the white model is crispy and oily. This genuine Singapore dish has develop into so in style that it’s eaten not only for breakfast, however all through the day.

The place to seek out the perfect carrot cake

      fried carrot cake - singapore famous food


Singapore Noodle Dishes

8. Hokkien Mee 

Initially from China’s Fujian province, Hokkien Mee has slowly advanced through the years to develop into a uniquely Singaporean platter. 

Hokkien Mee is now the most effective hawker meals in Singapore and will be present in virtually each meals centre. It’s principally a mix of rice noodles and yellow egg noodles, fried in a wok with egg, seafood and slices of pork stomach.

If you’ll journey Malaysia, you’ll discover that Hokkien Mee in Malaysia could be very totally different from ours. The Malaysian Hokkien Mee is cooked in a candy black sauce and the noodles are actually fats and thick.

The place to seek out the perfect hokkien mee

hokkien mee

9. Wanton Mee

Initially from Canton (Guangzhou) in China, Wanton noodles is a Cantonese noodle dish in style in lots of components of Asia. Wanton noodles are primarily springy egg noodles drenched in a black savory sauce and topped with char siew (roast pork), leafy greens and wanton (Chinese language dumpling).

There are totally different variations of Wanton noodles: from Malaysian Pontian model to Hong Kong model and Thai model. Singapore has given it its personal spin by including inexperienced chilli (and typically the brilliant pink balachan chilli sauce) to create this genuine Singapore dish.

The place to seek out the perfect wanton noodles

  • Dunman Street Char Siew Wanton Mee is my private favourite wanton noodle stall in Singapore. The darkish sauce is outstanding!
  • Fei Fei Wanton Mee is the OG of wanton mee stall and has island-wide fame. This one is alleged to be the unique (a lot of counterfeits on the market).
  • Grasp Tang Wanton Mee  has springy noodles and excellent wanton. Mr Tang was a former head chef at Crystal Jade kitchens. 

wanton mee

10. Prawn Noodles

The common-or-garden prawn noodle, also referred to as “hae mee” in Hokkien, is a noodle dish that’s each savory and flavorful. Large shrimps are served with slurpy rice noodles in a wealthy and flavorful broth.

It’s all concerning the broth: the soup must be cooked for hours with a mix of pork bones, prawn heads and an entire myriad of condiments. broth must be brimming with seafood-goodness and a tinge of sweetness.

The place to seek out the perfect prawn noodle

singapore prawn noodles

11. Yong Tau Foo

A conventional Hakka Chinese language dish, yong tau meals is a consolation meals for a lot of. My mum is Hakka (an ethnic group from China) and this dish ties in along with her cultural id.

Yong tau meals is definitely extra of a tofu dish than a noodle dish. The principle ingredient is tofu full of floor meat combination or fish paste. Variation of this meals embrace greens and mushrooms full of floor meat or surimi. In Singapore although, Yong tau foo will be ordered with rice noodles, soup or with a pink candy gravy. 

The place to seek out the perfect yong tau meals

yong tau foo - traditional singapore food

12. Beef Hor Enjoyable

That is my husband Alberto’s favourite Singapore dish and we at all times be certain to have this once we’re in Singapore! Beef hor enjoyable will not be fairly as generally present in Singapore as the opposite dishes on this checklist. You’ll discover it in lots of hawker facilities however solely few hawker stalls give it justice. 

Braised with tender beef slices, this savory dish of flat rice noodles is drenched in a thick, flavorful black gravy. The gravy is product of black beans, oyster sauce, chilli and Chinese language herbs. You possibly can simply inform that the gravy is produced from hours of cooking, utilizing solely the perfect components of the cow. 

The place  to seek out the perfect beef hor enjoyable

beef hor fun


Singapore Rice Dishes

13. Hen Rice

A ubiquitous sight in hawker centres throughout the nation, rooster rice is one in every of Singapore’s nationwide dishes. Hen rice is a straightforward dish of tender braised rooster, served on a mattress of aromatic rice cooked in inventory. We eat it with a ginger paste and a particular chilli.

The standard dish originated from Hainan Island, off the southern coast of China. As we speak, it’s nonetheless cooked within the Hainanese manner, by blanching the rooster in boiling water until it’s totally cooked. In an area twist, the rooster can be roasted or braised in soya sauce for a unique taste. A should eat in Singapore!

The place to seek out the perfect rooster rice

best food in singapore - must eat in singapore - hainan chicken rice

14. Braised Duck Rice

That is one other conventional Singapore dish that’s extra in style amongst locals than foreigners. As its title implies, it’s a dish of thinly sliced duck meat over a mattress of brown rice and drenched in a thick natural braising sauce.

What makes this dish particular is the uniquely Singaporean taste of star anise, galangal and molasses-like soy sauce that the duck is cooked in. Because of this, the braising sauce has a delicate herb taste that I really like. Mix this with some steamed peanuts, tofu and braised egg (plus a home made ikan bilis chilli sauce), and also you get the right duck rice. 

The place to seek out the perfect braised duck rice

  • Yu Kee Home of Braised Duck is a family title in Singapore. I’m a fan of their home made chilli sauce — not like no different!
  • Sia Kee Duck Rice has additionally garnered a loyal following in Singapore, with its old-school model of natural duck rice.
  • Tong Kee Conventional Braised Duck at Haig Street Meals Centre has been serving braised duck for 50 years.

braised duck rice

15. Nasi Lemak

Nasi lemak is an ethnic Malay dish that includes aromatic wealthy cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. It’s normally accompanied by ikan bilis (anchovies), otah (grilled fish paste), roasted peanuts, fried egg and cucumber slices.

Singaporeans have given it an area twist by including extra facet dishes to the nasi lemak. You may get something from crispy fried rooster drumsticks to luncheon meat and an assortment of greens along with your nasi lemak.

It isn’t simply the substances that make a great nasi lemak. Pandan leaves and coconut milk play an enormous function in enhancing the perfume and richness of the rice, complemented by the spicy sambal chilli sauce that you may’t miss out on. 

The place to seek out the perfect nasi lemak

  • Mizzy’s Nook is Singapore’s most well-known nasi lemak stall. Many come all the way in which to Changi Village for the nasi lemak.
  • Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak is lauded by man to have Singapore greatest nasi lemak. I personally love their home made chilli sauce and crunchy rooster.
  • Boon Lay Energy Nasi Lemak  at all times has an extended line of shoppers ready, which fits to point out how in style they’re.

best singapore traditional food - nasi lemak

16. Nasi Biryani

Vastly in style in Singapore, Nasi Briyani is a conventional Muslim-Indian rice dish blended with meat, greens and a gravy or curry. The lengthy grain basmati rice is cooked with garlic, yogurt, fragrant spices, onions and typically with ghee or butter.

The phrase ‘biryani’ is derived from a Persian phrase, birian, which suggests fried earlier than cooking. In Singapore, the are native take of the dish comes with tender mutton or lamb. Head to Little India for the perfect nasi biryani in Singapore!

The place to seek out the perfect nasi biryani

 nasi biryani


Singapore Seafood Dishes

17. Chilli Crabs

One other one in every of Singapore’s nationwide dishes, chilli crabs are spicy, tangy and finger licking good. Nothing else represents my nation higher than this spicy, flavorful and conventional Singapore dish. 

Seafood eating places normally use recent Sri Lankan crabs for this dish and cook dinner them to a shiny pink colour earlier than dousing a wealthy, piquant chilli gravy over them. It’s normally served with man tou (deep fried buns) to dip on this flavorful gravy.

This can be a must-eat in Singapore, and one in every of Singapore’s well-known meals. It’s not low-cost in fact, but it surely’s one thing we eat for celebrations or particular events like Chinese language New Yr. If you’re not a fan of spicy meals, there are different choices like pepper crab, crabs in salted egg cream, or crab vermicelli soup.

The place to seek out the perfect chill crabs

  • No Signboard Seafood Restaurant serves the perfect chilli crabs for my part. The unique department is at Geylang Street, although it has opened up a number of eating places in Singapore.
  • Jumbo Seafood is one other in style choice particularly for foreigners. Its seafront location at East Coast Park undoubtedly provides to the ambiance.
  • Lengthy Seaside UDMC can be situated at East Coast Park and has an entire array of different Singapore conventional dishes apart from crabs.

best foods to try singapore

18. Sambal Stingray

Generally present in most hawker facilities in Singapore, sambal stingray is a well-liked dish served in tze char stalls. Tze char is a kind of meals stall that gives a wide selection of Chinese language dishes from kongpao rooster to fish head curry. 

This dish is ready by grilling a slab of stingray (you need to use a good electrical grill), then drizzling some uncooked onions and an abundance of scorching sambal chilli over it. It’s at all times served with chinchalok (a pink murky sauce with fermented shrimps, onions and lime juice given as a dip to your stingray.

A few of you would possibly discover the concept of consuming stingray appalling. I perceive it’s a uncommon marine animal in different components of the world, however right here in Singapore it’s bred in farms and generally eaten as an area dish.

The place to seek out the perfect sambal stingray

barbecued sting ray singapore

19. Sambal Lala

Usually present in hawker centres, the sambal lala (clams) is a spicy and tangy dish cooked with chilli, spices and a pungent shrimp paste. You will see this dish at seafood stalls that additionally promote chilli crabs and stingray.

The ingredient that may make or break this dish is in fact, the sambal belacan chilli sauce. A well-liked condiment in Singaporean and Malaysian meals, sambal belacan is produced from toasted shrimp paste, chillies, sugar and kalamansi lime.

The place to seek out the perfect sambal lala

  • Whampoa BBQ Seafood is a spot my household would journey to only to have their sambal lala.
  • Chomp Chomp BBQ can be in style amongst seafood lovers and their sambal lala is without doubt one of the greatest I’ve had!
  • Newton BBQ Seafood has wonderful seafood dishes and is a well-liked spot for vacationers.

best foods to try singapore

20. Oyster Omelette

One other hawker meals it’s good to attempt in Singapore is the oyster omelette, identified amongst Singaporeans as orh jian. It’s one in every of my favourite meals in Singapore: the crunchy bits of the omelette mixed with the recent oysters from Korea are to die for.

What makes Oyster Omelette so particular is the batter that’s used. Starch is blended into the egg batter whereas whipping up the omelette, therefore giving it a thick consistency. Dip all that right into a bitter chilli vinegar sauce for the perfect expertise!

The place to seek out the perfect oyster omelette

oyster omelette best hawker food in singapore


Singapore Meat Dishes

21. Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh actually interprets to Pork Bone Tea (in Hokkien) and is a Singapore conventional soup dish believed to be launched into Southeast Asia within the nineteenth century by Chinese language staff. It was historically served for breakfast, however has since advanced to develop into a foremost meal. 

With a barely medicinal style, the broth is infused with Chinese language herbs and spices like cinnamon and star anise. The pork ribs used to cook dinner the soup is the star of the present, however the soup can be loaded with dried shiitake mushrooms, tofu puffs, and garlic. 

bak kut teh - singapore traditional food

22. Roast Meat

Each hawker centre in Singapore can have a stall or two promoting Cantonese roast meat. This refers back to the holy trinity of roast meat – Char Siew (barbecued pork marinated with a candy sauce), Siew Yoke (roast pork stomach), and Siew Ngap  (roast duck with a crispy pores and skin).

Although the roast meat traces its roots again to the Canton area of China, it has advanced into this native model in Singapore. Actually good char siew must be char grilled to perfection, whereas siew yoke ought to have a crunchy pores and skin. Roast meat is at all times served with a savory braised sauce and white rice, and a small bowl of broth on the facet.

The place to seek out the perfect roast meat

roast meat - best food in singapore

23. Satay

Of all of the meals in Singapore, satay might be the most well-liked in Singapore amongst all ethnicities. Initially from Indonesia, satay really developed from the Indian kebab introduced by the Muslim merchants. Fantastically grilled and charred skewers of tender marinate meat are dipped in candy peanut curry sauce and eaten with steamed rice desserts wrapped in pandan leaves.

What makes the Singapore satay totally different from its counterparts in Malaysia and Indonesia is that it’s a lot fattier. Our satay additionally options smaller items of meat on the skewer, so they’re virtually at all times juicy and tender.

It’s a should eat in Singapore, not only for the flavors but in addition for the ambiance you’ll usually discover at satay stalls. As a result of satay is grilled on open charcoal, it’s normally present in open-air meals centres and road markets (like Lau Pat Sat).

The place  to seek out the perfect satay

best food in singapore - singapore satay


Singapore Snacks and Appetizers

24. Rojak

Rojak actually interprets to imply “combine” in colloquial Malay, and the dish positive lives as much as its title. The standard Singapore dish displays the cultural range of Singapore, together with each Chinese language and Malay substances in a single dish.

It’s primarily a salad of blended greens, fruits, and dough fritters coated in a sticky black sauce. Then it’s garnished with chopped peanuts and finely-cut aromatic ginger flowers for a piquant style.

The mark of a great rojak is its sauce, made up of fermented prawn paste, sugar, lime and chilli paste. It should be an appetizing mixture of candy, bitter and spicy.

The place to seek out the perfect rojak

  • Clementi Brothers Rojak has been within the enterprise for many years, and so they’re nonetheless identified to serve the perfect rojak in Singapore.
  • Toa Payoh Rojak has received awards for his or her rojak, famed for having dried cuttlefish.
  • Quickly Heng Rojak has a very candy sauce that at all times makes me come again for extra!

rojak - representation of food in singapore

25. Murtabak

If you’re planning to go to Arab Road (Singapore’s Muslim quarters), you’ve obtained to attempt murtabak. Initially an Arab dish, murtabak has develop into a preferred road meals in Singapore.

Murtabak is made by stuffing skinny sheets of dough with minced meat, eggs, and greens. The dough is then wrapped up and fried in oil till it’s crispy on the surface. The lamb meat is commonly marinated in a myriad of spices, giving murtabak an explosion of flavors.

The place to seek out the perfect murtabak

  • Zam Zam has been serving timeless Indian-Muslim dishes for over 100 years, however murtabak is its specialty.
  • Adam Street Meals Centre has my favourite murtabak, that packs in huge chunks of mutton.
  • Majid Murtabak Cheese is in style among the many children and well-known for its tacky rendition of the murtabak.

murtabak

26. Putu Piring

Within the Netflix particular “Road Meals”, putu piring was the lead story of their episode on Singapore. Many Singaporeans argued that putu piring isn’t a mirrored image of Singapore meals in any respect. I liked it as a child and nonetheless have fond reminiscences of consuming this snack from streetside stands.

Putu piring (or a few of us might comprehend it as kueh tutu) is a steamed rice cake crammed with melted palm sugar and topped with shredded coconut. Making it by hand is difficult work, so there are usually not too many stalls promoting handmade putu piring nowadays. 

The place to seek out the perfect putu piring

  • Haig Street Putu Piring was featured on the Netflix present and rightfully so, for his or her mushy and silky handmade putu piring.
  • Salaz Putu Piring is one other stall that sells conventional, handmade putu piring with further candy sauce.
  • Lau Tan Tutu Delight is a small stand that sells ready-packed Chinese language model putu piring.

 putu piring


Singapore Fruit & Dessert

27. Durian

Undoubtedly, this fruit is the delight of the nation. Durian is named the King for Fruit, distinctive for its sturdy aroma and unmistakable taste. Generally discovered throughout South East Asia, this can be very in style right here amongst Singaporeans. The D24 species is probably the most wanted durian species. The brightly-lit stalls alongside Geylang Street have a big selection to select from.

best foods to try singapore

28. Ice Kachang

Ice kacang interprets to imply “bean ice” in Malay. It’s principally iced shaving topped with every kind of colourful substances like pink bean, jelly, syrup, candy corn, condensed milk, and gula melaka (palm sugar). Initially from Malaysia, the dessert has gone by way of many modifications through the years. Historically, an ice shaving machine is used to churn out the shaved ice by a hand cranking system. 

ice kachang dessert in singapore

29. Chendol

Chendol is in style throughout Southeast Asia and have totally different substances relying on the place you might be. In Singapore, we like our Chendol with pink beans or kidney beans, gula melaka (palm sugar), coconut milk and shaved ice. Chendol really refers back to the inexperienced jelly “worms” product of rice flour. You’ll find that is virtually any dessert stall in hawker centres and meals courts.

chendol traditional dessert

30. Soya Beancurd

Soya beancurd, or identified regionally as tau huay, is probably the most ubiquitous dessert in Singapore. There are even soya beancurd chains like Mr Bean and Lao Ban throughout Singapore.

Soya beancurd is principally made by boiling soya bean milk with sugar and a coagulant. When it’s cooled, it kinds a easy silky pudding that resembles custard. You possibly can have scorching or chilly. Historically we’ve it with dough fritters for breakfast, however nowadays it’s extra frequent as a dessert.

soya beancurd

Do you assume these are the perfect Singaporean dishes? Did I miss out any Singapore meals that you just love? Depart a remark under to let me know!


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