Singapore, a melting pot of cultures, offers a vibrant, diverse culinary scene that’s a food lover’s wet dream. From the famous hawker centres to fusion restaurants, Singapore serves up dishes that are as varied as its population. If you’re a backpacker eager to explore Singapore through its food, you’re in for a treat. Here’s your ultimate guide to Singapore’s must-try dishes and where you should eat them. Are you looking for information on things to do, where to stay and how to get around Singapore? Check out my ultimate travel guide to Singapore here.
A note on Hawker Centres
You can’t talk about Singaporean food without speaking about Hawkers, also called Food Centres or sometimes Food Courts. Hawker Centres are basically big food courts, common in every neighbourhood in Singapore, with communal seating filled with different food stalls. While they serve street food (which often gets a bad rap in Southeast Asia), due to Singapore’s incredibly high food handling laws, hawker food is very safe to eat. I highly recommend eating most of the meals at Hawkers as you’ll save money, try many different foods, and experience an important part of Singapore’s culture and history. Hawker Centres in Singapore are actually UNESCO Heritage Listed as Hawker Culture is a significant part of Singapore’s history.
Some tips for eating at Hawkers
- Most food stalls accept cards (sometimes with minimum spends or small charges). However, it is always better to carry some cash with you just in case. The one exception is Satay Street at Lau Pa Sat, which is cash only.
- Seating is communal, so if there are no free tables, you can always join a table, provided the seats are free. Locals will “hold” seats while they purchase food by placing their bag or a packet of tissues on the table in front of their seat, so make sure everything is clear before you sit down.
- Your food will be served on a tray, which you then carry back to your table and eat over to prevent food and mess on the table.
- After you’ve finished eating, make sure you return your tray with all plates and rubbish to the tray return section. Some hawkers will have separate sections for Halal and Non-Halal food trays, so pay attention to the signs.
Char Kway Teow
Char Kway Teow, akin to a national treasure, is a stir-fried noodle dish that’s smoky, rich, and utterly addictive. The best places often include a mix of eggs, prawns, and cockles, with a touch of chilli for heat.
Where to try Char Kway Teow
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee in Hong Lim Food Centre offers a version that perfectly balances flavour and wok hei (wok’s breath), making it a top pick for this dish. This hawker is conveniently located, so you can stop in for lunch or dinner after exploring Clarke Quay or Chinatown.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Hainanese Chicken Rice is Singapore’s unofficial national dish for a good reason. This simple yet flavorful dish consists of succulent steamed white chicken sliced and served over fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth. There will also usually be a number of sauces (such as soy sauce and chilli sauce) that you can help yourself to at the hawker stall using the small sauce pots provided.
Where to try Haianese Chicken Rice
Maxwell Food Centre is home to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, where the tender chicken and flavorful rice draw long queues daily. A plate here with a tangy chilli sauce will make you understand why this dish is a local favourite. If you don’t fancy queueing, you could also try the dish at any other of the stalls in this hawker (honestly, I think they are all of a very high quality; Tian Tian is just more social media famous).
Laksa
A bowl of Laksa is a must-try in Singapore if you like spicy food. This spicy noodle soup combines Chinese and Malay culinary traditions. It features rice noodles or vermicelli with chicken, prawn, or fish, served in a spicy coconut milk-based soup.
Where to try Laksa
328 Katong Laksa is a must-visit with its thick, spicy broth and generous servings. 328 Katong Laksa is a very famous Laksa restaurant; however, it is kind of out of the way. If you’re looking for something closer to tourist sights, try Bugis Junction Hawker Food Court (in Kampong Gelam) or the Laksa at Lau Pa Sat.
Hokkien Mee
Hokkien Mee is a mix of yellow and rice noodles stir-fried with egg, prawns, squid, and a savoury stock, similar to Char Kway Teow. If you like noodle dishes and spicy foods, this is a must-try!
Where to try Hokkien Mee
Golden Shoe Hokkien Mee at Lau Pa Sat Hawker serves a rich, flavorful version garnished with a generous squeeze of lime, which offers a delightful contrast to the umami-rich base.
Char Siew
Char Siew, or barbecued pork, is a Cantonese delicacy that’s found a loving home in Singapore. The best Char Siew is caramelized on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. Char Siew is what you need if you’re looking for hangover food in Singapore!
Where to try Char Siew
Choon Kee Roasted Delights at Golden Mile Food Centre serves Char Siew, that’s glossy, sticky, and everything you want in barbecued pork, making it a must-try.
Nasi Lemak
Nasi Lemak, originally a Malay dish, has found its way into the hearts of Singaporeans with its fragrant coconut rice, fried chicken, anchovies, peanuts, egg, and spicy sambal.
Where to try Nasi Lemak
Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang at Lau Pa Sat is renowned for its fluffy rice and perfectly spiced sambal, making it a great place to try the dish.
Roti Prata
Roti Prata, an Indian-influenced flatbread that’s crispy on the outside and soft inside, is perfect with a side of curry.
Where to try Roti Prata
Tekka Food Centre has many stalls specializing in the dish, so this is where I would head to try the famous Singaporean fusion cuisine.
Kaya Toast
Kaya Toast, a staple breakfast or snack in Singapore, pairs perfectly with a cup of local coffee. This traditional snack consists of toasted bread slices slathered with kaya (a jam made from coconut and eggs) and butter.
Where to try Kaya Toast
Ya Kun Kaya Toast is an institution in Singapore for this dish and the best place to try it. It is a chain, so you’ll easily find restaurants in every neighbourhood.
Wanton Mee
Wanton Mee is a noodle dish influenced by Hong Kong cuisine. It features noodles served with dumplings and char siew. This dish is an alternative way to try Char Siew with the addition of dumplings.
Where to try Wanton Mee
Kok Kee Wanton Noodle in Marina Bay Sands Hawker offers a bowl where the noodles are springy, and the accompanying sauce is a secret recipe that’s both savoury and slightly sweet. You could also try them at Lau Pa Sat or at the SG Hawker Clarke Quay.
Teh Tarik
Teh Tarik, or “pulled tea,” is a Malaysian and Singaporean staple. It’s a frothy, creamy tea that’s both a show in preparation and a refreshing drink. Even if you don’t like tea, Teh Tarik is fairly mild and refreshing, and it’s entertaining to order and watch them pour the tea, even if you don’t drink it.
Where to try Teh Tarik
Teh Tarik Place in Little India serves one of the best versions, where you can watch the tea being theatrically “pulled” to create that signature froth. You can also find Teh Tarik at most hawker centres in Singapore.
Singapore Sling Cocktail
No visit to Singapore is complete without sipping on the iconic Singapore Sling, a gin-based cocktail that’s both refreshing and historically rich. Fun fact: the Singapore Sling was created to purposefully look like juice so women could drink alcohol but pretend it was juice if anyone asked (as women were not supposed to drink back when the drink was created).
Where to try a Singapore Sling
The Long Bar at Raffles Hotel is the birthplace of this famous drink, and enjoying it here is a rite of passage. However, it is quite expensive, and often, you will have to queue for upwards of an hour. The majority of bars and restaurants in Singapore will have a Singapore Sling on their menu, so you can always try it elsewhere.
Pandan
Pandan leaves are to Southeast Asian cooking what vanilla is to Western desserts. You can try Pandan in many ways, either in Kaya Toast or in any number of desserts, depending on your preferences.
Where to try Pandan
Pure Pandan in the heart of Chinatown is a must-try for a taste of pandan in its sweet form. The desserts are light and fluffy and super popular with locals and tourists alike.
Sugar Cane Juice
Nothing beats freshly pressed sugar cane juice for a refreshing escape from Singapore’s humidity. This drink is popular in many parts of Asia, but I would still recommend trying it in Singapore, even if it’s mainly a method of cooling down in the humidity.
Where to try Sugar Cane Juice
Lau Pa Sat market’s numerous stalls serve this sweet, revitalizing drink, often with a squeeze of lemon to balance the sweetness. It’s nature’s energy drink, providing a quick, refreshing boost.
Chilli Crab
Chilli Crab is a legendary Singaporean seafood dish. Mud crabs are stir-fried in a thick, sweet, and spicy tomato-based sauce. If you like seafood, this is a must-try dish!
Where to try Chilli Crab
Jumbo Seafood in Clarke Quay is famous for its chilli crab, which is served with plenty of sauce and is perfect for dipping with mini mantou buns. Be warned, eating can get pretty messy, but it’s worth it!
Satay
Satay, skewered and grilled meat served with peanut sauce, is a beloved street food across Singapore. While it’s not a dish specific to Singapore (you can find Satay everywhere in Southeast Asia), Singapore has a famous venue for it.
Where to try Satay
After 7 pm, Lau Pa Sat market transforms at night into a satay street where you can indulge in various types of meat, including chicken, beef, and lamb, all charred to perfection and served with a spicy peanut dip. It gets so busy that they will close off side streets to set up Satay stations.
Rojak
Rojak is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish that epitomizes Singapore’s cultural melting pot. It combines pieces of fruit, vegetables, dough fritters, and tofu tossed in a prawn paste.
Where to try Rojak
Bugis Junction Hawker Centre Food Court is renowned for its harmonious blend of sweet, sour, and umami flavours, making it the best place to try Rojak. You can also try it at the hawker in Changi Airport or from Maxwell Food Centre (or practically any hawker centre in Singapore).
Biryani
Biryani is a fragrant rice dish cooked with spices and typically served with chicken or mutton. While It is usually associated with India, due to the high Indian population in Singapore, it is also very popular there.
Where to try Biryani
Bismillah Biryani in Little India is a UNESCO-recognized establishment where the Biryani is made up of tender meat and perfectly spiced rice.
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