Bookmark this for your next Singapore trip!
Singapore is one of the most go-to getaway destinations among Filipinos because (1) it is near, (2) it’s clean, orderly and beautiful and (3) it has some of the most amazing food you’ll ever have in your lives.
While it is considered to be one of the most advanced countries in Asia today, its rich and diverse heritage and culture is still evident in the present, especially in its culinary scene. Its specialties are heavily influenced by Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, Indian and Western cuisine. Our well-loved hainanese chicken is one of its most popular dishes.
People say that you’ll never really fully understand someone else’s culture without having tried their food. And we agree, it truly is one of the best parts of travelling. And so we’ve rounded up some of the most popular local dishes in Singapore (and where to get them) for you to use as your guide on your next trip to the Lion City of Asia.
Bak Kut Teh
Bak Kut Teh or also known as Pork Bone Tea is made up of boiled pork ribs, seasoned with pepper, garlic, star anise, and other herbs and spices to bring a tender and flavorful dish. Contrary to the name of the dish, it’s not tea-infused, but it’s best to drink tea afterwards to wash down the grease.
Where to get this:
Outram Park Yahua Rou Gu Cha – (7 Keppel Rd, PSA Tanjong Pagar Complex, 089053)
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh – (11 New Bridge Road #01-01, Singapore 059383)
Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh – (7 Keppel Road, #01-05/07, PSA Tanjong Pagar Complex, Singapore 089053)
Char Kway Teow
Char Kway Teow is a signature stir-fried noodles in Singapore made up of flat rice noodles, Chinese sausages, fish cakes, bean sprouts, shrimp, dark soy sauce, shrimp paste, chili and stir fried with egg.
Where to get this:
Hill Street Char Kway Teow – (Blk 16 Bedok South Road, #01-187, Bedok South Road Market & Food Centre, Singapore 460016)
Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee – (Blk 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-17, Hong Lim Food Centre, Singapore 510531)
Laksa
A fusion between the Chinese and Malay cuisine, a Singaporean Laksa is composed of rice noodles in spicy coconut curry soup with fish cakes, shrimp, egg and vegetables.
Where to get this:
Sungei Road Laksa – (Blk 27 Jalan Berseh, #01-100 Singapore 200027)
Janggut Laksa – (1 Queensway, Queensway Shopping Centre, #01-59, Singapore 149053)
328 Katong Laksa – (51/53 East Coast Road, Singapore 428770)
Chai Tow Kway
The Singaporean version of the carrot cake, or chai tow kway as some locals would call it, consists of egg, radish, white radish flour, and fried with soy sauce, spring onions and garlic. A favourite snack among Singaporeans, this one got its name not from the orange carrot that we all know, but from the radish which is also referred to as the ‘white carrot’.
Where to get this:
Fu Ming Carrot Cake – (Blk 85 Redhill Lane, Redhill Food Centre, Singapore 150085)
Hai Sheng Carrot Cake – (Blk 724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, Market and Food Centre, #01-09, Singapore 560724)
Song Zhu Luo Bo Gao – (#01-18, Bedok Interchange Food Centre, 207 New Upper Changi Road)
Chicken Rice
Also known as the Hainanese Chicken, this one is made up of steamed chicken and served with rice cooked in chicken stock. It’s best enjoyed with dark sauce, chili sauce and ginger.
Where to get this:
Tian Tian Chicken Rice – (1 Kadayanallur St, #01-10, Maxwell Road Hawker Centre, Singapore 069184)
Wee Nam Kee – (101 Thomson Road ,#01-08, United Square, Singapore 307591)
Hokkien Prawn Mee
A combination of stir-fried Hokkien egg noodles and rice noodles cooked with shrimp, chicken, pork squid, fish cakes in rich prawn stock, served with sambal sauce and lime.
Where to get this:
Eng Ho Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee – (409 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, #01-34, Teck Ghee Square Food Centre, Singapore 560409)
Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Noodles – (20 Kensington Park Road, Chomp Chomp, Singapore 557269)
Roti Prata
A cross-cultural delicacy adapted by the Singaporeans, this is a fried flat bread or pancake that can be eaten with curry, sugar, egg, cheese or even chocolate!
Where to get this:
Thasevi Famous Jalan Kayu Prata Restaurant – (237 & 239 Jalan Kayu, Singapore 799461)
The Roti Prata House – (246M Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574370)
ENAQ Restaurant – (Block 303 Jurong East Street 32, Singapore 600303)
Chili Crabs
A favourite signature Singaporean dish, this is hard-shelled crabs cooked in tomato chili base and eaten with mantou buns. Other popular styles of cooking crabs in Singapore includes cooking it with black pepper sauce, fried with salted egg yolk or even baked with cheese.
Where to get this:
Long Beach Seafood – (Blk 1018 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 449877)
Crab Party – (98 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 545576)
No Signboard Seafood – (414 Geylang Singapore 389392)
Kaya Toast with Soft Boiled Eggs
A definite must-try on your visit to Singapore is this traditional Singaporean breakfast made up of toasted bread slathered with sweet jam made of coconut, sugar and pandan leaves with butter on top, served with soft boiled eggs and a hot cup of coffee.
Where to get this:
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery – (204 East Coast Road, Singapore 428903)
Killiney Kopitiam – (67 Killiney Road, Singapore 239525)
Good Morning Nanyang Cafe – (20 Upper Pickering Street, Hong Lim Green Community Centre, Singapore 058284)
Oyster Omelette
Also known as ‘or luak’, the Oyster Omelette is a popular snack in Singapore Hawkers, made of potato starch mixed with fried egg, bean sprouts and topped with oysters which are added only a few seconds before serving, to keep it fresh and raw.
Where to get this:
Ah Chuan Fried Oyster Omelette – (Toa Payoh Lor 7 Food Centre Stall #01-25, Singapore)
Simon Road Oyster Omelette – (965 Upper Serangoon Road, Mee Sek Coffeeshop, Singapore 534721 )
Ang Sa Lee Oyster Omelette – (20 Kensington Park Road, Chomp Chomp, Singapore 557269)
Satay
A popular dish throughout Southeast Asia, Satay is a skewered marinated and grilled meat, served with onions and cucumbers, with a spicy peanut dip on the side.
Where to get this:
Alhambra Satay – (Blk 1 Geylang Serai #02-145, Geylang Serai Food Centre, Singapore)
Kwong Satay – (549 Lorong 29 Geylang Road, Sing Lian Eating House, Singapore 389504)
Haron Satay – (1220 East Coast Parkway, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Singapore 468960)
Murtabak
Similar to Roti Prata, Murtabak is generally a huge stuffed roti with a choice of different fillings. Fillings can vary from minced muttons and onions, sardines, or even chicken.
Where to get this:
Singapore Zam Zam – (697-699 N Bridge Rd, Singapore)
Tau Huay
Similar to our traditional taho, Tau Huay is also made from beancurd tofu, sweetened sugar syrup and black pearls or grass jelly. While we often prefer our taho hot, the Tau Huay is usually enjoyed cold by the Singaporeans.
Where to get this:
Rochor Original Beancurd – (2 Short Street, Singapore 188211)
Selegie Soya Bean – (990 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534734)
Nasi Lemak
One of the very well-known Malay dishes, Nasi Lemak consists of steamed rice cooked with coconut cream, salt and pandan leaves, anchovies, eggs, peanuts and Sambal chili. What was once a traditional breakfast dish in Singapore, can now be eaten for lunch and dinner too!
Where to get this:
Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak – (2 Adam Road, Adam Food Centre Singapore 289876)
Mizzy’s Corner – (2 Changi Village road, #01-55, Changi Village market and food centre, Singapore 500002)
Chong Pang Nasi Lemak – (447 Sembawang Road, Singapore 758404)
Sambal Stingray
A favourite and must-order at open air BBQ restaurants, Sambal Stingray is barbecued and slathered with Sambal sauce made with diced tomatoes, red onions, spices, shallots and walnuts, with lime to add a squeeze of tanginess in your every bite.
Where to get this:
Star Yong Kwong BBQ Seafood – (Blk 127 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Alexandra Village Food Centre, #01-230, Singapore 150127)
Chomp Chomp Hai Wei Yuan Seafood Barbecue – (20 Kensington Park Road, Chomp Chomp, Singapore 557269)
Are your tummies grumbling already? Well, we sure hope you find this cheat list useful when you plan your trip to Singapore! Bookmark it!
If cravings persist, then not to worry because some of these dishes we’ve featured can also be found here in the metro! Simply search for a specific dish (e.g LAKSA or SATAY) in the Booky App to see the list of filtered restaurants for you to choose from! Enjoy!