Top 10 Foods to Try in Singapore

Singapore Food

Before we introduce the top 10 foods to try in Singapore - If you haven't visited our local fare page, it is recommended that you read that section as it gives a general overview on the food scene in Singapore. You can visit the page here!

The recommended list before is selected based on the author's favourite dishes from a local perspective and he has provided a recommended place he subjective feels is a recommended store, but also the highest rated store on Google that has over 300 reviews.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

A must try for all foreign guests, steamed or roast chicken on top of rice that is infused with chicken essence, hainanese chicken rice is probably a top 3 choice for best Singapore food. The rice is packed with savoury flavour, and the chicken eaten with chilli sauce is moist, juicy and full of yummy goodness. Eaten together, the impact of chicken rice is a feast for many and almost all of my foreign friends feel it is a definite must-try when in Singapore, even going to the extent to order takeout when they return back home (recommended for short haul flights only). I would recommend the steamed chicken for the tenderness over the roast chicken.

Author's choice: Rongji Chicken Rice @ Redhill 85 (Redhill Hawker Centre)

Google's choice: Sam Leong St Chicken Rice

Chilli Crab

Chilli Crab is probably one of the more renowned Singapore dishes that is popular abroad. If you are keen on having seafood, Singapore offers one of the most unique ways of eating crab, where the crab is cooked and served with a savoury sauce that goes well with anything that is mixed with it. In fact, the sauce is so food that people order mantou (fried bread) to dip in the sauce just to consume. Although a pricier dish, local Singaporeans will have tried this dish and always go back for more each time. I would recommend ordering the chilli crab and/or the black pepper version if you want a bit of kick to your crab.

Author's choice: Jumbo Seafood at Jewel

Google's choice: Marina Crab Seafood House / Crab Set Go

Bak Kut Teh

Among my Japanese friends, bak kut teh (translated to pork rib soup) is the most popular dish. It is basically pork ribs simmered in soup with pepper, garlic and other spices. The broth is so good that you keep asking for a refill of the soup (please do) and it goes so well with white rice and youtiao (fried doughsticks). In a cold day, bak kut teh is really a blessing, with the piping hot soup to warm you up and the soft and tender pork rib to fill you up. I would recommend getting more ribs if you are hungry. Not to be confused with the more herbal version (which is darker in colour) and more popular in Malaysia.

Author's choice: Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (various locations)

Google's choice: En Yeoh's Bak Kut Teh

Laksa

For all spicy lovers, laksa is a spicy yet flavourable dish you must not miss out in Singapore. Cooked and served with coconut milk and laksa paste, the flavours all combine wonderfully in a bowl and the true way to consume it is through eating it with only a spoon. If it is not spicy enough, you can always ask for more sambal chilli to go with it. Typically served with thick beehoon noodles, fresh prawns and taupok (a type of absorbant tofu), each pairing of ingredients goes well with the broth that it is served in. Just be aware not to wear white clothes when you slurp it just in case you get stains :)

Author's choice / Google's choice: Sungei Road Laksa

Nasi Lemak

Being a multi-cultural society, you cannot miss out on having Nasi Lemak which is basically a translation for "Fat Rice". Prepared with coconut milk infused in the rice and typically served with some of the best fried chicken, this dish is a heavy contender to fight against Hainanese Chicken Rice for the best chicken rice in Singapore. Typically prepared in a Malay style, Nasi Lemak offers a variety of different flavours and textures together, with spicy sambal, crispy ikan bilis (small fried anchovies), yummy fried chicken and flavorful rice all together in a plate. I would also recommend the "begedil" (fried potato cake) if it is offered.

Author's choice: Aini Muslim Food (Holland Drive Market)

Google's choice: Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang – Plaza Singapura

Roti Prata

Roti Prata is also a staple in the Singapore local's favourite list, roti prata is typically eaten in the morning and late nights, although some people argue that it can be eaten at any time. The good news is that some of the shops that sell prata actually open 24 hours, giving us the choice to have it anytime in the day. There are typically 2 types of prata, the crispy kind and the fluffy kind where even locals will have this constant debate on which is nicer, but its your choice! Eaten typically with chicken, fish or mutton curry, I would recommend trying a variety of the curry to see which one suits it the best. Please also try the prata alone, and then with the various curries to see which one suits your palate more!

Author's choice: Mr & Mrs Mohgan Super Crispy Roti Prata

Google's choice: Master Prata

Bak Chor Mee

Bak Chor Mee (translated mince meat noodle) is a savoury noodle dish that offers slurpy noodles, mince pork, fishball and meatball all in 1 single dish and can be eaten with a soup broth or dry. The soup version is typically quite good on the stomach and the dry version is full of flavour so its pretty diverse on how to eat it. Most people love eating it with a bit of chilli to give it a bit of kick and the secret to the flavour stems from the fact that each ingredient is cooked within a precise timing to come together in perfect harmony in both flavour and texture. I would recommend trying both versions if you are a fan of noodle dishes. However, if you cannot handle your spice, you can always order "shao la" which means less spicy if you want to try the dry version.

Author's choice / Google's choice: No. 25 Minced Meat Noodle

Hokkien Mee

Hokkien Mee is a prawn noodle cooked in the traditional hokkien style. Typically cooked with 2 different types of noodles, fresh prawns and beansprouts, the smoky flavour that comes from the wok is so good for people that enjoy hawker fare. Eaten with a bit of chilli and lime, this dish offers great flavour, incredible texture and is very filling. Some Singaporeans would argue that this dish is the most representative of a Singapore style dish and the queues for some of this dish are just incredible.

Author's choice: Nam Seng Fried Hokkien Mee (Old Airport Road Food Centre)

Google's choice: 虾 Mee The Hokkien Club Prawn Noodle / Shiok Hokkien Mee

Char Kway Teow

Char Kway Teow means fried kway teow noodle, a flat chewy kind of noodle typically fried in a wok. If you like smoky wok flavour, this and hokkien mee will give you that flavour. Typically cooked with eggs, lup cheong (a dried chinese sausage), beansprouts and cockles, this dish gives such a fine texture and a yummy flavour. You can choose to eat it without chilli but make sure you tell the store beforehand if you don't want chilli (or cockles). If you don't want chilli just say 'bu yao la' (i dont want chilli) and if you don't want cockles just say 'mai ham' (no cockles).

Author's choice: Hill Street Char Kway Teow

Google's choice: 786 Char Kway Teow

Kaya Toast

This is the ultimate Singapore style breakfast - if you do not know what to have for breakfast, I would not recommend anything other than this and maybe roti prata. In fact, some youtubers would say that this is the best thing to get and the best part is, you can replicate it at home just by buying some kaya. Served typically with coffee and located throughout our island, there is no worry if you want to try this anywhere in the morning.

Author's choice / Google's choice: Ya Kun Kaya Toast (any location)

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