The Best Food to Eat in Singapore

A mix of nationalities and culture has helped the food scene thrive on the island of Singapore. What are the purpose of those exotic beaches and bright city lights if you can’t enjoy them with a plate of tasty bites. While you can taste the best of world food sitting comfortably in a restaurant, the real charm of the country comes out through its local cuisine. Some of these street hawkers in Singapore have even earned Michelin stars for having perfected their food, and indeed make the best food to eat. To taste the charm of the country here’s is our list of the best food in Singapore to try out.

The Best Food to Eat in Singapore

From the spicy varieties of traditional Malaysian cuisine to Indian and Chinese delicacies, it is a place that combines the best of both worlds.

Chicken Rice

The classic Hainanese dish, you just cannot ignore chicken rice when talking about the best food in Singapore to eat. A mix of chicken broth, fluffy rice made with chicken broth and poached chicken. In addition to that, cucumber, dark sauce, minced garlic, and chili sauce come alongside the dish. The fragrance and the subtle art of plating make it a hearty and warm home meal to enjoy any day.  Indeed, this is one of the best foods to eat in Singapore.

Places to eat: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Chinatown), Boon Tong Chicken Rice (Balestier)

Curry Puff

If you love your pie spicy, then why not have a bite-sized one? Curry puffs are small pies with a soft crust. The filling includes curry gravy, chicken, potato, and egg. Moreover, some options even come with yam, sardines, fish cakes, and even durian (not surprised!). One bite and no other snack will feel better and will no doubt agree, its one of the best foods in Singapore to eat.

A place to eat: AMK Curry Puff (Toa Payoh), Tip Top Curry Puff (Ang Mo Kio)

Teh Tarik

If you love your morning tea, then you will love Teh Tarik. The best way to make it is with sweet condensed milk and Singaporeans do that well.  They too know that Teh Tarik is one of the best foods to eat in Singapore.  Mix it with the right black tea and sugar, and you are good to go. Teh Tarik is readily available at any corner hawker or food court of the city.

If you are not a big fan of tea and would prefer coffee, then try its Singapore version – kopi.

A place to eat: Teh Tarik – Bhai Serbat (Bugis), Mr. Zamir Ahmad’s Teh Tarik (Bussorah Street – beside Kampong Glam Cafe)

Heap Seng Leong butter kopi (Lavender), Ah Seng {Hai Naam} Coffee (Tanjong Pagar)

Pandan Cake

Pandan is the Malaysian version of Japanese matcha, and no, it is not the same! Leaves of pandan have a taste of their sweet taste of floral grass. A lovely dessert of the same is the Pandan cake loved by the locals.  Indeed, Pandan is best in its chiffon cake form and one of the best foods in Singapore to eat. With its soft sponginess topped with a creamy layer beats your sweet cravings after meals. Furthermore, if you want to try more desserts, then you must try Pandan shakes and cocktails!

A place to eat: Bengawan Solo, Violet Oon Singapore satay grill and bar Jade Bangle cocktail with pandan (Clarke Quay), Shake Shack pandan shake (Changi Airport)

Kaya Toast And Soft Boiled Eggs

Traditional breakfast food in Singapore is Kaya spread toast with a couple of soft boiled eggs. Indeed, this is a typical food in the streets of the country with old school white loaves of bread toasted on a grill and slathered with kaya.

Moreover, you can choose your flavored kaya from coconut and egg. A hint of butter on the surface of the bread does the work for you. As you season your runny egg with pepper and dip your toast in it for a bite, you will be left screaming in delight.

Places to try: Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Killiney Kopitiam

Char Kway Teow

The older you get, the more you appreciate the flat rice noodles along with stir-fried noodles in Char Kway Teow. Honestly, we think anyone will be charmed by the eggy and moist flavor-packed noodles despite the age. It includes eggs, bloody cockles, lap cheong (Chinese sausages), bean sprouts, and Chinese chives. In addition to that, while you can have a halal cut meaty Char Kway Teow without pork, the best this Singapore food comes with the mix of lard.

A place to eat: Hill Street Char Kway Teow (Bedok South), Fried Kway Teow Mee at Hong Lim Food Centre (Outram Park)

Bak Tuk Teh

A revitalizing mix of herbs, Bak Tuk Teh, is a humble man’s food but will undoubtedly energize you. The dish originated when Singapore was still developing, and the meat was scarce. That’s when the pork bone soup with a hint of pepper and star anise took to the bowls. However, now there are several varieties with the addition of a little pork meat with the bones. Moreover, Klang Bak Tuk is another variety with more number of herbs in it!

Place To Try: Song Fa Bak Tuk Teh (Chinatown), Ng Ah Sio Pork Ribs Soup Eating House (Rangoon)

Chendol

Chendol, oh, heavenly cendol! One of our favorite food in Singapore is chendol. The mix of coconut condensed milk, palm sugar syrup, and vibrantly colored green rice flour jelly make the basics of the dessert. You can add your colored flavor to the top of the shaved ice for a little drama too! Moreover, they are fragrant enough to lure you to them on a hot summer afternoon.

A place to eat: Jin Jin Hot (Jalan Bukit Merah), Four Seasons Chendol (Toa Payoh)

Roti Pratha

A look into the racial harmony of Singapore, and you will understand the Indian originated Malay dish of Roti Pratha. A mix of egg, cheese, mushroom, and onion with rice flour dough makes the base of the Pratha.

Moreover, one can even add strawberries and chocolate for a sweet variation. The hawkers creatively pull the dough till its thin and fold it in the changes before frying it. Served with fish or chicken curry, it couldn’t taste better. You could even sprinkle sugar if it is a sweet variant!

A place to eat: Casuarina Curry Restaurant (Casuarina Road), The Roti Pratha House (Thomson Road)

Duck Rice

Just like chicken rice, a favorite food in Singapore is its duck variant. Duck rice itself has two options – Hokkien type and Teochow type. We’d suggest trying both! The Hokkien type comes with dark and saucy yam rice topped with roasted duck. While, the Teochew type is paler looking, light and comes with classic white rice topped with a braised duck that is sliced thin.

A place to eat: Ah Xiao Teochew Braised Rice (Golden Mile Food Centre, Beach Road), Zuo Ji Duck Rice (East Coast Lagoon)

Satay

If you are looking for an easy eat on the stick, then satay is your option. The dish gets made with turmeric marinated meat, which is skewered and grilled on an open fire grill. Moreover, the meat can be chicken, mutton, beef, or even pork. With a small ounce of spicy peanut sauce on the side and ketupat (rice cakes), cucumbers and onions, the dish is complete.

A place to eat: Haron Satay (East Coast Lagoon), Kwong Satay (Geylang)

Laksa

A gentle mix of Chinese and Malaysian cuisine happens in the thick yet soupy Laksa. There are several variants found in the same dish. However, in the Singapore food scene, the predominant one is Curry Laksa, which gets made with vermicelli, coconut milk, fish slices, beancurd puffs, shrimps and cockles. However, many local shops tend to skip shrimp and cockles! Moreover, another favorite and more convenient style of Laksa is the Katong Laksa, which comes with vermicelli, which gets cut to eat with a spoon.

A place to eat: Sungei Road Laksha (Jalan Berseh), 328 Katong Laksha (ECR)

Durian

Durian is known as “king of fruits.” When you smell, you will understand why Singaporeans consider it so. The smell may be repugnant, but you can’t deny the exotic fleshy inside of the fruit.

Moreover, the locals love making tarts, desserts, ice-cream, and even shakes with it. But if you are buying the fruit, make sure you don’t carry it on trains and buses. You will get charged with a fine! Do try a creamy Durian puff. The messy insides of the finger bite-sized puffs are heavenly.

A place to eat: Wonderful Fruit Enterprise (Sims Avenue), Ah Seng Durian (Ghim Moh Road), Sunlife Durian Puffs and Pastries (Woodlands)

Chilli Crab

Being a coastal island, you can expect seafood to be the best of Singapore food to eat. One of the favorites is chili crab. The cooking of the mollusk takes place in two steps – boiled then fried. The frying gets done so that the soft meat doesn’t stick to the shells.

Further on, it gets cooked with a sweet and spicy mix of tomato paste or with black pepper paste. The ideal way of trying out the dish is with fried mantou (buns) dipped in chili sauce. Keep a glass of cold water read as this can gets spicy!

A place to eat: No Signboard Seafood (Geylang), Red House Seafood Restaurant (The Quayside)

Bak Chor Mee

A great mix of noodles, minced pork, liver, meat/fish balls, and fish cake is Bak Chor Mee. The idea way of eating is usually dry, while some variants have a thick soupy base. Moreover, the star of the dish is the braised vinegar sauce that adds the slightly acidic taste to it. You can choose your noodles to be flat or thin, round ones.

A place to eat: 58 minced Meat Noodles (Jurong East), Seng Hiang Food Stall (Bedok North)

Fried Carrot Cake

The carrot cake, which isn’t a mix of carrot cake is the Fried Carrot Cake! Strange, isn’t it? For example, one of the best foods to eat in Singapore is this fried cake made with beaten eggs, preserved radish, and cake made out of white radish flour. There are many variants with addition to sweet sauces; however, for an authentic Singaporean taste, go for the fried carrot cake with individual cake cubes.

A place to try: He Zhong Carrot Cake (Bukit Timah), Hai Sheng Carrot Cake (Ang Mo Kio)

Popiah

Take Popiah as an Asian version of a burrito.  Surely, this is one of the best foods in Singapore to eat.  With a filling of radish and carrot, it is a kind of spring roll made with a thin sheet of wheat flour.  This Fujinese inspired dish is a favorite in Singapore.  Moreover, the sweet sauce adds the refreshing moisture to the crunchy fresh veggies inside! These also come in a variety of fried and deep-fried.

A place to eat: Ann Chin Popiah (Chinatown)

Bubble Tea

A personal favorite of ours is the Boba tea. The milky cold tea is best with black tapioca pearls. No place can do the Tibetan tea variant like Singapore.

Moreover, they come with other tea and juice flavors as well. Then, you can choose your sugar amount and pearls!  Indeed, you will love the chewiness of the huge pearls, or if you go for a fruit-flavored tea, then they burst in your mouth.

A place to eat: Nayuki (HarbourFront), Koi Cafe, Li Ho