Singapore Food
One of the best reasons to visit Singapore is really about our food. Thanks to the different ethnic groups converging in Singapore for the sake of business and survival from different countries, Singapore has a unique take of all kinds of food.
Singapore's hawker culture was officially designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2020. This recognition acknowledges the importance of hawker centers in Singapore as vital social spaces where people of diverse backgrounds come together to enjoy a wide variety of affordable and delicious food.
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Hawker centers are an integral part of Singapore's food landscape, offering a wide range of local dishes that reflect the nation's cultural diversity and culinary heritage. These communal eating spaces play a significant role in promoting social cohesion, multiculturalism, and the preservation of traditional culinary practices.
The UNESCO listing recognizes the efforts of generations of hawkers who have passed down their recipes and culinary skills, as well as the government's initiatives to support and sustain hawker culture. It also underscores the value of hawker centers as inclusive and accessible places where people from all walks of life can enjoy high-quality, affordable food.
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This recognition is not only a source of pride for Singapore but also highlights the importance of safeguarding and promoting hawker culture worldwide. It brings attention to the unique role that hawker centers play in fostering a sense of community and preserving cultural heritage through food.
Below are the food you can sample when visiting Singapore and click here to know where to buy these food!
Where to eat Singapore food? Very good question! Locals will have their absolute favourites but in the list are some popular ones around town that you can try. If not, venture into the heartlands and eat at our kopitiams (means coffee shops) or hawker centers for more authentic experience.
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Click here if you want to download an e-book by Makansutra on what and where to eat Singapore's best food.
Iconic Singapore Food
Do not know what to try when you are in Singapore? Here's a list of must eat food when you are in the little red dot!
Chili Crab
A succulent crab dish cooked in a spicy and tangy tomato-based sauce, typically enjoyed with mantou (fried buns) to soak up the flavorful gravy.
Where to try?
Chilli Crab Experience Sample Set (info​)
Mellben Seafood @ #01-1222, 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Tender chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth, often accompanied by ginger paste, chili sauce, and soy sauce. It's a comforting and flavorful dish loved by locals and visitors alike.
Where to try?
Tian Tian or Ah Tai @ Maxwell Market
Laksa
A spicy noodle soup with a rich coconut-based curry broth, often garnished with ingredients like prawns, cockles, tofu puffs, and hard-boiled eggs.
Where to Try?
Famous Sungei Road Laksa @ Hong Lim Market #02-66
Char Kway Teow
Stir-fried flat rice noodles with eggs, cockles, Chinese sausage, and bean sprouts, seasoned with a savory soy sauce-based seasoning.
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Where to try?
Lao Fu Zhi @ Old Airport Road Hawker Center
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Bak Kut Teh
A flavorful herbal peppery soup made with pork ribs, simmered with a mixture of herbs and spices. It's often served with rice or dough fritters (you tiao).
Where to try?
Song Fa @ Jewel Airport or New Bridge Road (opp Clarke Quay Station)
Satay - BBQ meat on stick
Skewered and grilled marinated meat (often chicken, beef, or lamb) served with peanut sauce, rice cakes, and cucumber-onion relish.
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Where to try?
Satay Street @ Lau Pa Sat (only evenings)
East Coast Park Lagoon Food Villate (only evenings)
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ROJAK (Chinese/Indian)
Chinese style: A mixed salad of fruits, vegetables, and tofu, dressed with a sweet and spicy tamarind-based sauce and topped with crushed peanuts. (Try? Toa Payoh Central HDB Hub Basement Food Court)
Indian style: contains fried dough fritters, tofu, boiled potatoes, prawn fritters, hard boiled eggs, bean sprouts, cuttlefish and cucumber mixed with a sweet thick, spicy peanut sauce.
(Try? Tekka Market @ Little India)
KAYA TOAST + HAINANESE COFFEE
A breakfast favorite consisting of toasted bread spread with kaya (a sweet coconut and egg jam) and butter, often enjoyed with soft-boiled eggs and coffee or tea.
Where to try?
Yakun @ China Squre (Telok Ayer MRT Station) and various coffee shops
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NASI LEMAK (RICH RICE)
Fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk, typically served with fried chicken, sambal (spicy chili paste), ikan bilis (anchovies), peanuts, and a hard-boiled or fried egg.
Where to try?
Adam Road Hawker Center (Botanical Gardens MRT Station)
or Changi Point Hawker Center
ICE KACANG
A colorful shaved ice dessert topped with a variety of sweet toppings such as red beans, grass jelly, sweet corn, and colored syrups.
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Where to try?
Annie's Peanut Ice Kacang @ Tanjung Pagar Hawker Center
or at any Dessert Stalls in Hawker Centers
FISH HEAD CURRY
A spicy and tangy Indian dish featuring a fish head stewed in a flavorful curry sauce, often served with rice or bread.
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Where to try?
Muthu's Curry @ 128 Race Course Road (Little India MRT Station)
OYSTER OMELETTE
A dish made with a mixture of eggs, oysters, and tapioca flour, pan-fried until crispy and served with a tangy chili sauce.
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Where to try?
Xing Li @ Old Airport Road Hawker Center
Rainbow Rice House @ 43 North Canal Road (Clarke Quay MRT)
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