During our food tour in Singapore, we learned a lot about their culture through food. With a multicultural population, the local food scene is a concoction of the best influences from around the world. With such diverse range of dining options from affordable hawker centers to gourmet restaurants, there is surely something for everyone! We put together the 10 best must-eat local dishes that you can indulge while in Singapore.

10 MUST-EAT LOCAL DISHES IN SINGAPORE

1. LAKSA

During our Singapore food tour, Laksa was my favorite dish we tasted from a hawker center! Laksa consists of thick wheat noodles or rice vermicelli with chicken, prawn or fish, served in spicy soup based on either rich and spicy curry coconut milk or on sour asam. The spicy curry coconut milk is what I crave until this day – it’s very flavorful!

2. SATAY

You really can’t go wrong with satay – it’s everywhere in Singapore! Satay is a skewer of meat marinated and barbecued to perfection with the most delicious peanut sauce. Satay can be chicken, mutton, beef, pork, goat, fish, tofu and other meats.

3. HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

Hainanese chicken rice is one of the national dishes in Singapore. It consists of succulent steamed white chicken cut into bite-size pieces and served on fragrant rice with some light soy sauce. It’s very easy to find as it is at every hawker center.

4. CHILI CRAB

Chili crab can be found in every seafood restaurant in Singapore. It is a dish that consist of crab, sweet tomato and chili based sauce. Despite the name, this savory dish is not spicy at all.

5. KAYA TOAST

Kaya toast is a toasted bread filled with butter and kaya, a jam made from eggs, sugar, coconut milk and pandan leaves. Do like the locals do and dip the bread in a duo of soft-boiled eggs dashed with dark soy sauce and a dusting of white pepper.

6. NASI LEMAK

Nasi Lemak is a breakfast dish that we tried in Singapore. It is a Malay fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. This is a very popular street food that locals fall in line every morning and bring it on their commute to work.

7. BAK KUH TEH

Bak Kuh Teh in Hokkien translates to “meat bone tea”.  This chinese soup consists of pork-rib cooked in broth with lots of herbs and spices. It’s a popular dish and found on the streets of Singapore.

8. SAMBAL STINGRAY

Sambal Stingray is a dish we did not get to try while in Singapore. We will definitely try it on our next visit! This seafood dish is prepared by barbecuing stingray and served with sambal paste atop.

9. ROTI PRATA

While in Little India, we tasted Roti Prata which is a South-Indian flat bread. It is made by frying the flat bread flavoured with ghee (Indian clarified butter) and served with curry. This is a dish we can devour everyday – it is very delicious!

10. CHAR KWAY TEOW

Char Kway Teow is a flat rice noodles stir-fried with shrimp, Chinese lap cheong (sausage), eggs, bean sprouts, and chives in a mix of soy sauce. This is definitely one of our favorite dishes!

MORE SINGAPORE RELATED POSTS

GARDENS BY THE BAY GUIDE

SINGAPORE FOOD TOUR

ONE FARRER HOTEL REVIEW

SIX SENSES HOTEL REVIEW

WHERE TO STAY IN SINGAPORE

Airbnb in Singapore
There are Airbnb’s available throughout Singapore. If you’re not familiar with Airbnb, it’s an online marketplace for arranging or offering lodging, primarily homestays, or tourism experiences. Get $40 off your first booking at any Airbnb in Singapore! 

For more places to stay around Singapore, Booking.com offers hotels, apartments, and hostels. You get free cancellation on most rooms and the best price guarantee!

[booking_product_helper shortname=”singapore”]

LIKE IT? PIN OUR POST!