Singapore is home to more dishes than you can imagine! From Michelin-starred delicacies to timeless hawker favourites, Singapore’s diverse range of dining options will cater to food lovers from all walks of life. If you’re a foodie who’s visiting Singapore for the first time, I am telling you, the food choices are a lot to take in! But don’t worry, I did the homework for you.. Here are 10 essential dishes and restaurants that I know from experience are good places to start with!
1. CHICKEN RICE
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is listed in just about every guidebook of Singapore. Even Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay rave about how flavoursome their chicken rice is! Talk about fresh, tender and juicy chicken meat served with spicy chili sauce, minced ginger and piping hot rice… need I say more? Just Yum!
2. BAK KUT TEH
Bak Kut Teh is a local favourite any time of the year. It’s a soup for the soul on a rainy day or a soup to renew your energy after a tiring day! I mean… what’s more comforting than a hot bowl of meaty pork ribs simmered in rich stock of herbs and spices, right? The garlicky and peppery broth makes a very satisfying soup! Now, I’m craving!!!
3. HOKKIEN MEE
Hokkien Mee is one of my all-time favourite hawker dishes! Thanks to my cousin who introduced me to this Singaporean dish, I am now hooked for life, ahahaha! I even tried to make it from home, but sadly, a flop! Dang, imagine a plate of glossy yellow and white noodles, bright orange shrimp, white rings of squid and green strips of chives soaked in a gravy made with seafood broth and served with lime… DELICIOUS!!!
4. OYSTER OMELETTE
Oyster Omelette is a must order dish for every oyster lover out there like me! I have an extreme love affair for this food item, I eat it every day whenever I’m in SG! I frequent the stall so often that the uncle already recognizes me and will always give me a bigger portion! Ahihi! Juicy, fresh oysters atop a bed of crispy egg batter fried to perfection, this delicacy is definitely hard to resist!
5. LAKSA
Do me a favour, don’t leave Singapore without trying their laksa! The right balance of spice and coconut milk make the big punchy flavour of this incredible soup! That moment when the tofu puff and the laksa soup squirts into your mouth… ahhhh, so so good! The flavours are bold and addictive, I assure you that this is a noodle dish you will want to eat every day!
6. SOYA SAUCE CHICKEN RICE
There are numerous local foods to sample on! But while you’re in town, make your way to Hawker Chan and eat the cheapest one Michelin star meal in the planet, Soya Sauce Chicken Rice! So simple but full of flavour, definitely worth the queue!
7. FISH HEAD CURRY
For sure, the picky eater will squirm at the sight of puffy fish cheeks and bulging fisheyes in a big tub of curry! Surprisingly folks, fish heads have a surprising amount of meat and flavour and once you taste them, you’ll be left wanting more! Do not let the word Fish Head put you off, okay? Flavoured with aromatic curry spice paste, tamarind juices and seasonings, this dish will surely make you swoon!
8. CHAR KWAY TEOW
I’ll never forget the first time I ordered my first Char Kway Teow, seeing the 90+ year old uncle frying was such a joy to watch! For just $3-$8 a plate, they give you quite a generous portion of this indulgent wok-fried noodle dish! Until now, char kway teow remains an affordable staple, widely available at hawker centres all across Singapore!
9. KAYA TOAST
This simple sandwich is the ultimate comfort food for those with a sweet tooth! That moment when the cold butter slowly melts in your mouth as you eat the toast paired with sweet creamy aromatic kaya jam is foodgasm as its’ finest! Coconut jam + butter + whitebread = irresistible combination!
10. ICE CREAM SANDWICH
The first time I ate ice cream in a rainbow bread sold by an elderly couple in Orchard Road was totally unforgettable! I tried several flavours that day… coffee, strawberry, raspberry even durian!!! If you don’t feel like eating the ice cream in a sandwich, you can go for a wafer! But I’m warning you, it could get a little messy! Ahihi!
If you love to eat, it’s impossible not to love Singapore. Choosing the 10 authentic food and dishes to highlight was actually quite a challenging task. But i picked the best and most value-for-money dishes you can chow down for as low as $3!!! So for Food-obsessed travelers like me, what are you waiting for? And what will you eat first? Can’t wait to hear about your foodie adventure!!!
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Love from Singapore,
The Travel Belle
6 comments
Wow all of these meals look and sound so amazing! That oyster omelette looks so amazing. This makes me want to visit Singapore even more!
Kileen
cute & little
The chicken rice would definitely be my go to dish! On the other hand, the fish head would scare me!!!
This all sounds delicious! I always need guides like these for local dishes when I travel!
Oh my! This food looks all so delicious! I havent been in Singapore but this place looks really awesome.
Wow that looks tasty! I would love to try these when I’m in Singapore. Thanks for sharing!
My friend lives in Singapore and she told me about these dishes! She was so right 😍I will try all of these if I ever visit that country.