Singapore is a modern island city-state that hosts a multitude of ethnic groups; therefore, Singaporean food is a true culinary gem. Despite being such a small island, Singapore has given us some of Asia’s tastiest flavours, from local specialities to street food. If you are an experienced food tourist or a traveller daring to try more local Singaporean foods, here are 15 delicious local Singaporean foods you should not miss!
In this article, we will explore Local Dishes in Singapore, including Singapore’s most famous dish, which is also local food.
Here is the last of 15 Must-Try Delicious Street Food in Singapore
- Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Chilli Crab
- Fish Head Curry
- Fried Carrot Cake
- Char Kway Teow
- Hokkien Prawn Mee
- Kaya Toast
- Laksa
- Nasi Lemak
- Rojak
- Roti Prata
- Satay
- Bak Chor Mee
- Bak Kut Teh
- Singapore Sling
Table of Contents
Delicious Street Food in Singapore
Hainanese Chicken Rice: Lai values Singapore’s National Treasure
One might even label Hainanese Chicken Rice as Singapore’s version of the national dish. This rather basic bistro dish has incredibly flavourful components.
Juicy poached chicken is served with aromatic rice from boiling chicken broth, with chilli sauce and a cucumber royale. The secret is in the occurrence – the chicken is cooked with ginger and pandan infusion in stock so that the outcome of this dish is not just tender but juicy as well.
However, do not add the mantou buns to the sauce as ‘floating islands’ where they gently sink into the thick sauce, and the heavenly taste will be enjoyed by getting hold of the buns. This is the best food to eat in Singapore
Chilli Crab: A Seafood Sensation
Seafood lovers cannot afford to miss Chilli Crab, and this is when one realises the need to get a fat pocket. This famous cold dish comprises mud crabs deep-fried and served with a thick, glossy, and sweet-spicy tomato gravy.
It is a dirty job but a fun one. The sauce was amazing and overly satisfying, and the fresh crab meat was the perfect colour and not overcooked.
The buns are also fried until crispy here; this is your type of companion plate for you to dip or mop all the delicious sauce in the dish.
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Fish Head Curry
Listeners may not know that this local concoction is called Fish Head Curry and is definitely not for the faint-hearted, as the taste perfectly befits its name. Initially known as fish and meant for the Chinese immigrant community, it has merged into the rank of Singapore’s food.
Thalappa is a huge fish head cooked in an aromatic spicy curry gravy accompanied by vegetables such as eggplant, ladies’ fingers or tomatoes. Try this competitive curry accompaniment; you will understand why it can easily become a signature dish in any household. For the biggest fans of spices, it is an entirely pleasant taste boom. This is the best street food in Singapore that you can opt for.
Fried Carrot Cake
Here’s where it gets interesting: Despite the rather humorous name, the discharge of the colostomy bag is usually a smooth process. Fried Carrot Cake, however, features radish cake cut into cubes and pan-fried to create a crispy texture.
Enjoyed with eggs, spring onions, and piquant sauces, Ankara is a great illustration of a perfect combination of crunchy and soft textures and zesty and sour tastes. It’s one of the local foods, widely accepted Singaporean fast food that can be bought at an attractive price and would suffice to fulfil the hunger instantly.
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Char Kway Teow
If you like stir fry dishes and have been looking for a reason to indulge yourself and your family up to the brim with the dish, then this is your lucky day, and here is how to go about it:
Char Kway Teow is a dish that encapsulates the vigour of the taste buds and combines it with textures. The flat rice noodles are then prepared by stir-frying them with eggs, bean sprouts, cockles, and the desired protein—chicken or seafood.
The preparation of this particular dish is named the “wok hei,” which is the flavour that comes from cooking at high temperatures in a wok. The success of the burgers lies in their flavour profile; they have hints of taste, from savoury smoky to the slightest of sweet bitterness in every bite.
Hokkien Prawn Mee
As one of the ultimate Cantonese-style Hokkien Prawn Mee, it is really a treat to enjoy different types of noodles so commonly found in our local food culture and see these noodles embraced in a dish such as this.
This dish comprises thick yellow nám and rice vermicelli accompanied by a sumptuous prawn broth. The broth contains a heavy Southeast Asian seafood flavour and prawn essence, and it is garnished with prawn, pork belly, fish cake, and a boiled egg. It will definitely satisfy your stomach and appetite, providing the vibe and taste of Singaporean local food.
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Kaya Toast
Kaya Toast is a very popular breakfast diet meal in Singapore. Soft white toast is spread with kaya, a unique, delightful, sweet, rich coconut spread.
It is best savoured by rolling it in half-boiled eggs or eaten with a cup of black coffee or the tarik, much like how I’m having it now. It’s a very comforting method to begin one’s day. The traditional preparation for this breakfast item is easily obtainable at coffee shops and hawker stalls in Singapore.
Laksa: This Dish is Spicy Creamy Adventure
Laksa is a warm dish that is essentially a noodle soup. It is extremely delicious and has its own distinctive taste. It is made with a mild to moderately spiced coconut curry sauce, which can include a blend of spices, such as lemongrass.
Fish cake, shrimp, or freshly shucked cockles may be included, while the bean thread noodles tend to be thinly sliced and are porn thick. Laksa can be seen in different regions in Singapore; every region has its form. However, the most famous one in Singapore is the Katong Laksa, which has thick gravy and normally uses shrimp paste.
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Nasi Lemak
Nasi lemak is a delicious Rice dish cooked in coconut milk, usually eaten in the morning or as a snack. The rice is soft and fluffy, and it is accompanied by side dishes such as fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, cucumber, fried eggs, and sambal, a spicy paste made from chillies.
Nasi Lemak is very delicious, with all the varied textures and flavours incorporated into this dish. It is quite common to find it sold on the streets, and as such, it is one of the most accessible meals you can have in a hurry.
Rojak: A Salad Sensation
Rojak is sweet, spicy, a little sour, a little bitter, and with a burst of textures on one plate. There are those with settings including fresh fleshy items such as cucumber, pineapple, and jicama, in addition to/or deep-fried dishes like tofu puffs and taugeh (bean sprouts).
The dressing is made with sweet prawn paste, lime juice, and chilli, which gives it a sweet, sour, and spicy taste. Rojak is a delicious and healthy dish that can also serve as a light lunch or a small appetiser that can be shared between two or more persons.
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Roti Prata
Roti prata is a type of flatbread that is, to some extent, a staple food in Singapore. It is prepared by rolling out very thin portions of the dough and then toasting them on a flat pan or griddle until they are brown and crisp on the exterior while soft inside.
It can be followed with any form of accompaniment of one’s preference, ranging from sugar, curry, and cheese. Roti Prata is popular because it can be consumed in the morning as a breakfast item, as a snack in between meals, or during lunch or dinner, served alongside rice or other Malay dishes.
Satay: Skewers of Delight
Satay is a type of marinated meat that is placed on skewers and then grilled. It usually consists of spiced chicken, mutton, or beef. These delicious skewers are usually eaten with a tasty peanut sauce.
There is also the peanut sauce, which adds creaminess and sweetness and binds everything together. Satay is another street vendor food, and it can be gotten from the hawker centres/ satay stalls. It is best suited as an appetiser, and if you are looking for something light, then this can be a great option.
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Bak Chor Mee: Like Amnesia, Indulge Describes a Nostalgic Noodle Treat
Bak Chor Mee, simply translated as minced meat noodles, is a classic comfort food for Singaporeans. Thin films of egg noodles are served in a rich soup with minced pork, seafood, mushrooms, and wontons.
The dish is usually served on plates that are individually ordered so you can select the level of spiciness. It can also be accompanied by fries or a spoonful of poached egg. Certainly, Bak Chor Mee can be considered a very satisfying meal that reflects the true flavour of Singaporean food.
Bak Kut Teh: Pork Rib Dish with a Passion
Bak Kut Teh is a peppery pork rib soup that has always been a favourite of Singaporeans and people from all over the region. Pork ribs are cooked swiftly in pepper, star anise, and other spices-infused broth and slowly over long hours.
The end product is succulent and juicy pork moist to the touch, with the gravy coming out hot, thick and full of flavours. Garnishing the Bak Kut Teh is mostly accompanied by plain white rice and youtiao, deep-fried dough sticks meant to be soaked in the soup.
Singapore Sling
Any culinary tourism traveller needs to have a taste of the Singapore Sling. Quite similar to the previous cocktail, this beautiful pink cocktail is made out of gin, cherry brandy, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine, and bitters.
This is apparently a rather sweet and tangy drink, which makes it all the more enjoyable for tropical relaxation. The original self-heater recipe remains undisclosed, but various recipes can be found in bars and restaurants in Singapore.
Conclusion
The above are some of Singapore’s most famous dishes that you can try out. The list below is helpful as it marks the beginning of your adventure in seeking out the country’s best food. The popularity of local food in Singapore is unique because Singapore has a rich, diverse culinary offering. Thus, go walking about and try out different hawker centres. You are good to go to a food rally of sorts around the rich flavours of Singapore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to experience Singaporean food?
Hawker centres are the underground pumper of Singaporean food! Even though these are open-air food courts, they cheaply offer diverse foods from the local areas. It is not bad to experiment; just ask for the stall vendor’s opinion on what to try.
What are some vegetarian options in Singaporean cuisine?
Here are some vegetarian options for traditional Singaporean foods: Mee Rebus, which is made from flour and water and served with meatless gravy; Ayam Cemani, which has an oyster-based gravy made with egg and a few vegetables; Otah Otak Otak, which is made with mashed banana and a few spices; and Babi Buja without the inclusion of meat.
Do not let the section fool you, though. There’s a lot more than meat here; it’s also possible to get vegetarian meals. There are vegetarian variants of some breakfast foods, like Laksa or Roti Prata, but as a rule, Indian or Chinese vegetarian hawker centres are at the markets.
What are some popular drinks in Singapore?
For the local drink, Singapore Sling is a must for all visitors, and the others include the Tarik, which is pulled milk tea, local fruit juices like sugarcane juice, or si, which is iced tea.
What are some must-try desserts in Singapore?
And here, ladies and gentlemen is a truly scrumptious selection of incredibly tasty and sweet desserts! As with the preparation of the main meals, you get to enjoy rice bowls or Nasi Lemak with local delights such as Chendol—shaved ice with coconut milk and green jelly noodles—or Durian Ice cream for the more daring.
What are some tips for navigating Singaporean hawker centres?
When going on an outing, ensure that you carry some cash, as not all stalls may accept cards. Take tissue from the common dispensers to ensure the cloth is effectively washed afterwards. We shouldn’t have anxieties about sharing the tables as this is a routine that is regularly observed in the establishments.