🍜 Top 10 Foods to Try in Singapore – Local Dishes & Where to Eat
Planning a visit to the Lion City? Whether you're on a layover or sailing on a luxury Singapore cruise, indulging in local food is a must. Here’s a foodie-approved list of 10 must-try dishes in Singapore and where to find them!
1. Hainanese Chicken Rice – The National Dish of Singapore 🇸🇬
This iconic dish features tender poached chicken served with fragrant rice and delicious chili, ginger, and soy dipping sauces.
Where to Try:
- Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre)
- Boon Tong Kee (Balestier Road)
2. Chili Crab – Singapore’s Signature Seafood Delight 🦀
Fresh crab stir-fried in a spicy-sweet tomato-based sauce. Best enjoyed with deep-fried mantou buns.
Where to Try:
- Jumbo Seafood (East Coast Park)
- No Signboard Seafood (Geylang)
3. Laksa – A Spicy and Creamy Noodle Soup 🍜
Katong Laksa is the most famous version – thick rice noodles in a spicy coconut broth topped with seafood.
- 328 Katong Laksa (East Coast Road)
- Sungei Road Laksa (Jalan Berseh)
4. Hokkien Mee – Stir-Fried Noodles with Seafood Goodness 🍤
Egg noodles stir-fried in seafood stock, served with prawns, squid, sambal, and lime.
- Geylang Lor 29 Hokkien Mee
- Nam Sing Hokkien Mee (Old Airport Road)
5. Satay – The Ultimate Grilled Meat Skewers 🍢
Charcoal-grilled meat skewers served with peanut sauce, rice cakes, and cucumber.
- Lau Pa Sat Satay Street
- Chomp Chomp Satay (Serangoon)
6. Kaya Toast & Soft-Boiled Eggs – The Quintessential Breakfast 🍞
Grilled bread with kaya (coconut jam), butter, and a side of soy-splashed soft-boiled eggs.
- Ya Kun Kaya Toast
- Toast Box
7. Bak Kut Teh – The Herbal Pork Rib Soup 🍲
A peppery pork rib soup with garlic, served with rice and youtiao.
- Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (Clarke Quay)
- Founder Bak Kut Teh (Balestier Road)
8. Carrot Cake (Chai Tow Kway) – A Savory Delight 🥕
Radish cake stir-fried with eggs, garlic, and preserved radish. Comes in black (sweet) and white (savoury) versions.
- Lau Goh Chye Thow Kway (Zion Road)
- Fu Ming Cooked Food (Redhill Market)
9. Roti Prata – The Ultimate Indian Flatbread 🫓
Crispy yet fluffy Indian-style pancake, often eaten with spicy curry. Available in sweet and savory varieties.
- The Roti Prata House (Upper Thomson)
- Springleaf Prata Place
10. Nasi Lemak – A Fragrant Coconut Rice Dish 🍚
Coconut rice served with sambal, fried chicken, ikan bilis, peanuts, and cucumber – a perfect all-day meal.
- Adam Road Nasi Lemak
- Chong Pang Nasi Lemak
🚢 Combine Food & Travel in Singapore!
Why just eat when you can cruise too? Singapore is Asia’s cruise hub. Experience culinary wonders onboard Genting Dream Cruise, Royal Caribbean, or Disney Adventure Cruise.
Explore more travel tips here:
❓ Wondering About Something?
Are there vegetarian or halal options in Singapore's local food?
Absolutely! Singapore offers a wide range of vegetarian and halal-certified food, especially at places like Tekka Centre and Geylang Serai.
Is Singapore street food safe to eat?
Yes, Singapore has strict hygiene standards. Hawker food is not only safe but also delicious and affordable.
Where can I try authentic local food in Singapore?
Visit hawker centres like Maxwell Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat, and Old Airport Road Food Centre for the most authentic Singaporean flavors.
What is the most famous food in Singapore?
Hainanese Chicken Rice is widely regarded as Singapore’s most iconic dish, found at hawker centers and upscale restaurants alike.
