Where to Eat in Singapore: A Guide for Food Lovers

Singapore is a paradise for food lovers, offering an incredible mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan cuisines. Its street food culture, hawker centers, and local cafés provide a diverse range of flavors, from everyday comfort foods to adventurous delicacies. Travelers can explore dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, often discovering unique flavors found nowhere else.

Street Food and Hawker Delights

Singapore offers a vibrant food scene, with a wide range of hawker centers and local delicacies that visitors should not miss. Chicken rice is a must-try, with standout stalls like Hup Hong Chicken Rice (closed Mondays, operates till 1 pm) and Ah Tai Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Center. Other iconic dishes include Hokkien Mee at Tiong Bahru Market (Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee), Laksa at Sungei Road Laksa, and Roti Prata at Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata (Joo Chiat Road). For seafood lovers, Chili Crab at Jumbo or No Signboard Seafood and Sambal Stingray at hawker centers are crowd-pleasers. Satay is best enjoyed at Lau Pa Sat for a traditional BBQ experience.

Breakfast and Light Meals

A classic Singaporean breakfast often includes Kaya Toast with soft-boiled eggs (Ya Kun Kaya Toast, various locations), Half-Boiled Eggs, Teh Halia (ginger milk tea), and Milo. Prata, Nasi Lemak, and Nonya Laksa are popular breakfast options in Indian and Malay coffee shops, especially at Tekka Center and Al-Azhar. For adventurous eaters, try Thosai or Murtabak stuffed with meat.

Local Favorites and Must-Try Dishes

Beyond the mainstream top five (Chicken Rice, Laksa, Hokkien Mee, Satay, Chili Crab), visitors should sample Bak Kut Teh (Song Fa, Chinatown Point/Jewel), Char Kway Teow (No. 18 Zion Road), Carrot Cake/Chai Tow Kway (Blk 618 Yishun Street 61), Prawn Noodles (458 MacPherson Road), and Claypot Rice (Beo Crescent Food Market). Other notable items include Lo-Hai Raw Fish (during Chinese New Year), Ice Kachang and Chendol for dessert, and the herbal Turtle Soup at Havelock Road for the adventurous.

Sweet Treats and Drinks

For desserts, try Putu Piring and Muah Chee at Toa Payoh Bus Terminal, Tutu Kueh at Vivo City Food Court, or items from Bengawan Solo bakeries. Popular drinks include Kopi (local coffee), Milo, Teh Tarik, Bandung, and 100 Plus. Cold options like Ice Kachang or Chendol are refreshing, while warm desserts include Red Bean Soup, Tau Suan, Beancurd, and Orh Nee (Yam Paste).

Tips for Visiting Hawker Centers

Look for stalls with long queues as a sign of quality, and check Google Maps for highly rated food. Some hawker centers like Tiong Bahru Market or Old Airport Road have different operating hours, with peak crowds at lunch. The National Environment Agency provides updates on hawker centers undergoing cleaning, which is useful to avoid closures

Fast Food and Casual Eats

McDonald’s (McSpicy, Buttermilk Crispy Chicken), Jollibee (Spaghetti, Fried Chicken), Arnold’s Fried Chicken (City Plaza), Mos Burger (Teriyaki/Fish Burgers, Nuggets), and Donki Donki offer unique local spins and convenience for travelers.

Seafood and Specialty Dishes

Fish Head Curry, Black Pepper Crab, White Pepper Crab, and Prawn Noodles highlight Singapore’s seafood culture. Specialty items include Frog Leg Porridge (G7, Geylang), and local fusion dishes like Ramen at Le Shrimp Ramen and Dangui Duck at Dian Xiao Er.

Budget-Friendly Everyday Meals

For casual, everyday fare, try Zup Chye Png (Mixed Vegetables Rice), Economic Rice, and Ba Kut Teh in hawker centers. These dishes provide a balanced mix of carbs, proteins, and vegetables at an affordable price.