Singapore is rich in culinary skills and presents a wide array of dishes thanks to its different cultures. Food lovers frequently visit Singapore to have some of the best dishes worldwide in all sorts of eateries—from hawker stalls to high-end hotels and restaurants. You will certainly enjoy the city-state’s gastronomic offerings, along with the amazing views of some of the greatest manmade as well as natural features.
Below are some of the best dishes that you must try in the Lion City:
1. Chilli Crab
Are you a seafood lover? Well, then you must try chilli crab, which is one of the country’s signature dishes. The usual way to prepare chilli crab is by cooking mud crabs in moderately thick and spicy gravy with tomato-chilli sauce. The chilli crab, which is not extremely spicy, as the name may insinuate, can be eaten with a special Chinese bread that you use to soak up the remaining gravy, allowing you to dig in with both hands. You can sample this dish at various places, the best of which include Roland, Long Beach Sea Food, Jumbo Sea Food, and No Sign Seafood.
Check 8 Crabs Review on how you can enjoy Chili Crabs in Singapore.
2. Soy Sauce Chicken
The soy sauce chicken, which adopts the Hong Kong style, is mainly found in Singapore’s Chinatown, but it has gained worldwide popularity. You can enjoy this dish at a reasonably affordable price at the original hawker stall situated within the Chinatown Complex, which takes prides in this dish being the cheapest Michelin-starred meal worldwide. If you want to go somewhere better, there is a place called Hawker Chan, which happens to be a more comfortable and air-conditioned eatery.
3. Hainan Chicken Rice
This dish is considered to be among Singapore’s national dishes, despite having originally come from the Hainan Province in China. The rice is cooked together with plump chicken stock, garlic, and ginger. The rice and chicken are then served with a dipping sauce made of garlic and ginger. Some of the places that serve this dish include the Tian Tian Stall within the Maxwell Food Court, but should you find the meal sold out there, head to Boon Tong Kee and Wee Nam Kee. You can also enjoy the meal in a posh place at the Mandarin Orchard Hotel’s amazing eatery—the Chatterbox.
4. Laksa
Singaporean Laksa, which is called Katong laksa, is made with some rice noodles and seafood in a broth that looks like curry, but is made of coconut milk, spices, and dried shrimp. Some of the well known laksa stalls include 328 Katong Laksa, Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa, and Janggut Laksa. So, check into any of these and enjoy the great laksa.
5. Bak Kut Teh
This dish—whose name means “pork bone tea”—is a popular dish in Malaysia and Singapore, although its origin is China. The bak kut teh is made from pork ribs, which are boiled in water together with white pepper, copious amounts of garlic, and salt. This is done until the ribs as well as the pork bones become tender and mingle with the pepper and garlic, resulting in a tasty soup. You can have the Bak Kut Teh with some rice and other Chinese side dishes, as is the normal way of eating it. After a hearty meal of Bak Kut Teh, wash it down with some hot Chinese tea. With such a great dish, you should plan to visit Singapore as soon as possible to sample them and savor other experiences. The best starting point for planning your trip to Singapore is to engage Visa Express to help you process your visa hassle-free.
6. Kaya Toast
Kaya toast is a typical breakfast among Singaporeans, and it is usually served with soft-boiled eggs, soy sauce, and coffee. The toast is made of white bread, on which kaya spread is applied. Kaya is a creamy spread made of coconut milk, eggs, and caramelized sugar. You can eat the toast at Ya Kun Kaya Toast, which is a modern franchise, or at Tong Ah Eating House, which is famous for having served the toast for over 75 years.
7. Durian
Although it has a foreign taste, those who love this controversial fruit are very aware that Singapore is the undisputed place to get the best durian. The stocks of durian run out all over the city-state as the season for this fruit comes to an end, so it is crucial to try some while they are still in season. Combat Durian along Balestier Road is one of the most reliable sellers of the fruit, and if you do not want to miss out on it, call in advance to have some reserved for you.
Check our 8 Durian review to find out how you can order durian home delivery.
8. Hokkien Mee
The origin of Hokkien Mee is the Hokkien Province, China. It comprises stir-fried eggs and rice noodles together with pork, eggs, and prawn. Geylang Lor 29 is the place to catch this meal, and they pride themselves in having been cooking a unique rendition of the dish over charcoal fire for more than 50 years. You can also grab Hokkien Mee at most of the Hawker Centers.
9. Fried Carrot Cake
Forget the common carrot cake dessert you may have come across, as this is completely different. This one is made with daikon radish (referred to as “white carrot” in Singapore). These cakes are stir-fried with eggs and preserved radishes. For “white” fried carrot cake, visit Chomp Chomp Food Center, Stall Number 36.
10. Fish head curry
This dish is a product of the blending of Indian and Chinese culinary skills in Singapore. It is made with the full head of a fish, most often the red snapper, along with veggies marinated in a curry that has lots of spices. The dish may not be a great option for the less adventurous, as eating a fish head may be a tricky task, but it is so beneficial for those who can manage to eat it. You can enjoy the Singaporean fish head curry at Soon Ho Eating House.
Conclusion
The above are just a few of the best meals that you cannot miss while in the city-state. There are many other great dishes that you can check out, and you can be sure you will greatly enjoy each of them, as Singaporean cookery is a crucial affair and is enriched by the mixing of several cultures.
