The best food is often found in the simplest of places. That’s why it’s so exciting to know that Singapore has some of the best local food around! So, here are our top picks for the best Singaporean food to eat in the city-state!
1. Hainanese Chicken Rice
Hainanese chicken rice is one of the most iconic Singaporean dishes that originated in the island province of Hainan, China. The dish is made up of poached chicken and seasoned rice, served with ginger paste, chilli and thick soy sauce. Servings are generous and you can find it at any local hawker centre in Singapore.
A hawker centre is a place where locals can eat and socialise in an informal setting. These stalls are popular among Singaporeans and foreigners alike. Hawker centres are popular among locals because they offer cheap, delicious food at low prices. They are a great place to catch up with friends or to simply relax over a meal.
2. BBQ Sambal Stingray
BBQ sambal stingray is one of Singapore’s most popular dishes, The sambal stingray is usually made with a mix of meat (stingray), chilli and coconut milk, and served with plain or fried rice. It’s one of the few dishes that can be found in hawker centres and food courts around the island.
Notable locations for this dish are Maxwell Road and Newton Hawker Centre.
3. Laksa
Laksa originates from Malaysia and Indonesia and was brought to Singapore by Malay immigrants during the colonial era. It was later adopted by many Chinese immigrants who cooked it with their own unique versions. Laksa is a popular dish in Singapore. It is made of coconut milk, which is the base of the soup. Other ingredients include noodles, tofu, prawns, chicken or vegetables.
Laksa can be found at hawker stalls and restaurants all over the island.
4. Chilli Crab
Chilli Crab is a very popular dish in Singapore. It’s spicy, salty and crunchy. This local delicacy originated from the fishing village of Bedok in the 1920s. It is made with fresh white meat of crabs marinated with vinegar and chilli. It can be eaten either as a whole meal or with rice for an even more filling meal.
The most iconic restaurant serving this dish is Jumbo Seafood Restaurant at the East Coast, in recent years, Jumbo Seafood has opened up in other locations around Singapore.
5. Murtabak
Murtabak was introduced to Singapore by Indian immigrants in the early 1900s. The Singaporean version of murtabak is thinner pastry shell than its Malaysian counterpart. It is a savory and flaky pastry filled with shredded chicken, lamb or beef. It is often eaten as a snack, or as part of a meal. Murtabak is also known as muttabak, or mutta-pak.
Zam Zam and Victory are considered Singapore’s best restaurants for Murtabak.
6. Roti Prata
Roti Prata is another Singaporean delicacy. It’s made of flour, eggs, and water, and is deep-fried until it becomes crunchy. The best way to enjoy Roti Prata is to dunk it in the curry sauce its served with. Roti is one of the most affordable and accessible food in Singapore.
You can find Roti Prata almost everywhere in Singapore.
7. Kuay Teow
Kway Teow is a type of noodle dish that originated from Singapore, it is one of the most popular dishes in Singapore and is a staple for most Singaporean foodies. It is made with rice noodles, bean sprouts, Chinese cabbage, sweet soy sauce and other ingredients. Kway Teow has become synonymous with Singaporean food.
Kway Teow can be found at any local hawker centre in Singapore.
8. Satay
The dish originated from the Indian subcontinent and later spread to Malaysia and Indonesia. Singaporean satay is a traditional Malay dish that is very popular in Singapore. Satay is commonly either beef or chicken (vegetarian options are now more common) skewered and grilled, usually served with a spicy peanut sauce.
Best locations for satay in Singapore are Boon Tat Street in Chinatown, Jalan Besar or Satay Kampong (in the heart of the city), Kaki Bukit Satay (at Bugis MRT station) and Satay Bee Hiang (at Boon Tat MRT station).
There are many other delicious meals in Singapore, we have only named some of the most iconic or unique dishes.