If there is something that all of us like to do, then it is to eat. Eating great food is a way to learn about cultures that are different from ours. A couple of months ago, we decided to create the ULTIMATE Singapore food guide.
It wasn’t an easy job, considering we were on a tight schedule – scrambling around Tampines and the rest of the country, trying out so many delicacies. But after much discussion and debates, not to mention plenty of eating, we are here with the ultimate Singapore food guide!
So, if you are someone who has been trying to get your hands on delicious food and that too from Singapore, you might have just found the right place.
Stay tuned!
The ULTIMATE Singapore Food Guide – Top 15 Must-Try Singaporean Dishes of All Time!
In case you are a foodie and have been thinking about some of the best recipes to try and eat, you should definitely give Singaporean food a shot. Naturally, you might be thinking – where should you begin? Fear not, since we are here to help – with the ULTIMATE Singapore food guide!
Here are the top 15 must-try Singaporean dishes of all time.
1. Hainanese Chicken Rice:
I am putting this first as it is the national dish of Singapore. But, at the same, it is definitely one of the easiest and the most comforting foods that you can find in the country.
Though it looks pretty simple to the eyes, the food is flavorful. The chicken is poached or roasted with aromatic herbs before being sliced and served on the bed of fragrant rice that is cooked with pandan leaves, ginger, and more.
2. Chili Crab:
Also known as the black pepper crab, the chili crab is yet another Singapore food that is often referred to as the national dish of the land. And if you plan to visit the country, your visit will remain incomplete without tasting this dish on the menu.
Locals cook this dish with lots of fresh pepper and butter. The hot kick of the pepper, along with the meat of the sweet and fresh crab, is the reason why it is so famous. And oh! Let’s not forget the salty egg yolk that adds to the richness of the crab.
3. Bak Kut Teh:
Bak Kut Teh, which loosely translates to Pork Ribs Soup, is one of the oldest meals that you can find in the country. If you are looking for some Singapore Chinese food, then you will find plenty of stalls and restaurants that serve you, Bak Kut Teh.
Restaurants infuse pork meat with Chinese herbs and aromatic spices. After seasoning the soup with soya sauce, locals cook it for hours till the meat falls off the bones. Once the cooking is complete, you can eat the dish with rice or as it is. And if you want to make it at home, you can do that or even make it halal by replacing pork with chicken.
4. Nasi Lemak:
You must have heard the fact that there are many foods from several other cuisines that you can find in the country of Singapore. One of the best-known Singapore foods is Nasi Lemak. It is a Malaysian dish that is very famous in Singapore as well.
The central and the most crucial part of the dish is its fragrant drive. Restaurants use coconut milk to prepare the dish before serving it with chicken wings, cooked or fried anchovies, and the famous chili paste, A.K.A sambal. If you are looking for a hearty meal, then this is the one for you.
5. Fried Hokkien Mee:
The dish gets its name from the Hokkien province in China. It is a great blend of Singaporean and Malaysian food that changes with what you put in it while preparing.
It is a noodle dish that is a bit saltier than other dishes. But nonetheless, it is delicious and highly suitable for the palate. Restaurants serve the dish in a meat broth that acts as a soup, along with shrimp.
6. Laksa:
If there is one dish that has the best of Malaysia as well as Singaporean cuisine, then it is Laska. It is a dish that locals make with noodles. Most of the time, these are rice noodles or mei fun.
There are many ingredients that go into making this dish, like chicken, fish cakes, and shrimp. But the best part of the dish is the broth or soup. We loved how restaurants use coconut milk to prepare the broth.
7. Chai Tow Kway:
Also popularly called the carrot cake, it is one of the best and easy-to-cook snacks in the country. Made with rice flour and carrots or daikon and then fried in pork fat or lard with eggs, it is known to be greasy and tasty, one of the best street foods in the country.
Many people who have tried this item have mentioned that it sounds like a rendition of the famous Western food in Singapore, which is the carrot cake. However, it is not really a dessert. So do not be fooled by the name.
8. Fish Head Curry:
This famous Singapore food is made by either using the entire fish or just the head of the head of the fish. Singapore has some of the best fish in the world, and that is mainly because fish is found in abundance here.
The fish head curry is cooked with multiple vegetables and served with bread or rice, as per your choice. The one thing that makes it different from all other fish dishes is the use of the local lemon or lime juice, which is known as calamari.
9. Oyster Omelet:
Another easy-to-cook and cheap food that you can find in Singapore is the Oyster Omelet. It is a very simple dish that is made with oysters and, you got that right, eggs.
But is that all that goes into making the best Oyster Omelet? To make the omelet softer and thicker, people in Singapore mix flour. This makes the omelet much more filling. This omelet is often served with coriander or parsley leaves and a spic sauce.
10. Pork Satay:
Satay is a meat dish that restaurants typically serve in skewers with peanut sauce and rice or rice cake after grilling the meat well. It is often considered the best starter. While most people in Singapore prefer Pork Satay, there are many people who make the dish with chicken, beef, or even fish.
It is a classic Singapore food that is enjoyed as a late-night snack in many roadside stalls in the country. With bamboo skewers, the food is extremely easy to eat. This means you can just eat it on the go without worrying about getting your hands dirty.
11. Kaya Toast:
Looking for some easy breakfast in Singapore. The Kaya Toast is the one that you should try. Kaya is a sweet spread that has a jam-like consistency. It is very popular in the country, and many local coffee shops serve different variations.
The Kaya toast is made with eggs and smothered with butter and some Kaya, of course. It is often served with eggs and coffee.
12. Otak Otak:
Another dish that is a mixture of Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine is Otak Otak. It is a specialty of the Nyonya cuisine, which means the descendants of the people who were immigrants from China.
There are many famous food bloggers in Singapore who have made sure that people get to know about this classic dish. What is it? It is a steamy, comforting fish cake that locals make by mixing cornstarch with fish and wrapping it in a banana leaf before steaming and serving it hot.
13. Char Kway Teow:
One of the most popular and ultimate favorites of the locals is Char Kway Teow – locals stir-fry rice flat with some eggs and soya sauce.
Because of its texture and the number of vegetables that go into making it, it is often said to be similar to Pad Thai. Along with spiced beans, sprouts, and spicy shrimp paste, this is one of the best dishes that you would want for coming back from a hangover!
14. Wanton Mee:
Wantons are very similar to dim sums, except you have to fry these. That is precisely why this dish is always such a great snack. It is a Cantonese dish that you can make with chicken, pork, or the meat of your choice.
Moreover, you can serve it hot with a steaming bowl of soup or with a side of noodles. So, if you visit Singapore, remember that it won’t be easy for you to simply pass by a stall selling Wanton Mee.
15. Barbeque Stingray:
Also called the Sambal Stingray, this is the last on the list. But hey, don’t think that it is less compared to the other items on the list of best Singapore food.
The barbeque sambal Stingray is a spicy fish dish. So, restaurants marinate the fish in a spicy sauce before grilling it on high heat after wrapping it with banana leaves. If you are someone who likes spicy and tangy food, then you will surely love this one!
Singapore Food Guide: The Best Restaurants To Visit!
So, here are some of the best restaurants and eateries in Singapore – you must visit a few of these if not all of them!
1. Altro Zafferano:
“Altro Zafferano is a fine Italian restaurant situated on the 43rd floor of the Ocean Financial Center. The establishment offers exceptional service and a commendable selection of Italian cuisine. During our visit, we experienced a minor issue with the soup being overly salty, but the matter was promptly addressed by the staff. The wine service was exemplary and complemented the Italian dishes effectively.“
2. Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora:
“The 2G steak is above average, but the lamb with mint sauce is fabulous! The service at the restaurant is top-notch and my family is glad to have Innah serving us. She sensed that it was my birthday and prepared a small birthday treat for me. It made the dining experience special and personal!“
3. Yum Cha Chinatown:
“All you can eat high tea at Yum Cha Chinatown is the best! It’s absolutely impossible to try everything on the menu ~ too many delicious of fried/steam savory/sweet/spicy dim sum & rice/noodle, even double-boil soup … yummy. Highly recommend.“
4. Burnt Ends:
“After what felt like forever, I finally made it to this steakhouse, and oh my, it was worth the wait! Being seated right in the kitchen felt like a dream come true – watching those chefs work their magic was like dinner, and a show rolled into one! The food? Pure perfection. Each bite of that heavenly steak was like a taste of culinary heaven. And the service? Let’s just say they made me feel like royalty. Definitely a great place to have a romantic night – I can’t wait to come back for seconds – and thirds, and fourths! This place has officially stolen my heart.“
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Now that you’re almost at the end of this article, I hope that we were able to answer most of your questions and doubts. Here are some of the questions that users frequently ask about Singapore food. Read them to get some clarity.
Apart from Chicken Rice and Hainanese Rice, the most famous meal in Singapore is Chili Crab. Every tourist who has stepped foot in the country has fallen in love with this spicy tang, tangy crab preparation.
The national dish of Singapore is Chicken rice. It is one of the best comfort foods that you can try to eat and make at home. Moreover, restaurants serve the fragrant rice with roasted or poached chicken. It is not only comforting but also extremely easy to make.
If you are someone who wants to eat out, then Singapore can be a bit expensive for you. However, there are several fine dining restaurants in the country that serve the best food at a very high price.
However, if you want to save money while eating delicious Singapore food, then you should opt for street food stalls in the country. This is because you can spend from five to twenty dollars in the country and have a full-course meal in Singapore stalls.
Singapore Food Guide For The Win: Can’t Stop Craving!
Good food is the way to get in a good mood. That is something that we all can agree upon. However, when it comes to good food, there is one country that always bags the first position. And that is Singapore. It has one of the best collections of street food.
Keeping in mind that Singapore food is a blend of major cuisines across the world, the street food here can give Michelin restaurants a run for their money.
If you were thinking about some of the best Singapore food, I hope that this article has been of help to you. Also, if there are any other queries related to the same, feel free to write them down in the comment section below.
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