Singapore is a small country located on a small just off of a Southeas Asian peninsula predominantly occupied by Malaysia and Thailand.
Singapore is a visionary city-state where different religions, traditions, cultures and types of cuisines coexist. Here, traditions unite with classic trends, unique natural corners with wonders of present-day architecture and roadside eateries share the bustling city with Michelin-starred restaurants.
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Most Popular Singaporean Dishes
Singaporean cuisine is heavily influenced by the ethnicities of those who now make up the population and those who have played a role in the country’s past. Malay, Chinese, Indian, Eurasian, Peranakan (a combination of Chinese and Malay culinary traditions) and versatile Western are the most notable flavors found in Singaporean cuisine.
Tourists flock to Singapore every year to sample the country’s famous cuisine. Singapore city is a haven for foodies with over 20,000 restaurants, cafes and food courts. In fact, some of the best places to find good Singaporean food is in the areas of the city known as Little India and Chinatown. No matter where you are in Singapore most places are within walking distance – from small roadside eateries to big restaurants.
So, without further ado, here are the absolute must-try dishes of Singapore along with recipes for you to try for yourself.
Hokkien Mee
Hokkien Mee is a stir-fried shrimps noodle soup dish that is most commonly eaten as street food in Singapore. It is one of the most common dishes eaten throughout the country. Fried shrimp noodle soup is a dish that was brought over from China and is now firmly entrenched in the streets of Singapore.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Hainanese Chicken Rice is a dish consisting of poached chicken served with rice and sauces such as ginger, chilli and soy. It is recognized as a national dish in Singapore, although, as the name suggests, it also has Chinese roots.
The chicken is boiled in a fatty aromatic broth, then rice is cooked in the same broth, as a result of which each grain of rice acquires a pleasant chicken taste and a unique aroma. This dish can be found at many food vendors throughout Singapore.
Chilli Crab
Chilli Crab is a seafood dish consisting of mud crabs deep-fried in a sugary, spicy gravy. Chilli crab is mostly found in traditional restaurants throughout Singapore.
Fried Carrot Cake
Singaporean Fried Carrot Cake is a street food dish made by stir-frying radish cake or daikon, chilli sauce, eggs, and surprisingly, no carrots whatsoever.
There are two types of carrot cake: light and dark, the latter is prepared with the addition of a large amount of dark soy sauce.
Laksa
Laksa is a dish consisting of rice noodles often served in a hot soup or curry sauce. It is a great example of a mixture of Chinese and Malaysian culinary traditions.
Depending on where you order from, Laksa can be served with a wide range of additions: beans, seafood, pieces of fish, sprouted wheat and halves of boiled eggs are the most common ingredients. The most popular variation of this dish in Singapore is Katong laksa, where long noodles are cut into small bite-sized pieces
Popiah
Popiah is a soft, thin, paper-like pancake spring roll appetizer prepared from wheat flour. The pancakes are rolled up stuffed with sprouted beans, chopped peanuts, or a tender omelet with aromatic sauce.
Different vendors serve popiah with different fillings. Some add crispy lard whereas others add strips of tofu or shrimp.
Rojak
Rojak is a dish consisting of a blend of vegetables and sliced fruits served with a tangy palm sugar dressing. Rojak can include a mixture of pineapple, cucumber, turnip, soy sprouts, mango, apple, shrimp, and chopped roasted peanuts.
Bak Kut Teh
Bak kut teh is a pork rib dish cooked in broth infused with a large number of herbs and spices herbs such as cinnamon, dong quai, star anise, and made with pork ribs, tofu puffs, dried shiitake, mushrooms and garlic.
This dish is also widely popular in Malaysia. Canned vegetables, stewed bean curd, and deep-fried pancakes are also sometimes added to the soup, and a large bowl of rice or noodles is served with it.
Bak kut teh soup is especially popular among the older generation. Due to its distinct herbal flavor, it is loved by many people in Singapore.
Char Kway Teow
Char kway teow is a stir fried rice noodle dish popular throughout much of Southeast Asia, especially in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. In the Hokkien language, char means fried and kwai teow means flat rice noodles.
Char Kway Teow is a fairly healthy dish with more greens and less oil, and can easily be found at roadside eateries.
Satay
Satay is a dish of seasoned, skewered and grilled meat, usually served with a peanut sauce. Satay can be made from chicken, beef or mutton and is a very common street food found at vendors throughout the country.
Kaya Toast with Boiled Egg
Kaya toast with soft boiled eggs is a quick snack consisting of a coconut jam (kaya) on toast, cut into strips and dipped into a soft boiled egg. It is popular in both Singapore and Malaysia.
It is typically consumed as a quick but filling snack, found in food halls throughout the city, and costs less than 1 USD.
Teh Tarik
Teh Tarik is a hot milk tea beverage prepared using a strong brew of black tea blended with condensed milk. Other ingredients can be added for additional flavor which include cardamom, cloves and ginger.
Although considered to be the national drink of Malaysia, it is also popular in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.
Roti John
Roti John is a popular sandwich in Malaysia and Singapore consisting of bread, usually a baguette, filled with eggs and onions. It is a popular street food that has been around since the 60’s and originated in Singapore. The two countries were once one nation so Roti John is one example of the dishes they share.
“John” is the colloquial reference to an Englishman, who according to urban myth once asked a street vendor for a hamburger. The vendor then made him this sandwich to keep him happy.