Singapore
Singaporean Food Guide for Travelers
Singapore is a tiny island with one of the world's greatest food cultures. Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan traditions collide in hawker centres where Michelin-starred meals cost $3.
Hawker Centre Culture
UNESCO-recognised. Everyone eats at hawker centres. Lau Pa Sat, Maxwell, Old Airport Road have the most famous stalls.
The Peranakan Influence
Straits Chinese cuisine: ayam buah keluak, laksa, kueh, otak-otak. Unique to the region.
The Chicken Rice Debate
Tian Tian? Wee Nam Kee? Everyone has their favourite. Chicken should be silky, rice fragrant, chilli sauce perfect.
Eating Through the Day
Breakfast: kaya toast and kopi. Lunch: chicken rice. Afternoon: ice kachang. Dinner: chilli crab. Supper: roti prata at midnight.
Must-Try Dishes
Chilli Crab
$$$Whole mud crab in sweet spicy tomato sauce. Eaten with hands and fried mantou buns.
Contains shellfish, gluten, eggs
Hainanese Chicken Rice
$Poached chicken on fragrant rice with chilli and ginger sauce. The national dish.
Contains meat; gluten-free
Laksa
$Rich coconut curry noodle soup with prawns, fish cake, tofu puffs.
Contains shellfish, coconut
Char Kway Teow
$Wok-fried flat noodles with Chinese sausage, cockles, egg, dark soy.
Contains shellfish, soy, eggs
Roti Prata
$Flaky Indian-style flatbread with curry.
Contains gluten, dairy
Kaya Toast
$Charcoal-grilled bread with coconut jam and cold butter, with soft-boiled eggs and kopi.
Contains gluten, dairy, eggs, coconut
Bak Kut Teh
$Peppery pork rib soup with garlic and herbs.
Contains meat; gluten-free
Ice Kachang
$Shaved ice mountain with red beans, grass jelly, corn, syrups.
Contains dairy; gluten-free
Menu Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Hawker centre | Government-regulated food court | Dining |
| Kopitiam | Traditional coffee shop | Dining |
| Chope | Reserve seat with tissue packet | Dining |
| Makan | To eat (Malay) | General |
| Shiok | Delicious/awesome | General |
| Kopi | Local coffee (with condensed milk) | Drinks |
| Teh | Tea | Drinks |
| Kosong | Plain/no sugar | Drinks |
| Tabao | Takeaway | Dining |
Dietary Restriction Guide
Vegetarian
Indian stalls have most vegetarian options. Buddhist vegetarian stalls exist. Thunder Tea Rice is naturally vegetarian. English widely understood.
Vegan
Indian stalls offer best vegan options. Yong tau foo lets you choose vegetables and tofu. English makes communication easy.
Gluten-Free
Rice dishes, chicken rice, laksa with rice noodles, grilled meats are gluten-free. Soy sauce pervasive. English menus help.
Common Allergies
Shellfish in many dishes. Peanuts in satay. Soy pervasive. Coconut in Malay curries. English is lingua franca.
Ordering Tips
- •Chope a seat with tissue packet. Sacred rule: never move someone's packet.
- •Kopi ordering language: kopi = condensed milk; kopi-O = black with sugar; kopi-O kosong = black no sugar; kopi-C = evaporated milk.
- •Tipping not practiced. GST and service charge added at restaurants.
- •Hawker centres have different hours: some stalls breakfast only, others late night.
- •Michelin starred Liao Fan's chicken rice costs $3.