Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, and this is reflected in its diverse and vibrant food scene. From hawker centers and coffee shops to high-end restaurants across the island, Singapore offers mouth watering ethenic cuisines that cater to all tastes and budgets. To help you navigate this culinary landscape, we’ve put together a list of must-try dishes with highly recommended restaurants to try them at.

Insider Tip: Arrived early in Singapore and looking for breakfast? Some of the top breakfast places that are suitable for early birds looking for breakfast include Merci Marcel Club Street, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Tiong Bahru Bakery, Wild Honey, and Killiney Kopitiam with multiple locations throughout the city

Flavorful Food Festivals

Singapore is a city that loves its food, and it is no surprise that several food festivals take place throughout the year. Here’s some information to kickstart your exploration of Singapore’s numerous food festivals:

1. Singapore Food Festival – Annual event in July celebrating Singapore’s culinary heritage with workshops, cooking demonstrations, and activities.
2. World Gourmet Summit – International event in April celebrating fine dining with top chefs and culinary experts worldwide.
3. Chinatown Food Street – Vibrant street food festival in July and August offering a variety of local dishes from traditional hawker fare to modern fusion cuisine
4. Singapore Cocktail Festival – A festival in May that is a must-visit for foodies enjoying a good drink featuring cocktails and mixology workshops.

Insider Tip: While popular night markets like Chinatown and Geylang Serai are worth a visit, you can also find delicious food at the lesser-known markets. For example, the Pasar Malam at Toa Payoh is a hidden gem that is popular with locals. Here, you can find various local dishes at affordable prices, from traditional Malay fare to Chinese-style BBQ.

Top Must-Try Dishes

1. Hainanese Chicken Rice – The ultimate comfort food of Singapore

This Singaporean staple dish features poached chicken served with aromatic rice cooked in chicken stock, garlic, and ginger and drizzled with soy sauce and a tangy chili sauce.

Try Hainanese Chicken Rice in Singapore at

• Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
• Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice located at Novena Ville
• Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice at Balestier

2. Char Kway Teow – A stir-fry of smoky goodness

This local-favorite stir-fried noodle dish is made with flat rice noodles, soy sauce, shrimp, cockles, and bean sprouts.

Try Char Kway Teow in Singapore at

• Bedok South Market & Food Centre’s popular shop – Hill Street Fried Kway Teow 
• Hong Lim Market & Food Centre’s famous stall – Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee
• Zion Riverside Food Centre’s No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow

3. Laksa – Ranked 44 on CNNGo’s ‘World’s 50 most delicious foods’ list in 2012!

This spicy noodle soup is made with coconut milk and curry paste and is served with rice noodles, shrimp, fish cakes, and bean sprouts. The broth is creamy and spicy and has a distinct aroma of lemongrass.

Try Laksa in Singapore at

• Sungei Road Laksa at Jalan Besar
• 328 Katong Laksa at East Coast Road
• Alexandra Village Food Centre’s famous stall – Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa

Insider Tip: Ask locals for their recommendations – Singaporeans love to talk about food and are usually happy to share their favorite spots.

4. Chilli Crab – Ranked 35 on CNNGo’s ‘World’s 50 most delicious foods’ list!

This seafood dish features mud crabs cooked in a thick, sweet, and spicy tomato and chili sauce and is usually eaten with mantou, a steamed bun.

Try Chilli Crab at 

• Jumbo Seafood at East Coast Seafood Centre
• No Signboard Seafood Restaurant at Geylang Road
• Mattar Road Seafood BBQ at Circuit Road Food Centre

5. Bak Kut Teh – A savory, herbal pork rib soup

This flavourful, tender pork rib soup is made with herbs and spices such as star anise, cinnamon, and garlic. Perfect for a cold day!

Try  Bak Kut Teh in Singapore at 

• Song Fa Bak Kut Teh at multiple locations, including at New Bridge Road
• Ng Ah Sio Pork Ribs Soup at Eating House
• Founder Bak Kut Teh at Balestier Road

6. Roti Prata – Fluffy, crispy, and buttery Indian flatbread

This is a popular breakfast dish served with curry for dipping, which can be savory or sweet and is filled with cheese, onions, or egg.

Try Roti Prata in Singapore at – 

• Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata at Jalan Kayu
• The Roti Prata House located at Upper Thomson Road
• Springleaf Prata Place at Jalan Tua Kong

Insider Tip: Don’t forget to visit the dining options in the residential neighborhoods of Tiong Bahru and Little India, also known for their food scenes. 

7. Satay – Grilled, juicy, skewered meat

This popular skewered meat is marinated in turmeric and other spices and then grilled to perfection and served with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce for dipping.

Try Satay in Singapore at –

• Lau Pa Sat Satay Street at Raffles Quay
• East Coast Lagoon Food Village’s popular shop – Haron Satay

8. Nasi Lemak – Fragrant coconut rice dish with various side

This is a Malay dish of fragrant rice cooked with coconut milk and served with spicy sambal, cucumber, roasted peanuts, and fried anchovies. It is a popular breakfast dish in Singapore and can be enjoyed any time of the day.

Try Nasi Lemak in Singapore at 

• Adam Road Food Centre’s popular Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak
• The Coconut Club at Ann Siang Hill
• Ponggol Nasi Lemak at Upper Serangoon Road

Popiah – Fresh, light, and healthy spring rolls

This is a fresh spring roll filled with vegetables like turnips, carrots, bean sprouts, and lettuce, along with egg, tofu, and sometimes shrimp or meat served with a sweet and spicy sauce.

Try Popiah in Singapore at –

• Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Original Popiah & Kueh Pie Tee at Joo Chiat Place
• Good Chance Popiah Eating House at Blk 149 Silat Avenue
• Geylang Claypot Rice & Handmade Popiah at Geylang Road

Insider Tip: Visit Makan Sutra Gluttons Bay, an outdoor food court located next to the Esplanade Mall, offering scenic views of Marina Bay. Try the stingray from the BBQ Stingray stall – it’s a local favorite!

10. Carrot Cake– A savory, fried radish cake

This dish is not actually made with carrots but with radish cake that is stir-fried with egg and garlic. It can be ordered either ‘white’ or ‘black’ (with dark soy sauce).

Try Carrot Cake at 

• Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee
• Redhill Food Centre’s popular Fu Ming Carrot Cake
• Heng Carrot Cake at Newton Food Centre

11. Fish Head Curry

A favored fish curry among Singaporeans and tourists alike!

This spicy curry is made with a fish head, tomatoes, okra, and other vegetables and is often served with rice or bread.

Try Fish Head Curry in Singapore at

• Muthu’s Curry on Race Course Road
• Samy’s Curry at Dempsey Hill
• The Banana Leaf Apolo at Little India

Insider Tip: Try out cooking classes or food tours to learn about Singapore’s diverse culinary traditions.

12. Murtabak – Stuffed Arabic flatbread

This famous cuisine is made with minced meat, onions, and spices, stuffed into a thin layer of dough, and then fried until crispy. It is served with a side of curry sauce.

Try Murtabak in Singapore at

• Zam Zam Restaurant at North Bridge
• Victory Restaurant at Chander Road
• Allauddin’s Briyani at Tekka Centre

WantonMee – Noodles with juicy pork dumplings and savory sauce

This noodle dish is served with dumplings, usually made with pork or shrimp. This is seasoned with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil, giving it a savory and slightly sweet flavor.

13. Try Wanton Mee in Singapore at 

• Eng’s Wantan Noodle 
• Kok Kee Wanton Mee 
• Fei Fei Wanton Mee

Insider Tip: If you are unsure what to order, look for the stalls with long lines – this is usually a sign of quality food!

14. Dim Sum –  A magic box that’s full of surprises! 

Dim Sum is a famous Chinese cuisine consisting of small, bite-sized food portions served in small steamer baskets or on small plates.

Try Dim Sum in Singapore at

• Tim Ho Wan
• Swee Choon Tim Sum
• Yum Cha

15. Biryani –  A symphony of flavors and textures!

Biryani is a fragrant rice dish that originated in India and is favored throughout Southeast Asia.

Try Biryani in Singapore at

• Zam Zam Restaurant
•  Bismillah Biryani 
• The Banana Leaf Apolo

Insider Tip: For an authentic South Indian food experience in Singapore, head to Little India, where you’ll find numerous restaurants serving crispy dosas and fluffy idlis. Some must-try spots include MTR 1924, The Banana Leaf Apolo, and Komala Vilas.

Green Eats in the Lion City

Singapore offers a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options for meat-free dining experiences. Here are some popular vegetarian and vegan dishes you can find in Singapore:

1. Roti Prata: This flaky, crispy Indian flatbread is a favored breakfast and snack. It can be served with vegetarian or vegan curries, such as dhal or vegetable curry.
2. Popiah: This fresh spring roll is made vegetarian by omitting meat or shrimp. It’s typically filled with jicama, carrots, bean sprouts, and other vegetables, along with a sweet and savory sauce.
3. Vegetarian Bee Hoon: Bee Hoon is a rice noodle made vegetarian by using vegetable broth and omitting meat. It’s typically served with vegetables and a flavorful sauce.

Some popular vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Singapore include:

• Herbivore: A Japanese vegetarian and vegan restaurant serving various plant-based dishes, including sushi, ramen, and tempura.
• VeganBurg: A fast-food chain that specializes in vegan burgers and fries.
• Genesis Vegan Restaurant: A Chinese vegetarian and vegan restaurant serving up meat-free dishes, including vegan versions of classic Chinese dishes like sweet and sour “pork” and mapo tofu.

Singapore is undoubtedly a food lover’s paradise, with a culinary scene that is as diverse and delicious as it is unique. Happy eating!