Top 10 Must-Eat Foods in Singapore

The Ultimate Guide to the Foods in Singapore

Singapore has some of the best food throughout Southeast Asia. With the country being a melting pot of different ethnicities it allows for you to try a little bit of everything. They also have some tasty dishes that are home to Singapore, like kaya toast, Hainanese chicken rice, and chili crab. If you are a foodie like me then this article will be your right hand man when navigating foods in Singapore.

1. Steamed Buns

One of my absolute favorite bites of our trip are the steamed buns inside Singapore’s Chinatown. You can order them sweet or savory, depending on what you are feeling. We visited the steamed bun shop daily and ordered the large pork bun for the perfect snack at a very reasonable price.

Our favorite steamed bun stall is Wenjiaboa, located on the corner near the Chinatown People’s Park Food Centre.

2. Singapore Sling

A gin based cocktail concocted by a bartender inside the upscale Raffles Hotel, has become Singapore’s signature cocktail. This complex cocktail has quite a bit going on with fruity sweet notes, bitterness, and a hint of sour. Book a reservation at one of the many rooftop bars and order one of these sexy drinks!

3. Mala Hot Pot

The Mala Hot Pots are one of the most popular stalls at any food market, just look for the stall that has a long line of people. These interactive stalls let you pick what you want in your big bowl of soup from a variety of vegetables, meats, spices, starches, and sauces. The combinations are endless!

4. Soup Dumplings

While in Chinatown stop at one of the many dumpling shops and order some soup dumplings. These tasty bites are one of the foods in Singapore that you cant miss. The delicate purses are filled with flavorful broth and steamed meat. Tip for picking out the best soup dumplings: look for the chef in the back, hand rolling the fresh dumplings!

5. Kopi

I can easily say this is one the best cups of coffee I have ever had. Kopi is the local coffee known as traditional Hainan coffee. Kopi is much more than just a cup of coffee in Singapore, it opens you up to the many stories about the Hainanese immigration. There are a wide variety of ways to order your kopi with the optional additions of sugar, condensed milk, evaporated milk, and tea.

6. Kaya Toast & Eggs

What better dish to go with a cup of warm kopi than the classic Singaporean breakfast. Kaya toast and eggs was a shock to me with how simply delicious it is. Inside the perfectly toasted white bread is a layer of kaya and a thick pad of butter. Kaya is a sweet coconut jam that is quite unique to most. The typical way to eat this delectable dish is by dipping the kaya toast into the poached eggs. The sweetness of the kaya toast is coated with a the savory egg creating an all encompassing bite.

7. Tarts from SL 11 Muffin

A hidden gem for a tasty sweet treat in Singapore is SL II Muffin inside the Hong Lim Complex on Upper Cross Street (a locals spot). This sweet shop bakes fresh muffins and tarts daily. The egg tarts and coconut tarts are some of the most popular.

8. Hawker Chan Michelin Star

Hawker Chan is the talk of the town and one of the most visited hawker stalls in Singapore. It was the first Michelin Star Restaurant in Singapore and also the Cheapest Michelin-Starred Meal in the World. Kind of crazy to think the cheapest Michelin Star restaurant is located in Singapore, a city known to be expensive. The most common dish is their Hainanese chicken with either rice or noodles.

9. Singapore Food Markets

One of my favorite food markets in Singapore is Lau Pa Sat located amongst the tall skyscrapers. This large market offers cuisines from around the world and tons of different beer. Lau Pa Sat is known for its satay street, they block off a whole street with satay vendors smoking their meats in the open air. Another great spot for tasty Singapore bites is the Newtown Food Market. You may recall this market from the movie Crazy Rich Asians.

10. Sugar Cane Juice

Its not a complete meal in Chinatown without a refreshing cup of sugar cane juice. You will see most everyone at any food market drinking these bright green drinks. There are multiple drink stalls selling them, just look for the fresh sugar cane stocks sliding through machines, yes it is that fresh!