Singapore Food Recommendation for Tourists by Local Photographer

Introduction

If you're heading to Singapore for a quick trip, it's wise to plan your food itinerary for a memorable gastronomic adventure. And you've landed on the right page, folks!

Hey there, I'm Skai - a lucky local photographer in Singapore. I'm blessed to be approached by tourists who want to capture their special moments while they're in the Lion City. Whether it's for a proposal or just vacation snaps, I've heard it all.

During our chats, my clients often ask me for insider tips on what to do and where to eat. So, I've taken it upon myself to compile my knowledge and experiences into this page. Consider it my gift to you - a list of top-notch food recommendations and useful information to make your trip more enjoyable. Sharing is caring, after all!

My Food Background

Well, I got to be honest with you - I'm not a foodie. I eat to survive, not to thrive. And truth be told, I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat when it comes to trying new things, so I'm not exactly the most adventurous eater out there. But hey, I'm still here to share my two cents on Singaporean cuisine.

You might be surprised to hear that I don't even consume beef. When I was young, it was a religious thing, but as I got older, I realised that I didn't need to try every meat under the sun. If it were up to me, I'd be a full-on vegetarian or vegan - I mean, come on, I love animals and the planet.

Growing up poor, I learned to be pretty frugal with my meals. That being said, I do have a soft spot for Western food and fast food. I try not to overdo it though because my body can't handle too much fried stuff. Plus, I've got a bit of a delicate stomach - anything too spicy and I'll be sprinting to the toilet within half an hour.

But hey, don't feel too bad for me - I've got a rich friend who loves to treat me to some good eats. He's not into fancy restaurants or anything like that, but he knows all the best hawker centres and coffee shops around town. I would be super accommodating. Unfortunately, I'm not paying attention to the names of the stalls.

Popular Food Places in Singapore

Many food places in Singapore serve local delicacies. Many popular food places are known as hawker centres (non air-conditioned), which have many different food stalls and provide great options for all empty or greedy stomachs. I have visited most but not all of them. Since I have stayed in central Singapore for most of my life since born, I'm more familiar with the central food places.

Unfortunately, I'm struggling with my work and thus I'm not able to provide more write-ups about these places for now.

Central Singapore:
Chinatown Complex
Lau Pa Sat
Maxwell Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre
Hong Lim Market and Food Centre
Golden Mile Food Centre
Zion Riverside Food Centre
Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre

East Singapore:
East Coast Lagoon Food Village
Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre
Tampines Round Market and Food Centre

West Singapore:
Tiong Bahru Market
Pasir Panjang Food Centre

North Singapore:
Newton Food Centre
Chomp Chomp Food Centre
Serangoon Garden Market and Food Centre
Adam Road Food Centre

Central-North Singapore:
Tekka Centre
Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre

South Singapore:
Satay by the Bay

These places offer a wide variety of Singaporean dishes and are known for their delicious food, lively atmosphere and affordable prices. They're popular with both locals and tourists alike, and are definitely worth checking out if you're looking to sample some of Singapore's best food.

Popular Local Food in Singapore

When talking about Singaporean delicacies, some of the most highly searched online food are:

Chicken Rice: This dish is a true Singaporean classic with tender and juicy chicken served on a bed of fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth. The rice is so good that it could almost stand alone as a meal, but the chicken takes it to the next level.
Prawn Mee: This soup-based dish is bursting with flavour, with thick noodles swimming in a rich, savoury broth made from prawn heads and shells. It's topped with plump, succulent prawns and sometimes even pork slices.
Bak Kut Teh: For something heartier, there's bak kut teh. This herbal pork soup is simmered for hours with a secret blend of spices and herbs, resulting in a broth that's both nourishing and deeply satisfying.
Hokkien Mee: If you're a noodle lover, you won't want to miss out on hokkien mee. This dish features thick egg noodles stir-fried with prawns, squid and pork belly, then smothered in a dark, savoury sauce that's packed with umami.
Satay: These skewered meat sticks are a kind of popular street food in Singapore and for a good reason. The meat is marinated in a blend of spices and herbs, then grilled to perfection over hot coals. Dip them into the sweet peanut sauce and you'll be in heaven.
Nasi Lemak: If you're in the mood for rice, you can't go wrong with nasi lemak. This Malay dish is a feast for the senses, with fragrant coconut rice served alongside crispy fried chicken, spicy sambal and crunchy anchovies and peanuts. Chinese do sell them too.
Chilli Crab: For seafood lovers, there's nothing quite like chilli crab. This iconic Singaporean dish features succulent crab cooked in a thick, sweet and spicy tomato-based sauce. Be sure to have plenty of mantou (steamed buns) on hand to mop up all that delicious sauce.
Mee Siam: For a noodle dish with a bit of kick, try mee siam. These thin rice noodles are served in a spicy, tangy gravy made from tamarind, dried shrimp and chillies. It's usually topped with hard-boiled eggs, bean sprouts and crispy fried tofu.
Claypot Rice: If you're feeling particularly hungry, claypot rice is the way to go. This dish features rice cooked in a clay pot with a variety of meats, such as chicken, pork belly or sausage, and vegetables like mushrooms and Chinese sausage. It's all cooked together until the rice is crispy and the meats are tender and juicy.
Fish Head Curry: Another iconic Singaporean dish is fish head curry. As the name suggests, this dish features a large fish head cooked in a spicy curry sauce, along with a variety of vegetables like okra and eggplant. It's typically served with rice and is perfect for sharing with a group.
Nasi Briyani: For a taste of Indian cuisine, nasi briyani is a must-try. This dish features fragrant, spiced rice cooked with meat, like chicken or mutton and served alongside flavorful curries and yoghurt-based sauces.
Bak Chor Mee: If you're in the mood for some noodles with a kick, bak chor mee is a good choice. This dish features thin egg noodles tossed with minced pork, crispy pork lard and chilli sauce, resulting in a spicy and satisfying meal.
Fried Carrot Cake: For a savoury breakfast or snack, try fried carrot cake. This dish is made with radish cake that's been pan-fried until crispy, then tossed with eggs and preserved radish. It's often served with a sweet dark sauce or spicy sambal chilli sauce for an extra kick.
Lor Mee: If you're looking for something a bit more comforting, try lor mee. This dish features thick yellow noodles in starchy gravy made with a variety of ingredients like garlic, soy sauce and vinegar. It's typically served with braised pork belly, hard-boiled eggs and a dollop of sambal chilli for some extra spice.
Nasi Padang: This Indonesian-style dish features a selection of flavourful dishes like beef rendang, fried chicken and curried vegetables, all served alongside fragrant rice.
Laksa: This spicy noodle soup is made with a coconut milk-based broth that's flavoured with a blend of spices like lemongrass, galangal and turmeric. It's typically served with thick rice noodles, shrimp, cockles and bean sprouts.
Oyster Omelette: This dish features plump oysters cooked in a crispy, egg-based batter and served with a tangy chilli sauce. It's a popular street food in Singapore and is perfect for snacking on the go.

My Favourite Food Stalls for Local Delicacies

Below are some of my favourite local food stalls in Singapore. I put them together with the input of my wife and friends I have surveyed. There are definitely more good food stalls in Singapore that I have not tried.

So, just to be clear - I'm not some influencer or anything like that. These recommendations are coming straight from the heart, with no sponsorships or anything like that. Most of them will be affordable unless otherwise stated so that you can spare your Singapore dollar on other things. Since I don't take weird food, the food list should be very "safe", or at least you likely won't find them too challenging to be eaten.

I do have casual pictures of the food below taken using my mobile phone; unfortunately, it will take ages for me to find them since I take casual pictures of my meals on daily basis and time isn't on my side to dig them out.

Chicken Rice

Recommendation: Mostly for lunch and dinner

Chicken rice is my most frequently bought food for lunch because it's nice and affordable when compared to most other kinds of food. I usually order chicken breast for the lean meat (less fats) and higher protein, although it may be tougher to bite and chew. Chicken lovers would prefer chicken thighs for the tenderness. It's actually unhealthy to consume chicken rice frequently since it's oily and thus I would try to order it with plain white rice instead of the fragrant rice.

Chicken rice stalls are available in most large hawker centres and food courts. At the time I'm typing this, Taman Jurong Food Centre has around 10 stalls that are selling chicken rice.

Do note that not all popular chicken stalls are up to the mark, or rather, everyone has his own preference.

Boon Tong Kee

Website: boontongkee.com.sg

This is one of the most popular chicken rice sellers in Singapore and it has quite a number of outlets. I have tried their outlets (their own shopfronts) at both Balestier Road and Bukit Timah and they are great.

It's more expensive but definitely worth it for food lovers. My wife claims she feels less sinful eating it compared to other chicken rice stalls' because the rice doesn't seem to be oily. Whereas, they do claim that they are using a kind of (expensive) rice that's much healthier.

Kaya Toast & Egg Set Meal

Recommendation: Mostly for breakfast and tea breaks

Toasted breads with kaya and butter, two half boiled eggs and a cup of tea/ coffee/ milo has always been my favourite breakfast. You can get it easily from many drinks stalls (that sell coffee and tea) in coffee shops and hawker centres. There are also many big chains that serve it well.

However, do note that in many coffee shops and hawker centres, the drinks stall sellers would hand you a container of hot water with the eggs inside. You have to time it and crack the eggs by yourself, which I'm terrible at. Often, the eggs would be overcooked and I would also make a big mess while cracking the eggs. For some shops, they do pass you the eggs that are perfectly cooked but you have to crack the eggs by yourself.

My favourite stall used to be one that's located in Tanjong Pagar Food Centre. Over the years, the boss' son has taken over the business and they have raised the prices by a lot while the two generous big eggs have since shrunk. The prices may still be cheaper than many big chains operating in the shopping malls, but the amount of breads and size of the drinks is probably half the size, which is actually not worth it. The best stall I have tried is inside Paya Lebar Airbase, which isn't open to the public.

Nanyang Old Coffee

Website: nanyangoldcoffee.com

My wife and I was chanced upon it at the Premium @ Yue Hwa Emporium (70 Eu Tong Sen Street Singapore 059805). It deeply captured our taste buds for its right amount of sweetness for both the toast and tea. Our experience with the staffs had always been great.

Rojak & Popiah

Recommendation: Popiah can be for light breakfast and rojak is more of a snack

These are two different types of food but many stalls sell both of them. I usually take them as snacks or a side dish, and never as a main dish because it's somehow easy to become hungry after taking them. Popiah can also be taken as a light breakfast.

Maxwell Food Centre

Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street Singapore 069184 (Central Singapore)

I used to stay very near this food centre and thus I'm lucky to be able to try them once in a while.

Nasi Lemak

Recommendation: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

The chicken wing with egg, ikan billis, cucumber and fragrant coconut rice, together with spicy chilli is a popular food in Singapore.

The general feedback for nasi lemak is that we don't have to go to the very popular stalls because they are usually overrated. Two of the most popular ones are located in Changi Village Food Centre and Boon Lay Place Food Village. I'm not a fan of both of them. In fact, in both places, there are a few other stalls that are selling very tasty nasi lemak too; there are also feedback that some of them actually serve even tastier nasi lemak, perhaps, to individuals' liking.

I have actually tried some cheap nasi lemak in some hawker centres and they, unfortunately, taste very bad. For example, one was very dry.

Punggol Nasi Lemak

Website: ponggolnasilemak.com.sg

Punggol nasi lemak is the all-time favourite of many locals. My wife thinks it's the best that she has tried in Singapore. I last took it when I was much younger and thus I couldn't remember.

CRAVE

Website: kioskscollective.com/crave

CRAVE is a Singapore-based F&B franchise that specialises in nasi lemak. It started from Adam Road and the new brand had since spread to many outlets all over Singapore. Although it's much more expensive than the usual nasi lemak you can easily get from hawker centres, the taste of the nasi lemak from CRAVE is generally "safe"; I mean when a food brand has too many outlets, I'm not sure if they can keep up with the standard and I will never go try all their outlets on purpose.

Seri Muslim food @ Taman Jurong Shopping Centre

Address: 399 Yung Sheng Road 610399 (West Singapore)

After moving to the West of Singapore in year 2022, I got to try a lot of food in Taman Jurong. I'm very surprised that the nasi lemak at the Muslim stall at the foodcourt is very impressive. In fact, it's one of the best I have ever tried.

The stall also serves many other Malay food. They usually have three or four friendly aunties inside to serve each customer and it can be a bit messy, especially during lunch time.

Laksa & Curry Chicken

Recommendation: Mostly for lunch and dinner

I'm not a fan of spicy food because of my weak stomach but I do love curry and chicken. Many locals are a big fan of laksa.

328 Katong Laksa

Website: 328katonglaksa.sg

There's always a hearsay that the laksa and curry chicken inside Queensway Shopping Centre (1 Queensway Singapore 149053) are great. There are actually two stalls at the first storey, which are located very close to each other. The first time my wife and I went over, we thought the more centre stall was the best but it was too crowded and we decided to try the other stall, which looked more like a food chain. To our surprise, both its laksa and curry chicken were fantastic. The next time, we tried the original stall and both the laksa and curry chicken were just normal.

Later, we chanced upon another 328 Katong Laksa outlet at Westgate (3 Gateway Dr, #B2-06 Westgate, Singapore 608532) and the quality was good too.

BBQ Stingray

Recommendation: Mostly for dinner or supper

BBQ stingray is a popular seafood dish in Singapore that features a grilled stingray marinated with a spicy and savoury sauce. The stingray is typically cooked over hot charcoal until it is tender and flaky and then served on a banana leaf with additional sauce and a squeeze of lime. The meat of the stingray is known for its mild, sweet flavour and delicate texture, which pairs perfectly with the spicy marinade. The sauce used in the dish is made from a combination of ingredients such as sambal chilli paste, garlic, ginger, shallots and soy sauce, which gives it a rich and complex flavour.

BBQ stingray is often enjoyed as a shared dish with friends and family and is a staple in many hawker centres and seafood restaurants in Singapore. You can likely find good ones at popular hawker centre like Newton Food Centre, Chomp Chomp Food Centre and Lau Pa Sat.

Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre

Address: 3 Yung Sheng Road Singapore 618499 (West Singapore)

The stall at level 3 of the hawker centre has been recommended by my friends and wife. More than half year after moving over to Taman Jurong temporarily, I finally got to try it with my wife. I must say it's really good.

Chinatown Complex

Address: 335 Smith Street Singapore 050335 (Central Singapore)

The BBQ stingray stall at the corner of the hawker centre, facing Oriental Plaza, is my family's favourite stall. My dad used to bring the whole family over for dinner during some weekends. I did experience poor quality fish there a couple of times but the rest were great. When I was a teenager, I brought my whole volleyball team over for late dinner after our games, and most of them sang compliment of it.

Roti Prata

Recommendation: Mostly for breakfast and supper

Roti Prata is a popular Indian flatbread dish that is widely enjoyed in Singapore and Malaysia. The dish is made by kneading dough made of flour, water, and oil, which is then stretched, flipped, and cooked on a hot griddle until crispy and golden brown. The flattened dough is then folded into a multi-layered pancake that's crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Roti Prata can be served plain or with a variety of fillings, such as cheese, egg, onion, and meat, depending on your preference. It is usually eaten for breakfast or as a snack and is often accompanied by a side of savoury curry sauce, which adds a rich and flavourful kick to the dish.

One of the unique features of Roti Prata is the way it is prepared. The dough is stretched and flipped in the air, similar to the way pizza dough is tossed. This process is not only entertaining to watch, but it also helps to create the thin and flaky layers of the pancake.

Overall, Roti Prata is a beloved dish in Singapore and Malaysia, and its crispy texture, variety of fillings, and flavourful curry sauce make it a must-try for foodies and travellers alike.

Satay

Recommendation: Mostly for dinner and supper

Satay is one of my favourite food for dinner. I guess people are more used taking such barbeque (BBQ) food towards early evening and thus many satay stalls only operate from afternoon to night time. Unfortunately, I can't take much barbeque food because they are "heaty".

Usually, there are choices of chicken, pork and mutton. The size of the meat on each stick depends on individual stalls. Generally, for a small eater like me, it may take 15 to 20 sticks to fill my stomach. Some stalls may require you to purchase a minimum of 5 or 10 sticks per order, and they do come with cucumber and onion slices.

Generally, I believe it's quite difficult to make very bad satay.

Clementi Market and Food Centre

Address: 448 Clementi Avenue 3 Singapore 120448 (West Singapore)

Unfortunately, I don't remember the stall's name but it's the only Chinese stall that's selling satay and bak kwa at the hawker centre. The location of the stall is opposite the POSBank ATM machines. They serve nice satay with delicious curry sauce. The price is much more affordable than most other satay stalls in Singapore as well.

Lau Pa Sat Festival Market

Address: 18 Raffles Quay Singapore 048582 (Central Singapore/ Business district)

There are many satay stalls operating by one side of the building and the small road is filled with tables and chairs. Unfortunately, I'm not sure which is the best stall.

Satay by the bay

Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953 (South Singapore)

There are a few satay stalls in this food centre. They are more expensive than others.

Newton Food Centre

Address: 500 Clemenceau Avenue North, 229495 (North Singapore)

Newtown food centre is a popular food place for both locals and tourists. Hence, the prices of the food may be higher. Hence, I seldom visit the place. I last went there with my friends many years back and they would order from a reasonably priced seafood stall to share the food. Hence, I'm not sure about the quality of the satay there.

Chomp Chomp Food Centre

Address: 20 Kensington Park Road 557269 (North Singapore)

Chomp Chomp is popular place among the locals. Since it's rather far for me, I have only been there a couple of time in my lifetime. Still, there are compliments from many friends about the food stalls.

Satay Bee Hoon

Recommendation: Mostly for lunch

Satay bee hoon is a popular street food in Singapore that consists of thin rice vermicelli noodles served with a creamy peanut sauce and a variety of toppings. The dish typically includes a mix of fresh vegetables such as cucumber, bean sprouts, and kang kong (water spinach), along with sliced lean pork, shrimp and squid. The peanut sauce (satay sauce!) is what really sets this dish apart, as it is creamy, slightly sweet and has a rich and nutty flavour. It is made with ground roasted peanuts, coconut milk, garlic and other spices, and is poured generously over the noodles and toppings. Satay bee hoon is often served with a side of spicy chili sauce and a wedge of lime for extra flavour. The combination of savoury, sweet and spicy flavours makes this dish a popular choice among locals and tourists alike.

Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market & Food Centre

Address: 6 Tanjong Pagar Plaza Singapore 081006 (Central Singapore)

This satay bee hoon food stall in the Central/ South of Singapore has a long history. The stall is facing Orchid Hotel and Tanjong Pagar MRT.

The current lady owner is old and her son and grandchildren have been running the show. However, they have quite short operating days and hours and thus it's not so easy to try it. There's always a long queue during lunch time, probably because it takes quite long time to prepare the food.

Bah Kut Teh

Recommendation: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Since I'm not a soup person, I rarely take bah kut teh. I have tried a few stalls before and I find that they are reasonably good. For example, Outram Park Ya Hua Bah Kut Teh and Song Fa Bah Kut Teh (many outlets all over Singapore).

Ng Ah Sio

Website: ngahsio.com

My wife highly recommends Ng Ah Sio's bah kut teh. I will update again after I get to try it.

Chilli Crab

Recommendation: Mostly for dinner

Chilli crab is one of the most highly sought after food for tourists who come over to Singapore. Everyone seems to recommend it. However, I'm not a big fan of it because it's usually very pricey and I'm super lazy in handling shells and bones.

Jumbo Seafood

https://www.jumboseafood.com.sg/

Looking for a legendary seafood spot that'll have you smacking your lips in satisfaction? Look no further than Jumbo Seafood Restaurant in Singapore! This restaurant chain boasts a long history and a multitude of awards, and for good reason – they serve up some of the tastiest seafood around.

When you step into Jumbo Seafood Restaurant, you'll be greeted by an inviting and homey atmosphere that's perfect for chilling out with your nearest and dearest. The menu is chock-full of mouth-watering options, including their famous chili crab and black pepper crab. Each dish is made to order with only the freshest ingredients, and they're presented in a visually stunning way.

The icing on the cake? Jumbo Seafood Restaurant's location is unbeatable. The flagship restaurant is nestled in the East Coast Seafood Centre, offering guests unbeatable views of the sea while they dine. Other branches are conveniently located in top tourist spots like Clarke Quay, Riverside Point and Jewel Changi Airport, so it's always easy to get your seafood fix.

Sure, Jumbo Seafood Restaurant's prices may be a bit steeper compared to other seafood restaurants in Singapore, but trust us – the quality of the food and dining experience more than justifies the cost. Between the delicious dishes and stunning location, you'll be sure to leave feeling full and satisfied, with memories that'll last a lifetime.

Conclusion

And that's it, folks! I hope that this list of food recommendations and information has been helpful in planning your visit to Singapore. Remember, Singapore is not just a melting pot of cultures but also a melting pot of flavours! From savoury to sweet, spicy to tangy, you'll never run out of options to tickle your taste buds.

Just a reminder, don't be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone and try new things. You might just discover your new favourite dish! And don't worry, even if you're not a foodie, there's something for everyone in Singapore.

As a local photographer, I have had the privilege to capture the beauty of Singapore through my lens, and I hope that through this guide, you will be able to experience the beauty of Singapore's food culture as well. So go ahead, grab a fork, and indulge in the culinary delights that Singapore has to offer. Bon appétit!

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