Our Favorite Places to Eat in Singapore

A Culinary Journey Through the Lion City

Singapore is more than just a city; it’s a culinary crossroads of Asia. This island nation’s history as a major trading port has created a vibrant melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan cultures, and nowhere is this fusion more deliciously apparent than in its food. From bustling, world-renowned hawker centres to Michelin-starred temples of gastronomy, decidingwhere to eat in Singaporecan be a delightful yet daunting task. This guide is here to navigate you through the endless array of choices, ensuring you experience the very best of what the Lion City has to offer.

Whether you have 24 hours or a full week, prepare to embark on a gastronomic adventure. Singaporean life revolves around food, and this guide will show you exactly why. We’ll cover the iconic dishes you can’t leave without trying, the legendary institutions that serve them, and the hidden gems that offer a true taste of local life.

The Heartbeat of Singaporean Cuisine: Hawker Centres

To truly understand Singaporean food culture, you must begin at a hawker centre. These open-air food courts are the lifeblood of the city, where people from all walks of life gather to enjoy high-quality, incredibly affordable food. The Singapore government began moving street food vendors into these purpose-built centres in the 1970s to improve hygiene, and the result is a clean, organized, and utterly delicious ecosystem. A long queue is almost always a sign of something special, so don’t be afraid to join it!

Maxwell Food Centre

Located conveniently in Chinatown, Maxwell Food Centre is an essential stop on any Singapore food tour. It’s a bustling, no-frills institution packed with legendary stalls that have been perfecting their recipes for generations. The most famous of these is undoubtedlyTian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, a stall that earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand and was famously praised by Anthony Bourdain. The chicken is impossibly tender, and the rice, cooked in chicken broth with ginger and pandan, is fragrant enough to be a meal on its own. Beyond chicken rice, be sure to try the silky smooth congee fromZhen Zhen Porridgeor the savory fried dough fritters fromChina Street Fritters.

Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market)

Perhaps the most architecturally stunning hawker centre, Lau Pa Sat boasts a beautiful Victorian-era cast-iron structure right in the heart of the Central Business District. While it offers a wide variety of local and international cuisines during the day, Lau Pa Sat truly comes alive at night. After 7 p.m., Boon Tat Street, adjacent to the market, closes to traffic and transforms into "Satay Street." Dozens of vendors fire up their charcoal grills, sending plumes of fragrant smoke into the air. Find a table, order a platter of chicken, beef, and prawn satay, and enjoy it with a side of peanut sauce, rice cakes, and a cold Tiger Beer. It’s an unforgettable Singaporean experience.

Chinatown Complex Food Centre

Don’t be intimidated by its sheer size; the Chinatown Complex Food Centre is the largest in Singapore, with over 260 stalls. This is where you’ll find the originalLiao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle, the first hawker stall in the world to be awarded a Michelin star. For just a few dollars, you can enjoy a plate of world-class, incredibly flavorful soy-marinated chicken. The complex is a treasure trove of authentic eats, from traditional claypot rice to hearty bowls of laksa and Hokkien mee. It’s a place to get lost, explore, and eat adventurously.

Iconic Dishes You Simply Cannot Miss

While the options are endless, there are a few quintessential Singaporean dishes that form the foundation of its culinary identity. Seeking them out is a delicious rite of passage for any visitor.

Chilli Crab

Often hailed as Singapore's national dish, Chilli Crab is a glorious, messy, and utterly satisfying affair. Large mud crabs are stir-fried in a semi-thick, sweet, and savoury sauce made from a base of tomato and chilli. Despite its name, it’s not overwhelmingly spicy; the flavour is complex and rich. The best way to enjoy it is with your hands, cracking open the shells to get to the succulent meat. An essential part of the experience is ordering a side ofmantou(fried or steamed buns) to mop up every last drop of the incredible sauce.

Laksa

Laksa is a spicy noodle soup that perfectly represents the fusion of Chinese and Malay flavours. The most famous version in Singapore is Katong Laksa, which features a rich, fragrant, and creamy coconut milk-based broth, spiced with chilli, lemongrass, and shrimp paste. It’s filled with thick rice noodles, cockles, fish cakes, and prawns. Uniquely, the noodles are often cut into shorter lengths, allowing the dish to be eaten with only a spoon.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

As mentioned, this dish is a national obsession, and its beauty lies in its simplicity. Whole chickens are poached in a pork and chicken bone stock, which is then used to cook the fragrant jasmine rice with ginger, garlic, and pandan leaves. The chicken is served at room temperature, either roasted or poached (the traditional method), and is accompanied by a trio of dipping sauces: a fiery chilli-garlic sauce, a pungent ginger paste, and thick dark soy sauce. The quality of the rice is just as important as the chicken, and a perfect plate is a masterclass in subtle, clean flavours.

Beyond the Hawker Centre: Mid-Range and Fine Dining

While hawker centres are the soul of Singapore’s food scene, the city also boasts an incredible range of restaurants, from charming mid-range eateries to world-class fine dining establishments.

Exploring Peranakan Cuisine

Peranakan or Nyonya cuisine is a unique culinary tradition born from the intermarriage of early Chinese migrants and local Malays. It’s a complex and aromatic style of cooking that involves blending Chinese ingredients with Malay spices and techniques. A classic dish to try isBabi Pongteh(braised pork in fermented soybean sauce) orAyam Buah Keluak, a chicken stew made with the distinctive, earthy-tasting buah keluak nut. The historic neighbourhoods of Katong and Joo Chiat are the heartland of Peranakan culture and a great place to find restaurants serving this unique food.

A Taste of Luxury

Singapore's fine dining scene is recognized globally, with a host of restaurants featured in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the Michelin Guide. For a truly special occasion, consider a reservation atOdette, a three-Michelin-starred modern French restaurant at the National Gallery Singapore, orBurnt Ends, a one-starred modern Australian barbecue joint where everything is cooked over open flames. For dinner with a view, rooftop restaurants likeCÉ LA VIat Marina Bay Sands offer stunning panoramas of the city skyline alongside inventive cocktails and cuisine.

A Quick Guide: What to Eat and Where

To help you decide, here’s a quick-reference table for matching your cravings to the perfect spot.

Practical Tips for Foodies in Singapore

• "Chope" Your Seat:In a crowded hawker centre, you can reserve a table by placing a packet of tissues (or a business card/umbrella) on it. This is a widely accepted local custom known as "chope-ing."

• Bring Cash:While more stalls are adopting digital payments, cash is still king at many hawker centres. It’s always wise to have some small notes on hand.

• Check Hygiene Grades:Every food stall is required to display a hygiene grade from A to D (A being the best). This can give you peace of mind when choosing where to eat.

• Embrace the Queue:Singaporeans love to queue for good food. A long line is a reliable indicator of quality and popularity. Be patient; it’s usually worth the wait.

• No Tipping Required:Tipping is not customary in Singapore. A 10% service charge is often added to the bill at restaurants, but it is not expected at hawker centres.

Singapore’s culinary landscape is a thrilling, ever-evolving adventure. This guide is merely a starting point. The true joy lies in exploring the endless options, following the fragrant aromas, and discovering your own favorite places to eat in this incredible city. So, grab your chopsticks (or a spoon), and get ready to feast.

Ready to explore Singapore? Check out our latest travel deals and start planning your trip today.