Singapore Food Guide: Must-Eat Local Foods Before You Die

Singapore is food lovers’ paradise.

The cultural and ethnic diversity in this country offers fusions of delicious and authentic dishes. Here are some of the local favorites and must-eats in Singapore.

1, Hainanese Chicken Rice

**Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Hawker Centre**

It’s one of the well-known Singaporean dishes. Chicken is poached perfectly and served over fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock and served with chili and/or oyster sauce, cilantro and cucumber slices. This dish originated from Hainan in southern China and became a local favorite.

Where to Eat: Maxwell Hawker Centre and local hawker centers

2, Hokkien Mee

It’s one of the most popular fried noodle dishes at hawker stalls. A mixture of white rice noodles, yellow egg noodles, eggs, seafood (shrimp, scallops, squid), meat slices, and bean sprouts are stir-fried together.

There are different versions of this dish; Some are dry, just seasoned and others are saucy (in soy & oyster based sauce).

It’s typically served with sambal chill sauce and a lime for added flavor and spiciness.

Where to Eat: Local hawker centers

**Hokkien Prawn Mee Stall at Albert Hawker Centre**

3, Duck Noodles

**Duck Noodles at Maxwell Maxwell Hawker Centre**

Succulent roasted duck is served over yellow egg noodles in a thick layer of dark blend of oyster and soy sauce. One of the must-try underrated noodle dishes and a local favorite - savory and sooo good.

Where to Eat: Maxwell Hawker Centre Stall #01-71 (Fu Shun Jin Shao La Mian Jia, Hock Soon Roasted Duck Rice And Noodles)

4, Laksa

Curry Laksa at Old Airport Road Hawker Centre

Laksa is a noodle dish with round spaghtetti-like noodles in soup stock. The soup stock comes in different versions; curry coconut milk and sour tamarind with shrimp, chicken, other meats and bean sprouts.

This popular Peranakan dish is a mixture of Chinese and Malay flavors found in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

Where to Eat: Old Airport Road Hawker Centre, Albert Hawker Centre

5, Hot Pot

Hot Pot is another one of the underrated dishes in Singapore even though popular with the locals.

The simple concept of this often get-together dish - almost any ingredient can be thrown and cooked in a pot of boiling soup stock, dipped in all kinds of sauces and eaten with various condiments - can be fun and comforting at the same time.

There are many restaurants offering different versions : Chinese, Korean and Japanese

For more about hot pot restaurants in Singapore: All You Can Eat Hot Pot Restaurants in Singapore

Where to Eat: La Jiang Shan Hot Pot, Shabu Shabu Gyu-Jin, Haidilao Hot Pot, Upin Hot Pot, Beauty in the Pot, Spice World Hot Pot

**All-You-Can-Eat Conveyor Belt Hot Pot at La Jiang Shan**

6, Fish Head Curry

It’ one of the iconic dishes in Singapore. A fish head (red snapper) is simmered in an Indian curry sauce with various spices and vegetables (okra, tomatoes). Even for those who might find fish heads less than appetizing, it’s still worth a try - spicy, savory and satisfying.

Where to Eat: The Banana Leaf Apolo

**Fish Head Curry at The Banana Leaf Apolo**

**Rice and Condiments at The Banana Leaf Apolo**

7, Black Pepper Crab

For crab and black pepper fanatics, this dish is the winner over chili crab. A whole crab is cooked in coarsely pounded black pepper, oyster sauce, a touch of sugar, garlic and onions.

Where to Eat: Jumbo Seafood (Riverwalk)