One scene that visualizes Singapore’s culinary experience is the sprawling set of hawker food. Finding the best hawker food in Singapore is pretty easy, so rest assured you can do it any time.
A variety of hawker food to try in Singapore can lighten up your mood after grueling work and personal affairs amid the busy city streets. The dishes served at the hawker center found in every corner of the city are the beating heart of every Singaporean.
You’ll find plenty of locals spending time eating and chit-chatting with their friends often at hawker centers at night. It’s generally a casual nighttime activity for Singaporeans.
If you haven’t been exposed much to the hawker culture in Singapore, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve curated a list of the best hawker food in Singapore that you should try. Let’s check it out below!
10 Best Hawker Food in Singapore
Singapore food culture is all about a communal experience. When it comes to hawker food, everyone can participate in an open space to enjoy affordable and tasty meals together.
The Singapore government owns hawker center establishments, so the hygiene, quality of food, and price are guaranteed.
In most hawker centers, you’ll find plenty of the common foods favored by most Singaporeans, as follows:
1. Chicken Rice
When talking about the representative dish of Singapore, chicken rice comes to mind immediately. It’s chicken and rice. Nothing can go wrong with such a masterful combination.
Most food stalls will offer two choices of chicken to pair with your rice, steamed or roasted. The classic taste grants this best hawker food in Singapore a warm place in Singaporeans’ hearts.
2. Carrot Cake
A must-try food in Singapore is carrot cake. Despite the name, there’s no carrot involved in the cooking. The tasty fried pancake is made from radish and rice flour.
In most hawker centers, you can find two types of carrot cake: black and white. The black cake is tossed in sweet, dark soy sauce to enhance the flavor.
3. Bak Kut Teh
We can never go wrong with the classics. Bak Kut Teh is the best hawker food in Singapore simply because of how fulfilling and simple it is.
Bak Kut Teh directly translates to meat bone tea, but it’s actually a pork rib soup. The broth of the soup use seasonings, such as pepper, garlic, and many other herbs.
You can pair Bak Kut Teh with a warm bowl of rice and fried fritters made of dough. One of the famous places that serves this iconic Singaporean hawker food is Founder Bak Kut Teh.
Read also: Malaysia vs Singapore from the Perspective of Travelers
4. Satay
Considered a common hawker food in Southeast Asia, satay can just as easily be found in the Singapore hawker scene.
It’s simple skewered meat, grilled, and served with a tasteful peanut sauce. Pair satay with a warm plate of rice and your day will be made.
5. Wanton Mee
The best hawker food in Singapore is the simple one, like Wanton Mee. It’s egg noodles with a variety of side dishes, like vegetables, wantons, and barbecued pork.
As Singapore’s local food, Wanton Mee is an affordable option for locals and tourists alike who crave an authentic, simple noodle dish.
6. Nasi Lemak
While you can find Nasi Lemak in Malaysia, the same dish happens to be one of the hawker selections in Singapore as well.
Nasi Lemak has a significant taste of coconut milk and pandan leaf. Served with side dishes like fish, chicken, and spicy sambal, the complete set of meals can surely satiate your hunger.
7. Hokkien Mee
Noodle dishes are constants on Singapore’s hawker menu. One dish that you can easily find and try is Hokkien Mee or prawn noodles.
A burst of flavors comes from the rich broth, plus the combination of prawns, pork, and chewy noodles makes this one of the best communal dishes to share with your loved ones.
8. Kueh Pie Tee
Main dishes excluded, the best hawker food Singapore has to offer when it comes to the pastry side is Kueh Pie Tee.
It’s a thin and crispy type of pastry with rich fillings consisting of sliced braised turnips, peanuts, shrimp, eggs, and chili.
In other variations, you may find Chinese sausages and sweet sauce filling the thinly baked crust of Kueh Pie Tee.
9. Fish Soup
Fish soup may be a simple hawker food, but it’s one you must try. This flavorful and comforting dish is the right food to try in Singapore when you crave wholesomeness.
Freshly sliced fish, vegetables, and tofu in a clear savory broth with a warm bowl of rice is the perfect dinner to end your tiring day.
10. Laksa
Craving spicy food? The best hawker food in Singapore that you need to satisfy your need for spice is laksa.
It’s a spicy dish consisting of rice noodles, fish cake, shrimp, eggs, and fried bean curd in a tasty curry broth. This gravy dish can relieve your hunger and refresh your mood all at once.
That’s all of our recommendations for hawker food in Singapore. What’s the best type of hawker food that catches your fancy?
Beyond the ten choices above, there are lots of the best hawker food in Singapore to discover and try.
So, don’t hesitate to spend some time delving into the Singaporean culinary scene beyond this post. Enjoy your foodie adventure in Singapore!
Read also: 9 Things to Do in Chinatown Singapore for a Fulfilling Day
