Singapore might not be the largest nation in South East Asia, but it is one of the most beautiful, diverse and downright delicious to explore – especially if you’ve got your taste buds fired up for the occasion.
Singapore’s culinary delights come courtesy of its rich and varied population, which includes ethnic Chinese, Indians, and Malays joined by Thais and westerners of all stripes who have moved into the country to help build its rapidly expanding economy. It means that today, you can order just about anything from one of Singapore’s many restaurants, cafes and street vendors! Food is always a great way to explore, whether traveling Singapore solo or in a group!
If you’re in Singapore for only a short while, though, which are the dishes you should seek out to eat like a real local? Here are five of our favorites:
- Wanton Mee – A legendary local wanton noodle dish with its roots in Hong Kong cuisine, the wanton mee you’ll find in Singapore is drier than other variations and has noodles, slices of pork (char siew, which you might have encountered at a Korean BBQ buffet before) and wanton dumplings filled with pork. Often served with a small bowl of soup on the side and drenched with a lightly sweet sauce, wanton mee is an unmissable dish.
- Kaya Toast and Eggs – Win at breakfast with this amazing local morning food – kaya toast and eggs. The toast is covered in kaya, a thick egg custard cooked with aromatic screwpine leaves (pandan) and served with a slice of butter on top. To your side is a bowl of runny eggs and a cup of strong tea or coffee, sweetened in the local style. You simply can’t afford to miss it!
- Sayur Asem – Indonesian cuisine has made a big impact in Singapore and we’re all about it. Whilst you’re in the country hunt down a bowl of sayur asem. This delightful tamarind soup has peanuts, young jackfruit, young leaves, corn, seeds of melinjo, bilimbi, long beans, chayote and beef stock. It’s a flavour combination that shouldn’t be missed and can be found in a number of Indonesian outlets across Singapore, like IndoChill.
- Curry Laksa – Curry laksa is adored in Singapore and you’ll find plenty of street vendors hawking their own unique variation. Born from a merging of Chinese and Malay cuisine (known as Peranakan Chinese cuisine), traditional curry laksa in Singapore uses vermicelli noodles, coconut milk, beancurd puffs, fish slices and cockles. Give a few stalls a try and you’ll be amazed by the variation on offer.
- Barbecued Stingray – For something a little more spectacular, you really can’t afford to miss barbecued stingray. A street vendor classic found amongst many of the hawker stalls, it consists of stingray meat covered in a thick ‘sambal’ sauce, consisting of diced tomatoes, chillies and shrimp paste, before being wrapped in a banana leaf and cooked slowly on a grill. It’s the perfect hand food and – believe me – unbelievably tasty. Who knew stingray would be so delightful?
Read More: Visit the Singapore Wildlife Reserves on your trip for a real safari!
[Wanton Mee. Source: Wikimedia]
Phew! You have no idea how hard it is to choose just five Singaporean dishes. At least, not yet, so get out there and explore what Singapore’s cuisine has to offer.
About the Author: Hannah Freeman started traveling the world over 10 years ago after becoming fed up with the 9-5. Hannah loves street food, exploring the world, and meeting different people!
[Source: Pixabay]
