Singapore Food Recommendations

28 Jan 2025 • Travel

As one of the only Singaporeans in various social situations, I get asked about what to eat in Singapore. It started when a friend asked for a list and I decided instead of writing it down in a chat, I would send them a Google Maps list. From there, I always had a list ready to share. Now I’m thinking of writing a more elaborate post about it, so here it is!

Google Maps List: Victor’s SG Food Recommendation

Context

The list only contains ~15~ 17 items, and it’s not meant to represent all the best places in Singapore. I chose these places because these are the places I have been to, and they are also located closer to the downtown area of Singapore, which I know most of my friends will likely be staying when they visit.

My main thought when choosing these places is to highlight the variety of food in Singapore. I have included a mix of food that I think are unique to Singapore, and generally comfortable for someone foreign to try. i.e. they are not too out there, and are in a comfortable setting.

Food Filter

Singaporean Cuisine

  1. Ya Kun Kaya Toast
    Ya Kun Kaya Toast is a chain of cafes in Singapore that serves traditional Singaporean breakfast. This is what I ate at coffee shops growing up in Singapore, and it’s a hit with all my friends who visited.

    I usually order the Kaya Toast Set, which comes with Kaya Toast, soft boiled eggs, and coffee or tea. Although I am now a decaf coffee drinker, I can vouch for their dark roasted coffee with condensed milk.

    How I eat it:

    • Season the soft boiled eggs with a bit of soy sauce and white pepper
    • Dip the Kaya Toast in the eggs.
    • Drink the coffee

  2. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh
    Bak Kut Teh is a pork rib soup that is cooked with garlic, pepper, and other herbs. It’s a dish that is popular in Malaysia and Singapore, there’s a difference in the way it’s cooked in both countries, with Singapore’s version being more peppery and the soup is clear. It’s the way I ate growing up so I prefer it.

    Song Fa is a chain of Bak Kut Teh restaurants in Singapore, and it’s one of the best places to try it. I was not surprised it won the Michelin Bib Gourmand award when I went back to Singapore in 2023 (and it’s been winning it since 2016!).

    I usually order the classic set, which comes with pork ribs, rice, and a side of salted vegetables and I think youtiao (fried dough fritters) too?

    How I eat it:

    • Season the pork ribs with the dark soy sauce and chili (out of the soup)
    • Eat the pork ribs with rice, and the salted vegetables
    • Drink the soup
    • Dip the youtiao in the soup (if you have it)

  3. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice / Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice
    Chicken Rice is a dish that is popular in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. It’s a simple dish of poached chicken and seasoned rice. The chicken is usually served with a chili sauce and ginger paste. There’s also a dark soy sauce that you can season the chicken and rice with.

    Tian Tian is a stall in Maxwell Food Centre that is famous for their chicken rice. It’s one of the places that Anthony Bourdain visited when he was in Singapore. It’s a location close to the downtown area, and it’s a good place to try chicken rice. It does get crowded so be prepared to wait in line.

    Wee Nam Kee is the place I have been going to since I was a kid, and it’s a sit-down restaurant. I like the roasted chicken there, over the poached chicken.

    I usually order the chicken rice set, which comes with chicken, rice, and a side of soup.

    How I eat it:

    • Season the chicken with the dark soy sauce and chili
    • Eat the chicken with rice, and the soup
    • Dip the chicken in the ginger paste

  4. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle
    Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle is a Michelin-starred noodle stall in Singapore. It’s a noodle dish that is cooked with vinegar, chili, and minced pork. I joke with my friends that I am treating them to Michelin-starred food when I bring them here. It’s good, and honestly it’s worth the wait. Pork Noodle is definitely a dish that people have opinions about where the best one is, and they will often have their favorite stall.

    I usually order the dry noodle, which comes with noodles, minced pork, and a side of soup.

  5. 328 Katong Laksa
    Laksa is a dish cooked with coconut milk, chili, and noodles. It’s a dish that is popular in Malaysia and Singapore, and there are different variations of it. The one at 328 Katong is a good place to try it. It’s a location close to the downtown area, and it’s a good place to try laksa.

  6. Yat Ka Yan Dessert (Fortune Centre)
    Yat Ka Yan is a dessert stall in Fortune Centre that serves traditional Chinese desserts. I always get the chendol, which is a classic cold Singaporean dessert. It comes with coconut milk, green jelly noodles, red beans, and gula melaka (palm sugar).

  7. Springleaf Prata Place
    I describe Prata as a cross between a pancake and a croissant, and usually eaten savory with curry. Springleaf Prata Place is my favorite chain of prata, mainly because of its unique prata creations. They started the trend of having Ultimate Murtabak and then they started having new prata creations every year. It’s also a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner!

    Personally I like the salted egg prawn prata, and the ultimate murtabak. I also like the coin prata, which is a small prata that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

  8. JUMBO Seafood
    Chili Crab is my favorite special occasion dish growing up. It’s a dish cooked with chili and egg and is sweet and spicy. It’s usually eaten with mantou (fried buns). JUMBO Seafood is a chain of seafood restaurants in Singapore, it’s a little pricey, and they do take reservations. The deep umami flavor of the Sri Lankan Crab is what makes it special.

    I usually order the chili crab, and the black pepper crab. I also like the fried mantou.

  9. Kampong Glam Cafe
    Kampong Glam Cafe is a cafe in the Kampong Glam area that serves traditional Malay food. I liked the Nasi Lemak there, but it seems to be temporarily closed.

    I honestly don’t have any other Nasi Lemak place to strongly recommend yet. So I will keep this on the list until I find a better place.

  10. 3 Meals a Day
    It’s tucked away in Sim Lim Square, a computer hardware mall in Singapore (featured by Linus Tech Tips!) It’s known for it’s salted egg yolk chicken rice. It’s a decadent, creamy dish that is truly a hit. I often went to this mall growing up - so check it out, and get the food too :)

  11. Kampong Carrot Cake
    Carrot cake in Singapore is not the same as the Western dessert. It’s a dish cooked with radish cake, eggs, and preserved radish. The one at Kampong Carrot Cake is a good place to try it. Personally I think it’s a breakfast dish, but you can eat it anytime.

    I personally like the white version, because I think the black version is too sweet.

  12. Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup
    Chinese soup cooked with pig’s organs - think liver, intestines, stomach, etc. It’s a good hearty soup, dip it in chilli and eat with rice.

Other Food

  1. Hey! Yakiniku
    Fun casual Japanese Yakiniku place, where you grill your own portion of meat!

  2. O.BBa Jjajang
    Korea restaurant with good variety of Korean dishes. They also have Korean BBQ as well! I mostly eat their Korean dishes.

  3. Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique
    Unique gelato flavors that are inspired by nature. They specialize in botanical flavors, and when they first opened they had a very long line. I liked the White Chrysanthemum flavor, and their thyme cone.

  4. Blue Label Pizza & Wine
    Good pizza place! Very atas (fancy) vibes, do make a reservation.

  5. Two Men Bagel House
    Good bagels! Love them for breakfast.

  6. Menya Kokoro Mazesoba
    Mazesoba is a dry ramen dish, great for slurping! Follow their instructions, and end it mixing a rice into the remaining sauce.

 reviews  Singapore  food

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