‘Leading food delivery company foodpanda have uncovered the gastronomic delights of Singapore. Their extensive local food lover’s guides to Singapore and Hong Kong include all the best places to visit to get a taste of authentic cuisine…’
The local food lover’s guide to Singapore includes…:
- Insight from local food experts
- The best places to eat including hawker centres and markets
- Illustrative maps of the foodie locations
- Top dishes to try
- Best vegetarian-friendly locations
- Average costs
- All the locations plotted out in Google maps
Singapore
When it comes to food tourism, Singapore punches way above its weight. in 2017, it attracted 17.7 million international tourists, which is more than 3 times the population of the city. Many visitors arrive in Singapore to experience the diverse food on offer.
You can indulge in delicious food for as little as $5 in the country’s famous Hawker Centres. These are huge complexes full of individual and unique places to grab a bite to eat.
If you’re looking for something a little more extravagant, Singapore has an array of restaurants to choose from. Almost every single food type in the world is available to choose from, whether it be Singaporean, Chinese or American.
But with so much choice, where are the best places for you to visit for a tasty snack? and what are the dishes you simply must try? Some of Singapore’s leading food bloggers have created this handy food guide to help you discover the best that Singapore has to offer.
These guys live and work in the city, so really know what they are talking about when it comes to food. You’re in good hands!
Unique Restaurants and Dining Experiences
Singapore is home to a vast array of restaurants, with each featuring an authentic and unique approach to food. The city boasts over 25 Michelin starred eateries ranging from high-end restaurants to more affordable venues.
Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle’s chicken rice dish recently became the world’s cheapest Michelin-star meal, costing only $1.42 per serving. Whatever your taste, you’re sure to find a new favourite place to visit for food in Singapore.
Cheek by Jowl
21 Boon Tat St, Singapore 069620
Alexis Cheong | $$$ | Australian, Vegetarian-Friendly
Recommended Dish: Barramundi
A modern Australian restaurant, Cheek by Jowl serves up a mouthwatering selection of flavoursome Aussie food. The eatery also boasts a wide selection of organic and biodynamic wines. Alexis suggests to “go for lunch for better value!”. We think it’s a good idea!
The Salted Plum
10 Circular Rd, Singapore 049366
Alexis Cheong | $$ | Chinese, Taiwanese
Recommended Dish: Fried Chicken & Pork Belly
The recently opened Salted Plum is fast becoming a firm favourite of the Singapore food scene and is the creation of the same people behind the popular Five Ten restaurant. Featuring a delicious serving of Taiwanese inspired food, the restaurant is one that Alexis would recommend!
Rakuya
89 E Coast Rd, Singapore 428790
Eatbook SG | $$$ | Japanese, Asian, Fusion
Recommended Dish: Pan Roasted Chicken Breast
Rakuya is so good, Eatbook SG can’t stop raving about it: “I just visited this new Omakase joint, and it’s great because the dishes marry Japanese ingredients with local flavors”. We highly recommend you pay the restaurant a visit.
Nasi Coco
1 West Coast Drive, Singapore
Eatbook SG | $$ | Singaporean, Japanese, Malaysian
Recommended Dish: Nasi Lemak, Tempura Vegetables & Chicken
Located in the popular NeWest area of Singapore, the restaurant is an intriguing mix of Japanese cuisine and Malay delicacies, Nasi Coco doesn’t disappoint. The food on offer is “really interesting, as they do a decent Nasi Lemak, but with Tempura vegetables and chicken instead of fried fish”
Tarte by Cheryl Koh
1 Scotts Rd #02-12 Shaw Centre, Singapore 228208
Eatbook SG | $$ | Bakery, Dessert
Recommended Dish: Dark Chocolate
This eatery isn’t a restaurant, but it’s so good Eatbook SG simply had to recommend it, adding “it’s not a restaurant but hit up Tarte by Cheryl Koh if you are looking for a sweet treat. Our favorite tarte is her Dark Chocolate”. Pay it a visit if you have a sweet tooth!
Summer Pavillion
7 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039799
The Ordinary Patrons | $$$ | Chinese, Asian, Vegetarian Friendly | Michelin Star
Recommended Dish: Poached Rice & Lobster
This Michelin-starred dining experience is one of Singapore’s must-visit restaurants. Located inside the popular Ritz Carlton hotel, this Cantonese restaurant offers filling and flavorful cuisine in a modern environment. Try the poached rice and lobster recommended by the Ordinary Patrons!
Kok Sen Restaurant
30 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089137
The Ordinary Patrons | $$ | Chinese, Asian
Recommended Dish: Claypot Yong Tau Foo
The Kok Sen Restaurant has been around for over 50 years and has stood the test of time. Famous for its delicious zi-char food, the restaurant offers quality cuisine for reasonable prices. It often gets very busy because of its appetising menu, so make sure you make a reservation to guarantee yourself a table.
Candlenut
17A Dempsey Rd, Singapore 249676
The Ordinary Patrons | $$ | Asian, Singaporean, Fusion
Recommended Dish: Buah Keluak of Braised Local Chicken
Candlenut’s claim to fame is that it was the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, and deservedly so. Taking a more contemporary approach than other eateries, the restaurant specialises in traditional Straits-Chinese cuisine.
Delicious Hawker Centres
Singapore is famous for its world-renowned Hawker Centres, vast food courts brimming with hundreds of independent vendors who serve delicious and authentic street food. Hawkers are the best place to find quality food for a small price and are always jam-packed with tourists. It’s one of the must-try experiences in all of Singapore.
Two food stands located in Hawker Centres became the first street food vendors to be awarded a Michelin star for the quality and excellence of their food. Most have convenient locations and are easy to travel too.
Old Airport Road
Old Airport Rd, Singapore 390001
Alexis Cheong | $ | Chinese, Asian, Singaporean
Recommended Dish: Rojak, Wanton Noodles & Big Prawn Noodles
Built nearly 40 years ago, this Hawker centre is one of Singapore’s largest, so you’re sure to find somewhere that will satisfy your taste buds! Alexis recommends trying the “famous Rojak, Wanton Noodles from Hua Lee and Big Prawn Noodles from any stall”
Newtown Food Circus
500 Clemenceau Ave N, Singapore 229495
Alexis Cheong | $ | Chinese, Indian, Seafood
Recommended Dish:
Alliance Seafood’s Sambal Stingray, Oyster Omelette, Hokkien Noodles & Fried Rice
Newton food circus is one of the most picturesque Hawker centres in Singapore, with its large outdoor seating area. When it comes to food, make sure you try “Alliance Seafood’s Sambal Stingray, and other stalls for an oyster omelette, Hokkien noodles and fried rice. They are all really good!”, suggests Alexis.
Maxwell Food Centre
1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184
Alexis Cheong | $ | Singaporean, Chinese
Recommended Dish: Tian Tian Chicken Rice, Laksa
This Hawker centre is popular with locals and tourists alike, which is always a good sign! It boasts some of the most delicious Singaporean food in the city-state. Alexis advises that “when visiting Maxwell Food Centre, Tian Tian Chicken Rice is the obvious one to try, but I really like the Laksa as well”.
The Bedok Market Place 348
Bedok Road Level 2, The Bedok Marketplace, Singapore 469560
Eatbook SG | $ | Chinese, Sushi, Asian
Recommended Dish: Chewy Sourdough Pizza, Art of War Pizza
Pizza seems to be the preferred dish of The Bedok Marketplace. Eatbook SG boasts “I love The Bedok Marketplace, which houses Mr. Kneady; a hawker stall that does chewy sourdough pizzas. A favorite among the team is their Art of War dessert pizza that has creme fraiche, bananas, blueberries, streusel, and caramelised white chocolate chips”.
Amoy Street Food Centre
7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069111
Eatbook SG, The Ordinary Patrons | $ | Asian, Singaporean, Chinese
Recommended Dish: Pepper Bowl & Han Kee
Located in the central business district of Singapore, Amoy Street Food Centre is one of the easiest to commute to. The centre is home to some of the best hidden gems in the city, and Eatbook SG recommends visiting two special stalls once you arrive: “I frequently visit Amoy Street Food Centre for two stalls: Pepper Bowl and Han Kee Fish Soup”.
Bendemeer Food Centre
29 Bendemeer Rd, Singapore 330029
Eatbook SG | $ | Chinese
Recommended Dish: Yong Xiang Carrot Cake, Heng Kee Lor Mee
The Bendemeer Food Centre is only two minutes away from the Boon Keng MRT Station, so it’s easy to visit. However, make sure you arrive early to avoid a long wait! Eatbook SG warns “the stalls at Bendemeer Food Centre always boast a long queue, and the ones to join are Yong Xiang Carrot Cake and Heng Kee Lor Mee”.
Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre
1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001
The Ordinary Patrons | $ | Singaporean, Chinese, Malaysian
Recommended Dish: Nasi Padang and Putu Piring
One of the most popular places in Singapore to indulge in Nasi Padang and other Malaysian delicacies, this Hawker can get extremely crowded due to its popularity. Among its 5 floors of delicious food, you’re bound to find something to enjoy!
Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre
20 Ghim Moh Road, 01-161, Singapore 270020
The Ordinary Patrons | $$ | Singapore, Asian, Chinese
Recommended Dish: Jiu Jiang Shao La Roast Duck, Guan Kee Fried Kway Teow
Recently reopened in 2016 after renovation work was complete, this Hawker is a little bit out of the way, but very much worth a visit. Located in the north of Queenstown, you can expect a wide range of food to satisfy your taste buds!
Lau Pa Sat
18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582
Sassy Mama | $ | Chinese, Indian, Japanese | Child-Friendly
Recommended Dish: Thunder Tea Rice, Satay, Chilli Crab
Sassy Mama tells us that “There is no one distinguishing factor to make a Hawker centre child-friendly, but Lau Pa Sat is clean and open and central. There’s everything on offer from Indian food to Korean, Western plus must-tries Singapore signature Chilli Crab and Rojak salad.
Adults should try the hard-to-find healthy Hakka lei cha fan Thunder Tea rice dish and kids will love the chicken or beef satay (hold the peanut sauce if your kids have allergies), dim sum like the ever popular har gau prawn dumplings and chicken rice (without the chilli sauce for young ones)”.
Scrumptious Dim Sum
Dim Sum is a style of traditional Chinese cuisine that is a series of bite-sized portions of various food types served in small baskets. Originating as a comfort food, the dish has become a firm favourite with tourists to Singapore and is normally served with tea. The main staple of Dim Sum is steamed dumplings, which can be presented with a range of ingredients from chicken and vegetables to hoisin sauce and shrimp.
It’s often said that trying Dim Sum is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in Chinese food and Singaporean culture. If you’re travelling to Singapore for an authentic Dim Sum experience, you won’t be disappointed.
Imperial Treasure Cantonese Cuisine
2-05°/06, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994
Alexis Cheong | $$$ | Chinese, Asian
This Dim Sum eatery is ideal if you’re looking for an authentic Dim Sum experience, featuring a variety of cooking methods and distinctive ingredients. Alexis suggests that “both Imperial Treasure Cantonese Cuisine and Treasures Yi Dian Xin does really good classic Dim Sum”.
Paradise Dynasty
2 Orchard Turn, 04-12°, Singapore 238801
Alexis Cheong | $$$ | Chinese, Asian, Vegetarian-Friendly
The delicious food married with the decor makes Paradise Dynasty very special, with the restaurant modelling itself on imperial China. Alexis raves that “Paradise Dynasty has really good xiao long bao (steamed soup dumplings) in different colours/flavours”.
Tak Po
42 Smith St, Chinatown, Singapore 058954
Alexis Cheong | $ | Cantonese
Situated in Singapore’s bustling Chinatown area, Tac Po is a firm favourite with locals. Alexis recommends trying Tac Po for “a ‘quick and dirty’ fix, much like Swee Choon back alley dim sum”.
Canton Paradise
1 Vista Exchange Green, B1-45, The Star Vista, Singapore 138617
Eatbook SG | $$$ | Asian, Chinese
Canton Paradise has restaurants in several locations around Singapore, so no matter where you are you shouldn’t be too far away from their famous Dim Sum. “Even though it’s a chain restaurant, Canton Paradise’s dim sum is really impressive, as they are not stingy with their ingredients and fillings”, Eatbook SG tells us.
Sweet Choon
183-191 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208882
Eatbook SG | $ | Chinese, Asian, Singapore
Swee Choon is one of the most well-known Dim Sum restaurants in Singapore, with over 40 years’ experience in creating unique and authentic Dim Sum dishes. Make sure you try this place out if you’re travelling with friends “since they have a large variety of cheap and good dishes”, Eatbook SG suggests.
Madame Fan
2 Beach Rd, Singapore 189761
Eatbook SG | $$$ | Chinese
Madame Fan boasts that they have introduced a new era of Chinese dining to Singapore. One of Eatbook SG’s favourite places to visit for Dim Sum, they tell us that “the newly-opened Madame Fan does a surprisingly good dim sum, although it is very, very pricey”.
Crystal Jade Golden Palace
#05-22 Paragon Shopping Centre, 290 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238859
Ordinary Patrons, Sassy Mama | $$$ | Chinese, Asian, Vegetarian-Friendly | Child-Friendly
The award-winning Crystal Jade Golden Palace offers a contemporary dining experience in beautiful surroundings. The restaurant uses the very finest ingredients to recreate regional specialities.
You can find them in the Paragon Shopping Centre on Orchard Road. Chosen by two of our local food guides, Sassy Mama tells us “Crystal Jade at Paragon is a family favourite as the Dim Sum on offer is excellent both in variety and quality. There’s also a small free playground inside the mall, right outside Crystal Jade making it super popular with the kids!”
Wah Lok
76 Bras Basah Rd, Singapore 189558
Ordinary Patrons | $$$ | Singaporean, Cantonese
Open since 1988, Wah Lok matches an elegant and contemporary interior with delicious food. Ordinary Patrons recommends Wah Lok “because they are consistent, quality is always high and service standards are excellent”. We highly recommend a visit but be warned, they only serve Dim Sum during Lunch hours.
Red Star Restuarant
54 Chin Swee Road, #07-23, Singapore 160054
Sassy Mama | $$ | Chinese, Asian | Child-Friendly
Serving authentic Cantonese cuisine, Red Star is located in the centre of Chinatown and boasting specialities such as America Duck and Fried Yam Pots. The restaurant is also child-friendly, with Sassy Mama telling us that “Red Star has pushcarts which our kids find fun”. Well worth a visit if you’re travelling with young children!
Din Tai Fun
The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands, Canal Level, #B2-63, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972
Sassy Mama | $$ | Chinese, Asian, Taiwanese | Michelin Star | Child-Friendly
Recently featuring in the World’s Top 10 Restaurants by the New York Times, Din Tai Fung is an extremely popular restaurant. Sassy Mama recommends that you and your family visit, suggesting “Din Tai Fung is a family favourite just for the ease of dining and the simple menu of Xiao Long Bao”.
Further Information
Check out the must-try eats and food advice HERE!
Download the Local Food Lover’s Guide to Singapore!
Have you tried any of the eateries on the local food lover’s guide to Singapore?
Suz xx
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