Stuck at home during this Circuit Breaker period and you’re hankering for some chicken rice or fishball noodles? The good news is that some hawker and zi char stalls out there will be doing islandwide delivery so that you can get your favourite local eats without having to leave the house. At the same time, you can also support these local businesses during this trying period.

Here is a list of 24 hawker stalls and zi char stalls that offer islandwide delivery in Singapore. We will be adding more to the list, do share with us if you know any hawkers and local eateries that offer islandwide delivery.

Stay home and stay safe everyone!

Photo Credit: 365youreverydayfood

365 FOOD

• Specialises in healthy fusion food with local touches
• Delivery fees from S$5 to S$15 depending on the distance
• Minimum spend of S$30
• Each delivery comes with free in-store vouchers and loyalty stamps
• Whatsapp 9699 9233 to order and enquire
• Visit their Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for the menu.

Photo Credit: yatzerooni 

786 CHAR KWAY TEOW 

• Specialises in char kway teow
• Muslim-owned
• Delivery available on Bungkus SG 

Photo Credit: benson_txh

8889 JI GONG BAO 

• Specialises in Mala of different spice levels for 2 to 4 pax & 4 to 6 pax
• S$5 delivery to Ang Mo Kio & Bishan, S$12 delivery islandwide excluding Sentosa & Tuas
• Available for self-collection
• Whatsapp 8666 0909 / 8139 0460 to order

AH LOCK TOFU 

• Specialises in Hakka tofu bowls
• Order here
• Delivery charges depend on location

AH TAN WINGS 

• Specialises in chicken wings
• Order here
• Delivery charges depend on location

Photo Credit: Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodle 

AH TER TEOCHEW FISHBALL NOODLE 

• Specialises in Teochew fishball noodles
• Free islandwide delivery, minimum order S$25
• Orders below S$25 will be charged S$6
• Place orders here 

A NOODLE STORY

• Specialises in Singapore style ramen
• Flat delivery rate of S$6 for distances less than 6km and S$12 for distances more than 6km
• Place orders here and make a separate Paynow transaction according to the checkout amount. Delivery will only be confirmed once payment has been received
• Ordering time from Monday to Saturday: 11am – 1pm
• For orders after 1pm, Whatsapp 9027 6289 to check if late orders are able to be processed before proceeding
• Dinner service not available during circuit breaker period
• Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Photo Credit: beng who cooks 

BENG WHO COOKS

• Temporary sets available: Aromatic Chicken/Fish Rice Set (S$6), Aromatic Beef Stew Rice Set (S$7), Stir-fry Soba with Tofu Set (S$6)
• Add on for S$1.10 to S$1.50 for drinks
• Islandwide delivery S$8, no minimum order
• Free delivery for orders above S$60 to the same location
• Delivery will arrive between 12pm – 1.30pm
• Self-collection available from 11am – 1pm
• Do order 1 day in advance before 7pm
• Whatsapp / Telegram 9353 1428 or Instagram / Facebook message them to order
• Payment by Paynow / Paylah

Photo Credit: mohamedjavid.25

BJ GRILL SEAFOOD

• Specialises in zi char & seafood
• Islandwide delivery. Orders below S$50 have a S$5 charge, orders above S$50 have free delivery, regardless of location
• Minimum order of S$20
• Phone order operating hours: 5.30pm – 10pm (Closed on Mondays)
• Whatsapp/Telegram 98527264 / 81135151to order

BUEY TAHAN SEE-FOOD

• Specialises in zi char and seafood
• Halal-certified
• Free delivery within an hour with a minimum order of S$10.
• For areas slightly further out, minimum order for free delivery is S$30. You can check using your postal code via their website
• Use promo code BUEYTAHANSEEFOOD upon checkout
• Call 6555 5300 to enquire

BOON TONG KEE 

• Specialises in chicken rice
• Minimum order S$30
• Delivery fee is S$5
• Order from their website

BURGS BY PROJECT WARUNG 

• Specialises in burgers
• Free delivery with a minimum order of S$30
• Whatsapp the outlet closest to you to place orders (Timbre 9023 0574, Bukit Batok 9457 8622, Chai Chee 9023 0584)
• Self-collection available

CAHAYA RESTAURANT

• Specialises in Chinese food
• Muslim-owned
• Place orders here or Whatsapp 9169 9482
• Minimum order S$40
• S$6 delivery fee
• Free delivery for orders above S$75

CHEOK KEE BONELESS BRAISED DUCK 

• Specialises in braised duck rice
• Order via Lalamove, key in code SPTLCL5 for S$5 off
• Call or Whatsapp 8333 1961 to enquire

Photo Credit: China Whampoa Noodle 

CHINA WHAMPOA HOME MADE NOODLE 

• Specialises in homemade noodles
• Whatsapp or call 9611 9169 to place orders
• 10% discount for orders above S$50
• Delivery fee of S$3 to S$9 based on location
• Self-collection available

Photo Credit: Coffee Break 

COFFEE BREAK 

• Specialises in kopi and teh
• Only iced beverages are available for order
• Whatsapp 8100 6218 to order
• Paynow / Paylah 8100 6218, screenshot receipt and send to the same number along with your address, number and name
• No changes can be made once order is confirmed
• S$5 delivery charge per order
• Delivery from Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays & Public Holidays

Photo Credit: Dai Lou Zi Char 

DAI LOU ZI CHAR 

• Specialises in zi char and lok lok
• Place orders here 
• S$1.99 flat rate delivery charge to Punggol & Sengkang, minimum order S$20
• S$3 flat rate delivery charge to Yishun, Sembawang, Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, Hougang, Paya Lebar, Pasir Ris & Tampines, minimum order S$40
• S$6 flat rate delivery charge to everywhere else in Singapore, minimum order S$80
• Self-collection available

Photo Credit: Da Shi Jia Big Prawn Mee 

DA SHI JIA BIG PRAWN MEE 

• Specialises in prawn noodle
• Order from their website or call 6732 1085 / 9137 8292
• Minimum order of S$50 for islandwide delivery
• Free delivery for orders above S$100
• Orders below S$100 will be charged a flat delivery fee of S$5
• Delivery hours from 10am to 10pm
• Self-collection available

DEANNA’S KITCHEN 

• Specialises in prawn noodles
• Muslim-owned
• Order from their website 
• Delivery charges depend on destination

DELICIOUS BONELESS CHICKEN RICE

• Specialises in chicken rice
• Delivery available on Grabfood & Foodpanda
• Place orders here
• Minimum order of S$40
• Self-collection is available

Photo Credit: De Sinn Chicken Rice 

DE SINN CHICKEN RICE 

• Specialises in chicken rice
• Halal-certified
• Delivery available on GrabFood, Deliveroo & Bungkus SG
• DM them on Instagram to enquire

Photo Credit: nadidr 

EVERTOP HAINANESE BONELESS CHICKEN RICE 

• Specialises in chicken rice
• Halal-certified
• Delivery available on Deliveroo
• Order from their website
• Call 6774 1353 to enquire
• Delivery charges depend on destination
• Available for self-collection

Photo Credit: Fatty Bom Bom 

FATTY BOM BOM SIZZLE 

• Specialises in western food
• Halal-certified
• Free delivery for orders above S$50
• S$10 delivery charge islandwide
• Whatsapp 96480968 / 87210175 to order
• Available for self-collection

FATTY WENG KITCHEN 

• Specialises in zi char and seafood
• Minimum order of S$50
• Call 6777 1272 to order
• Delivery charges vary based on location

Photo Credit: evanieltoh

FISHBALL STORY 

• Specialises in fishball noodles & fishball soup
• Islandwide delivery (S$6 within 5km, S$8 within 10km, S$10 within 15km, S$12 within 20km)
• No minimum order
• Whatsapp 98005036 to order
• Payment by Paynow

FISH & CHICKS 

• Specialises in western food
• Halal-certified
• Available on GrabFood, FoodPanda & Deliveroo
• Delivery fee of S$5 for islandwide delivery
• Whatsapp 9784 9219 to order
• Self-collection available

Photo Credit: Founder Bak Kut Teh 

FOUNDER BAK KUT TEH 

• Specialises in bak kut teh
• Free islandwide delivery with a minimum order of S$30
• Whatsapp or call 8896 5136 one day in advance to place orders
• Self-collection available

Photo Credit: Geylang Prawn Noodle 

GEYLANG PRAWN NOODLE 

• Specialises in prawn noodle
• S$10 islandwide delivery
• Whatsapp 9117 7527 to order

Photo Credit: Geylang Lorong 29 Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee 

GEYLANG LORONG 29 CHARCOAL FRIED HOKKIEN MEE 

• Specialises in Hokkien mee and satay
• Islandwide delivery, minimum order S$30
• Delivery charge of S$10
• Call 9733 1388 to order and enquire

Photo Credit: High Steaks 

HIGH STEAKS 

• Specialises in steaks and western food
• Available from 12 – 10pm (Tuesdays to Sundays)
• Delivery islandwide for bulk orders
• Order from 6908 0866 or Whatsapp 8869 3959

HOUSE OF SEAFOOD

• Specialises in zi char and seafood
• Free islandwide delivery
• Minimum S$50 spend
• Call 6466 9000 or Whatsapp 9003 9000 to order
• Or place orders here
• Paynow to 9686 9000

J’S WESTERN

• Specialises in western food
• Free islandwide delivery with orders above S$50
• Islandwide delivery with a minimum spend of S$10
• Free delivery to Northeast areas with orders above S$30
• Deliveries to Northeast areas with a minimum spend of S$5
• Whatsapp 9006 7441 to order

JIAO CAI SEAFOOD HOTPLATE BBQ 

• Specialises in zi char and seafood
• Free delivery with a minimum order of S$30 within 5km radius, minimum order of S$50 within a 10km radius and minimum order of S$80 within a 20km radius
• Call or Whatsapp 8282 1253 to order or enquire

JIN JI TEOCHEW BRAISED DUCK AND KWAY CHAP

• Specialises in braised duck and kway chap.
• Islandwide delivery using Oddle
• Order can also be made on GrabFood, FoodPanda, WhyQ and Deliveroo
• Self-collection available
• Call or Whatsapp 9018 9052 to enquire

JUST LAZZAT 

• Specialises in Malay food
• Muslim-certified
• Minimum order of S$30
• Whatsapp 9763 9917 to order

KENG ENG KEE SEAFOOD 

• Specialises in zi char & seafood
• Delivery islandwide, minimum order S$50, flat delivery fee of S$5
• Whatsapp 6272 1038 to enquire
• Order here.

KOK SEN RESTAURANT

• Specialises in zi char
• Minimum order of S$40
• Delivery fees range from S$8 to S$15 depending on the distance
• Whatsapp 9698 4119 to place orders
• Orders need to be placed 1 day in advance
• Self-collection available

Photo Credit: Lai Bao Fish Head Steamboat 

LAI BAO FISH HEAD STEAMBOAT

• Specialises in zi char
• Call 6261 5825 or Whatsapp 8896 5136 in advance to order
• Islandwide delivery till 9pm daily
• Delivery charges depend on location

Photo Credit: Liang Ji Fried Hokkien Mee 

LIANG JI FRIED HOKKIEN PRAWN MEE

• Specialises in hokkien mee
• Available from 11.30am – 9.30am
• Whatsapp 8104 6112 / 9768 0913 to order

Photo Credit: Lion City Delicacies 

LION CITY DELICACIES

• Specialises in claypot rice & bento sets
• Free islandwide delivery for orders above S$30 or within 3km of 389 Changi Road
• S$10 flat rate delivery charge for all other orders
• Whatsapp or Call 6242 8283 / 9639 3233 to order

Photo Credit: Little Fresh Meat Seafood Soup 

LITTLE FRESH MEAT SEAFOOD SOUP 

• Specialises in fish & seafood soups
• Free delivery for people in the west with a minimum order of S$30 (+S$5 if below S$30)
• Free delivery islandwide with a minimum order of S$50
• Self-collection available as well
• Whatsapp 9001 4651 to order

Photo Credit: LoeDy Teochew Minced Meat Noodle 

LOEDY TEOCHEW MINCED MEAT NOODLE

• Specialises in minced meat noodles
• No minimum order, S$6, S$8, S$10 delivery charges apply depending on location
• Self-collection available
• Whatsapp 9099 4367 to order or enquire

Photo Credit: Loy Kee Best Chicken RIce Singapore 

LOY KEE BEST CHICKEN RICE SINGAPORE

• Specialises in chicken rice sets
• S$5 island-wide delivery, minimum order S$50
• Last order at 9.30pm
• Self-collection available
• Whatsapp or call +65 8601 5905 to place orders
• Available for order on Deliveroo, Grabfood & FoodPanda as well

MAMI MIDAH BRIYANI

• Specialises in Muslim food
• Muslim-owned
• Call 9177 7153 to order and enquire
• Delivery fees depend on the distance

Photo Credit: pamkon

MENG KEE HOUGANG TRADITIONAL SATAY BEE HOON 

• Specialises in satay bee hoon and orh luak (fried oyster)
• Minimum spending of S$20 for a chargeable delivery of S$3 (Applicable to only Potong Pasir, Macpherson, Woodleigh, Serangoon)
• Free islandwide delivery with a minimum spend of S$50
• Delivery available from 5pm onwards to 12am
• Whatsapp or Call 9620 7839 to order

MING FA FISHBALL

• Specialises in fishball noodle
• Place orders here or Whatsapp 9040 0208 / 9111 6699
• Do order 1 hour in advance

MIZZY CORNER 

• Specialises in nasi lemak
• Muslim-owned
• Order from their website
• Order more than S$20 to enjoy S$10 islandwide delivery

NEW STATION SNACK BAR

• Specialises in zi char dishes, famous for their salted egg pork ribs
• Islandwide delivery, minimum order of S$33 to S$45 depending on location
• Flat delivery fee of S$5
• Self-collection available
• Call 6789 9696 to order

Photo Credit: Nic & Tom Eatery 

NIC & TOM EATERY

• Specialises in fusion local food
• Free islandwide delivery, minimum order of S$15
• Whatsapp 9197 0466 to order

Photo Credit: Opah Satay 

OPAH SATAY

• Specialises in satay
• Islandwide delivery (except Sentosa), minimum order S$40
• Delivery fee S$10.70 for all orders
• Delivery hours from 11am – 6.30pm
• Last order at 2pm
• Whatsapp 9833 5265 to enquire
• Order here.

Photo Credit: OK Chicken Rice 

OK CHICKEN RICE

• Specialises in chicken rice
• S$25 minimum order for islandwide delivery
• Whatsapp or call 9026 7051 to order or enquire
• Or order here.

Photo Credit: Phuket Town Mookata 

PHUKET TOWN MOOKATA 

• Specialises in mookata
• Minimum order S$50
• Fixed delivery & collection charge of S$10
• Each order comes with soup base, stove, mookata pan & sauces
• Whatsapp or call +65 8613 0826 to order

PUNCAK BEST NOODLES 

• Specialises in Chinese food
• Halal-certified
• Order from their website or call 6738 4348
• Minimum order S$50
• Delivery fee S$10 for orders above S$50 to S$60, S$8 for orders above S$60

RAINBOW LAPIS

• Specialises in rainbow lapis, local confectionery and nonya kueh
• Place orders here or call 9119 4835 / 8115 4030 to order
• Minimum order of S$30

ROAST PARADISE

• Specialises in roast meat
• Whatsapp 9786 7396 to order
• Self-collection available

Photo Credit: Sinn Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice 

SINN JI HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE 

• Specialises in chicken rice
• Free islandwide delivery with a minimum spend of S$30
• Delivery time from 11.30am to 8pm
• Whatsapp 9096 0974 to order and enquire

SMOKIN JOE

• Specialises in western food
• Free delivery for orders within Yishun with a minimum order of S$20 (orders below S$20 will incur a S$5 delivery fee)
• Free delivery for orders in the North (Bishan, Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang, Khatib, Canberra, Woodlands, Sembawang, Admiralty, Marsiling) with a minimum order of S$30 (orders below S$30 will incur a S$5 delivery fee)
• Free delivery for orders outside the North with a minimum order of S$50 (orders below S$50 will incur a S$10 delivery fee)
• Place orders before 6pm
• Whatsapp 9006 5004 to order

TAKAGI RAMEN 

• Specialises in ramen
• Free islandwide delivery, minimum order S$50
• Order here.
• Also available on GrabFood, Foodpanda & Deliveroo

THE ANG KU KUEH HUT 

• Specialises in ang ku kueh
• Free delivery when 50 pieces of ang ku kueh are ordered
• S$3 delivery fee per location
• Whatsapp 8813 7636 to place your orders.
• Delivery between 11am to 5pm

THE NAUGHTY CHEF 

• Specialises in western food
• Call 9134 2626 / 6920 4996 to place your order
• Minimum order S$30
• Free delivery for orders above S$50
• Free delivery for postal codes starting with 46, 47, 48
• S$3 delivery fee for postal codes starting with 38, 39, 40, 41, 49, 50, 81, 51, 52
• All other locations will incur a S$10 delivery fee

TREE COCONUT NASI LEMAK

• Specialises in nasi lemak
• Flat islandwide delivery charge of S$6
• Free delivery for locations within 3km radius with a minimum order of S$10, S$2 delivery fee if your order falls below S$10
• Free delivery for orders above S$50
• Whatsapp 9622 1799 to order
• Self-collection available

Photo Credit: Wanton Noodle House 

WANTON NOODLE HOUSE

• Specialises in wanton noodles
• Island-wide delivery, minimum order S$20. Delivery charges depend on location.
• Drive-thru self-collection available
• Call +65 6636 3326 to order or enquire

Photo Credit: Wee Nam Kee Chicken Restaurant 

WEE NAM KEE CHICKEN RESTAURANT

• Specialises in chicken rice
• Island-wide delivery (except Ubin & Tekong) with S$30 minimum order, no delivery charges
• Call +65 9655 1411 to order

Photo Credit: Yi Qi Fa Nasi Lemak 

YI QI FA NASI LEMAK 

• Specialises in nasi lemak and bee hoon
• Island-wide delivery, no minimum order
• Delivery charges range from S$7 to S$12 depending on location
• Submit orders before 10pm the day before
• Delivery starts at 11am
• Call or Whatsapp +65 8383 7790 to order or enquire

Photo Credit: Yoon’s Traditional Teochew Kueh 

YOON’S TRADITIONAL TEOCHEW KUEH

• Specialises in traditional kueh & rice sets
• Island-wide delivery every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday for lunch & dinner sets
• Islandwide delivery for kuehs from Mondays to Saturdays
• Flat delivery charge of S$5 per location
• Call or Whatsapp +65 9666 5134 to order or enquire

YUNOS & FAMILY 

• Specialises in Malay food
• Muslim-owned
• Whatsapp 9058 2057 to order
• Place orders one day in advance
• S$10 flat delivery fee
• No minimum order

Good food is what it is, but throw a few fancy words and overly exaggerated expressions into the mix and what do you get? Food that automatically sounds luxurious, extravagant and expensive.

Just for giggles, here are 8 local dishes that you would think costed a bomb if you didn’t know what they were before, based on corny expressions, overly pretentious descriptions and bombastic words.

PORRIDGE

Chinese risotto using short-grain Jasmine rice. Served with pickled vegetables, foraged nuts, cured hen’s egg and crispy, hand-rolled dough fritters.

SATAY

Skewers spice-marinated bovine, seared over roaring hot coals and accompanied with a viscous, tangy sauce of foraged nuts, garden-grown aromatics, spices and tropical pineapple.

BAK KUT TEH

Pork Rib, White Pepper & Pork Bone Consommé, Whole Garlic.

(Because nowadays it’s cooler to list down the ingredients of a dish rather than to give it a name.)

CHWEE KUEH

Upside-down, savoury pannacotta made of rice served with a dollop of braised radish, chilli paste and artfully stacked on wax paper.

CHAR KWAY TEOW

Smoky and savoury wok-fried flat rice noodles with sweetened dark sauce, hand-cracked farmed eggs, bean sprouts and sweet Chinese sausages.

ROTI JOHN

Seared French baguette topped with your choice of mutton or chicken, farmed eggs and delicately diced onions, served meat-side up and finished elegantly with lashings of artisanal tomato sauce and mayonnaise.

HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

Gloriously robust slivers of free-range chickens, topped with a savoury sesame-accented brown sauce. Served with a trifecta of sauces and a bowl of fragrant steamed rice imbued with chicken fat and aromatics.

ROJAK

Handcrafted salad of cut-up fried dough fritters, prematurely-foraged mango, lashings of ginger flower, young turnip, green cucumber, pungent prawn paste and granulated peanuts.

Few things in life satisfy as much as the Kaya Toast—a traditional Singapore-style breakfast. It has undoubtedly become a staple for many Singaporeans since generations ago, and today, it is still widely loved.

We enjoy the old-school fare in various ways—dipping it in soft boiled egg, coffee, or just having it on its own. Very often, it is also paired with a set meal of two soft boiled eggs and your choice of coffee or tea.

You can find renditions of this dish almost everywhere you go, and to get you started, here are 11 Best Kaya Toasts In Singapore.

#1 YA KUN

Ya Kun is one of the most frequented coffee stalls in Singapore, with its history dating back to the early 1940s.

The kaya from Ya Kun—made up of eggs, coconut milk, sugar and pandan—is sandwiched between crisp brown toasted bread. The household brand constantly keeps up with the trend to offer new menu items, and the consistency is the reason for our loyalty.

Ya Kun Kaya Toast
1 Harbourfront Walk, #B2-26, Vivo City
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6225 5789
Sun to Thu: 8.15am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 8.15am – 10.30pm
Nearest MRT: HarbourFront

#2 FUN TOAST

Fun Toast was originally Kheng Nam Hong, a coffee house widely known by the early residents of Telok Ayer Street. It has since rebranded to a fun-loving label where the younger generations of Singaporeans can better relate to.

One of their signatures includes the Kaya Butter Soft Bun set (S$5.20) which features kaya smothered on buns that are crisp on the outside and incredibly soft on the inside. We highly recommend you to dip it into their soft-boiled eggs for an elevated flavour.

Fun Toast
Citylink Mall, 1 Raffles Link, #B1-04, Singapore 039393
Tel: +65 6533 1233
Mon to Thu: 7am – 8.30pm
Fri: 7am – 9.30pm
Sat: 8am – 9.30pm
Sun & PH: 8am – 8.30pm
Nearest MRT: City Hall

#3 KILLINEY KOPITIAM

The pioneer outlet of Killiney Kopitiam was founded in 1919 and still operates along Killiney Road today; it is the longest standing Hainanese coffee shop in Singapore.

Other than the kaya toast (S$2.40 for 2 slices), the coffee shop also dishes countless of local delights such as their famed Laksa and Curry Chicken. The standards across various outlets have dropped over the years, but the original branch at Killiney Road is still as good as before.

Killiney Kopitiam
67 Killiney Road, Singapore 239525
Tel: +65 6734 3910
Mon, Wed to Sat: 6am – 10pm
Sun, Tue & PH: 6am – 6pm
Nearest MRT: Somerset

#4 TOAST BOX

Established under the BreadTalk group, Toast Box prides itself on offering authentic breakfast that will bring one back to the 70′s.

It is set to ignite nostalgia amongst the Singaporeans, completing the experience with a good Nanyang cuppa and grilled Kaya Toasts (S$1.70 per slice). Other standouts from the menu include the Floss Toast and Crunchy Peanut Butter Thick Toast.

Toast Box
AMK Hub, No. 53 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #01-01, Singapore 569933
Tel: +65 6484 6591
Daily: 7am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio

#5 OLD TOWN WHITE COFFEE

Though the food at Old Town White Coffee is slightly pricier, their Kaya Toast (S$1.60 per slice) is still worth a shot.

Originating from Malaysia, this franchise is now a familiar name in Singapore too. Patrons visit them for fragrant white coffee and an array of simple but delectable local fares.

Old Town White Coffee
180 Kitchener Road
#B1-31/32 City Square Mall
Singapore 208539
Tel: +65 6509 8355
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park

#6 KAFFE & TOAST

Being the halal subsidiary of Coffee & Toast, Kaffe & Toast offers Kaya Toast at S$1.80 per serving. Their kaya spread is made with more doses of egg yolk and is generously slathered on each slice of freshly grilled bread.

We also love with the Mackerel Otah Bun that comes with fish otah.

Kaffe & Toast
Singapore General Hospital (SGH), 4 Hospital Drive, Level 1, Singapore 169608
Tel: +65 6221 0136
Mon to Fri: 7am – 8pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 8am – 5pm
Nearest MRT: Outram Park

#7 TONG AH EATING HOUSE 

Known for its rich history since the 1930s, Tong Ah has since moved a few doors from its original location to reside in the same space as Potato Head Folk.

Be sure to catch them toasting the kaya toast on traditional charcoal grills and you can even request for your toast to be extra crispy. Their formula? Toasting it thrice before scraping off the charred parts using a condensed milk lid.

Tong Ah Eating House
35 Keong Siak Road, Singapore 089143
Tel: +65 6223 5083
Daily: 7am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Outram Park

#8 HEAVENLY WANG

Heavenly Wang serves a mean slice of Kaya Toast (S$1.50), with thick butter slices and a sweet kaya spread generously tucked in between slightly crisp bread.

This halal eatery also whips up several other Singaporean classics too, so be sure to try out their signature Mee Siam that is well-loved by the locals.

Heavenly Wang
277 Orchard Road, #B2-07/08, Orchard Gateway, Singapore 238858
Mon to Sat: 8am – 9:30pm
Sun & PH: 9.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest MRT: Somerset

#9 GOOD MORNING NANYANG CAFE

The kaya toast (S$1.60) at Good Morning Nanyang Cafe is really unique. Their kaya spread is freshly made in-house, following the recipes of a man from Segamat; so rich, luscious and subtly sweet. But this is what sets them apart from the rest—they use ciabatta instead of regular white bread.

Other toast selections include the Orange Ciabatta set, with caramelised orange peel added to bring about a robust element in the toast.

Good Morning Nanyang Cafe
Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road, #02-03, Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 9650 3256
Daily: 8.30am - 8.30pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest MRT: Orchard

#10 HILL STREET COFFEE SHOP

Hill Street Coffee Shop evokes a sense of nostalgia that is hard to beat.

Their Kaya Toast (S$2.50) spots a different execution with the replacement of steamed bread—and we love it so much. Expect to sink your teeth into the incredibly soft white bread, coated with a generous kaya spread with a distinct coconut element and topped off with pieces of savoury butter.

Hill Street Coffee Shop
Supertree Grove, Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Tel: +65 6702 3373
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Bayfront

#11 TOAST HUT

One of our favourites in this list, Toast Hut is a place that is worth all the hype and crazy queues. The owner heads over to the stall at 4am every morning to prepare for the opening of the stall so patrons can get their coffee-fix as early as 6.30am in the morning!

Their Kaya Butter Toast (S$1.60 for 4 pcs, S$3.00 for a set) goes extremely well with the aromatic and fragrant coffee.

Toast Hut
51 Old Airport Road #01-52
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Singapore 390051
Daily: 6.30am – 1.30pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

Singapore is a city filled with colourful cuisines and all sorts of (fattening) goodies. Eating is a national hobby in Singapore and it is not exaggerating to say that Singaporeans are all foodies in our own rights.

Here are 20 Times Singapore Proved To Be The Best Food City.

#1 THIS PLATE OF CHAR KUAY TEOW FROM ZION ROAD

Nothing says comfort food like char kuay teow with egg, bean sprouts and lap cheong (chinese sausage).

#2 A BOWL OF SAVOURY LAKSA FROM JANGGUT LAKSA

One of the best bowls of laksa you can find in Singapore! If you haven’t tried this, you haven’t lived.

#3 THE BEST ROTI PRATA FROM RK EATING HOUSE IN SERANGOON GARDENS

Roti prata is a lifetime staple. ‘Nuff said!

#4 HOKKIEN MEE FROM XIAO DI HOKKIEN MEE

If you love the wet version of Hokkien Mee, you will love Xiao Di Hokkien Mee’s renditon.

#5 CRAB BEE HOON FROM LONG BEACH SEAFOOD

This is a pot of delicious crab goodness.

#6 CHARCOAL WAFFLES WITH SALTED EGG YOLK SAUCE FROM FAT CAT ICE CREAM BAR

Salted egg yolk tastes great in desserts too.

#7 TINY KUEH TUTUS FROM LAU TAN TUTU KUEH

A sweet childhood snack with peanut or coconut fillings, Tutu Kueh is ever comforting.

Photo Credit: ConnexionSG

#8 KACANG PUTEH FROM KACANG PUTEH PUSHCART OUTSIDE PEACE CENTRE

Probably the last kacang puteh seller in Singapore.

Photo Credit: The Straits Times

#9 INTERESTING YUAN YANG MUAH CHEE FROM CIRCUIT ROAD FOOD CENTRE

Muah chee (chewy glutinous rice flour) is common but white and black sesame ones? Now that’s something.

#10 SHIOK MAKI FROM KOH GRILL & SUSHI BAR

The one dish that makes everyone go back to Koh Grill & Sushi Bar again and again is the Shiok Maki. It is a maki made up of avocado, unagi and aburi salmon, drenched with a supremely addictive creamy sauce that is seemingly a legit mixture of mayo and mentai, then topped with a copious amount of tobiko.

#11 TRADITIONAL KAYA TOAST AND SOFT BOILED EGGS SET FROM CHIN MEE CHIN CONFECTIONERY

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is an icon of Singapore in its own rights and you have to try their legendary kaya toast and eggs.

#12 THE ICONIC CHILLI CRAB

We Singaporeans sure love our chilli crabs. Its savoury chilli sauce goes well with deep-fried mantous (buns) too.

#13 A SIMPLE BOWL OF WANTON MEE FROM ENG KEE NOODLE HOUSE

A classic Singapore dish of noodles, char siew, vegetables, wantons (dumplings) and hot soup.

Photo Credit: Wee Lee Brothers

#14 APPETISING OTAH FROM LEE WEE AND BROS OTAH

This is another traditional snack made of ground fish meat that is seasoned and wrapped in coconut leaves before it is flame grilled.

#15 THIS DELIGHTFUL ROLL OF POPIAH FROM QI JI

An alternative to the Western style crepes, the Chinese popiah has fillings such as steamed turnip, bangkuang, tofu, shredded omelette and chopped peanuts.

#16 A PLATE OF SPICY SAMBAL STINGRAY FROM CHOMP CHOMP FOOD CENTRE

Hands down one of the best hawker food in Singapore.

#17 LOVE ROJAK FOREVER

Even meat lovers will devour a plate of Singapore Rojak—essentially fruit and vegetable salad in sweet and spicy sauce.

#18 OUR SINGAPORE SLING IS WORLD FAMOUS

Yes, we have our very own national cocktail—the Singapore Sling.

#19 ICE CREAM SANDWICH

Buzzfeed needs to know that these Ice Cream Sandwiches are unique to Singapore. Yes, we own them.

#20 HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

And because there is nothing quite like Hainanese Chicken Rice in Singapore.

Previously located in the iconic red and white building, Tong Ah Eating House has relocated a few units farther down Keong Saik Road. The traditional coffee shop has been around since 1939 and has gained recognition for its crispy kaya toast.

While there is no lack of kaya toast sets in Singapore, Tong Ah Eating House is one of those eateries that keeps customers going back for more. Everything is kept simple—from the modest wall decorations to their humble kaya toasts.

It is surely a treasure of Singapore.

Tong Ah Eating House uses the traditional round tables which are ideal for big groups and families. Although you can choose to sit outside, it is much cooler indoors as there are fans. You can also watch the staff in action as they toast your bread.

Everyone goes there for the Traditional Kaya Toast (S$4.90) which comes with kaya toast, two soft-boiled eggs and a drink. Toasted till it was slightly charred, the kaya toast was extremely crispy with a smoky taste. Just like what we expected, the melted butter and handmade kaya is a lovely combination.

Of course, we all know that kaya toast is best paired with soft-boiled eggs! Add in some pepper and a dash of soy sauce to taste and dip the crispy toast in.

Tong Ah Eating House also serves Crispy Thin Toast Kaya, French Toast with Kaya and Steamed Bread with Kaya (S$4.90).

Will you visit Tong Ah Eating House soon?

Tong Ah Eating House
35 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089142
Tel: +65 6223 5083
Daily: 7am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Singapore’s local food is so diverse and multi-cultural that you will never get sick of eating it. And what if we told you there are several buffet spreads that focus on local food?

Imagine free-flow roti prata, Chinese roast meats and delicious beef rendang!

You will find yourself going for a second, maybe third serving of that fragrant chicken rice. And free-flow chilli crab for you? Well, here are 8 Local Food Buffets in Singapore You Need To Try.

#1 CLIFFORD PIER 

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: Besides the fact that Clifford Pier’s interior is absolutely stunning with sleek furniture and natural light streaming in, their Heritage Afternoon Tea Buffet features an array of 8 savoury and 8 sweet items that reflect Singapore’s culinary past and present.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 3 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

PRICE:
Afternoon Tea /  S$45 (Daily)

The Fullerton Bay Hotel
80 Collyer Quay
Tel: +65 6597 5266
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 12 midnight
Fri: 11.30am – 1am
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

#2 COLONY

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: Everything about the local food spread at Colony is quintessentially Singaporean and we love it. Get the chef to slice some premium char siew for you and pair it with a plate of fragrant chicken rice. Then, finish off your meal with some tandoori meats and lip-smackingly good lobster laksa.

PRICE:
Lunch / S$58 (Daily) Dinner: S$78 (Daily)

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
7 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039799
Daily: 6.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Promenade

#3 J65

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: J65′s buffet is extremely value-for-money and you get to enjoy fresh seafood on ice while getting the chef to whip up a scrumptious plate of Fried Oyster Egg (you must have it with the accompanying chilli) and grill satay for you. There’s also a DIY rojak station!

PRICE:
Dinner / S$55 (Sun to Thu), S$60 (Fri & Sat)

Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore
Lobby Level, 1A Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249176
Reservations: +65 6831 4374 / J65@hoteljen.com
Daily: 6.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#4 MARRIOTT CAFE 

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: Get your tummies ready for a huge spread of local goodies at Marriott Cafe. The high tea buffet spread includes XO carrot cake, bak kut teh, chicken rice, char kway teow and many more local delights.

PRICE:
High Tea / S$42 (Mon to Fri), S$45 (Sat & Sun)

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road
Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 6831 4605
Daily: 6am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#5 PLAZA BRASSERIE

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: In this buffet, you not only get a great range of local cuisine but also food from all over Asia. Think an aromatic bowl of prawn laksa, many local-style cooked dishes such as salted egg yolk prawns and rendang. There is also a prata station where you can enjoy free-flow prata!

PRICE: Dinner / S$53 (Mon – Thu), S$58 (Fri – Sun)

PARKROYAL on Beach Road
7500 Beach Road, Level One
Singapore 199591
Tel: +65 6505 5710
Daily: 6am – 12am
Nearest Station: Nicoll Highway

#6 SPICE BRASSERIE

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: Apart from its iconic Union of Crabs and Lobsters dinner buffet, Spice Brasserie at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road also offers the Singapore Nostalgic Lunch and Dinner buffet, featuring an extensive range of local and Asian cuisines, the popular Teochew Porridge corner, and a tantalising variety of appetisers and desserts.

PRICE: Lunch / S$33 (Daily), Dinner / S$36 (Mon to Wed)

 #7 STRAITS CAFE

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: To start, literally every single item featured in their buffet spread is delicious and perfectly encapsulates the essence of Malaysian and Singaporean street fare. Whether it’s their kueh pie tee, KL-style prawn noodles or even their Nonya laksa, we guarantee you that you will be filled with delight with each bite you take. We particularly love their à la minute-cooked sambal seafood from the live station and be sure to save space for their wide selection of durian-based desserts.

PRICE:
Lunch / S$42++ (Mon to Fri), S$48 (Sat & Sun)
Dinner / S$50++ (Mon to Thu) S$58++ (Fri to Sun)

9 Bras Basah Road, Level 1,
Singapore 189559
Tel: +65 6708 7745
Daily: 6.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bras Basah / Dhoby Ghaut

#8 STRAITSKITCHEN

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: StraitsKitchen is a Halal-certified buffet restaurant and they are easily the best buffet restaurant in Singapore for a comprehensive local food spread. From grilled satay and black pepper crabs, fried carrot cake to chicken rice, prata and laksa, the choices are almost endless. The range of local-style dessert is also huge; think nyonya kueh, goreng pisang and muah chee!

PRICE: Dinner / S$73 nett (Daily)

10 Scotts Road, Lobby Level
Grand Hyatt Singapore
Singapore 228211
Tel: +65 6732 1234
Daily: 6am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Read: 14 Best Seafood Buffets In Singapore.

Is it not apparent enough that Singapore is a foodie’s heaven? We have all sorts of cuisine you can ever imagine, but more so, there are so many local dishes that are representative of Singapore and quite possibly exclusive.

Too many that we don’t even know where to start. Chilli Crab is something we all know, and the Singapore-style Laksa has become world famous; there’s Frog Leg Porridge that is comfort supper food, and we have rojak that is oh-so-wonderful.

They are everywhere—in coffee shops, hawker centres, full-fledged restaurants… and these are some of the Local Dishes That Are Representative of Singapore. The next time you run out of ideas, or are just having trouble satiating your local food cravings, this should be your checklist.

CHILLI CRAB

Gordon Ramsay loves it; don’t you too? Singapore is synonymous with Chilli Crab, and the prized seafood dish is something every overseas guest has on their to-eat list.

Some variations are sweet; some are spicy; some are both. What’s your favourite?

XO CRAB BEEHOON

This is one of our favourites! A piping hot pot that features vermicelli soaked in sweet broth that is prepared with fresh crabs, milk and XO; this is our all-time comfort food.

We love having a glass of ice-cold Coke light® to go with their XO Crab Beehoon. Imagine the fizzy ice-cold Coke®, paired with a mouth-watering bowl of rich, milky goodness – absolutely delicious.

KAYA TOAST

The traditional kaya toast is a widely consumed breakfast staple in Singapore. Sweet coconut jam spreads are sandwiched between butter-smeared bread toasts.

Kaya Toast usually comes in a set, complete with 2 half-boiled eggs and a hot drink (either coffee or tea) of choice.

FROG’S LEG PORRIDGE

Frog’s Leg Porridge sounds like an exotic dish to eat in TV series Fear Factor, except that it is not. The local Singaporean delicacy of succulent frog meat served with smooth congee is usually consumed during dinnertime or suppertime.

We like ours in gong bao-style, a great way to balance the spiciness from the dried chilli is with a refreshing glass of ice-cold Coke®. Instant happiness; we call that.

LAKSA

Nothing beats a warm bowl of Laksa and Singapore’s version of it is sometimes referred to as Katong Laksa.

Typically, the Katong Laksa is topped with cockles, fish cake and boiled prawns. Laksa is best consumed with a soup spoon only. You can add extra spice to your laksa with sambal chilli.

HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

Ask any local which dish you must try in Singapore and most of them will point you to their favourite Hainanese Chicken Rice stall.

Nobody does chicken rice better than Singapore. Period.

How to make it better? Do it the local way and reach out for that can of Coca-Cola®. The great taste of Coke® paired with a plate of familiar, fragrant, chicken rice delivers one of the most satisfying meal experiences!

ROTI PRATA

The Roti Prata (as it is called in Singapore) has made its mark and goes down as one of our country’s most iconic dishes.

It is like a flour pancake that is usually made a-la-minute, and the most common varieties are plain and egg prata.

FISH BALL NOODLES

Fish Ball Noodles is a true Singapore supper food. It comes in the form of soup noodles, or a dry version where egg noodles are tossed in chilli and served with a bowl of fish ball soup.

The savoury and flavourful dish goes great with can of refreshing ice-cold Coke® that gives an extra something to this bowl of bliss.

CHAR KWAY TEOW

The Singaporean version of Char Kway Teow is an addictive plate of sweet-and-savoury rice cake strip noodles stir-fried with several ingredients—bean sprout, belachan chili paste, blood cockles, eggs and sweet sauce.

ROJAK

We call Rojak the Singapore-style salad. It is a fruit and vegetable “salad” tossed in a shrimp paste sauce and sprinkled with crushed peanuts.

The Indian version of this is very different. It is a variety of deep-fried doughs, seafood and meats that is eaten with a red peanut sauce.

This article was brought to you in partnership with Coca-Cola®, the opinions are of the writers’ own.

Ann Siang Hill is a highly sought-after district amongst expatriates and we attribute its popularity to the enclave of bars and restaurants housed in colonial shop houses. The dining establishments in this neighbourhood are predominantly western, but a new tenant is shaking things up a little.

Lo and behold, The Coconut Club! Do not let its name fool you – this place is neither a Tiki-themed cocktail bar nor a nightclub. Instead, it is a speciality Nasi Lemak restaurant. The owners have spent two years sourcing for the best coconuts and refining their nasi lemak recipe before opening this eatery.

It’s easy to mistake The Coconut Club for yet another pretentious café opening. But the reality is far from it. The Coconut Club keeps things incredibly simple: They open till 3pm daily (closed on Mondays and Sundays) and Nasi Lemak is the only main course sold here.

We know there is a lot to digest. Firstly, a Singaporean hawker food is now being served in a Melburnian-style café as the only main course. Next, the operation hours are totally Australian, but the food served is inherently Singaporean. Welcome to year 2016!

Each plate of Nasi Lemak costs S$12.80, hence making it one of the priciest Nasi Lemak we have ever come across.

However, judging from the crowd at The Coconut Club on a Saturday afternoon, it seems like many Singaporeans – even the elderly – are actually more than willing to fork that amount.

The Coconut Club’s MSG-free Nasi Lemak entails a generous portion of fragrant coconut rice, cucumber slices, peanuts, dried anchovies, succulent chicken leg, a fried egg and sambal sauce. We have to admit that we were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed it.

The entire dish—besides the sambal—is gluten-free. But if you would like, you could also request for gluten-free sambal chilli sauce.

Frankly speaking, S$12.80 for a Nasi Lemak isn’t too far-fetched. After all, we are sure you are willing to splurge at least S$20 on a plate of eggs benedict. It’s all a matter of perspective.

The Coconut Club
6 Ann Siang Hill
Singapore 069787
Tel: +65 6635 2999
Closed on Mondays and Sundays
Tue to Sat: 11am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

Nestled in between the shophouses on Joo Chiat Road is Sinpopo Brand, one of our favourite cafes with a strong touch of nostalgia. The cafe boasts a retro rustic ambience – think wooden tables, checkered floor tiles, antique light bulbs, Bruce Lee posters and songs from the 60′s.

Nothing spells comfort to a Singaporean more than Nasi Lemak and Hor Fun – which is exactly what Sinpopo Brand is known for. However, what distinguishes Sinpopo Brand from the usual hawker centre food besides the vintage interiors of the cafe, is how they deliver local food that comes with a twist.

On our previous visit, we shared several of our favourite bites from Sinpopo Brand. Since then, the concept cafe has introduced new additions. There is a Salted Vegetable Duck Soup that totally reminded us of grandma’s cooking, a Muah Chee Salad and an extremely photogenic Gula Melaka Chendol Parfait!

Readers of Ladyironchef can enjoy any dessert for just S$5 with any 2 main dishes or Nasi Lemak for Two ordered.

Here are our favourite Mod-Sin Dishes from Sinpopo Brand That Are Worth The Calories.

YUMMY APPETIZERS

Move aside, boring salads.

We initially mistook the Muah Chee Salad’s (S$12++) golden-brown chunks as croutons, but they are actually fried Muah Chees. Can you believe that these traditional glutinous rice balls are now incorporated in salads?

Instead of tossing them in ground peanut, these chewy delights are rolled in a batter and fried till its exteriors are crisp. The Muah Chees surprisingly go well with the myriad of fresh greens, parmesan cheese and sesame seeds. Kudos to Sinpopo Brand for such an ingenious invention!

Now you may find this rather odd, but the Wedges & Curry (S$6++) was another dish that won us all over. This humble-looking dish to be so damn addictive! There was a sense of familiarity, like the curry Mom makes at home. It’s true – sometimes the simplest of things brings the most gratification.

NONYA KIAM CHYE ARG!

Many locals enjoy salted vegetable duck soup and the hot peppery broth is said to dispel internal body heat. This Chinese delicacy is known for its strong salty and sour taste that is good for whetting one’s appetite before a meal.

What constitutes a good bowl of salted vegetable duck soup for us is the right blend of saltiness from the salted vegetables, sweetness from the duck meat and a tangy sourness that is not overbearing.

Happy to declare that Sinpopo Brand’s Nonya Kiam Chye Arg! (S$16++) ticks all the above boxes. The cherry on top? Or should we say the duck on top, my friends, is a whole duck leg confit that is wonderfully crisp and even better when eaten with the belachan chilli served on the side.

SLICED WAGYU HOR FUN

The Sinpopo Sliced Wagyu Hor Fun (S$18++) is one of the cafe’s bestsellers. The uniqueness lies in its drastically different texture. These hor fun noodles have been painstakingly soaked in a semi-salty beef broth before being cooked till it becomes fish maw-like.

Complemented with fork-tender wagyu slices, ground peanut, sliced onions, red chilli, coriander leaves and a lime wedge, this mind-blowing dish is indeed worthy of being one of Sinpopo Brand’s signatures.

SINPOPO CRAB BEE HOON

The Sinpopo Crab Bee Hoon (S$16++) is another hearty soup dish. Ultra-thin vermicelli dunked in a savoury broth, and completed with a huge dollop of delectable crabmeat. Everyone at the table was nodding their head in unison and singing praises about this stellar bowl.

LOCAL FLAVOURED DESSERTS

As Awfully Chocolate’s sister company, Sinpopo Brand places much pride in their desserts. We always love a good serving of sweets when at Sinpopo Brand, for they are really good at crafting delectable desserts with a local touch.

New desserts that are going up on the menu are Sinpopo’s Super Chendol Parfait, Durian Puff and Marshmallow Cheesecake.

The Sinpopo’s Super Chendol Parfait (S$10++) is an impressive elaborate dessert served in a martini glass. A scoop of gula melaka ice cream is placed atop a bed of chendol and finished with a jiggly konnyaku palm sugar jelly. Dig further in and you will find attap chees and red bean paste. Yum! What calories?

The Durian Puffs are going at S$5.90++ for one and S$20++ for four. Upon digging into it with a spoon, the crisp biscuity exterior broke apart to reveal rich creamy durian pengat encased inside.

The Marshmallow Cheesecake (S$7++) is a new dessert addition that deserves to be raved about. The sweet treat has successfully combined the contrasting textures of stickiness, softness and crumbliness into a divine creation. You can expect a dense New York-style Cheesecake – with a crumbly base – covered with torched marshmallow fluff. Sinful yet delicious.

From now till 31 October 2016, readers of Ladyironchef can enjoy an exclusive deal when dining at Sinpopo Brand! With any 2 main dishes or Nasi Lemak for Two ordered, enjoy any dessert for just S$5!

For the latest updates, go to www.sinpopo.com and like them on Facebook and Instagram.

Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Sinpopo Brand.

To say Singapore is a foodie’s paradise is an understatement. We are more than that!

Perhaps, you may think that your everyday carrot cake and bak kut teh are all too common, but Singapore is blessed with different races and cultures, and this has directly impacted our food and all that we have to eat today.

Being in Singapore simply means you will never run out of options on what to eat, because just local food alone, we have a huge plethora and they are all unique in their own ways. We take a look at some of The Best Things To Eat in Singapore.

#1 BAK KUT TEH

Bak Kut Teh is a popular pork bone soup that has many different renditions across Southeast Asia. But of course, nothing beats the Singapore-style Bak Kut Teh – a rich and peppery clear pork bone broth with tender pieces of pork ribs.

Braised for many hours, the broth has an intense flavour and the pork is so tender that it falls off the bone easily. Traditionally eaten with white rice, braised peanuts and/or salted preserved vegetables, this is one of our all-time favourite local dishes.

#2 BEEF NOODLES

Beef noodles can be a pretty vague term because there are, too, many renditions across Asia. Here in Singapore, beef noodles are traditionally served in two ways – dry or with soup.

The dry version is served with a thick starchy brown sauce, whereases the latter is served in a rich herbal-like broth. Tender slices of beef are often accompanied by beef tendon or beef balls.

#3 CAI FAN/ MIXED VEGETABLES RICE

A great economical option for all, Cai Fan translates to Mixed Vegetables Rice. It is the most common stall in hawker centres and coffee shops, where you pick your own ingredients that will be piled atop white rice. Some popular dishes include Stir-Fried Kai Lan, Sweet & Sour Pork and Steamed Fish.

There is a Teochew porridge version which works the same way but porridge is used in place of rice.

#4 CHENG TNG

Cheng Tng is a popular and affordable dessert, usually found in coffee shops and food courts in Singapore. It used to be sold by street vendors in the past, but is a ubiquitous dessert that can be found just about anywhere in Singapore today.

It is a sweet “soup” that features ingredients such as dates and longans in a light brown broth. Cheng Tng can be eaten both warm or chilled, and are mostly under S$2.

#5 HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

As Singapore’s most iconic dish, it is hard to not love this irresistible plate of goodness that can be found everywhere in Singapore. The Hainanese chicken rice dish features a fragrant rice that is cooked in chicken broth and pandan leaves, topped with tender chicken slices.

The chicken is steamed for long hours, and the Hainanese chicken rice is traditionally served with ginger, dark soya sauce and chilli sauce on the side.

#6 CURRY PUFF

Curry puffs are found in many shapes and sizes, and each ethnicity in Singapore has their own version that varies very slightly from each other. A rich curry (usually chicken curry) paste with potatoes and chicken are enveloped inside puff pastry.

This extremely delectable pastry can be found with different stuffing variations. Popular ones include Sardine or Vegetarian Curry. Some quirky ones are Chilli Crab to Chicken Satay.

#7 DURIAN PENGAT

Pureed durian is mixed in with palm sugar and coconut milk, and pandan leaves are used to enhance the flavours of the dessert. This is how the typical Durian Pengat is prepared and this dessert is well-loved by many Singaporeans.

Typically served chilled, some places also top their Durian Pengat off with a scoop of vanilla or coconut ice cream.

#8 FRIED HOKKIEN MEE

The Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee can also be referred to as fried prawn noodles. Yellow noodles and thick bee hoon are wok-fried with bean sprouts, squid, prawns and lard – all in a sweet broth that gives the dish its primary flavour.

When served, it comes with a slice of lime and a dollop of fiery chilli.

#9 ICE KACHANG

Ice Kachang is every citizen’s saving grace in our nation’s tropical heat. Coarse shaved ice decorated with ingredients such as red bean, pandan jelly, attap seeds and more. Multi-coloured sugar syrups are drizzled on the shaved ice to give the dessert a colourful finish.

In the past, street vendors used to serve Ice Balls – which were actually coarse shaved ice too, but shaped into a ball and served with just the sugar syrups. These days, ice kachang are a lot more elaborate. But they are still very economical – mostly under S$2.50!

#10 KWAY CHAP

Kway Chap is one that might intimidate foreigners, for it includes a multitude of ingredients – mostly intestine from a pig. The ‘Kway’ refers to thick cut flat noodles or kway teow served in a herbal broth, and ‘Chap’ refers to the braise sauce.

The braise often features pig’s intestines (both big and small), pork belly, and braised beancurd. Salted vegetables are add-ons, and the accompanying chilli sauce is often a pretty spicy one.

#11 LAKSA

Nothing meats a warm bowl of Laksa and Singapore’s version of it is sometimes referred to as Katong Laksa. Katong is the place where this iconic dish originated from and the bowl of cut-up thick bee hoon is flavoured with dried shrimp, assam leaves, spices and enhanced with fragrant coconut milk.

Typically, the Katong Laksa is topped with cockles, fish cake and boiled prawns. Laksa is best consumed with a soup spoon only. You can add extra spice to your laksa with sambal chilli.

#12 MILO DINOSAUR

Milo is a malt chocolate drink, and it is Singapore’s favourite drink. The Milo Dinosaur might seem like an intimidating name, but it is quite the contrary.

Iced Milo is piled up high with more powdered milo, and it is also how this quintessential drink had the name ‘Milo Dinosaur’ coined – with the ‘dinosaur’ referring to the mountain of Milo powder.

#13 OYSTER OMELETTE

Oyster Omelette is a mainstay in many hawker centres and coffee shop stalls because it tastes so ridiculously good. Beaten egg and flour, together with seasonings and condiments, are wok-fried with plump and fresh oysters to produce this incredible dish.

The flour, when fried, becomes crisp on the outside but still soft on the inside. It adds a good textural variety and bite to the dish. Have it with some sambal chilli and you are in for a treat.

#14 PRAWN NOODLE SOUP

Prawn Noodle Soup is a great comfort for Singaporeans. Typically, yellow noodles or vermicelli is used together, served in a rich prawn and pork ribs broth, and topped off with fresh prawns and pork meat.

Most prawn noodle stalls in Singapore also offer a dry version where the noodles are tossed in various sauces.

#15 ROJAK

We call Rojak the Singapore-style salad. It is a fruit and vegetable “salad” tossed in a shrimp paste sauce and sprinkled with crushed peanuts.

The Indian version of this is very different. It is a variety of deep-fried doughs, seafood and meats that is eaten with a red peanut sauce.

#16 ROTI PRATA

Called ‘Roti Canai’ in India, the Roti Prata (as it is called in Singapore) has made its mark and goes down as one of our country’s most iconic dishes.

It is like a flour pancake that is usually made a-la-minute, and served with a side of chicken curry. The most common varieties are plain and egg prata. And as typical Singapore kids, we grew up eating our prata with sugar.

#17 SATAY

Who can pass up on barbecued skewered meats? Pork, chicken and beef are usually used, and the skewers are grilled or BBQ-ed upon order. It is served with ketupat (Malay rice cake), onions and a side of peanut stalls.

Way back in the past, satay seller used to have mobile stalls where they push through estates where they call out “SATAY!” to alert residents of their arrival. Now, we can find satay in everywhere in hawker centres, food courts and coffee shops.

#18 SWEET & SALTY GLUTINUOUS RICE

It is quite difficult to find stalls selling this traditional dish of sweet & salty glutinous rice, with many long-standing stalls fast depleting. But if you are lucky and happen to chance upon a stall selling it, do not hesitate to purchase it.

Typically, the salty one is more popular but some will choose to mix theirs in with some sweet glutinous rice too. This is one local gem that should not be forgotten.

#19 SWEET CHEE CHEONG FUN

We all know the Hong Kong-style Chee Cheong Fun where either shrimp or char siu meat is stuffed inside. Singapore’s version is served bare (no fillings) and topped with sweet sauce, sesame seeds and sometimes, chilli.

This rice noodle (‘fun’) is made by steaming a mixture until it becomes a large sheet, then rolling it to resemble a pig’s intestine (‘chee cheong’). It is a common and economical breakfast staple in Singapore.

#20 YONG TAU FOO

Yong Tau Foo is can be easily found in coffee shops and hawker centres, with a shelf of ingredients where you take your pick. Grab a bowl and a thong, choose your favourite ingredients and hand it over to the shop assistant.

Choose between soup or dry (some places serve laksa or mee rebus sauce to go with it) and pick a noodle or rice of choice. Popular ingredients include fish balls, cabbage, tofu, stuffed chilli, beancurd skin and stuffed taupok.

#21 BAK CHOR MEE

Bak Chor Mee is a Singaporean hawker dish of minced meat noodles that is commonly eaten as supper.

The piping hot bowl of springy noodles is tossed in black vinegar and chilli, then topped with sautéed mushrooms, lard, minced pork, meatballs, pig’s liver and sambal chili paste. There are a variety of noodles – from thick to thin to flat ones – and you can request for a non-spicy bowl too.

#22 BAN MIAN

Ban Mian in Singapore is a crossbreed noodle dish influenced by the Hakka and Hokkien cuisines. Essentially a big sheet of noodles, the sheet is then cut up to bite-size pieces.

The end result is bouncy delicious egg noodles submerged in a near-boiling anchovy stock broth, complete with minced pork, vegetables and a runny egg.

#23 BRAISED DUCK RICE

Braised Duck Rice is a popular Teochew Chinese delicacy that is well-loved by Singaporeans. The tender duck meat is complemented with a rich sauce and served with a bowl of porridge or fragrant rice.

There are numerous variations of the sauces across Singapore but recipes typically include a myriad of herbs, spices and other flavourful condiments to give the dish an irresistible oomph.

#24 CARROT CAKE (BLACK & WHITE)

Black Carrot Cake, otherwise known as Chai Tow Kway, is nothing like the sugary sweet treats you would come across in Western bakeries. The Singaporean version is a savoury spicy dish that is available in white or black.

The traditional Southeast Asian Carrot Cake is a plate of white radish cake cubes stir-fried with rice flour, chye poh (Chinese dried radish) and eggs. Additional sweet dark sauce is added for the black version.

#25 CHAR KWAY TEOW

The Singaporean version of Char Kway Teow is an addictive plate of sweet-and-savoury rice cake strip noodles stir-fried with several ingredients – bean sprout, belachan chili paste, blood cockles, eggs and sweet sauce.

The dish is extremely unhealthy due to its high fat content but it is insanely delicious! Just drop all your concerns and enjoy a plate of char kway teow; it’s worth it.

#26 CHWEE KUEH

Chwee Kuehs – or more professionally known as Water Rice Cakes – are actually mini bowl-shaped steamed rice cakes topped with crunchy salted turnips.

These savoury snacks are inexpensive (typically under S$1.50 for 4 pieces) and are often consumed as breakfast in Singapore. Best eaten with the kickass chilli, of course.

#27 FISH HEAD CURRY

Fish Head Curry is literally an entire red snapper fish’s head cooked with vegetables. The bubbling red curry stew is spicy and slightly sour, often eaten with fragrant white rice.

These are often found in zichar stalls in Singapore, and it is a communal dish.

#28 FROG’S LEG PORRIDGE

Frog’s Leg Porridge sounds like an exotic dish to eat in TV series Fear Factor, except that it is not. In fact, it is one of the best things in Singapore!

The local Singaporean delicacy of succulent frog meat served with smooth congee is usually consumed during dinnertime or suppertime. There are various cooking styles, but the most popular one is ginger with onion, and gong bao (dried chilli).

#29 HOR FUN

Hor Fun is a plate of thick flat rice noodles served with prawns, squids and snakehead fish slices and drenched with an aromatic viscous sauce.

The sauce is made of chicken stock, egg whites, fish sauce, oyster sauce, light sauce and thickened by corn flour. It may look like second to nothing but this is a very flavourful dish that is more often than not very filling.

#30 KAYA TOAST

The traditional kaya toast is a widely consumed breakfast staple in Singapore. Sweet coconut jam spreads are sandwiched between butter-smeared bread toasts.

Kaya Toast usually comes in a set, complete with 2 half-boiled eggs and a hot drink (either coffee or tea) of choice.

#31 LOR MEE

Lor Mee is a Chinese braised thick yellow noodles dish characterized by its starchy sauce. A good bowl of lor mee is hard to come by these days.

Its contents are rather complex, but basically comprises beansprouts, Chinese black vinegar, celeries, dark soya sauce, fried fish, hard-boiled egg, garlic cloves, ginger slices, meat broth, rock sugar, sliced pork belly meat, spiced powder and tapioca starch to produce a mouthwatering dish.

#32 MEE GORENG

Mee Goreng in Singapore is more often than not Halal-certified, and is a popular supper dish.

This spicy convenient snack is a plate of yellow noodles served with seafood and traces of fried egg. The yellow noodles are usually cooked to varying shades of brown and red, depending on the amount of tomato sauce, oyster sauce and sweet soya sauce used.

#33 NGOH HIANG

Ngoh Hiang is a deep-fried roll of meat wrapped with beancurd skin and seasoned with five-spice powder. The filling is usually finely diced water chestnut, minced meat, prawns and yam.

#34 NASI LEMAK

When directly translated, Nasi Lemak actually means rice in cream. Indeed, the fragrant rice has been soaked in coconut cream before it is steamed and served. The rice is served with cucumber slices, dried shrimp paste, crispy fried anchovies and hard-boiled eggs. A dollop of sambal chilli goes along with it as well.

Optional condiments such as chicken wing and sambal sotongs are common add-ons for a more wholesome meal.

#35 PEANUT PANCAKE

Peanut Pancakes are more affectionately known by the Hokkien community as Mee Chiang Kueh. The pancakes are crispy on the outside, incredibly chewy and fluffy on the inside, and filled with a generous amount of roasted crushed peanut.

#36 POPIAH

Popiahs are fresh spring rolls that are considered festive food to the Peranakan and Hokkien communities. Today, they are commonly eaten throughout the year as a savoury snack.

The delicate tapioca egg skin wraps a rich variety of turnip, bamboo shoots, firm bean curd, minced garlic, pork, prawns and topped off with a sweet sauce.

#37 SAMBAL STINGRAY

Sambal Singray is a divine spicy seafood creation where the stingray is wrapped in banana leaves and charcoal-grilled till cooked.

A spicy concoction of fermented shrimp paste and tamarind paste along with other spices such as lemongrass and red chilies are then smeared over the fish.

#38 TUTU KUEHS

Tutu Kuehs are mini steamed white rice cakes filled with either grated coconut or roasted peanuts. These traditional Singaporean desserts are served on a fragrant piece of pandan leaf and are nostalgic snacks for the older generation.

Serangoon Garden Market is our go-to hawker centre for economical local fare; we practically grew up with it – from its initial days to its new facade after renovation. We watched as stall owners come and go. Some of our favourites are still there since our childhood days, some familiar faces are no longer around because they have passed on to their next generation, some have left entirely.

As one of the most popular hawker centres in Singapore, Serangoon Garden Market is a favourite among residents in the vicinity and many other Singaporeans who would travel down just for a simple, hearty meal over local food and drinks.

With so many stalls in the hawker centre, do you know which are the very popular ones with perpetual queues, and what are some of the dishes you cannot miss? If it is going to be your first trip down, here are 9 Local Fares You Must Try at Serangoon Garden Market. If you are a regular, hands up if we share the same likes!

#1 ALIFF NASI LEMAK

They may not be famous, and the stall might look unassuming altogether. But Aliff Nasi Lemak is reliable and always satisfying. The Halal-certified rice dish has been a breakfast staple for us, and there are several sets with prices starting from S$3.50.

What is your favourite beverage to complement your food? Well for us, Coke always works. The refreshing drink is best for hot, summer days – precisely what we need when dining out in a humid setting such as hawker centres.

Have a can of ice-cold Coca-Cola® to go with your plate of nasi lemak at lunch for a great food pairing as it complements the rich and hearty taste of the local favourite!

#2 BUGIS FISH SOUP AND SEAFOOD SOUP

The ladies will love this. Fish soup is a lower calorie option, and this stall here knows how to please by being generous with the vegetables. If you like your soup sweet with a creamy taste, get the stall keeper to add milk to your order.

We prefer the sliced fish version because the fish slices are always very fresh.

#3 GARDEN STREET KWAY CHAP

Sitting at the corner is Garden Street Kway Chap, and queuing up is part of the experience as the stall owner takes his time to chop up the meats and intestines. No, really. He is super slow, but for great kway chap, we will gladly wait.

The spread is comprehensive, from the various intestines to pork belly to beancurd, and salted vegetables and eggs. The braise is aromatic and flavourful, but it is not complete without the chilli. We like drenching our intestines in the chilli sauce for a more robust flavour.

#4 POH POH ROASTED CHICKEN RICE

Everyone knows Pow Sing for being the chicken rice to eat when in Serangoon Garden. But Poh Poh Roasted Chicken Rice comes close with its fragrant roast chicken and addictive chilli sauce.

Their prices are also much more competitive, and we love to pile our plate up with cabbage and egg add-ons. Of course, chicken rice and Coke zero® go hand in hand; the refreshing taste of Coke zero® complements the familiar taste of chicken rice so well.

#5 SERANGOON GARDEN BAKERY & CONFECTIONERY

The daily fresh bakes from Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionery are a true testament to the standards of old-school local-style breads. The stall occupies two units in Serangoon Garden Market, and since young, we’ve watched the two uncles picking breads from the shelves and calculating the total sum in godlike speed.

The aroma of the bakes often fill the market, and despite inflation and rising food costs, their prices remain low and the uncles are ever humble of their successes. It makes our day every time we take our pick from the many shelves, and there is something therapeutic about hearing the plastic lids close one after another every time the uncle reaches out to grab a bun with his thong.

#6 PANCAKE KING

You might dismiss this snack stall on the first look, but Pancake King did not accumulate their accolades without reasons. From old-school banana cake to brownies to peanut pancakes, these local snacks are reminiscent of our childhood days and the taste hasn’t changed since.

Growing up, a can of Coke® was always a reward when we behaved. And what better way to enjoy an old-school crunchy and rich peanut pancake than with a fizzy glass of ice-cold Coke®? It makes the experience of snacking even more pleasurable.

#7 SERANGOON GARDEN CARROT CAKE & WANTON NOODLE

There are several stalls in Serangoon Garden Market that sell fried carrot cake, but it is this stall that won our hearts with its consistency. The portion is always generous, and so is the sweet sauce. This is another of our hawker centre staple!

And the best drink once again to enjoy with your fried carrot cake? A can of Coke light®, with a fizzy, uplifting sensation that makes for a great complement with the greasy goodness.

#8 SIANG HEE SEAFOOD

This is a zichar stall with irregular opening hours. They used to be at Zion Road market, but has located and gained a new following among the Serangoon Garden residents. Standout dishes include the Mee Goreng and Butter Cream Meat with Pumpkin Sauce.

But be warned that the stall operators are all very rude and impatient. Sometimes, they may even raise their voices at you. We are not too fond of patronising them because of their attitude, but if it is your first time, maybe you can brave the hostility and try the two dishes.

#9 SOON HUAT PIG’S ORGAN SOUP

If there is one favourite that residents would concertedly agree with, it is Soon Huat Pig’s Organ Soup. This stall sees a perpetual queue during lunch hours, and you have to join the line if you are a fan of pig’s organ soup.

We like how they are generous with the salted vegetables and tomatoes; they elevate the flavour of the soup, and cuts out any remaining odour from the intestines.

This article was brought to you in partnership with Coca-Cola®, the opinions are of the writers’ own.

Do you remember back in school when you would sprint to the canteen during recess, just to get that steaming warm plate of Chee Cheong Fun (rice noodle rolls) with sweet sauce or a plate of delicious Lor Mai Kai (Chicken Glutinous Rice)?

If you grew up in Singapore, chances are, all of these are more than familiar to you. To us, these local breakfasts are still what comforts us the most in the mornings.

As Singaporeans, we are always proud of our multi-ethic society and of all the different cuisines available. Also, these local breakfast foods are usually inexpensive. If you are new to our Lion City, here are 12 local breakfasts in Singapore to try. And to all fellow Singaporeans, don’t you agree that these are better than the typical brunch fare of eggs Benedict and pancakes?

#1 BANANA LEAF-WRAPPED NASI LEMAK

This popular Malay cuisine usually consists of coconut rice with Ikan Billis, Sambal Sauce, Fried Fish, Omelettes and more.

Typically wrapped up in banana leaf to give that extra bit of fragrance, Nasi Lemak is our favourite comfort breakfast. And they usually cost only a dollar or two – depending on the ingredients in the packet.

#2 CHAR SIEW PAU

A Singaporean-style Char Siew Pau is a fluffy white bun with chopped char siew (honeyed BBQ pork), then steamed until cooked. These used to cost us only about S$0.50 back in school, and they are about S$1 to S$1.50 now at coffee shops.

#3 CHEE CHEONG FUN WITH SWEET SAUCE

The Singapore version differs from its Hong Kong-style counterpart and is more sweet than savoury. These rice noodle rolls are steamed, cut up then served with sweet sauce and sesame, and chilli upon request.

These are a great breakfast option as it will satisfy your cravings without filling you up to an uncomfortable extent. A serving these days costs an average of S$1.

#4 CHWEE KUEH

Chwee Kueh is really steamed rice cakes topped off with Cai Poh (diced preserved radish), and chilli is served on the side upon request. The rice cake itself is pretty much tasteless but the Cai Poh is flavourful and slightly salty, hence balancing out the textures and overall taste of each bite.

A serving of 6 Chwee Kuehs in Singapore typically goes at a mere S$1.50 at local coffee shops, thus making it both economical and understatedly delicious.

#5 DOUJIANG YOUTIAO

Doujiang is soya bean milk, and Youtiao is dough fritters. When put together, it is a match made in heaven.

More often than not, the dessert of jellied beancurd (or what we call douhua) is served instead of soya bean milk. But whatever it is, you dip your youtiao into it for the best taste. Breakfast or supper, Doujiang Youtiao is always a good idea.

#6 FISHBALL NOODLE SOUP

A bowl of fishball noodles go for an average of S$3.50 in coffee shops. It may look next to nothing, but this unassuming bowl is sheer comfort food for most Singaporeans.

Yellow noodles served with fishcake slices and fishball in a bowl of sweet broth, fishball noodle soup is well-loved by both children and adults in Singapore. Add some chilli padi for an extra punch.

#7 KAYA TOAST & HALF-BOILED EGGS

Kaya is coconut jam for the uninitiated, and kaya toast is quite simply toasted old-school bread with a spread of kaya and butter slice(s). Kaya toast is often served with two half-boiled eggs and a cup of warm beverage.

Back in school, we had half-boiled eggs and kaya toast with a warm cup of Milo or Horlicks. Now, when we have it in coffee shops or hawker centres, we have them with a nice cup of black coffee or tea.

#8 LOR MAI KAI/FAN CHOY

Lor Mai Kai (Glutinous Chicken Rice) and Fan Choy (Glutinous Char Siew Rice) are quick and easy meals as they are usually pre-packaged and re-steamed to be served hot.

Both glutinous rice variations are extremely filling, and though they are harder to find these days, we have fond memories of this local breakfast that typically costs S$1.50.

#9 PEANUT PORRIDGE

This is as old school as it can get. Primarily accompanied with shredded chicken and/or peanut, it is one of the most economical breakfast option in Singapore hawker centres. You can easily get a bowl for S$1 or less.

#10 PRAWN NOODLES SOUP

Hours and hours of simmering pork bones and prawn shells and more; nothing beats the sweetness of prawn noodles soup.

The choice of noodles is yours – vermicelli, yellow noodles or flat noodles, you take your pick. But the highlight here is the flavourful broth and fresh prawns, with fried shallots to top. A bowl of Prawn Noodles Soup costs an average S$4, but the better ones can go up to S$10 per bowl (served with tiger prawns).

#11 ROTI PRATA

This local Indian dish is hands down our ultimate guilty pleasure. Few things in life please us like a slice of piping hot egg prata. Prata comes in a plethora of variations, but we prefer ours the classic way – kosong (plain) or with egg.

Dip it in the complimentary curry sauce, or do it the Singaporean way and eat ‘em with sugar.

#12 WANTON NOODLES

Wantons are popular meat dumplings and they are either boiled or deep-fried when sold here in Singapore. Whether you have it dry or with soup, a bowl of Wanton Noodles never disappoints.

When the wantons are big and juicy and the noodles are nice and springy, the whole dish just falls into place. Having Wanton Noodles for breakfast is lovely, but it works as a lunch or dinner dish too!

Illustrations for ladyironchef by Chen Xuan

This year’s Singapore Food Festival (SFF) focuses primarily on local food and chefs, circling around the theme of ‘A Fresh Taste of Tradition’. From 17 July to 2 August 2015, indulge in the festivities of Singapore Food Festival with various locations around Singapore, featuring modern takes on nostalgic local food by some of Singapore’s top chefs.

Do you miss the dishes your grandma or your parents used to cook when you were younger (or still do now)? As our society progresses, more and more people have taken the initiative of putting their own spin on these classic dishes to produce some of the best modern-traditional Singaporean fare.

In lieu of Singapore Food Festival 2015′s theme – ‘A Fresh Taste of Tradition’, share your Family’s signature dish and stand a chance to win weekly prizes including exclusive event passes to SFF 2015 and F&B dining Vouchers!

Be it using your family’s special recipe passed down for generations or one that you have experimented with yourself, if you think that your dish tastes fantastic, share it with all of us!

To celebrate Singapore’s tradition and all of the unique flavours we call our own, start a conversation flowing with Singaporeans who share the same passion in food as much as you do by starting with any of of the following:

1. Blog about it. You can choose to share photos, recipes and a little back story on the inception of your dish and what it means to you. If you want to keep your family’s ‘secret’ recipe to yourself, you need not share the recipes, just talk about the dish itself and maybe a little history of how it came about.
2. Social media. Take a beautiful photo of your dish and Facebook or Instagram it! Share it with your social circles and a conversation is bound to start. Your friends may ask you to share with them the recipe or even offer their own. It is always refreshing and eye-opening to hear about others’ very own dishes, unique to their own family.

From here on out, you can encourage these friends, family or acquaintances of yours to share these dishes on Hungrygowhere.com (http://sff2015.hungrygowhere.com/), where they stand a chance of winning exclusive event passes to Singapore Food Festival 2015 and F&B dining Vouchers. It is that simple!

For social media posts, use hashtags - #SFF2015, #myfamilyssignaturedish, and #YourSingaporeFood so others can find your photos easily using these to navigate. Also remember to mention that this initiative is part of Singapore Food Festival 2015.

Here is an example of how you can share your dishes.

For us, our family’s signature dish is Go Lo Yuk (Sweet & Sour Pork in dialect). Sweet & Sour Pork is a classic dish and has it’s own interpretations around the world. However, we do love the local version of dish this and especially the one cooked by our mother or grandmother.

This dish is a mainstay at dinner where mom would whip this up from scratch, using ingredients acquired from the wet market in the neighbourhood. She would sometimes add a little more spice to it to even out the sweetness of the pork.

Every family has their own special take on this dish, some would add a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables like cucumber and pineapple and some would omit these completely. If your family has a unique version of this classic local dish, remember to share it using the steps stated above. Good luck!

This post is brought to you by Singapore Tourism Board.

We pit 20 hawker favourites with similar taste profiles together, to see who comes up tops as the healthier choice. Will duck rice beat out chicken rice? And should you go for black fried carrot cake or char kway teow? I got the help of Clement Gan, nutritionist at nutrition consultancy Eat Right, to help me play judge.

Here is the battle of 20 Singapore’s hawker food. Which is healthier?

#1 WANTON MEE (330G) VS BAK CHOR MEE (311G)
Calorie count: 407 cal vs 511 cal
Winner: Wanton Mee

Both dishes are quite similar in nutritional content but bak chor mee has twice the amount of fat compared with wanton mee (23g vs 12g). You can thank the delicious globs of minced pork, which are usually high in fat, since it’s made up of different cuts of meat. Both of these noodle dishes could use more vegetables to up the fibre content though, so ask the hawker auntie or uncle for just that! Watch out for the sodium levels too, which are quite high – ask for less sauce and drink less of the soup.

#2 CHICKEN RICE (320G) VS DUCK RICE (410G)
Calorie count: 618 cal vs 673 cal
Winner: Neither – it’s a tie!

They both have similar a calorie count, are good sources of protein and are both fat-laden. Some ways to up the health factor on these delicious Singapore signatures would be to remove the skin from the poultry and order a side of steamed vegetables to get more fibre, vitamins and minerals. Also, go easy on the sauces! With the chicken rice, you can mix in white rice to tone down the fat content and enjoy the same savoury kick.

#3 INDIAN ROJAK (290G) VS CHINESE ROJAK (300G)
Calorie count: 752 cal vs 443 cal
Winner: Chinese Rojak

Both dishes comprise a medley of ingredients doused in a sweet, peanut-y sauce. However, the winner is clear because of the difference in preparation between the two dishes.

The food items in indian rojak are coated with flour, herbs and spices, then deep-fried. Chinese rojak uses fresh fruits and vegetables, and cooked ingredients tossed in a paste. The former therefore has a high fat, sodium and calorie count, and you should only treat yourself to it occasionally. The one up side? It often contains tempeh, which is a good source of gut-loving probiotics.

#4 CHENDOL (368G) VS ICE KACANG (500G)
Calorie count: 386 cal vs 255 cal
Winner: Ice Kacang

Both contain similar amounts of carbohydrates (59g vs 57g) but chendol contains significantly more fat than its fellow icy dessert (15g vs 1g), thanks to the coconut milk. While coconut milk does contain some good fat, too much can also raise your cholesterol levels. If you, like me, are a chendol fan, consider asking the hawker to mix the coconut milk with some low-fat milk – or just share a bowl with a friend to minimise the damage.

#5 CHAR KWAY TEOW (385G) VS BLACK FRIED CARROT CAKE (500G)
Calorie count: 742 cal vs 493 cal
Winner: Neither – it’s a tie!

When you are after that wokhei-heavy, sweet black sauce taste, these are the two dishes you’ll think of. While the calorie count for chye tao kuey is lower, it is also much lower in protein – it has 2g compared with 22.7g in char kway teow (which is cooked with a variety of seafood).

Protein is what makes you feel fuller and for a longer time, so you won’t be reaching out for a snack soon after your meal. Bear in mind that both dishes are high in fat and sodium, thanks to the liberal use of cooking oil and kecap manis – plus they both have little or no vegetables. Enjoy these babies once in a while!

We Singaporeans love our hawker food – oh, yes we do. But as with all relationships in life, some love are a little more toxic than others. Check out Singapore’s 10 unhealthiest hawker dishes, listed according to total calories.

#6 GADO GADO (148G) VS MEE REBUS (515G)
Calorie count: 256 cal vs 571 cal
Winner: Gado Gado

Take note that a portion of gado gado is much smaller than a bowl of mee rebus. But even so, it’s a clear winner. Gado gado will give you more dietary fibre per serving (10g), than the latter (8g), since it’s made up of blanched vegetables and steamed potatoes. If you equalise the portion size, the malay salad dish wins over its noodle counterpart in terms of protein too. Finally, it’s chockfull of potassium (even more than a medium-sized banana!), which helps to regulate blood pressure. It’s one undoing? It can be rather high in carbohydrates (41.5g) for such a small serving, thanks to the potatoes.

#7 TAU SUAN (325G) VS PULUT HITAM (375G)
Calorie count: 293 cal vs 290 cal
Winner: Tau Suan

Both desserts are actually very similar in terms of calories and nutrients – they both have a high dietary fibre content and a considerable amount of carbohydrates. Tau suan beats out pulut hitam because it has a significant amount of calcium, contributing to almost 25% of your daily needs (based on a 2,000 cal diet). It also has a lower glycaemic index, which means it will not have that spike-and-crash effect on your blood sugar levels. Enjoy your pulut hitam if you must, but try to go easy on the coconut milk.

It is amazing how much our nation loves food. Our day-to-day conversation inevitably revolves around food. And the best part is for a fraction of the price, you get something no less satisfying than a meal in a high-end restaurant. So here is a guide to introduce 10 of the best Singapore Hawker Food.

#8 CHAPATI (1 PIECE, 40G) VS THOSAI (1 PIECE, 91G)
Calorie count: 165 cal vs 196 cal
Winner: Both!

Having either one would be making a healthier decision already – especially over something like high-fat roti prata. Chapati and thosai are both pan-fried with little or no cooking oil, so they’re lower in calories and fat. They both also have a low glycaemic index, with thosai rating a little higher since it contains white rice. The two indian staples are seldom eaten on its own so make the right choices with your side dishes – pick a vegetable one for more fibre, vitamins and minerals, and a meat one to fill up on protein. Remember to go easy on the sauces too!

#9 PRAWN MEE (574G) VS SLICED FISH NOODLE SOUP (686G)
Calorie count: 294 cal vs 500 cal
Winner: Prawn Mee

This result surprised even nutritionist Clement. After all, sliced fish noodle soup has often been touted as the healthier choice. Prawn mee wins because it has a lower glycaemic index, keeping you feeling fuller for longer. Otherwise, both dishes are actually very high in sodium, low in dietary fibre and consists of a good amount of protein from the seafood and meat sources. Hard as it is, try not to finish the prawn mee soup, and order a side of steamed vegetables to improve your meal.

#10 SEAFOOD FRIED RICE (428G) VS HOKKIEN MEE (400G)
Calorie count: 907 cal vs 522 cal
Winner: Hokkien Mee

This doesn’t mean you can have hokkien mee every day, okay? It’s still quite a sinful treat. While the noodle dish has less calories, it’s got more sodium (1,423mg) and less protein (18g) compared with the seafood fried rice (1,245mg and 28g respectively). On the other hand, seafood fried rice has almost double the amount of carbohydrates (125g vs 69g) and fat (33g vs 19g), leading to the high calorie count.

Both dishes also do not provide you with enough dietary fibre and have high cholesterol levels, thanks to the seafood and seafood broth used. Enjoy these dishes only occasionally, or share them. You can also order some extra steamed vegetables to up the health-factor of these local favourites.

About the writer:
Ruby Tan used to write for Her World, and is now a freelance writer with a dream to travel the world. She believes that the some of best things in life don’t have to be bought. If you want to make a friend, share travel tips and advice, or even to discuss deeply about life, write to her at rubytan.work@gmail.com

We Singaporeans love our hawker food – oh, yes we do. But as with all relationships in life, some love are a little more toxic than others. I got a local dietitian to help shed light on what dishes we should keep a distance from. Check out Singapore’s 10 unhealthiest hawker dishes, listed according to total calories. I do apologise for the impending heartbreak.

10. CHICKEN SATAY AND SAUCE
5 sticks of satay with 5g of sauce each (75g) = 185cal

Well, this is a small number – what’s the big deal, right? But this is a lot of calories, fat (10g) and sodium (249mg) in a small amount of food. Typically you’ll have satay alongside other dishes as well. Oh, and if you wolf down 10 sticks, you would have already hit about one-third of your daily fat allowance.

9. CHENDOL
Grass jelly, red bean and pandan jelly served in a sweet coconut milk base soup (368g) = 386cal

Who can resist the addictive combo of gula melaka and coconut milk? But it is precisely all of its sweet goodness that’s leading to the high calorie count. Plus, a bowlful has about nine teaspoons of sugar. Chendol has a high glycaemic index (GI), which means it’s digested and released into the body quickly, giving you a spike in energy that crashes, and leaves you tired and hungry quickly.

8. FRIED ECONOMIC BEE HOON
Fried vermicelli with fried luncheon meat and fried egg (273g) = 427cal

A favourite at breakfasts, this dish will almost hit your daily limit for cholesterol (300mg) at 219mg, so be careful with the rest of the day’s intake. Luncheon meats are also highly processed and contain a lot of MSG, which will make you thirsty. Try to reach for water instead of a sweet drink.

7. BLACK FRIED CARROT CAKE
Fried radish with egg and sweet sauce (295g) = 493cal

This dish scores high marks not just in taste but in all the wrong nutrients as well. There is a lot of fat in it (35g), because it’s usually cooked in pork lard. There is also a lot of sugar from the sweet sauce (up to 6 teaspoons) and about 1,289mg of sodium – this is more than half of your 2,000mg daily requirement.

6. MEE GORENG
Yellow noodle with vegetables, egg, cooked in tomato and chilli sauce (309g) = 500cal

This one’s a real danger for adults with hypertension as the salt content of 1,851mg is close to one entire day’s requirement of 2,000mg. A large proportion of mee goreng’s calories come from fat (20g), which makes the quality of the calories low. A dish with high quality calories would be a better balanced one (think salads with olive oil dressing and lean meats).

5. LAKSA LEMAK
Noodles with prawns and fish cakes in coconut-based soup (540g) = 591cal

The richness of the coconut milk which gives laksa that wonderful full-bodied mouthful is also the undoing of this dish – nutritionally. More that half the fat (32g) comes from saturated fat (17.8g), which is harmful to the heart. The sodium levels are right up there as well at 1,588mg.

4. CHICKEN RICE
“Roasted” chicken with skin, served with rice and chilli sauce (382g) = 607cal

The rice, while delicious, was cooked swimming in chicken fat. The total fat count here is at 23g, which is about one-third, or half of your daily requirement, depending on your gender. A fatty meal takes about four hours to digest – a plate of this will leave you sluggish and sleepy after you eat it, especially with a rush of serotonins (a feel-good hormone) from the high carbohydrate content. Again, watch the sodium too (1,287mg).

Read: recommendations on some of the best chicken rice in Singapore.

3. NASI LEMAK
Coconut rice with fried chicken wing, fried egg, fried anchovies and chilli sauce (306g) = 657cal

This one’s my personal favourite and I’m horrified to find it third on the list. The fat content of 25g is high and it’s all thanks to the rich coconut milk-soaked rice and deep fried accompanying dishes. At 657 calories, this exceeds your “budget” for a meal, based on a 1,800cal diet.

2. MEE SIAM
Thin, white rice noodle, hard boiled egg and dried beancurd in tangy gravy (655g) = 694cal

A bowlful of mee siam always looks so unassuming, until you find out about the high amount of carbohydrates from the noodles and sugar-laden gravy (92g). This dish also takes home the award for highest amount of sodium, clocking in a whopping 2,659mg – that’s one entire day’s allowance and a third of tomorrow’s.

1. CHAR KWAY TEOW
Rice noodles fried with cockles, Chinese sausage and sweet sauce (384g) = 744cal

This tasty plate of wok hei-heavy kway teow noodles tops the list at 744 calories. It is also extremely heart-unfriendly with it’s high levels of fat (38g) – of which 70% is saturated fat (29.2g) – and cholesterol (234mg). It gets most of its calories from the sweet sauce, highly processed meats and pork lard used. Also take note of the sodium levels, which sits at 1,459mg.

So there you go, remember that you don’t have to cut these hawker favourites from your life forever – they are after all, as Singaporean as they come. Enjoy them no more than once a week, and choose healthier dishes for your other meals on the days you decide to indulge.

Expert source: Jaclyn Reutens, clinical dietitian at nutrition consultancy Aptima Nutrition & Sports Consultants www.aptima-nsc.com

About the writer:
Ruby Tan used to write for Her World, and is now a freelance writer with a dream to travel the world. She believes that the some of best things in life don’t have to be bought. If you want to make a friend, share travel tips and advice, or even to discuss deeply about life, write to her at rubytan.work@gmail.com

Have you ever experienced that awkward silence when you are asked about Singapore’s culture, and you fumble, hem and haw as you try to find some costume, dance or tradition that is unique to Singapore? I have. Well, at least until I start talking about food. Now that’s where stopping me would be a problem.

It is amazing how much our nation loves food. Our day-to-day conversation inevitably revolves around food. And the best part is for a fraction of the price, you get something no less satisfying than a meal in a high-end restaurant. So here is a guide to introduce 10 of the best Singapore Hawker Food.

Char Kway Teow

Char Kway Teow was a dish created by coolie workers who needed a cheap way to prepare an energy-rich meal. Today, calories have become a bane, but we love our char kway teow all the same. How can anyone resist a plate of silky rice noodles fried with cockles, chinese sausage and – wait for this – heaps of crispy pork lard. I’d risk having a heart attack for Hill Street Char Kway Teow (Blk 16 Bedok South Road). Though the master is no longer helming the wok, he has imparted his skills to the son, who has taken over. Otherwise, try our Prime Minister’s favourite stall, Zion Road Char Kway Teow (Zion Road Food Center).

Carrot Cake

No it does not come with cream cheese and walnuts, but I’d pick our local version of Carrot Cake any day. Black or white, a good carrot cake is one that is crispy and eggy on the outside, and as you place a chunk in your mouth, dissolves without the need to even masticate. Fu Ming Carrot Cake at Redhill Food Centre is the epitome of carrot cakes. For a more unique version, I’d recommend U Fried Carrot Cake (Block 89 Pipit Road Market). The chunks of steamed radish cake are chopped larger than the usual, and it is sweeter than usual since they are more liberal with their sauce. Still, it is fried just nice such that you get that smokey aroma of burnt caramel in your mouth.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

If there’s one dish that’s synonymous with Singaporean cuisine, it has to be Chicken Rice. The name itself sounds so unappealing; how good can chicken on rice taste? Pretty awesome, actually. The glistening grains of rice perfumed by fresh chicken stock and a whiff of ginger is so good you can even eat it on its own. I could go on for hours about the best chicken rice in Singapore, but for the sake of trying the most famous one in Singapore, head to Tian Tian at Maxwell market which has earned boasting rights to getting Anthony Bourdain’s stamp of approval. Otherwise, Sin Kee (Mei Ling market) is good for those who prefer grains with a little more moisture.

Tze Char

So Tze Char is not exactly a dish per se, but it represents our culture of communal dining. Dishes are placed in the middle of a round table for sharing and each person will be equipped with a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks. For me, Tze Char (which means ‘cook and fry’) is all about bold flavours, good wok hei and gravy. It is difficult to recommend a particular Tze Char stall since there are usually hits and misses, but I know I’d never go wrong with Kok Sen Seafood (Keong Saik Road). I have recommended to many people for their big prawn hor fun amongst other fantastic dishes, and not once has it disappointed. For more creative offerings (think pumpkin prawns and coffee crabs), check out Siang Hee (Serangoon Gardens Way). Joo Hing (Joo Chiat Road) is where you can get your Tze Char fix amidst classier ambience but with equally good food. Their rendition of the steamed fish head is one of the best in town.

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best Tze Char restaurants in the west of Singapore.

Chilli Crab

While chilli crab is not a hawker food, no food guide is complete without a feature of this national dish. The vibrant red hue of the dish instantly captures the attention of any reader. The silky gravy, laced with shreds of egg, is sweet and mildly spicy (at least by the standards of locals; I have heard foreigners breaking out into a sweat from it).

The history of this dish dates back to the 1950s when the owners of Roland Restaurant (Marine Parade Central) decided to do a little experimentation with crabs, tomato sauce and chilli sauce. Today, big players in seafood cuisine include Long Beach, No Signboard and Jumbo Seafood. Each restaurant’s rendition is slightly different, and it’s a tough call as to which is the best.

Bak Chor Mee

When I need something hearty after a hard day at school, I’d head straight for Bak Chor Mee. Perhaps it is the lightly blanched lean pork slices and pinkish liver, or maybe it is the sharp vinegar-laced sauce, or just the fact that everything comes together so well to make this the perfect comfort food. No one will dispute that Tai Hwa (Block 466 Crawford Lane) serves the best Bak Chor Mee in Singapore; you will find queues even at odd hours of the day despite the obscure location. Lian Kee (Alexandra Village Food Centre) is unique for its slightly sweet sauce, while the two stalls at Block 85 Fengshan Centre battle it out for the best soup version of Bak Chor Mee.

Rojak

Rojak is a fruit and vegetable salad dish consisting of you tiao (fried dough fritters), bean curds, bean sprouts, pineapples, and turnips. Everyone knows about Hoover Rojak (Whampoa Market) and Toa Payoh Rojak (oddly located within Old Airport Rd). But I will let you in on a little secret. The nameless rojak stall at the basement food court of Katong Shopping Centre is extremely value-for-money at just $2 for a regular size portion.

Ice Kacang

It is not as delicate as the Japanese version, nor is it as fine as Taiwanese snowflake ice, but our Ice Kacang is nonetheless, very satisfying on a hot day. A towering portion of crushed ice slapped on with sugar syrup in a myriad of colours. The standard version comes with atap seeds, grass jelly, agar bits and red bean, though we can be thankful for product differentiation by our hawkers these days.

Those who miss Annie’s, which started serving the first peanut ice kacang at Tanjong Pagar market, is now at Ghim Moh Market since the former closed for renovation. Jin Jin’s version comes with thick gula Melaka syrup, and is hands down my favourite dessert stall in Singapore. I can easily conquer another of their Gangster ice (which comes with mangoes and durian puree) after finishing a bowl of their ice kacang. It is the stall with the longest queue at ABC market at Bukit Merah.

Yong Tau Foo

The healthiest of the lot, Yong Tau Foo is probably something you will want to have after days of indulging in lard-laden hawker dishes. Hui Ji (Tiong Bahru market) serves a version that is a cross between fishball noodles and Yong Tau Foo. Yong Xing Xiang (People’s Park Complex) has one of the best Yong Tau Foo in Singapore with a soup base that is clear yet intensely flavourful. Do not miss the crispy deep-fried pork balls from Xi Xiang Feng (Ang Mo Kio central market). It is so addictive that I’d advise putting at least three of these little morsels in your bowl, lest you regret afterwards. Ok, maybe I lied… It is not exactly all that healthy after all!

Wanton Mee

Wanton mee is probably the most underrated hawker dish ever… or maybe it is just something I personally have a soft spot for. There is so much more to it than just noodles and dumplings. I like my noodles thick and al dente a la Ji Ji Wanton Mee (Hong Lim Food Centre); I am salivating just thinking about it. Though if I had the luxury of time, I’d queue half an hour every morning to have Chun Ji (164 Stirling Rd). It is sticky, gooey, mildly sweet gravy coats each strand of noodles, which in turn are cooked with deft skills that only comes with decades of practice. For ardent fans of Hong Mao Wanton Mee previously at Tembling Road, the man is back in action and has set up stall at the basement of Dunman Rd Food Centre; do pay Ah Huat Wanton Mee – they have the most flavourful wantons ever.

Words by Sarah Lim, photographs by ladyironchef

Breakfast is always a motivation to get out of bed, especially for weekends. While brunch is arguably Singaporean’s favourite meal of the day, and while I like my eggs, French toast and pancakes, I also love going to the hawker centres in the suburbs and neighbourhood for my local breakfast fix. In Singapore, we are really spoiled for choices when it comes to cheap and good hawker food.

Here are 7 of the cheapest Singapore’s local hawker breakfast options.

Kaya Toast

Old-schol bread toasted over traditional charcoal grill, with a generous spread of kaya (with soft-boiled eggs and a cup of kopi (coffee) is the quintessential Singaporean breakfast. This is probably the simplest, yet most satisfying and local breakfast cannot get any better than this. Most coffee shops serve a set for under S$2.50.

Carrot Cake

One of my favourite hawker food is Carrot Cake, also known as Chai Tow Kway. Not to be mistaken with the Western dessert, Singapore’s rendition is stir-fried radish cake with eggs, and it comes in either white or black (sweet soy sauce).

Chee Cheong Fun

Chee Cheong Fun is a Chinese dish of thin rice noodle roll which comes with a variety of fillings – like shrimp, char siew and beef. Or you can opt for the plain ones, which is doused in either sweet or chilli sauce, and topped with sesame seeds.

Chwee Kueh

Chwee Kueh, a type of steamed rice cake topped with diced preserved radish, is another popular local breakfast in Singapore. You can get a packet of four Chwee Kueh for S$1.20.

Economic Bee Hoon

This is one of the cheapest hawker breakfast. You can usually get a plate of economic bee hoon with one topping like fried egg or luncheon meat for S$2. It is affordable and very satisfying.

Nasi Lemak

There is the kind where you get to choose from an array of dishes and they charge accordingly, and there is the simplified breakfast version that is pre-packed in banana leaf with an assortment of ingredients, usually a generous serving of the fragrant rice that is cooked in coconut milk, together with roasted peanuts, deep-fried anchovies, fish and egg – all for under S$2.

Roti Prata

Another iconic Singapore breakfast staple is Roti Prata – an Indian flour-based pancake which comes with different fillings like cheese, onion, mushroom or egg. An Roti Prata ‘Kosong’ (no fillings) is less than S$1. Most people eat the prata by dipping it with curry, but we prefer to have it with sugar.

Zi Char (also known as Zhi Char/Cze Char/Tze Char/Zhu Chao) is a term used to describe a wallet-friendly, home-style cuisine from a Chinese stall, which serves a variety of ala-carte dishes and leaves you spoiled for choice. Most zi char stalls are located in a non-restaurant setting like a coffee shop or a hawker centre. There are also some local seafood restaurants which have air-conditioned dining area.

Here are some of the best zi char restaurants located in the west of Singapore.

Big Eater

Much has been said about Big Eater’s KL-style hokkien mee and crabs. If you are looking for a place to eat in the Jurong West area, make a trip to Big Eater.

Blk 964 Jurong West St 91 #01-342
Tel: +65 6397 0480
Daily: 4pm – 2am

Chin Huat Live Seafood

Chin Huat Live Seafood at Sunset Way serves competent food at reasonable prices. Besides the usual zi char offerings, they also have other unique dishes like Wagyu Beef on the menu.

For people who are staying in the west, Chin Huat is a great place to have live seafood. And you can enjoy your zi char meal in the comfort of an air-conditioned restaurant.

105 Clementi Street 12
#01-30 Sunset Way Singapore
Tel: +65 6775 7348
Daily: 11.30am–2.30pm, 5.30pm–11pm

Fortune Seafood Restaurant

Another Zhi Char restaurant that we frequent is Fortune Seafood Steamboat restaurant along Bukit Timah Road. The no-frills restaurant is air-conditioned but we usually prefer to dine outside.

887 Bukit Timah Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6469 5957
Opening hours: 11am – 2.30pm
Dinner: 5pm – 11.30pm Daily

Ga Hock Seafood Restaurant

Despite its inaccessible location, Ga Hock Seafood Restaurant has a huge following; regulars will go all the way there for a good and satisfying meal. The cze char eatery is tucked at the back of a run-down coffee shop.

794 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Hup Choon Eating House
Tel: +65 6314 5725
Daily: 4pm – 11pm

Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon

Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon is famous for its namesake dish, but not everyone knows that they do an excellent har cheong gai (prawn paste chicken). We are going out on a limb to say that this is one of the best har cheong gai in Singapore.

Jumbo Coffee Hub at Blk 19A
Dover Crescent
Tel: +65 6778 3691
Daily: 11.30am–2pm, 5pm–11pm

Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant

Located in a coffee shop at Alexandra Village, Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant is one of the most popular zi char restaurants in the neighbourhood. Prices have increased quite a bit over the years, but the food in general is still pretty good. Even though it is crowded during dinner every night, the kitchen is extremely efficient and you don’t have to wait long for the food.

Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-136 Alexandra Village Singapore
Tel: +65 6272 1038
Daily: 11.30am –2pm, 5pm–11pm

Kimly Seafood

Kimly Seafood Restaurant is a tze char chain with many outlets around the island. It is one of the zi char places that we go to when we feel like having a simple and fuss-free meal.

Blk 346 Jurong East Street 31
Daily: 2pm – 1am

Master Crab Seafood Restaurant

Crab-lovers must go to Master Crab Seafood Restaurant which serves a fantastic salted egg yolk crab. Besides the branch at Ghim Moh Road, Master Crab also has several branches in Singapore.

Blk 19 Ghim Moh Road #01-229
Tel: +65 6314 1868
Daily: 5pm – 10.30pm

Two Chefs Eating House

Two Chefs Eating Place is a familiar name for most as it is well-publicised in the media. Most of the dishes are decent, but nothing to shout home about. However, we will return just for the awesome Butter Pork Ribs.

Blk 116 Commonwealth Cresent #01-129
Tel: 6472 5361
Mon: 5pm – 11.30pm
Tue to Sun: 11.45am–2.30pm, 5pm–11.30pm

Nowadays, it is quite impossible to find a decent place to eat in Orchard Road. The cost of a meal in a food court in town is easily at least SGD$4-6. So when my friends told me about this famous chicken rice stall at Far East Plaza which serves relatively-affordable and good chicken rice, I decided to go there for lunch to see what’s the hype about.

Hainanese Delicacy Chicken Rice is located on level five of Far East Plaza, just a five minutes walk from the main shopping belt. The run down coffee shop has several tables within a long narrow space; there’s always a queue throughout the day – a testimony of their popularity.

So is the chicken rice really that good? Is it worth queuing up for? Let’s find out.

In addition to chicken rice, the shop also has the usual side dishes like boiled soup, and vegetables. We skipped the sides and went straight for the chicken.

The rice is nice and fragrant, and most importantly, not too oily. If you don’t like chicken rice because it is too oily, this will most likely change your impression. I found that their chill sauce was very well-balanced; not too spicy, not too mild. The chicken, too, was tasty. But somehow, I wasn’t blown away by it. I mean, the chicken rice that we had was definitely better than average, but it wasn’t stunning.

I don’t think it is the best chicken rice I’ve ever had. But I like the feeling of eating in a hole-in-a-wall place; sharing a table with strangers and eating with your elbows tucked to prevent knocking into someone.

Moreover, Hainanese Delicacy Chicken Rice is conveniently located in town; it is a good place to go if you want a reasonably-priced and fuss-free lunch. Where do you eat when you are meeting your friends in Orchard Road?

Singapore Food Blog Review
Hainanese Delicacy Chicken Rice
14 Scotts Road
Far East Plaza #05-116
Tel: +65 734 0639

When visiting Singapore, one should go for things that are unique to our island. Hawker food is definitely right at the top of the list. Chicken rice, hokkien mee, char kway teow, and laksa – Singapore is a foodie paradise.

One of the more popular hawker centres in the West is Clementi Market and Food Centre. Besides Bukit Timah Hawker Centre, this is the place that I always frequent when I want a cheap and simple meal.

Like other hawker centres, Clementi Food Centre has its own star tenants: stalls with extremely long queue throughout the day. Tanglin Halt Western Food, Clementi Fish Soup, Nam Kee Hokkien Mee, Chen Ji Ke Jia Niang Dou Fou, and Yong Fa Hainanese Curry Rice have been around for quite some time, and they are among the most popular stalls in the market.

My favourite is definitely Tanglin Halt Western Stall (#01-11) which has good Western Food. I’ve been going back for many years, and I’m pleased to say that standards have not dropped.

When you mention Clementi Food Centre, the famous Clementi Fish Soup (#01-41) immediately comes to mind. There’s a perpetual queue for their Fish Porridge, Sliced Fish Soup and Fish Head Bee Hoon; the only way to beat the queue is to go during off-peak hours.

Just behind the Fish Soup stall, there’s Nam Kee Hokkien Mee (#01-12) where you need to wait at least twenty minutes for a plate of Hokkien Mee, which by the way, is basically fried noodles cooked in Hokkien (Fujian) style. The good thing is you don’t have to stand in line as they will take down your table number and serve it to you. I like Hokkien Mee, but I don’t really fancy Nam Kee’s version as I find it a little too dry.

Chen Ji Ke Jia Niang Dou Fou (#01-27) – known for their Yong Tau Foo – only opens during the day. Their business is so good that they usually close after lunch.

Just a few stalls away, you can always find a madding crowd waiting in line at Yong Fa Hainanese Curry Rice (#01-25).

There are a few chicken rice stalls in the market, and it can be quite a headache if you don’t know who to order from. I usually go to Song Xing Chicken Rice (#01-25) and stall #01-18, simply called ‘Hainanese Chicken Rice.’

If you feel like having Prawn Noodles, check out Kim Meng Prawn Mee (#01-38). They also have Lor Mee and Laksa.

At night, Chai Ho Satay (#01-10) is the place to go for satay – a dish of skewered and grilled meat (chicken/pork/beef/mutton), served with a peanut sauce.

The famous Bedok Chwee Kueh (#01-32) also has a branch at Clementi Hawker Centre. Chwee Kueh – a steamed rice cake topped with fried preserved radish – is the perfect way to start a hawker feast.

For Pig’s Organ Soup and Bak Ku Teh, I’ll go to Zheng Zhi Wen (#01-19). Right beside it, there’s this stall – Snow Mount (#01-17) – selling fried Pisang Goreng. Speaking of which, they also serve Char Kway Teow (I know, it’s a little weird). I had it once and I thought that it was okay. Otherwise, I’d satisfy my Char Kway Teow craving at Stall #01-34, the only vender in Clementi Food Centre that sells Oyster Omelette, Carrot Cake, and Char Kway Teow.

Clementi Central Market & Food Centre is located at Block 448 Clementi Avenue 3. It is just a few minutes walk away from Clementi MRT Station.