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.

As you might have seen on the papers or your Instagram feed, many have been flocking to this year’s Ramadan Bazaar at Geylang Serai for some interesting street food.

Flavoured churros? Yes please! With a growing trend of churro-lovers, you can find more than just one stall here selling these highly Instagrammable deep-fried doughs.

Remember those ice cream rolls you had while you were in Bangkok? Good news because they are now here in Singapore too. Not sure what to try at this year’s Ramadan Bazaar? Here are 5 highlights from this year’s Ramadan Bazaar at Geylang Serai.

#1 FLAVOURED CHURROS

Trust us when we say that these are a must-try when you head down to the bazaar this year. The wide array of flavours include Pandan Churros with Gula Melaka Sauce (S$4.50), Red Velvet Churros with Salted Caramel Sauce (S$4.70) and the classic Churros (S$4.20) coated with cinnamon sugar.

The churros here are made fresh and we highly recommend munching on these immediately after receiving them – or after snapping a photo or two, if you must (and you must). There is a nice crunch to the churros and we could not stop raving about the sauces, especially the Gula Melaka one!

#2 THAI COCONUT ICE CREAM

We were delighted to find this gem of a store located at the side nearest to Paya Lebar MRT. Reminiscent of the ones at Chatuchak in Bangkok, this ice cream was topped off generously with corn, red rubies, atap seeds and also juicy young coconut flesh.

For just S$4, you get your dollars worth as this is a perfect choice to combat the heat and humidity there at the bazaar. There is also a range of other Thai food served here such as coconut pancakes and mango sticky rice.

#3 ICE CREAM ROLLS

Shared thousands of times on our Facebook pages, these ice cream rolls made fresh are a treat for everyone. As the most crowded stall in the bazaar, they even have an automated queue system and the wait ranges from 30min to 1 hour if you come after 7pm (post-breaking fast for Muslims).

You can choose between two ingredients for your ice cream rolls and these ingredients range from fresh fruits to chocolatey picks such as oreo. For S$5 a cup, we are definitely not complaining!

#4 DEEP-FRIED OREOS

This snack needs no introduction and we can all agree that it is one of the most delicious street food snacks we have ever eaten. And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?

Coated in batter then deep-fried to a golden brown, these Oreo bites, drizzled with some chocolate sauce, is our definite guilty pleasure. They also have fried Mars bars and other mouth-watering snacks here!

#5 TAKOYAKI

While Takoyaki certainly isn’t something new at bazaars, the one at this year’s Ramadan Bazaar is probably one of the most delicious and value-for-money renditions yet. For just S$2.50, you get a portion of six takoyaki balls, sprinkled generously with bonito flakes and sauces.

You can choose different fillings such as the classic tako (octopus) and others like prawn, etc. The portion makes it an ideal sharing item. Save some tummy space for the other yummies ya?

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.