Singapore local food guide

Recommended Dish:
Barramundi

A modern Australian restaurant, Cheek by Jowl serves up a mouthwatering selection of flavoursome Aussie food. The eatery also boasts a wide selection of organic and biodynamic wines. Alexis suggests to “go for lunch for better value!”. We think it’s a good idea!

Recommended Dish:
Fried Chicken & Pork Belly

The recently opened Salted Plum is fast becoming a firm favorite of the Singapore food scene and is the creation of the same people behind the popular Five Ten restaurant. Featuring a delicious serving of Taiwanese inspired food, the restaurant is one that Alexis would recommend!

Recommended Dish:
Pan Roasted Chicken Breast

Rakuya is so good, Eatbook SG can’t stop raving about it: “I just visited this new Omakase joint, and it's great because the dishes marry Japanese ingredients with local flavors”. We highly recommend you pay the restaurant a visit.

Recommended Dish:
Nasi Lemak, Tempura Vegetables & Chicken

Located in the popular NeWest area of Singapore, the restaurant is an intriguing mix of Japanese cuisine and Malay delicacies, Nasi Coco doesn’t disappoint. The food on offer is “really interesting, as they do a decent Nasi Lemak, but with Tempura vegetables and chicken instead of fried fish”.

Recommended Dish:
Dark Chocolate

This eatery isn’t a restaurant, but it’s so good Eatbook SG simply had to recommend it, adding “it’s not a restaurant, but hit up Tarte by Cheryl Koh if you are looking for a sweet treat. Our favorite tarte is her Dark Chocolate”. Pay it a visit if you have a sweet tooth!

Recommended Dish:
Poached Rice & Lobster

This Michelin-starred dining experience is one of Singapore’s must-visit restaurants. Located inside the popular Ritz Carlton hotel, this Cantonese restaurant offers filling and flavorful cuisine in a modern environment. Try the poached rice and lobster recommended by the Ordinary Patrons!

Recommended Dish:
Claypot Yong Tau Foo

The Kok Sen Restaurant has been around for over 50 years and has stood the test of time. Famous for its delicious zi-char food, the restaurant offers quality cuisine for reasonable prices. It often gets very busy because of its appetising menu, so make sure you make a reservation to guarantee yourself a table.

Recommended Dish:
Buah Keluak of Braised Local Chicken

Candlehut’s claim to fame is that it was the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, and deservedly so. Taking a more contemporary approach than other eateries, the restaurant specialises in traditional Straits-Chinese cuisine.

Recommended Dish:
Rojak, Wanton Noodles & Big Prawn Noodles

Built nearly 40 years ago, this Hawker centre is one of Singapore’s largest, so you’re sure to find somewhere that will satisfy your taste buds! Alexis recommends trying the “famous Rojak, Wanton Noodles from Hua Lee and Big Prawn Noodles from any stall".

Recommended Dish:
Alliance Seafood’s Sambal Stingray, Oyster Omelette, Hokkien Noddles & Fried Rice

Newton food circus is one of the most picturesque Hawker centres in Singapore, with its large outdoors setting area. When it comes to food, make sure you try “Alliance Seafood’s Sambal Stingray, and other stalls for oyster omelette, Hokkien noodles and fried rice. They are all really good!”, suggests Alexis.

Recommended Dish:
Tian Tian Chicken Rice, Laksa

This Hawker centre is popular with locals and tourists alike, which is always a good sign! It boasts some of the most delicious Singaporean food in the city-state. Alexis advises that “when visiting Maxwell Food Centre, Tian Tian Chicken Rice is the obvious one to try, but I really like the Laksa as well”.

Recommended Dish:
Chewy Sourdough Pizza, Art of War Pizza

Pizza seems to be the preferred dish of The Bedok Marketplace. Eatbook SG boasts “I love The Bedok Marketplace, which houses Mr. Kneady; a hawker stall that does chewy sourdough pizzas. A favorite among the team is their Art of War dessert pizza that has creme fraiche, bananas, blueberries, streussel, and caramelised white chocolate chips”.

Recommended Dish:
Pepper Bowl & Han Kee

Located in the central business district of Singapore, Amoy Street Food Centre is one of the easiest to commute to. The centre is home to some of the best hidden gems in the city, and Eatbook SG recommends visiting two special stalls once you arrive: “I frequently visit Amoy Street Food Centre for two stalls: Pepper Bowl and Han Kee Fish Soup”.

Recommended Dish:
Yong Xiang Carrot Cake, Heng Kee Lor Mee

The Bendemeer Food Centre is only two minutes away from the Boon Keng MRT Station, so it’s easy to visit. However, make sure you arrive early to avoid a long wait! Eatbook SG warns “the stalls at Bendemeer Food Centre always boast a long queue, and the ones to join are Yong Xiang Carrot Cake and Heng Kee Lor Mee”.

Recommended Dish:
Nasi Padang and Putu Piring

One of the most popular places in Singapore to indulge in Nasi Padang and other Malaysian delicacies, this Hawker can get extremely crowded due to its popularity. Among its 5 floors of delicious food, you’re bound to find something to enjoy!

Recommended Dish:
Jiu Jiang Shao La Roast Duck, Guan Kee Fried Kway Teow

Recently reopened in 2016 after renovation work was complete, this Hawker is a little bit out of the way, but very much worth a visit. Located in the north of Queenstown, you can expect a wide range of food to satisfy your taste buds!

Recommended Dish:
Thunder Tea Rice, Satay, Chilli Crab

Sassy Mama tells us that “There is no one distinguishing factor to make a Hawker centre child friendly, but Lau Pa Sat is clean and open and central. There’s everything on offer from Indian food to Korean, Western plus must-tries Singapore signature Chilli Crab and Rojak salad. Adults should try the hard-to-find healthy Hakka lei cha fan Thunder Tea rice dish and kids will love the chicken or beef satay (hold the peanut sauce if your kids have allergies), dim sum like the ever popular har gau prawn dumplings and chicken rice (without the chilli sauce for young ones)”.

This Dim Sum eatery is ideal if you’re looking for an authentic Dim Sum experience, featuring a variety of cooking methods and distinctive ingredients. Alexis suggests that “both Imperial Treasure Cantonese Cuisine and Treasures Yi Dian Xin does really good classic Dim Sum”.

The delicious food married with the decor makes Paradise Dynasty very special, with the restaurant modelling itself on imperial China. Alexis raves that “Paradise Dynasty has really good xiao long baos (steamed soup dumplings) in different colours/flavours”.

Situated in Singapore’s bustling Chinatown area, Tac Po is a firm favourite with locals. Alexis recommends trying Tac Po for “a ‘quick and dirty’ fix, much like Swee Choon back alley dim sum”.

Canton Paradise has restaurants in several locations around Singapore, so no matter where you are you shouldn’t be too far away from their famous Dim Sum. “Even though it’s a chain restaurant, Canton Paradise’s dim sum are really impressive, as they are not stingy with their ingredients and fillings”, Eatbook SG tells us.

Swee Choon is one of the most well-known Dim Sum restaurants in Singapore, with over 40 years’ experience in creating unique and authentic Dim Sum dishes. Make sure you try this place out if you’re travelling with friends “since they have a large variety of cheap and good dishes”, Eatbook SG suggests.

Madame Fan boast that they have introduced a new era of Chinese dining to Singapore. One of Eatbook SG’s favourite places to visit for Dim Sum, they tell us that “the newly-opened Madame Fan does surprisingly good dim sum, although it is very, very pricey”.

The award-winning Crystal Jade Golden Palace offers a contemporary dining experience in beautiful surroundings. The restaurant uses the very finest ingredients to recreate regional specialties. You can find them in the Paragon Shopping Centre on Orchard Road. Chosen by two of our local food guides, Sassy Mama tells us “Crystal Jade at Paragon is a family favourite as the Dim Sum on offer is excellent both in variety and quality. There’s also a small free playground inside the mall, right outside Crystal Jade making it super popular with the kids!"

Open since 1988, Wah Lok matches an elegant and contemporary interior with delicious food. Ordinary Patrons recommends Wah Lok “because they are consistent, quality is always high and service standards are excellent”. We highly recommend a visit but be warned, they only serve Dim Sum during Lunch hours.

Serving authentic Cantonese cuisine, Red Star is located in the centre of Chinatown and boasting specialities such as America Duck and Fried Yam Pots. The restaurant is also child friendly, with Sassy Mama telling us that “Red Star has pushcarts which our kids find fun”. Well worth a visit if you’re travelling with young children!

Recently featuring in the World’s Top 10 Restaurants by the New York Times, Din Tai Fung is an extremely popular restaurant. Sassy Mama recommends that you and your family visit, suggesting “Din Tai Fung is a family favourite just for the ease of dining and the simple menu of Xiao Long Bao”.

Sassy Mama highly recommends this eatery for breakfast, telling us “Super Loco on Robertson Quay does a great kids menu and good Mexican style breakfast options and kids can play before your meal by the river”.

For Lunch, try “Open Farm Community in Dempsey. It has a beautiful kids menu and delicious farm-to-table style food using local produce where possible, plus there's a small sandpit to play in and chickens and fresh herbs in the back garden”.

Sassy Mama loves this restaurant! They rave “Bayswater Kitchen is our current fave (there's always a new opening in Singapore so we are a little fickle!) but we love the alfresco sea view in the balmy evenings, the seafood too, and there's a great back room where older kids can play fussball and ping pong and give parents some peace!”

We’ve featured the Daily Scoop in our guide, but Sassy Mama also recommends these child-friendly places for dessert, “Any ice cream spot like Daily Scoop, Brunetti or for something special, try Non Entree Desserts, which does clever reinterpreted desserts as well as ice cream for little ones”.

Chwee Kueh is a particular favourite of The Ordinary Patrons for breakfast. Walk around the Tiong Bahru Food Centre and choose your stall! This dish can also be found in other locations such as “Albert Centre Market & Food Centre, Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre or Chinatown Complex Food Centre”.

This popular noodle dish is considered a national favourite in Singapore, as well as Malaysia. It consists of bean sprouts, eggs and chives in a delicious soy sauce. Head down to Zion Road Fried Kway Teow for the best in town!

Just like Eatbook SG, The Ordinary Patron’s recommend trying Chilli Crab as your Dinner dish. It must be good! Crabs are stir-fried and come with a delicious sauce with added sprinkles of coriander or green spring onions.

This iced sweet dessert is a perfect option after Dinner, or just on its own. Along with the green ice flour jelly, most stalls in Geylang Serai Market & Food Centre will offer a range of topping such as Azuki Beans or Durian. If Chendol isn’t to your taste, you could try the “Traditional Penang Food at Kitchener Complex or Tangs Market”, suggests The Ordinary Patrons.

Some fresh Butterfly Buns are the perfect way to start the day, according to Eatbook SG. Eatbook SG tell us that “My favourite breakfast dish is butterfly buns. I always get them from Eat May Know at Bendemeer Food Centre on my way to work”.

There is one standout Lunch option that tourists have to try says Eatbook SG, “I can eat fried yong tau foo every other day. My favourite place to go for this is Fu Lin, as the fried goodies are served with a bowl of silky smooth laksa noodles doused in a savoury chicken and mushroom gravy”.

It’s said that Sinpopo serve up the most delicious cakes in Singapore. Their famous Gula Melaka Cake doesn’t disappoint. Rich and robust in flavour, this cake boasts a plentiful serving of dense gulf melaka icing layered throughout.

Alexis’ recommended breakfast dish is the “Coin Prata from Sin Ming Roti Prata (Faisal & Aziz Curry Muslim Food) which is chewy and crispy – and dip it with some of that fabulous curry”. Curry dip for breakfast? Only tackle this one if you’re looking for a spicy start to the day!

Alexis’ tells us that “I really like the Roast Meat and Char Siew Noodles from 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist at 153 Tyrwhitt Road for Lunch”. This restaurant specialises in meaty dishes, and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Alexis has three recommendations for Dinner, but we’ve chosen the Egg Spaghetti from Skyve Bistro as our featured dish. Alexis suggests “For Dinner, it has to be a good pasta or steak place and I’d recommend checking out Monti at Fullerton Pavillion or Skyve Bistro at Winstedt Road. Otherwise for something more local, check out The Chinese Kitchen at Cavan Road for really good Nanyang style dishes”.

Alexis highly recommends visiting Non Entrée Dessert if you have a sweet tooth, maybe try out Rubber Ducky, a mango sorbet on top of a creme fraiche pudding and ago pearls. “The most innovative and fun place for me to have desserts will be at Non Entrée Dessert. I also love matcha desserts so Tsujiri stalls in some mall basements are great for that”.