Part of our Singapore guide.
Eat your way through Singapore’s hawker centres, coffee shops, and restaurant stalls, where Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan traditions meet in dishes like Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and chilli crab. Below are 10 must-eat local dishes and where to find them, followed by five sports bars for catching a game.
Related travel guides: Things To Do In Singapore, Marina In Singapore, Hidden Gems In Singapore, Itineraries For Singapore, and Beaches In Singapore.
Food: 10 Must-Eat Local Dishes (& Where To Try!)
Hainanese Chicken Rice – Poached chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken fat and pandan. Try Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre or Boon Tong Kee at Balestier Road.
Chilli Crab – Mud crab stir-fried in a sweet-spicy tomato-chilli sauce. Head to Jumbo Seafood at the Riverwalk or Mellben Seafood at Ang Mo Kio.
Laksa – Spicy coconut curry noodle soup with rice vermicelli, prawns, and cockles. 328 Katong Laksa at East Coast Road is a classic stop.
Char Kway Teow – Stir-fried flat rice noodles with dark soy sauce, Chinese sausage, egg, and bean sprouts. Hill Street Char Kway Teow at Bedok South Market & Food Centre is a reliable choice.
Satay – Grilled skewers of marinated meat served with peanut sauce, ketupat, and cucumber. Lau Pa Sat’s satay street (open from 7 pm) is the go-to spot.
Nasi Lemak – Coconut rice with fried chicken wing, ikan bilis (anchovies), sambal, and boiled egg. The Coconut Club at Beach Road serves a well-regarded version.
Bak Chor Mee – Minced pork noodles in vinegar-based broth with sliced mushrooms, meatballs, and crispy lard. Tai Hwa Pork Noodle at Crawford Lane (Hill Street) holds a Michelin star.
Roti Prata – Crispy, flaky Indian flatbread served with fish curry and sugar. Mr Prata at Jalan Kayu or Springleaf Prata Place at Upper Thomson Road are popular chains.
Hokkien Mee – Yellow noodles and rice vermicelli stir-fried with prawns, squid, and pork belly in a rich seafood stock. Geylang Lor 29 Fried Hokkien Mee is a famous stall.
Ice Kachang – Shaved ice with sweet corn, red beans, grass jelly, and attap seeds, drizzled with evaporated milk and palm sugar syrup. Any dessert stall in a hawker centre (like Old Airport Road Food Centre) serves it.
5 Best Sports Bars In Singapore For Every Sports Fan
For live games with a crowd, these bars offer big screens and atmosphere. Boomerang Bar & Restaurant (Somerset) shows Australian Rules Football, rugby, and soccer. Harry’s (multiple locations, including Boat Quay) is a reliable chain for Premier League and F1. St. James Power Station (HarbourFront) has a dedicated sports bar zone with multiple screens. The Penny Black (Boat Quay) focuses on rugby and football, with a British pub feel. Murphy’s Irish Pub (Orchard Road) shows GAA, rugby, and soccer, with a lively expat crowd.
