The variety of food in Singapore is amazing and ensures the country constantly ranks one of the best places to eat in the world. Ranging from affordable hawker centres to high-end restaurants, Singapore’s food choices can surely cater to all.
Singapore is a multicultural city where all races live in harmony together. More than living together, Singapore has many localised food inspired by the different cultures there. Not only do we have Chilli Crab, a fusion of Chinese, European and Malay cuisine, but we also have Roti John which is made of the baguette-type loaf with fillings from Southeast Asian cuisine. Coming to Singapore for a trip, or simply just wanting to explore some of the best places to eat in Singapore? Here I have listed the 10 best places to eat in Singapore. Read on to find out about the good food available in this Little Red Dot!
- Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Song Fa Bak kut teh
- Changi Nasi Lemak
- 89.7 Supper Club
- Restaurant Labyrinth
- Ya Kun Kaya Toast
- Sungei Road Laksa
- Jian Bo Shui Kueh
- 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodle
- Joie
1. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice – Singaporean’s go-to food choice
You can’t call yourself a Singaporean or be in Singapore if you have not tried this. Hainanese chicken rice is a dish of poached chicken and seasoned rice served with chilli sauce and cucumber garnishes. The whole chicken will be cooked and then dipped in ice after being at a jelly-like skin stage. The stock is produced in the process which contains some of the chicken fat and liquid.
Usually, the rice is cooked with the stock together with ginger, garlic and pandan leaves. There are 4 main types of Hainanese chicken rice spread across Southeast Asia -Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. There’s even a vegetarian Hainanese Chicken rice variation! Remember to dip with the famous chilli sauce to get the full flavour of this good food in Singapore!
The affordability and accessibility of chicken rice made it one of Singaporean’s go-to when thinking about where to eat in Singapore. Although a small hawker stall, Tian Tian ranks high in our hearts. It is in the Michelin guide Singapore with the title of having “good quality, good value cooking”.
The fragrant and tasty rice attracted many to be willing to queue in the hawker for a plate of the delicious meal. Not as much praised as its rice, Tian Tian’s chicken is also tender and juicy, bringing the whole plate of chicken rice to a heavenly taste level. A plate of chicken rice and a bowl of broth cost around $5, what a steal!
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, Maxwell Food Centre #01-10/11
Opening Hours: 10 am – 8 pm, closed on Mondays
Website for more information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Chinese-Restaurant/Tian-Tian-Hainanese-Chicken-Rice-344208003809/
READ MORE: Plan your day around Singapore with suggestions by us!
2. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh – one of the most famous good food in Singapore
One of the Chinese Singaporean’s favourites, Bak Kut Teh (肉骨茶) refers to the pork-rib dish cooked in broth. The name directly translates to “meat bone tea” in Hokkien. The dish consists of pork ribs simmered in a broth of herbs and spices for hours.
Typically, there will be cinnamon, cloves, dong quai, fennel seeds, garlic and star anise as spices. There is 3 variety of the dish; Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese style. The Teochew variant of this dish was created in Singapore and sold along the Singapore River after the end of World War II.
Song Fa started in 1969 with a pushcart in which their founder Mr Yeo served piping hot bowls of this traditional Teochew dish. Being listed under the Michelin Bib Gourmand for restaurants, Song Fa is one of the best places to eat in Singapore. They have 13 outlets around the island, making it accessible for all to have a try.
There’s a variety of pork soup to choose from with braised sides and side dishes to serve. The Pork Ribs Soup ($10.27) and Sliced Fish Soup ($11.35) are some of the more popular options. Usually served with You Tiao (Dough Fritters, $3.92), you can also eat the soup with rice to have a more filling meal.
Although Song Fa tends to be very crowded with queues, their service is quite efficient. I recommend going on weekdays to the fewer tourist area branches to avoid the big crowds and tourists queues. Song Fa’s legacy and popularity sure rank itself in one of the first places in the locals when asked where to eat in Singapore!
Address: 13 different outlets
Opening Hours: differs
Website for more information: https://songfa.com.sg
Fun Fact: Malaysia also calls Bak Kut Teh one of their best food inventions, feel free to try out the one in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
3. Changi Nasi Lemak – best recommended Nasi Lemak in Singapore
As many might have heard, Nasi Lemak is yet another Singaporean staple food. Without Nasi Lemak, many would be saddened. Nasi Lemak, translating to rich or creamy rice from Malay, originated in Malay cuisine. The recipe contains fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf.
The rice is usually served with fresh cucumber slices, ikan bilis (small fried anchovies), roasted peanuts and fried egg. Known for its sambal (hot spicy sauce), the chilli is a must-have to consume with the dish. Nasi Lemak is widely served in Malaysia and Singapore with a range of variations to cater to different tastes.
Voted as the best place to eat Nasi Lemak in Singapore, Changi Nasi Lemak has been here since the 1970s. However, it is not located in Changi but at Upper Thomson Road. They offer up to 8 different options of Nasi Lemak, prices start from $5.80.
Based on your preference, you can choose chicken thigh cutlet and ikan bilis or mala fried fish slabs with eggs or braised pork and fish fillet. No matter the combination you have chosen, the meat is equally crispy yet juicy on the inside. The savoury placed upon your taste buds will be worth every queue and calorie!
Address: 183 Upper Thomson Road, #01-04, Singapore 574429
Opening Hours: 10.30 am – 9.30 pm daily
Website for more information: https://www.instagram.com/changinasilemak/?hl=en
4. 89.7 Supper Club – one of the best places to eat in Singapore for supper
Looking for some supper spots for late-night delights? Some of the most sought-after suppers in Singapore are Dim sums and Prata. 89.7 supper club offers all of that and food from local Chinese dishes to Western fare.
Their extensive menus include some of the good food in Singapore such as Hainanese chicken rice, Roti John, Salted egg prawns and Chilli crab!
Well if you are not in the mood for a full meal, you can always order finger food such as fries or tofu or even desserts such as the famous Grass jelly beancurd or Riceball beancurd. Furthermore, it is halal-certified!
Located in Geylang East and Changi Village, the former is a hot spot for supper go-ers and the latter provides comforting food for travellers arriving or stopping by late at night in Singapore.
However, if you have a budget constraint, fear not as the food ranges from $1.50 to $30 depending on what you have ordered. Given that they are open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, 89.7 supper club is truly one of the best places to eat in Singapore during awkward hours.
Address: 1016 Geylang East Ave 3, #01-165, Singapore 389731 / SG, Changi Village Rd, 5, 500005
Opening Hours: 24 hours, daily
Website for more information: https://www.897supperclub.com.sg
5. Restaurant Labyrinth – refined good food in Singapore
If you looking for some higher-end restaurants, Restaurant Labyrinth is no doubt one of the best places in Singapore. Renowned for its unique Singaporean Chilli crab, the restaurant constantly strives to improve the dish.
After 9 re-inventions, the latest version landed on having a local wild-caught flower crab with a scoop of chilli crab ice cream and locally farmed ice plant, egg white ribbons, curry leaves and deep-fried mini buns. What a view indeed.
Other than the chilli crab, they have also invented Nasi Lemak Cheong Fan, Ah Hua Kelong Lala Clams, Labyrinth Rojaks, and many more.
Restaurant Labyrinth ranked in Asia’s top 50 restaurants consecutively for 2 years and was the first new Singaporean one Michelin starred in 2021. Labyrinth aims to showcase local Singaporean produce and flavours that encapsulated the founder’s roots and memories of living in Singapore.
They served local street food in a fine-dining manner with a creative fusion of the different classical dishes. Notably, be prepared to spend around $80 to $200 in this beautifully-decorated and located restaurant.
Address: 8 Raffles Ave, #02 – 23, Singapore 039802
Opening Hours: 6.30 pm – 11 pm Wednesday to Sunday, 12 pm – 2.30 pm Thursday to Sunday, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Website for more information: https://www.restaurantlabyrinth.com
6. Ya Kun Kaya Toast – Singapore’s must-have breakfast
A butter sugar toast with a cup of hot coffee describes many Singaporean’s usual breakfast or tea break. Walk past the Ya Kun in CBD areas in the morning and you will see many working adults sitting in for a quick bite.
Their perfectly crispy toasts are slathered with a generous amount of butter and sugar. If you are not into toasts, they also have kaya peanut steamed bread, definitely one of the local favourites! Served with aromatic coffee or tea, kosong (no sugar) or gao (thick) based on your choice, they are the best combination.
Ya Kun Kaya Toast has been in Singapore since the 1940s as a small coffee store. Now, it is everywhere in shopping malls and is frequently visited by many. They have over 40 outlets in Singapore and 30 plus overseas across 7 countries.
To keep up with their expansion, Ya Kun has added french toast, cheese balls, chicken laksa, etc to their menu. Feel free to try out their mains as they are equally local-flavoured.
Address: across the island
Opening Hours: varies
Website for more information: http://yakun.com
7. Sungei Road Laksa – idea for a delicious lunch
Laksa is a noodle prepared with a rich and spicy coconut broth or broth seasoned with sour asam. There were many rumours about how the term came about but mainly referred to “noodles” or “many noodles”.
As one of our national cuisine, Laksa was created by the Peranakans. Laksa can be served with different noodles but most commonly thick rice or thin rice noodles in Singapore. Locally, we serve mainly spicy and rich coconut gravy cooked with mint and Vietnamese coriander. Some toppings you will see are eggs, deep-fried tofu (Chinese bean curd), beansprouts and a spoon of sambal chilli paste at the side.
There are many variations of Laksa across Southeast Asia but Singaporeans mainly eat the spicy curry Laksa and Asam Laksa (also known as Penang Laksa) which the former is more of coconut and hot flavours while the latter is relatively sour and spicy.
Sungei Road Laksa is one of the cheapest yet absolutely delicious Laksa you can get in Singapore. It can be priced as low as $3 for a bowl! Although located at Jalan Bersah, not the most convenient to get to, they do have long queues daily.
Do expect to wait for around 15-20 minutes but fret not, the 3 ladies are pretty efficient with their cooking and serving. They chose to continue using the traditional charcoal fire that gives the coconut broth a distinct and smoky flavour. Their broth is also not thick to ensure you do not get sick of the dish. Their cockles were also of a generous amount, fresh and well-cooked, adding to the overall tastiness of the Laksa.
Address: 27 Jln Berseh, #01-100, Singapore 200027
Opening Hours: 9.30 am – 4 pm, closed on Wednesdays
8. Jian Bo Shui Kueh – Singaporean’s comfort food
Shui Kueh (steamed rice cake) is one of Singaporean’s traditional and comfort food. The soft steamed rice cake is usually served with preserved chai poh (radish) that adds flavour to the food. Most will also add chilli sauce to complete the dish.
Shui Kueh originated from Teochew cuisine. The rice cake is made from rice flour with water and then poured into small aluminium cups to steam, forming a bowl-like shape. The preserved radish is diced and most will add hints of shellfish.
Jian Bo Shui Kueh is undeniably the best place to try out this traditional dish. Not only featured in Michelin’s guide but they are also featured on various websites, including ours now. Almost as old as Singapore, Jian Bo has been part of an important memory for many locals.
They have also recently changed their pork oil to 100% vegetable oil. To our delight, the Shui Kueh is also reasonably priced, $2.50 for 5 pieces, $4 for 8 pieces and $5 for 10. Similarly located across the island, Jian Bo Shui Kueh has 22 outlets around. Do head down to the nearest one at your convenience!
Address: 22 outlets
Opening Hours: varies
Website for more information: https://www.jianboshuikueh.com
9. 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodle – another hidden gem in the hawkers
Prawn Noodle, more commonly known as Hae Mee in Singapore is another Singapore cuisine originating from China’s Fujian province. Singapore’s Hae Mee is usually stir-fried and has a lighter colour than other variations in other countries.
They use egg noodles and rice noodles with prawns being the main ingredient with slices of chicken or pork, squid and fish cake. Locally, there are 3 distinct ways of cooking prawn noodles– Penang Hae Mee, Singapore Hae Mee and Hokkien Mee.
545 Whampoa Prawn Noodle is currently handled by Rui Fang, the granddaughter of the founder. Their family business started in the 1950s and has continued to run till today. The old recipe ensured that the sambal had a nice balance of spicy, savoury and dried-seafood tastes.
The well-mixed sauce blends perfectly with the slices of prawns and lean pork. Not to forget, many children’s favourites would be the spoonful of fried shallots on the dish. The prawn noodles are reasonably priced from $4.
Address: 665 Buffalo Rd, #01-326 Tekka Food Centre, Singapore 210665
Opening Hours: 7 am – 12.30 pm, closed on Saturdays and Sundays
Website for more information: https://www.facebook.com/545WhampoaPrawnNoodles/
10. Joie – vegetarian fine dining restaurant
Maybe, perhaps you are a vegetarian or want a break after all the meat? Here is a vegetarian fine dining restaurant in Singapore. They offer vegan and vegetarian options. Branded as a modern creative gastronomic meatless cuisine, their dishes are aesthetically pleasing and one of a kind.
For side dishes, they include Bailing Mushroom on Paper Hot Pot and Gratinated Champignon with Mozzarella. Some cold dishes are Zucchini Tower and Vegetable Sashimi on Ice with Oyster-Leaf Shooter Glass.
The most famous food you see online is the Grill Summer Mushroom Steak on Pu-Ye Hot Stone. It is a grilled monkey head mushroom on lava stone served with truffle mash potato.
Notably, Joie serves a special menu on special occasions. Do look forward to them! They are located on the rooftop garden of Orchard Central which gives the guests some good views while dining.
Additionally, be prepared to spend around $39.80++ for a 6-course set lunch and $69.80 for a 7-course set dinner. They were also awarded as Wine & Dine Singapore’s Top Restaurant from 2016 to 2019, AbillionVeg Singapore’s Top 50 vegan dishes in 2020 and more. This unique cuisine and beautifully-looking restaurant is definitely worth a try!
Address: 181 Orchard Rd, #12 – 01, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 12 pm – 3 pm, 6 pm – 10 pm, daily
Website for more information: https://www.joierestaurant.com.sg
READ MORE: Not enough of good food in Singapore? Here are more food recommendations on where to eat in Singapore sorted by categories!
Above are the 10 best places to eat in Singapore. Do feel free to try all of them as they are truly Singapore’s favourites. With the diverse and inclusive culture in Singapore, she hosts some of the best food in the world. The variety ensures that surely there is food for all to love and to dine. Do let us know which are your personal favourites or your comments after trying them out!
