What Are the Must-Try Dishes in Singapore

Singapore happens to be a popular destination for foreign visitors, drawing numerous sightseers with its cultural highlights, shopping opportunities, leisure attractions and more. However, another marvellous aspect of the city-state would be its distinctive foods which would undoubtedly captivate the culinary connoisseur. Described below are some of the outstanding dishes that you could savour during your visit to this enchanting city. 

Kaya toast 

A marvellous choice to start with when it comes to Singaporean food is the much-loved kaya toast which many locals enjoy for breakfast as it happens to be a great way to commence the day. This popular dish consists of a couple of slices of toast or charcoal-grilled bread that are slathered with kaya – a jam composed of coconut, sugar and eggs – and butter. Kaya toast will usually be accompanied by tea or coffee and a couple of soft-boiled eggs with a drizzle of dark soy sauce as well as white pepper. 

Curry puffs 

Curry puffs happen to be one of the most popular street foods in Singapore and are commonly enjoyed as a tasty snack. A curry puff may be described as a small pie featuring a baked or deep-fried pastry shell that is stuffed with a variety of fillings. Often, the local curry puffs would feature a flaky or thick English-type crust and several mouth-watering Indian and Chinese-type fillings. Traditionally, these tasty treats would feature fillings like chicken curry, tuna and sardine; however, more unusual fillings will also be available. 

Chili crab 

Undoubtedly, chilli crab will be one of Singapore’s best-known traditional culinary specialities. To make this dish, crabs – typically mud crabs – are stir-fried within a thick chilli and tomato-based sauce; often, eggs will also be added to thicken the sauce and make it richer. However, you will find that despite its name, this dish really wouldn’t be very spicy and rather, it tastes tangy and sweet with only a touch of spiciness. The best accompaniment for chilli crab is fried mantou bread with which you can easily soak up the delicious sauce!

Satay 

Your experience of Singaporean culinary highlights wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the delectable satay which is also found in other Southeast Asian countries. This dish basically consists of small portions of marinated meat that are put on skewers and then barbecued till ready. A variety of meats could be used to make satay, with some of the most common choices being beef, lamb, mutton and chicken. Satay will usually be served along with side dishes like peanut sauce, onions, ketupat and cucumber When seeking the best restaurants in Singapore at which to enjoy lamb satay along with other local culinary creations like claypot rice, consider dining establishments such as Entrepôt. 

Hainanese chicken rice 

A list of outstanding Singaporean dishes should undoubtedly include the distinctive Hainanese chicken rice which enjoys great popularity amongst locals as well as foreign visitors. This tantalizing dish basically consists of poached chicken served along with seasoned rice, chilli sauce and sliced cucumber. When making this distinctive and delectable delight, entire chickens would be poached at comparatively moderate temperatures; the chicken stock that results is then skimmed off with a portion of the liquid and fat being used to prepare the rice, along with garlic and ginger. 

Cendol 

Singaporean cuisine also features its share of desserts and one of the most popular ones is cendol. This delicious dessert may be described as consisting of shaved ice, rice flour jelly, palm sugar syrup and coconut milk. It enjoys great popularity in Singapore and could also be found in other Southeast Asian nations. The Singaporean variety of this sweet dish typically features sweetened red beans along with a generous portion of palm sugar syrup. Naturally, this will be a marvellous conclusion to a typical local meal.