Top 7 Traditional Singaporean Dishes You Need to Try - Seven Must-Sample Dishes in the Lion City

Before the McDonald's burger of the same name came the original Malay dish that's widely available in Singapore's food hubs. The mouth-watering goodness of this coconut rice dish is well documented as is the delectable taste of its filling which usually consists of fried fish or meat as well as cucumbers, eggs and anchovies. Topped off with a chilli sambal that's spicy and sweets this wholesome dish is a treat for the senses regardless of the time of day.

Often regarded as the mother of all seafood soups, a bowl of Laksa is a meal in and of itself due to the richness of the ingredients used to create the aromatic broth. The coconut milk heavy soup is not only infused with prawns, dried shrimp, cockles, fish cakes and noodles but a mix of herbs and spices that culminate to give the soup its decidedly spicy, sour, milky and sweet flavour. Sold by street side hawkers and food courts alike Singaporeans and expats both dig into this delicious soup as a lunch or dinner option. Those who wish to try their hand at preparing Laksa at home may also wish to pick up a Laksa paste bottle from a local supermarket as it is near impossible to recreate the dish without the spice mix.

Tipped to be Singapore's favourite breakfast, Kaya toast is an experience travellers must savour at least once during their visit to the Lion City. The coconut, pandan leaves and honey infused jam is a Han Chinese concoction and is lathered on freshly toasted bread slices and served alongside half boiled eggs and a cup of coffee or tea. Available at Kaya toast cafes and local eateries, the sweetest way to start the day on a holiday in Singapore is with a slice of Kaya toast.

As one of Singapore's best loved desserts Tau Huay comes in two incarnations. The conventional Tau Huay is a smooth and creamy tasting treat made from soya milk and available in both cold and hot options. Those who prefer firmer, pudding-like desserts will find that Tau Huay is also prepared to exemplify these qualities with the alternative being sugary syrup with chunks of the soy milk treat swimming in a bowl. Sold exclusively in Tau Huay kiosks some of the best places to sample Singapore's signature dessert are at Rochor Original Beancurd or Lao Ban Soya Beancurd.

Those with a hankering for a classic Singaporean satay stick should head down to the hawker centres the likes of Chomp Chomp, Lau Pa Sat or Gluttons By The Bay. The perfectly fried and barbequed bits of meat and dipped in a richly sweet peanut sauce with plenty of spice in this traditional snack item loved by locals and tourists alike.

As a lesser known Singaporean specialty, Kuih Lopes are triangles of glutinous rice that feature a banana leaf wrapping and a coconut garnish. Doused in a syrup of Gula Melaka this traditional treat is no longer widely available in Singapore. One of the last places to retail the rice cake is Arab Street's Kampung Glam Cafe.

Travellers based in Park Hotel Clarke Quay or any other similar venue for the accommodation provider's Singapore brunch offer may wish to sample the flavor of these traditional steamed buns in the buffet. As a traditional Chinese dish the buns feature different fillings and are made in both sweet and savoury variations.