Joanna James
An imaginative city-state constantly reinventing itself while staying true to its colourful cultural roots, Singapore is the byword for innovation, diversity, and yes, you guessed it, out-of-this-world food! Here are the local tastebud-tantalizers you simply cannot leave without sampling.
Whether your itinerary comprises of the otherworldly assortment of terrains at Gardens by the Bay, living your futuristic fantasy at the Art Science Museum, gliding into the sky on the Singapore Flyer, or spending the day at Universal Studios, you can't miss out on Singapore's spectacular national dish. Taking soul food to the next level, this succulent blend of stir-fried crab decked in gravy with a salty-sweet melt-in-the-mouth interior was the happy invention of a couple who was tired of seafood cooked only on one way- steaming! The most common art of serving this iconic dish is with a tomato chilli base (that's not all that spicy) with buns to soak it up and a side of broth.
While everyone raves over Singapore's state-of-the-art infrastructure, architectural marvels, and cutting-edge leaps in technology, all compacted in a strategically located ASEAN gateway, another reason why it's one of the world's top commercial hubs is that it feeds its bi-leisure visitors like royalty! With the phrase "Makan" (Have you eaten?) as its chief national greeting, you can imagine that wholesome, delicious, and multi-cultural meals are a core part of this vibrant cityscape. If you're looking for a mouthwatering energy boost amid business meetings or tourist escapades, Singapore's hearty coconut rice dish has countless variations that you'll never get enough of! Just make sure you ask for plenty of delicious sambal and fried anchovies.
If you're more into picturesque grunge and sensational chaos, hit the street markets and photogenic alleyways in search of gastronomic delights, from raucous night markets to artisan cafés. The crispy and spicy seafood dish is a filling budget-friendly dinner or snack option found in hawker stalls, slathered lavishly in piquant sambal sauce, and grilled to perfection inside a banana leaf.
If you're looking for a protein-rich snack to obsessively munch on between touring the Instagram-worthy districts of Singapore, this Indonesian 'kebab' comprises succulent meat coated in condiments complemented by creamy peanut sauce and a refreshing relish of chill and cucumber. If you're on the hunt for serviced apartments in Singapore monthly, it's best to pick one offering prime access to the city's diverse eateries, like the Citadines Balestier Singapore.
While this may sound deceptively mundane, coffee and toast in Singapore deserve all the hype it gets! For one thing, kaya jam, with its subtle notes of pandan leaves and coconut is a delicacy in itself, spread generously across crunchy toast with half-boiled eggs and a drizzle of soy sauce for company. And for an even more delightful brunch, pair it with a mug of decadent kopi, which is rich Singaporean coffee commonly sweetened with condensed milk.
With juicy chunks of mutton, chicken, or fish resting on a bed of saffron-scented Basmati rice, heavily seasoned with heady spices, every bite will transport you to your foodie happy place. There are also veg versions of this local favourite, so no one misses out on the masala-rich pickled tang of this steaming meal for champions.
Sweet tooth indulgences are also common across the city, from fried carrot cake and rainbow-hued Nonya Kueh to streetside ice cream sandwiches and towering Ice Kachang. However, you can't wait a single day before trying the beloved staple sweet of Singapore; Chendol, a concoction of ice cream drenched in syrup, pandan jelly, and red beans with toppings ranging from durian to sweet corn.
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