Top 7 Must-Try Local Dishes and Where To Try Them in Singapore 

No. 1: Hainanese Chicken Rice – Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Singapore’s most famous chicken rice at the Maxwell Food Centre was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2016 and 2017 and has since been on every tourist foodie guide of Singapore. Travellers from the world over and locals from every corner of the island flock to this popular chicken rice stall, which is known for its snaking queues and rave reviews from celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Anthony Bourdain. The chicken pieces are smooth and have a satin-like skin (with a special coating of a secret recipe dressing) and is served with a plate of piping-hot fragrant rice that is boiled with chicken soup to make it super yummy. This epic meal is best enjoyed with the perfect blend of dark soya sauce, spicy chili and minced ginger!

Photo Credit: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice Facebook Page

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, 01-10/11, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184

Opening Hours: 11am to 8pm (Tuesdays to Sundays), Tian Tian is closed on Mondays

Branches in Simpang Bedok & Clementi Avenue 12

Yelp review: https://www.yelp.com.sg/biz/tian-tian-hainanese-chicken-rice-singapore-7

No. 2: Hokkien Prawn Noodles – Geylang Lor 29 Hokkien Mee

Hokkien Prawn Noodles or Hokkien Mee, as the locals affectionately name it, is one of the quintessential daily food dishes that every Singaporean enjoys! One of the finest stalls in all of Singapore is named Geylang Lorong 29 Hokkien Mee (named after its original location) and is now located along the popular East Coast Road. This dish is characterized by a flavourful stock which is made from prawns, squid, lard and pork belly and served with a combination of yellow noodles (mee) and beehoon (vermicelli) and the dish is fried over a traditional charcoal fire for enhanced richness.

Geylang Lorong 29 Hokkien Mee

Address: 396 East Coast Road, Singapore 428994

Opening Hours: 1130am to 930pm (Tuesday to Sundays), Geylang Lorong 29 Hokkien Mee is closed on Mondays.

Contact Number: +65 97331388

HungryGoWhere review: https://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/geylang_lor_29_fried_hokkien_mee/

No. 3: Chili Crab – Jumbo Seafood Restaurant (Various Branches)

Chili Crab is one of the absolute must-try dishes when you visit Singapore and it’s an absolute delight especially if it is your first time to Singapore. Don’t miss out on trying this local delicacy at one of the most popular seafood restaurants in Singapore, Jumbo Seafood. Jumbo is known to be the favourite seafood restaurants of many first-time travellers to Singapore so do make a reservation at their website: www.jumboseafood.com.sg before heading down to one of their outlets to avoid a long waiting time.

Photo Credit: Jumbo Seafood Singapore Facebook Page

JUMBO Seafood Outlets & Addresses:

JUMBO Seafood – The RiverWalk Gallery (20 Upper Circular Road, B1-48 The Riverwalk, Singapore 058416)

JUMBO Seafood – Riverside Point (30 Merchant Road, Singapore 058282)

JUMBO Seafood – East Coast Seafood Centre (1206 East Coast Park, 01-07/08 East Coast Seafood Centre, Singapore 449883)

JUMBO Seafood – Dempsey Hill (Block 11 Dempsey Road Dempsey Hill, 01-16, Singapore 249673)

No. 4: Claypot Rice – Zhao Ji Claypot Rice

Claypot Rice is one of Singapore’s favourite comfort food. Known as one of the popular food options when dining in a group in one of Singapore’s many hawker centres, this is a dish you absolutely must try as it’s unique to Singapore and Zhao Ji Claypot Rice is one of the epic stalls you have to visit if you wish to try it. Served in a large claypot, Claypot Rice combines piping hot rice, topped with dark soya sauce and chili on top and served with succulent chicken bits and chinese sausage. When you visit don’t miss out the chance to pair claypot rice with craft beer served on tap at nearby stall (Smith Street Taps)

Photo Credit: ZhaoJi Claypot Rice Facebook Page

ZhaoJi Claypot Rice

Address: Smith Street Hawker Centre (Chinatown Complex)

335 Smith Street, Unit 02-53, Singapore 050335

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Food-Stand/ZhaoJi-Claypot-Rice-220262425389243/

No. 5: Sambal Stingray – Takara Grilled Seafood (Newton Hawker Centre – Stall 74)

You will find it hard to try Sambal Stingray outside the sunny island of Singapore. Unique to the island-state, Sambal Stingray is a mainstay of many popular seafood stalls and few do it better than Takara Grilled Seafood at Newton Hawker Centre. Ever since the hawker centre was featured in Crazy Rich Asians, Newton Hawker Centre has seen an influx of tourists trying to replicate the famous scene in the top-grossing movie.

Takara Grilled Seafood

Address: Newton Hawker Centre (Stall 74), 500 Clemenceau Avenue North, Singapore 229495

TripAdvisor Review: https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserReviews-g294265-d804587-r120451066-Newton_Food_Centre-Singapore.html

No. 6: Nasi Lemak – Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak (Adam Road Hawker Centre)

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak is by far the most famous Nasi Lemak shop in all of Singapore. Known to be a favourite of the Sultan of Brunei and the President of Singapore, Selera Rasa is run by one of Singapore’s most prominent Malay families in the F&B industry. The Nasi Lemak set (Full-House) is made with premium basmati rice, cooked with fresh coconut milk and topped with a fried egg, otah (spicy fishcake), ikan bilis (fried crispy fish), sambal chili and a fried chicken wing.

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak

Address: 01-02 Adam Road Food Centre, 2 Adam Road Singapore 289876.

Yelp review: https://www.yelp.com.sg/biz/selera-rasa-nasi-lemak-singapore

No. 7: Bak Chor Mee – Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles is one of the glorious examples of Singapore’s hawker food. Being awarded one Michelin star in 2016, Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles is located in a typical coffee-shop that you’ll be able to find in residential estates all over the island. The Bak Chor Mee here is filled with bouncy al-dente noodles, crispy fish (ikan bilis), pork liver, minced pork, sliced pork, dumplings and topped off with vinegar, soy sauce and chili. The queue here is known to be one of the longest in Singapore, so do come early around 915am to get a number to wait in line.

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles

Address: 01-12 466 Crawford Lane, Singapore 190465.

Opening Hours: Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles is open daily from 930am to 9pm (Except the 1st and 3rd Monday of the Month)

Michelin review: https://guide.michelin.com/sg/en/singapore-region/singapore/restaurant/hill-street-tai-hwa-pork-noodle