Singapore is a vibrant island nation in the middle of Southeast Asia and is known for being a melting pot of different cultures. There’s a harmonious blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Indonesian and many other cultures which is also reflected in the country’s unique and diverse food scene.
Malaysian and Indonesian people introduced their love for spices as well as coconut milk which can be found in traditional dishes such as Nasi Lemak, whereas the Chinese brought noodles, dumplings and stir-fries.
The beating heart of Singapore’s food scene is represented by its iconic hawker centers, open-air food courts offering affordable and extremely diverse delights. Each stall is usually run by a family which specialises in a couple of dishes from their tradition. Skilled hawkers will prepare your meal right before your eyes. This leads to food paradises boasting Malay, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian, Taiwanese, Filipino, Japanese, Peranakan and many more cuisines. You’ll simply be spoilt for choice. The only thing you need to keep in mind though is to let the hawkers know immediately if you don’t want your dishes to be spicy as most cuisines in Southeast Asia simply love chilli and Co.
Thanks to its hawker centers, meals in Singapore are not just nourishing: they represent an authentic social experience. These food courts are vibrant community hubs where people from all sorts of backgrounds connect over drinks and shared plates. Local people will tell you to avoid the famous food stalls downtown such as Maxwell or Lau Pa Sat, but rather try the ones located in residential neighbourhoods such as Clementi or Bishan to enjoy even more authentic food and flavours.
Must-Try Delights:
You cannot say that you’ve been to Singapore without having tried some of its most iconic dishes.
First things first, Singapore’s national dish, Hainanese chicken rice, where fragrant rice complements perfectly steamed chicken drizzled with fragrant soy sauce. Breakfast in Singapore consists of Kaya Toast, toasted bread with butter and coconut jam, accompanied by soft boiled eggs and local kopi (coffee). Next up, Laksa, a spicy noodle soup originating from Malay cuisine containing shrimp, seafood and coconut milk. Any visit to Lau Pa Sat, Singapore’s most famous hawker center must include a stop-over at Satay Street, where you can get grilled skewers of marinated meat served with peanut sauce (and maybe some local beer on the side).
Beyond such signature dishes, the food scene in the city-state is constantly evolving. There’s an abundance of modern restaurants experimenting and reinterpreting traditional recipes. Foodies can wander around Chinatown or Little India for authentic flavours, visit Michelin starred street food stalls (Hawker Chan or Hill Street Thai Hwa Pork Noodles) or dive into hawker centers all over the island. Each bite here is a journey into the rich mix of cultures that make Singapore unique. So if you plan on visiting, come hungry and curious and prepare to be impressed by a symphony of flavours.
Daniel Pappalardo
Bocconi Food Blog 