12 Authentic Singaporean Food Spots to Try – Savory and Sweet All in One Go

Text & Photos /Xiaosheng’s Wandering Journey

This time, Xiaosheng is introducing Singaporean cuisine. In July, while transiting through Singapore on the way to the Maldives, I took advantage of the one-day layover on both the outbound and return trips to revisit some beloved dishes I hadn’t had in four years (Ya Kun, Katong Laksa, Tian Tian), as well as try out new ones (Song Fa, Wong Ah Wah, Ah Chew, Kaffe Toast). I didn’t have time to write detailed food reviews, so this article compiles my food experiences from both trips to Singapore. Those interested can click the extended reading links for more details.

● Chinatown

1. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

When in Chinatown, you must visit Maxwell Food Centre to try the long-missed Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. Tian Tian is quite famous, but this time I was pleasantly surprised that we didn’t have to wait long at all—last time, the wait was super long.

What makes Hainanese chicken rice special is its tender and juicy meat. The savory-sweet sauce enhances the flavor even more, and the rice is infused with the aroma of the chicken broth. Together, these elements make Hainanese chicken rice so delicious—it’s the taste I rediscovered after four years, and it’s a must-try when in Singapore.

Read more:http://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog/post/56264361

2. Ya Kun Kaya Toast

Ya Kun Kaya Toast is closer to Telok Ayer MRT Station. It’s not too far from Chinatown if you’re walking, though Ya Kun now has many branches, even at the airport. But this location is the original store.

Kaya toast, hot coffee, and soft-boiled eggs with soy sauce make up a classic Singaporean/Malaysian breakfast. Ya Kun’s toast is really delicious—the crispy texture paired with butter and rich kaya spread is absolutely addictive. On the way back, I even bought a bottle of kaya to bring home to Taiwan so I could enjoy it anytime. Though I still can’t get used to the soft-boiled eggs with soy sauce, locals love them.

Read more:http://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog/post/57380340

3. People’s Park Complex – Ann Chin Handmade Popiah’s Satay Bee Hoon

Ann Chin Handmade Popiah is located inside People’s Park Complex, which houses tons of food stalls. A friend brought me here, but instead of trying the popiah, we went for the satay bee hoon (noodles).

Satay paired with noodles is a pretty fun combo for us. The noodles absorb the satay gravy, preventing them from getting too dry. Overall, it’s not an absolute must-try, but it’s a creative dish you won’t find in Taiwan—definitely worth a try.

Read more:http://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog/post/58751860

4. People’s Park Complex – Snowflake Fei Chang Ji Cold & Hot Desserts

Snowflake Fei Chang Ji Cold & Hot Desserts is also in the food court of People’s Park Complex. While there are many food stalls in the complex, only a few draw long lines—and Snowflake Fei Chang Ji is one of them.

The snowflake ice here may not look like much, but once topped with caramel and condensed milk, it becomes incredibly rich and flavorful. With a wide variety of toppings, enjoying a bowl of cool snowflake ice in Singapore’s year-round summer weather is truly a delight.

Read more:http://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog/post/58751860

● Little India

5.AR-RAHMAN ROYAL PRATA

AR-RAHMAN ROYAL PRATA is located in the food area of Tekka Centre in Little India. Tekka Centre’s food zone features a variety of international cuisines, mainly Chinese and Indian. This Indian roti place was recommended by a friend, and I later found out it’s actually a well-known local spot.

I only tried the cheese omelette roti that time, but it was crispy, flavorful, and the cheese was especially aromatic. Paired with Indian curry, it had a unique taste. The shop offers many other types of Indian rotis—I’d really like to try the Roti Tissue next time.

Read more:http://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog/post/56335188

6.Lagnaa

Located in an old building in Little India, Lagnaa is an Indian curry restaurant with quite a reputation—many media outlets have covered it. Most importantly, the curry is delicious.

Lagnaa’s curry is richly aromatic and incredibly tasty. What stands out the most is the spiciness. The restaurant even hosts a spice challenge during the full moon, where those who complete it get their names on the “Wall of Heroes.” Spice lovers should definitely come here and take on the challenge.

Read more:http://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog/post/56373990

7. Wong Ah Wah Bak Kut Teh Restaurant

Huang Yaxi Bak Kut Teh Restaurant is not located in Little India, but it’s not far either—just 600 meters from Farrer Park MRT Station. Huang Yaxi is also a well-known, long-established bak kut teh spot. During my second trip to Singapore, I made a point to visit two famous bak kut teh shops for the experience, and Huang Yaxi was one of them.

The Singapore-style bak kut teh differs from the Malaysian version in that it has a much stronger peppery flavor XD. Huang Yaxi stands out among them, so the broth here is particularly bold—but I actually quite liked it. Having my last meal in Singapore at Huang Yaxi felt like the perfect ending.

● Clarke Quay

8. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

Another well-known bak kut teh shop is Song Fa Bak Kut Teh, located near Clarke Quay. On my first day in Singapore, I decided to revisit this long-missed dish, so Song Fa quickly became my top pick from my list.

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh was the first bak kut teh I ever tried, so at the time, I found the heavily peppery broth quite unique. But after trying Huang Yaxi, I realized that Song Fa’s pepper flavor isn’t actually that strong. Though its peppery taste isn’t as intense as Huang Yaxi’s and the broth isn’t as heavy, the richness of the soup at Song Fa surpasses that of Huang Yaxi. Both shops have their own strengths, and both are equally delicious—it just depends on whether you prefer a bolder taste or a richer broth.

● Little Arabia District

9. Ah Chew Desserts

On my second trip to Singapore, I really wanted to try authentic local desserts, so a local friend took us to Ah Chew Desserts in Bugis, Little Arabia District. Ah Chew is considered a well-known, long-standing dessert shop in the area.

Looking at Ah Chew’s extensive dessert menu made it really hard to decide what to order. Then I spotted a mango grass jelly dessert and immediately went for it, because I absolutely love mango and had never tried it with grass jelly before. The result... the mango was just mango, and the grass jelly was just grass jelly—they didn’t clash, but they didn’t really come together either. Honestly, they felt like two separate items with no real harmony XD.

● Katong & Old Airport Road

10. 328 Katong Laksa

328 Katong Laksa is located in the Katong district, which isn’t a major tourist area. But I really like it here because the old architecture is very well preserved, and there are fewer tourists, allowing you to take your time and soak in the atmosphere. Plus, the laksa here is incredibly delicious—even many tourists make a special trip to Katong just for the laksa.

Laksa may not look very appealing, and if you think about it in Taiwanese, the name doesn’t sound too great either. But once you take a bite, it’s an unforgettable flavor. That’s why I made a special trip to Katong during my second visit to Singapore just to eat laksa. Just a heads-up: though the spice level wasn’t high for me, it might be overwhelmingly hot for those who can’t handle spice. One of my travel companions couldn’t take the heat this time XD.

Further reading:http://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog/post/56562459

11. Toa Payoh Rojak (Up Lah)

Toa Payoh Up Lah is located in the food and shopping center along Old Airport Road, near CC8 Dakota MRT Station. It’s not in the city center and is a bit off the beaten path, but this Up Lah spot has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines.

Up Lah (Rojak) is quite a unique dish—mixing various raw vegetables and tossing them with a special peanut sauce. It’s one of the signature foods of Singapore and Malaysia. But even though I’m usually adventurous and open to trying different cuisines, I just couldn’t get into Up Lah. I tried it again in Malaysia and still didn’t like it. When I asked a Malaysian friend why they liked it, they simply said, “It’s like how you guys eat stinky tofu.” Stinky tofu is also something they can’t stand. Though the taste of Up Lah may not suit our palates, it’s still worth a try if you’re interested in sampling unique local snacks.

Further reading:http://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog/post/58742776

12.kaffe toast

Kaffe Toast was something I tried on my way back, during my second entry into Singapore. The first time I came, I had Ya Kun Kaya Toast, so this time I opted for Kaffe Toast. It’s a local chain, and surprisingly, there’s a branch at the airport, so we just grabbed a quick bite there.

We had the classic Singaporean breakfast—kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, and coffee. The kaya spread on Kaffe Toast’s kaya toast was quite generous, which was nice. However, the kaya made the originally crispy toast a bit soggy, which affected the texture a little. That was a bit of a downside. Personally, I still prefer Ya Kun’s kaya toast.

Singapore offers an incredible variety of food, and these 12 dishes are just the tip of the iceberg. Among them, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, 328 Katong Laksa, and Indian Roti Prata are places I’d revisit given the chance. Now I might add Huang Yaxi or Song Fa to that list too. If I ever get the chance to go back to Singapore, I’ll definitely update this article.

Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journey
Every journey, every trip is a quest. Though I’m not entirely sure what I’m searching for, what I ultimately gain always exceeds my expectations. So my wandering journey will continue endlessly.