Food to Try in Singapore: 16 Must-Eat Dishes in 2026

Singapore is a food paradise on steroids—hawker centres bursting with affordable, world-class eats from Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, and more. It’s impossible to try everything, but if you’re visiting, these are the absolute must-tries that locals rave about and tourists obsess over. I hit up hawker stalls, food courts, and a few spots during my trips, and here’s the real-deal list of iconic Singapore dishes you HAVE to eat.

1. Singapore Chilli Crab

The unofficial national dish—massive mud crab smothered in a sweet-spicy tomato-chilli sauce that’s finger-licking good (literally). Eat it with mantou (fried buns) to mop up every drop of that rich gravy. Hands get messy, but that’s the charm!
Where to try: Newton Food Centre or Jumbo Seafood (price by weight—expect S$80–150/kg, so ask first to avoid bill shock).

Singapore Chilli Crab at Newton Food Centre, huge mud crab in spicy red chilli sauce with mantou buns — Classic Singapore Chilli Crab: massive crab smothered in sweet-spicy sauce at Newton Circus Food Centre

2. Laksa Noodle Soup

My ultimate comfort bowl: rice noodles in a fiery coconut-curry broth loaded with prawns, cockles, fish cake, egg, tofu puffs, and bean sprouts. Add extra sambal for heat.
Pro tip: Katong-style (cut noodles) is a local fave—slurpy and packed with flavour.

Singapore Laksa noodle soup, spicy coconut curry broth with prawns, fish cake and tofu — Singapore Laksa: Rich coconut curry noodle soup with prawns, egg and sambal

3. Chicken Satay Skewers

Juicy marinated chicken grilled over charcoal, served with peanut sauce, cucumber, and ketupat rice cakes. Dip, bite, repeat. Singapore’s version edges out neighbours with that perfect char.
Where: Lau Pa Sat Satay Street (night market vibes after 7pm).

Chicken satay skewers Singapore hawker style, grilled with peanut sauce — Singapore Chicken Satay: Charcoal-grilled skewers with rich peanut sauce

4. Bak Kwa (BBQ Pork Jerky)

Sweet-savory grilled pork slices—chewy, smoky, addictive. Better than bacon. Buy by weight (around S$50–60/kg) and snack all day.
Flavours: Classic honey, spicy, or pepper—grab a mix.

Tray of Bakkwa Singapore BBQ pork jerky, sweet-savory roasted meat slices — Bakkwa: Singapore’s iconic sweet-savory BBQ pork slices on a tray

5. Chai Tow Kway (Carrot Cake)

Not veggie cake—it’s steamed radish cake (daikon + rice flour) fried with egg. White (light soy) or black (sweet dark soy + preserved radish). Savory, soft, crispy bits—pure hawker magic.
Where: Any good hawker centre.

White Chai Tow Kway Singapore carrot cake, fried radish cake with egg — White Chai Tow Kway: Singapore’s savoury fried radish cake with egg

6. BBQ Chicken Wings

Marinated for hours, flame-grilled till smoky-charred perfection. Squeeze lime, dip in chilli sauce. Cheap and addictive—grab 6+ easily.
Favourite spot: Zion Riverside Food Centre—juicy and cheap.

Singapore BBQ chicken wings grilled over charcoal at hawker centre — Singapore BBQ Chicken Wings: Charcoal-grilled, smoky and juicy with lime and chilli sauce

7. Otak-Otak (Banana Leaf Fish Cake)

Spicy fish paste (mackerel + coconut milk + spices) wrapped in banana leaf and grilled. Fragrant, custardy inside, smoky outside. Perfect side.

Otak-Otak Singapore banana leaf fish cake, grilled spicy fish paste wrapped in banana leaf — Otak-Otak: Singapore’s fragrant grilled fish cake in banana leaf

8. Hainanese Chicken Rice

Poached chicken on fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock, with chilli sauce, ginger, and soup. Simple perfection—Singapore’s most famous export.
Where: Tian Tian at Maxwell Food Centre (legendary).

Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre Singapore, steamed chicken on fragrant rice — Hainanese Chicken Rice: Iconic steamed chicken and rice at Maxwell Food Centre, Chinatown Singapore

9. Bak Kut Teh (Pork Ribs Soup)

Herbal peppery pork rib soup (Teochew style) with garlic, mushrooms, and youtiao. Warming, soul-soothing—eat with rice.
Pro tip: Herbal version for extra health kick.

Bowl of Bak Kut Teh Singapore herbal pork rib soup with garlic and spices — Bak Kut Teh: Singapore’s fragrant herbal pork rib soup in a steaming bowl

10. Char Kway Teow

Flat rice noodles wok-fried with dark soy, prawns, cockles, Chinese sausage, egg, and bean sprouts. Smoky “wok hei” flavour is key.
Where: Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee (Michelin Bib Gourmand level).

Char Kway Teow Singapore hawker stir-fried flat rice noodles with prawns and bean sprouts — Char Kway Teow: Singapore’s smoky stir-fried flat noodles with prawns, sausage and wok hei

11. Grilled Tiger Prawns

Godzilla-sized tiger prawns, grilled over charcoal and slathered in spicy chilli sauce (or garlic butter if you prefer milder). Juicy, smoky, massive—pure seafood heaven.
Where to try: Newton Food Centre (seafood specialists) or any open-air hawker with a grill—order a few and share.

Grilled Tiger Prawns at Newton Circus Food Centre Singapore, large prawns with spicy sauce on banana leaf — Grilled Tiger Prawns: Massive prawns charred at Newton Circus Food Centre, Singapore

12. Kaya Toast

Charcoal-grilled toast slathered with kaya (coconut-egg jam), cold butter, and soft-boiled eggs. Classic kopitiam breakfast with kopi (local coffee).
Where: Ya Kun or Toast Box.

Kaya Toast Singapore classic, toasted bread with kaya jam and thick butter — Kaya Toast: Singapore’s charcoal-grilled toast with kaya coconut jam and butter

13. Roti Prata

Crispy, flaky Indian flatbread with curry dip. Plain, egg, or tissue—tear and dunk.
Where: Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata.

Roti Prata Singapore crispy flaky Indian flatbread with curry dip — Roti Prata: Singapore’s golden crispy Indian flatbread served with spicy curry dip

14. Nasi Lemak

Coconut rice with sambal, and a variety of sides like fried chicken, chicken curry, beef randang with anchovies, peanuts, cucumber, egg. Malay breakfast of champions or for lunch or dinner.

Nasi Lemak Singapore with chicken curry, beef rendang, sambal, egg and anchovies — Nasi Lemak: Coconut rice with chicken curry, beef rendang, sambal and sides

15. Hokkien Mee

Stir-fried yellow noodles + rice noodles in prawn stock—wok hei heaven with prawns, squid, pork.

Hokkien Mee Singapore hawker noodles, yellow noodles in prawn stock with prawns and pork — Hokkien Mee: Singapore’s wok-fried yellow noodles with prawns, squid and wok hei flavour

16. Popiah

Fresh spring rolls with jicama filling, prawns, egg, lettuce—light and fresh.

singapore-popiah-fresh-spring-roll — Popiah: Singapore’s light fresh spring roll with jicama, shrimp and crushed peanuts

Other strong contenders: Oyster omelette (or luak), wanton mee, fish head bee hoon, durian (if you’re brave), and kueh (colourful rice cakes) for dessert.

Singapore’s hawker scene is UNESCO-listed for a reason—cheap, diverse, delicious. Hit Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat, Newton, or Chinatown Complex first.

What’s your first must-try? Drop it below—I’m already hungry planning round two!

See the Best Food Hawker Centres in Singapore

Food you have to try when you visit Singapore