With two annual food festivals, the cuisine in Singapore is not to be missed. With influences from surrounding countries there is a broad mix of flavours and dishes including Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan. There is also Thai, Japanese and Western influences.
Chinese food is one of the most popular choices around the city. The Chinese culinary ethos is combining ingredients to enhance the harmony in food as well as symbolic properties in food with noodles for longevity, oysters for good fortune and fish for prosperity. There is also a variety of the different dishes found across China including dim sum, roasted meats, spicy dishes from Szechuan and the lighter Teochew dishes including steamed seafood. The local favourites are chilli crab and fish head curry.
The Indian options also include dishes from the north and south of India. The northern dishes include mild curries, creamy yogurt based dishes, tandoori and naan. The southern dishes include seafood and fiery curries.
Malay dishes combine spices and herbs including ginger, turmeric, galangal, lemon grass, curry leaves and chillies with tasty dishes which are spicy but not unbearably hot. Peanut sauce is also popular used with satay and salads.
Peranakan is a unique blend of foods including Chinese, Malay and Indonesian flavours with a blend of herbs and coconut milk creating tasty stews and curries.
The top dishes to try when you visit are: Chicken Rice, Char Kway Teow, Wonton noodles, Carrot Cake and Chilli Crab.
These mouth-watering cuisines can be found in any food centres in Singapore as well as the city’s markets. Little India and Chinatown have street stalls with an array of tasty dishes in the hawker centres and food courts. If you want something a little more formal, the hotel restaurants are usually top class as they are run by the hotels themselves. If you can make time during your visit, a local cooking course to attempt mastering the culinary art of Singapore is a must. There are a number of schools available which you can pre book or book when you arrive. Whether you are sampling the Singaporean fine dining or mastering the skills yourself, it is always a great idea to carry a credit card instead of cash. Ensure to submit your credit card application within enough time for your trip.