Planning your next Singapore travel adventure? This vibrant island nation is not just famous for its skyline and shopping—it’s a paradise for food lovers. From hawker stalls to heritage restaurants, every corner of Singapore tells a story through its flavours. Whether you’re joining local food tours, hunting for authentic street eats, or just looking for delicious things to do in Singapore, here are ten iconic dishes you simply can’t miss in 2025.
1. Hainanese Chicken Rice – The National Dish of Singapore
Hainanese chicken rice is Singapore’s national comfort food, sometimes dubbed the “Hermès of chicken rice”!
Tender, juicy chicken pairs with rice that’s truly the soul of the dish —premium jasmine rice cooked in chicken fat, pandan leaves, and shallots for an irresistible aroma. The set comes with three special sauces: chili sauce, ginger mash, and dark soy sauce.
Locals and travellers alike are drawn to this simple yet addictive classic flavour. Take a bite of chicken, a spoonful of fragrant rice, then a dab of chili sauce—and happiness is easy.
Recommended place: Chatterbox! (Opened in 1971, visited by Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew — a true landmark in Singapore food history.) Located on the 5th floor of the Hilton Singapore Orchard Road.
2. Bak Kut Teh – Singapore’s Herbal Pork-Bone Soup
When you travel in Singapore, you must try bak kut teh!
The founder based the recipe on Fuchienstyle herb-medicinal cooking and adapted it for Singapore’s humid climate. The soul of the dish lies in a pot of slow-cooked broth: pork marrow bones are cleaned and blanched, then simmered for over six hours in a claypot with more than ten herbs and spices like angelica, goji berries, codonopsis and star anise. The soup is clear yet rich in flavour—the marrow and herbal essence melt into the broth, warming you from the tip of your tongue to your stomach.
Recommended place: Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (est. 1969).
3. Laksa – Singapore’s Iconic Curry Laksa on Food Tours
Laksa is hugely popular in Singapore, and the most famous version is curry laksa. It’s often served with thick rice noodles (Laksa noodles), sometimes egg noodles or rice vermicelli, and the magic is in that rich, fragrant broth: coconut milk, curry spices, dried shrimp, chili—all simmered together for a silky depth.
The taste is bold, creamy and spicy, with the savoury dried-shrimp note making it uniquely Singaporean. Diners often add a spoon of sambal chili (to adjust the heat) and some lime juice to balance the richness of the coconut milk.
4. Chilli Crab – A Signature Singaporean Seafood Experience
Chilli crab is one of Singapore’s most representative seafood dishes. A mud crab (typically) is cooked in a thick sauce made from tomato and chili—sweet, salty and mildly spicy. Despite its name, it’s not always fiery; the focus is on the rich sauce flavor and the freshness of the crab.
When eating, you’ll often find mantou (Chinese steamed or fried buns) or white rice to soak up every last drop of that delicious sauce. Chilli crab is more than just a dish — it’s a symbol of Singapore’s seafood culture.
Recommended places:
1/ JUMBO Seafood – ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, #04-09/10, Singapore 238801
2/ Roland Restaurant (linked historically to the invention and popularisation of chilli crab), 89 Marine Parade Central, #06-750, Singapore 440089
5. Oatmeal Prawns – Southeast Asia’s Crispy Delight
Oatmeal prawns are a dish with strong Southeast Asian flavour, popular in Singapore and Malaysia. Fresh large prawns (such as whiteleg or black tiger) are coated lightly in starch/ flour then deep-fried until golden and crisp. The oatmeal (for example Nestum cereal) is roasted until its grain aroma deepens.
Butter, curry leaves, chili and garlic are often added for extra flavour. The crunchy oatmeal’s roasted, nutty aroma blends with the fresh prawn sweetness and subtle sea scent. The result is a flavour symphony—crisp texture, sweet-savory notes, lingering finish.
6. Kaya Toast – A Taste of Singapore’s Kopitiam Culture
Kaya toast originates from Singapore’s Hainan-style coffee shops (kopitiams). It features toasted bread spread with kaya (a coconut-egg jam made from coconut milk, eggs, sugar and pandan leaves) plus a slab of cold butter.
It’s usually served with a soft-boiled egg and a cup of kopi or teh (traditional Hainan coffee or tea). Break the egg in a small bowl, season with soy sauce and white pepper, then dip the toast in. This simple breakfast favourite is both a local ritual and a traveller’s must-try on your “Singapore travel food tours”.
Recommended places:
1/ Ya Kun Kaya Toast, 18 China Street, #01-01, Singapore 049560
2/ Heap Seng Leong Coffee Shop, 10 North Bridge Rd, #01-5109, Singapore 190010 – a nostalgic kopitiam atmosphere, thick white bread, thick butter and fragrant coconut jam make for a hearty combo.
7. Frog Porridge (田鸡粥) – A Unique Night-time Local Dish
In Singapore there is a distinct local dish: frog porridge (also called “frog congee” or “froggy porridge”). “Frog” here refers to blue-frog legs or frog meat, used as a cooking ingredient in certain local spots. The texture is described as “bouncy, with chew but not tough,” some say somewhere between fish and chicken. You’ll find this dish in the late-night or supper scene in lively areas such as Geylang.
Frog porridge is typically made two ways: one method is to cook frog meat directly in the porridge with rice; the other is to stir-fry or braise frog meat with sauce/ ginger-scallion/ dried chili first, then pair with a lighter white rice porridge.
Recommended place: Eminent Frog Porridge & Seafood – listed in the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list, meaning recognised as quality yet reasonably priced street/late-night food. Address: 323 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389359.
8. Nasi Lemak – Breakfast Favourite with Local Fusion
Although nasi lemak has its roots in traditional Malay cuisine, it’s no less beloved by Singapore’s Chinese and Indian communities for breakfast. Coconut-milk rice cooked with a hint of pandan leaf gives the rice a fragrant lift.
The classical Malay version is simple: anchovies (ikan bilis), peanuts, fried fish, cucumber and an egg. The Chinese-style version is more elaborate: fried chicken leg, chicken sausage, fish cake, curry vegetables and luncheon meat all join the plate. Nasi lemak encapsulates the multicultural breakfast scene of Singapore and is a great thing to do in your Singapore travel itinerary.
9. Char Kway Teow – Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Wok-Hei
Char Kway Teow is a visually appealing, flavourful street-food favourite in Singapore, adored by locals. The dish uses broad rice noodles (kway teow) stir-fried at high heat with egg, fresh prawns, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts and fish-cake, all infused with “wok-hei” (the breath of the wok). A drizzle of special sweet soy sauce rounds it out so that the result is savoury, aromatic and lightly sweet.
Recommended places:
1/ Hill Street Char Kway Teow, Bedok South Market & Food Centre
2/ Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee, Hong Lim Food Centre
10. Durian Puffs – A Local Dessert for the Adventurous
Singapore has a strong durian culture, and incorporating durian into desserts makes for a truly local experience. Durian puffs consist of premium durian varieties (such as Mao Shan Wang or D24) made into a creamy filling, wrapped in choux pastry or a similarly light or crisp shell.
The exterior is airy or crisp, the inside dense with durian puree or paste. The aroma is intense; the taste is creamy, slightly sweet (or sometimes bittersweet / nutty depending on the variety). The contrast of the light pastry and rich durian is a delight—especially for durian lovers and curious travellers alike.
Recommended places:
1/ Sunlife Durian Puffs & Pastries, 203 Toa Payoh North, #01-1107, Singapore 310203
2/ Ms Durian, 11 Kelantan Road, Singapore 208604 (near Jalan Besar MRT station)
Why These Food Tours Fit Perfectly into Your Singapore Travel Plan
Whether you’re planning a full-day food tour or casual sampling of local eats, these ten dishes highlight the diversity of Singapore’s gastronomic landscape. From hawker-centre quick bites to more refined restaurants, they help you dive deep into Singapore’s culinary culture. Many of these are also excellent “things to do” when touring Singapore for the first time—make sure you bookmark them under “Singapore travel” and “food tours” in your itinerary.