Ultimate Tourist Guide to Hawker Food in Singapore

A Malay breakfast staple of coconut rice and toppings like fried fish, crispy anchovies, egg and spicy sambal, nasi lemak is a well-loved dish that's enjoyed throughout the day, even at suppertime! It's easy to get your hands on a banana leaf-wrapped packet of the rice from hawker centres, but for a revolutionary nasi lemak experience, consider shelling out a bit more for a meal at The Coconut Club. This hip but laid-back Ann Siang Hill restaurant specialises in Nasi Lemak ($12.80) and they also serve a great cendol for dessert. Every ingredient on the plate is done extremely well, which more than justifies its price. The coconut rice is fragrant yet light, the chicken is expertly marinated and fried till golden and juicy, the anchovies are crisp, the fried-egg is spot on and the accompanying sambal packs a whole lot of punchy flavour and just enough heat. Yum! Make sure you save space for the Cendol ($3.80). The dessert is a revelation of how the simple combination of finely shaved ice, green jelly noodles, aromatic gula Melaka syrup and fresh coconut milk can be so, so tasty.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Julius Lim

As many Singaporeans will attest to, nothing hits the spot in the mornings quite like kaya (coconut jam) toast, soft boiled eggs and a hot beverage. Kaya toast shops are aplenty, and like most dishes, locals each have their favourite. A well-known chain in town, Ya Kun has various locations, one of which is in the heart of the Orchard shopping district at 313@Somerset. Come by for breakfast or tea before or in between trawling the shops. The classic Kaya Butter Toast Set ($4.80) comes with four thin pieces of toast, soft-boiled eggs (best enlivened with pepper and drizzles of black soy sauce) and a hot coffee or tea (known as kopi or teh). The star is no doubt the thinly sliced bread, toasted on a charcoal grill till crisp, then slathered with luscious kaya and sandwiched with a thin slab of chilled butter. Pro tip: Here's a trick to ordering your kopi or teh like a local. Say "siew dai" if you like it less sweet, "gao" if you like it stronger and "peng" if you want it iced (usually at an extra charge).
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See

For one last foodie hurray enroute to Changi International Airport, make a pitstop at Springleaf Prata Place on Jalan Tua Kong (about a 15-minute drive away). Tucked away in the eastside surburbs, this Halal-certified joint serves fun, fusion-type renditions of murtabak (pan-fried dough stuffed with various fillings) and roti prata (griddled South Indian flatbread). Both are usually served with house-cooked curry gravy on the side, although it's not unusual to see diners eating prata with white sugar. Be sure to bring a sense of adventure, because the creations here are unconventional. The Ultimate Murtabak ($12) comes stuffed with tender chunks of tandoori chicken and a thick layer of oozing mozzarella studded with mushroom slices, while the Umami ($7.50) brims with chicken luncheon meat, chicken floss, Japanese mayonnaise, egg and mozzarella. Alternatively, try the Plaster Blaster ($5), which sees crispy, plain prata topped with slices of ham and a wobbly poached egg, smothered in hollandaise sauce. We're happy to report it is equally yummy doused in curry gravy!
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Jervois Chong

A popular Singaporean and Malaysian dish of pork ribs cooked in either a herbal or peppery broth, Bak Kut Teh is the thing to make a beeline for on cool, rainy days. There is no lack of places in Singapore to tuck into this wholly comforting dish, but there's a reason why there are constant crowds at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh outlets — the Bak Kut Teh (from $7) is consistently satisfying and located conveniently. Song Fa's broth is garlicky and peppery, as is characteristic of the Teochew style of preparation. The pork ribs are generously meaty, and really tender and flavourful. Don't forget to add on some iconic side dishes — options include braised peanuts, preserved vegetables, braised pork knuckle and fried dough sticks (you tiao) made for dunking into the broth. Pro tip: Queues are inevitable, but service is efficient. Don't be shy to ask for a complimentary top-up of the broth!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Xinyi Lim

Bak chor mee stalls are a dime a dozen across the island, but when it comes to an excellent bowl of springy yellow noodles topped with minced pork and assorted toppings, this longtime favourite at Crawford Lane in Lavender does it best. Make the most of your time and combine your trip here with a visit to the nearby Kampong Glam heritage area. Queue times have tripled since they were awarded a Michelin star in 2016, so be prepared to wait — an hour's queuing is often de rigueur here. The patient (and early) will be rewarded with a bowl of Bak Chor Mee (from $5) excellence. After the gruelling wait, most customers would splash out on the most expensive $10 bowl, which comes generously with toppings like meatballs, dumplings, pork liver, sliced pork, and fried flat fish slices. The noodles are cooked till springy al dente doneness, and then tossed in a distinctively tangy vinegary sauce — absolutely slurp-worthy! Pro tip: Avoid peak lunch and dinner hours. Come outside of meal times and you may get lucky with a 15-minute wait.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Jing Ying Ooi

For a wholly Peranakan teatime experience, visit this Tiong Bahru stalwart for their Nonya kueh. The Straits Chinese have combined and transformed simple ingredients like glutinous rice, coconut milk and sugar into dainty, delicate and delicious sweet snacks. While Malay food stalls and chain bakeries sometimes offer these snacks, nothing beats the authentic and time-honoured flavours from this family-run establishment. You're likely to be overwhelmed by the selection, so here's what you should get — Kueh Kosui ($0.70), steamed rice cakes coated in desiccated coconut; Kueh Dadar ($0.80), pandan-flavoured crepes encasing coconut sweetened with gula Melaka; Putu Ayu ($3.80 for five), steamed cakes with grated coconut and gula Melaka; and Ondeh Ondeh ($0.60 each); glutinous rice balls holding a delicate center of gula Melaka syrup. Most of the snacks are bite-sized and affordable so if in doubt, try it.
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Zhihui Lim