The Hawker food scene is one of the main drivers for many people visiting Singapore, and for some good reasons. It’s authentic, cheap, and absolutely delicious! Read on to discover 11 Unique Hawker Dishes to try in Singapore, the culinary capital of Asia!
Singapore. A modern metropolis with state-of-the-art…well, everything. Aside from being one of the most vibrant cities in the world, one of the main reasons to visit Singapore is FOOD!
With a melting pot of so many different nationalities (predominantly Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Eurasian) in one small state, Hawker food is the best type of dining if you want to try a variety of authentic dishes all under one roof.
It’s not fine dining, but you will be guaranteed authentic flavours, rubbing elbows with the locals and a small price tag starting from as little as $4 SGD per dish.
There are lots of dishes like these 11 Popular Hawker dishes of Singapore that everyone wants to tick off their list when traveling to Singapore. Succulent Hainanese Chicken Rice, warming bowls of Laksa, and charred Satays. On my last trip to Singapore, I was on the hunt for more, and Singapore delivered.
Hungry yet? Read on to discover more and 11 Unique Hawker dishes to try in Singapore!
11 Unique Hawker dishes to try in Singapore
BBQ Stingray
This delicious, punchy dish of BBQ Stingray was one that I was so looking forward to tasting and it did not disappoint. The spicy sambal is layered over the top of the fillet and it was just a delight to eat. The meat is light and slightly stringy, with a consistency similar to chicken but lighter.
Where to try this dish
We tried this at Hen Hen BBQ at Newtown Food Centre. Prices start from SGD 18 for a medium serving of BBQ Stingray. A lot of other classic Singaporean seafood dishes are available at this stand also.
Char Koay Kak
For lovers of the ever-popular Char Koay Teow like me, this dish is a similar version and equally as delicious.
This Malaysian dish is usually eaten for breakfast or dinner and is made of cubed rice cakes, instead of noodles which gives this dish a different texture. The springy cubes are stir-fried with dark soy, bean sprouts, chives, and egg. Proteins like prawn and chilli are also sometimes added.
Thunder Tea Rice
If you are needing a lighter, filling lunch, Thunder Tea Rice is a great choice. High protein & low fat, these rice bowls are topped with beans, fried anchovies, nuts & shredded vegetables as well as proteins like chicken and eggs.
You can choose a base of white or brown rice, and add chilli as you like. The bowl is served with a side of ‘tea soup’ made from pounded tea leaves, herbs and grains, which you can either mix in with the rice or drink separately. Word of warning – The tea soup has an acquired taste and is quite strong!
Why is it called thunder tea? They say it comes from noise made from pounding the ingredients to make the soup.
Where to try this dish
We tried this at Thunder Tea Rice at Lau Pas Sat. Prices start from SGD 8 for vegetarian rice bowls. Additional protein options available are added like chicken, eggs, or fish.
Duck Fried Rice
A tasty alternative to Hainanese Chicken Rice, Duck Rice is sliced tender pieces of duck over the rice, which is also coated in the braising liquid.
Where to try this dish
We tried this this at Cai JI Boneless Duck at Seah Im Food Centre. Prices starting from SGD 8 for duck fried rice.
Fish Soup
If you are after a warming light soup and a popular hawker dish in Singapore is Fish Soup. The clear broth is made from fish and vegetables cooked over a long period and served with either sliced raw or fried fish pieces (or both), with fried shallots, Chinese cabbage and spring onions. Rice or noodles can be added also.
Where to try this dish
We tried this at Kwang Kee Teochew Fish Porridge at Newtown Food Centre. Prices starting fromstart SGD 6 for a sliced fish soup. Worth noting that this stall has been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award in Singapore – an award given yearly to the best value-for-money establishments.
Chicken Wings
At first, I thought, what can be so special about chicken wings? But these wings, well, they are just PERFECTION. The succulent chicken wings are first marinated in usually dark soy, and oyster sauce and each stall has their secret additions of spices, then skewered and roasted over a grill. The shiny glazed wings are usually served with a chilli dipping sauce and some calamansi (which looks like a small round lime).
Where to try this dish
Ah Hwee BBQ Chicken Wings is one of the best places for BBQ chicken wings (priced at SGD 1.40 per wing) and it’s at the popular East Coast Lagoon Food Village, a hawker centre located on the beachfront, on the east coast of Singapore.
Cereal Prawns
In a nut-shell, you will be served crispy huge prawns buried under a mountain of cereal!
A popular accompaniment to a seafood feast of Chilli Crab and fried Mantou (fried bread). These tasty prawns are first fried, then stir-fried in lots of butter, a mixture of cereal (usually Nestum cereal), sugar, milk powder, and spices like curry leaves and chilli.
Where to try this dish
The popular East Coast Lagoon Food Village, is the go to for seafood dishes. Expect to pay around SGD 20 per serve of Cereal Prawns.
Popiah
I was intrigued by this unassumingly simple roll but it packs a lot of flavour and is a tasty lighter option for a light lunch or a snack.
These thin wheat pancakes of Chinese origin are usually filled with cooked turnipturnips, beansprouts, crunchy peanuts, tempura bits, lettuce, eggs and other vegetables. Shrimp and crab meat are also sometimes added. These spring rolls are usually made to order which makes them a delight to eat.
Where to try this dish
Ann Chin Popiah at Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre is a popular Popiah stall with Prices starting from SGD 2.00 per popiah roll.
Braised Pork Belly
This Cantonese dish is sticky, and sweet and the slow braising makes the pork belly melt in your mouth. The pork belly is usually blanched first then braised in sugar then with soy, ginger, and Shaoxing wine. Usually served with noodles or rice over greens.
Where to try this dish
You can find this dish in popular Hawker Centre Lau Pas Sat.
Shaved Ice
The most loved Singapore dessert which is ideal to beat the humid midday heat, is without doubt shaved ice. This refreshing, light dessert is made with a mountain of shaved ice, usually topped with green-tinged jellies (from pandan leaves), coconut milk, palm sugar, and other toppings such as red beans. This definitely makes the list of one of the most unique hawker dishes to try in Singapore.
Where to try this dish
The ever-popular Old Amoy Chendol at Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre is one of the best places to get shaved ice. Prices start from SGD 2.50.
Singaporean Pancakes
Min Jiang Kueh is a traditional pancake from Singapore that is usually filled with peanuts. The pancake is thick and is usually folded, filled, and sliced. You can find it with a variety of fillings and it’s delicious!
Where to try this dish
We came across Munchi Pancakes selling these pillowy pancakes at Lau Pas Sat. Common flavours for the fillings include Peanut Butter, Black Sesame, and Roasted Coconut. Munchi Pancakes also experiments often with new flavours like Biscoff & Green Tea. Prices start from 1.60 SGD per slice.
Want to read more?
I hope you enjoyed reading this post on 11 Unique Hawker dishes to try in Singapore.
First time to Singapore and want to try some classic Singaporean dishes? Check out my post on 11 Popular Hawker Dishes to try in Singapore.
You can read more about the Best Hawker Centres to try in Singapore in a new post coming soon!
