Singapore is a dream destination for foodies. The street food here is legendary, but there are also many world-class restaurants to enjoy, so it really is a city-state that has it all. Here’s a guide if you’re planning to go on vacation in Singapore and you want to make sure you get your fill of the best food.

Food You Have to Try

First of all, keep in mind some of the delicious traditional dishes you have to try. Singapore is a place where you are rewarded for being experimental, so always be adventurous and try new things, but the following dishes are particularly worthy of your attention, so make sure you try these out at some point during your time here:

• Hainanese chicken rice: The national dish, a simple but delicious dish of steamed chicken with rice that you can find almost anywhere.

• Laksa: Curry noodle soup that is both delicious and filling, and consists of prawns and coconut broth.

• Popiah: Similar to spring rolls, these cheap and delicious snacks are packed with prawns, eggs, meat, and vegetables.

• Bak Kut Teh: A simple and tasty dish of pork ribs boiled in a sweet sauce.

• Carrot cake: A savory dish consisting of cakes made from radish garlic, spring onions, and eggs.

• Char Kway Teow: Delicious stir-fried noodles that are one of the most popular types of street food you can find in Singapore.

Discover Street Food in Singapore

Singapore is one of the few destinations in the world where you could stick exclusively to street food and never step foot in a restaurant, and still return claiming to have eaten well. Street food is authentic, affordable, and delicious, so book your central hotel using Hipmunk or a similar service and you will be perfectly situated to try out any of the following places.

The Maxwell Road Hawker Center is one of the most well known hawker centers in Singapore. You’ll find plenty of stalls here selling all kinds of delicious snacks, and some of the stalls here get very busy, leading to long lines at lunch time.

The Hong Lim Market and Food Center is another great authentic place to eat. It is popular with locals, and the stalls are spread over two floors.

Lau Pa Sat is another of the most well-known hawker centers. It is popular with tourists and is less authentic than other places, but it has a huge range of food on offer and it is also open 24 hours a day.

Other places you may want to check out include the Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Makansutra Glutton’s Bay, and the East Coast Lagoon Village, which is in a great location next to the beach.

Other Great Places to Eat

As well as the street food and open-air food centers, there are plenty of individual restaurants that are well worth trying out.

Tong Ah Eating House on Keong Siak Road is a traditional option for breakfast. You’ll find good kaya toast and kopi (local coffee) here to fill you up in the morning.

Wild Rocket at Hangout Hotel on Upper Wilkie Road is the upmarket flagship restaurant of Willin Low. It has a sleek appearance and a sophisticated menu, with an eight-course tasting menu available. Try the Singapore noodles if you want a real treat.

Ding Dong is chef Ryan Clift’s restaurant on Ann Siang Road. It has an exciting, Asian-inspired menu, a fantastic selection of wine, and surprising dishes.

Waku Ghin at Marina Bay Sands has got excellent reviews for its Japanese and European cuisine. Here you will find a 10-course tasting menu for a maximum of 25 diners, providing an exclusive but slightly more expensive dining experience.

Red House Seafood Restaurant is another recommended restaurant that is great for seafood and especially its Chili Crab. Eng Seng Restaurant is another good seafood option on Joo Chiat Place, and its Black Pepper Crab is particularly popular.

Discover The Best Food in Singapore

There are not many places in the world where you can enjoy such a wide selection of food as in Singapore. Whether you eat out in the hawker centers, visit posh restaurants, or try a bit of everything, you are certain to eat well during your time here. So try out a few of the above places during your trip, and see what else you can discover. And remember to be adventurous and try a bit of everything to get the very most out of your time here.

Fiona Moriarty is a content strategist for Hipmunk. She likes sharing her experiences on food and eating all over the world. Her articles can be found mostly on travel and eating blog sites.