1. Laksa
Laksa is one of the ultimate demonstrations of the combination of Chinese and Malay flavors and ingredients all in a single bowl. Noodles, often rice noodles, make up the foundation and starch of a bowl of laksa, followed by a gravy or curry, some pieces of protein, and often some vegetables and herbs.
2. Bak Kut Teh
Literally translated to pork bone tea, bak kut teh is a dish that’s popular throughout Malaysia and Singapore with Chinese origins. Although one would think the pork is cooked in tea, tea is not actually included in the recipe, but according to Wikipedia, it got its name because strong tea is consumed along with the pork soup to wash down the grease.
3. Hokkien Mee
Along with Char Kway Teow (coming up soon), Hokkien Mee is one of the most popular fried noodle hawker dishes in Singapore. It’s a dish that has roots in China’s Fujian province (which is where the Hokkien people are originally from), that has now been adopted into Malaysia and Singapore.
4. Chicken Rice
Although it’s just a simple combination of boiled chicken, paired with flavorful rice and sauce, this Hainanese influenced dish, ranks as one of the most popular and beloved dishes to eat in Singapore (it’s also extremely popular in Thailand, known as khao man gai).
5. Char Kway Teow
When it comes to stir fried noodles in Singapore, one of the ultimate local favorites is char kway teow, a dish of flat wide rice noodles, stir fried with egg, a sauce of dark soy sauce, shrimp paste, a bit of chili, and often some Chinese sausage and blood cockles to finish it off.
6. Carrot Cake (Chai Tow Kway)
Another one of the standard Singapore dishes that you’ll find at just about every hawker food centre throughout the city is chai tow kway, which is very commonly referred to as a carrot cake.
7. Wanton Mee
One of the popular Chinese Cantonese dishes that’s available at just about all hawker centre food courts throughout Singapore is wantan mee, the familiar combination of yellow egg noodles, wanton dumplings, some small boiled vegetables, and often some slices of char siu.
8. Fish Bee Hoon
Yet another popular noodle dish that’s commonly found as a Singapore food is fish bee hoon, fish with noodles.
9. Bak Chor Mee
Although there are similar versions of the dish served in China and throughout Southeast Asia, bak chor mee is a true Singaporean dish. Bak chor mee, meaning minced pork and noodles, usually consists of egg noodles, topped with minced pork, some other pork ingredients, and a sauce made with vinegar, chili, and soy sauce.
10. Peranakan Food
The word Peranakan refers to a group of people, most originally Hokkien, Hakka, and Teochew, that were born somewhere on the Malay Peninsula and the surrounding islands – within the Straits of Malacca. Peranakan people have a unique culture that blends Chinese, Malay, and even Western influences. There’s no better way to learn about the Peranakan culture than through food, and it’s a thrilling cuisine that’s as diverse and flavorful as their history.
