Travelling to Singapore is an excellent treat whether you visit the place alone or with your loved ones. Exploring tourist spots such as the Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa Island, and Universal Studios will feed your eyes with unforgettable visuals. However, if you want to know more about this beautiful country, the best thing you can do is immerse yourself in Singaporean cuisine. Keep in mind that travels will never be complete without indulging in sumptuous meals and visiting famous restaurants and food stalls. Thus, make sure to allocate some time to go to famous places for tourists and local foodies.
Learning How Singapore Connects Food with Culture and Tradition
Singaporean food is known around the world because of its distinct flavours and its remarkable way of presenting The Lion City’s diverse culture and tradition. In fact, Singapore’s street food alone is ranked as the best in the world. This only shows that people across the globe recognise the country’s ability to deliver sumptuous dishes. Tourists and even local citizens also appreciate how Singapore sticks with its roots by showing its rich culture and tradition through food.
If you dig deeper into Singaporean cuisine’s origin, it’s influenced by different countries around the world. The leading influencers include food and meals from Malaysia, India, and China. It also has some recipes that come from European-Asian and Western dishes. If you observe correctly, Singapore showcases food interpretations using various influences. No wonder food in this country seems to take people to different parts of the world. It’s an experience that you can never find in any other country.
Satisfying Your Palate through Singaporean Cuisine
Whether you are a certified foodie or simply someone who enjoys eating, you will find satisfying meals in The Lion City. There are various places to eat in Singapore, and you need to find the ones that use and offer authentic dishes. Here are some of the food that you need to try at least once when you visit this wonderful country:
- Chili Crab—The Chili Crab is one of the remarkable signature dishes in Singapore that uses seafood. It features hard-shelled crabs soaked with a spicy tomato sauce or black pepper sauce. Another local version was also introduced using chilli and shrimp paste, tomatoes, and eggs. These variations are served in different parts of Singapore.
- Otak-Otak—This simple dish features steamed fish cakes. It’s a popular classic among Singaporeans, and it uses Chinese ingredients with Malaysian and Indonesian cooking techniques. This dish is usually cooked using fish fillet combines with tapioca starch. It’s often served wrapped in banana leaves. Some people prefer it as a simple snack while others like to pair it with rice or noodles.
- Biryani—If you are a fan of fried rice dishes, Biryani is a must-try for you. It’s also one of the most popular food in Singapore. It’s cooked using long grain rice with meat such as fish, chicken, or mutton. Biryani will not be an authentic dish without its spices, often including bay leaves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Pork Satay—For lovers of grilled meat, Pork Satay will be a perfect option for you. It’s pork skewers dipped in a spicy sauce that commonly uses peanut sauce, soy, and chilli. It’s ideal for your late-night cravings and is available in food stalls on the streets or even in luxury restaurants in the country.
- Hainanese Chicken—If you are more into a fresh, clean, and simple dish, going for Hainanese Chicken is a great choice. This meal is prepared by steaming chicken and serving it with rice cooked with chicken broth, ginger, and pandan leaves. It’s ideal for those who want to take a break from all the spicy flavours you often see in a Singaporean menu.
- Fried Hokkien Mee—This dish originated from the Southern part of China. It’s commonly known as “stir-fried noodles” and served with seafood like prawns, squid, and oysters. You can also choose to add a spicy sauce made of sambal sauce with soy sauce and chillis.
Travelling to Singapore will become more memorable if you try various dishes that the country is popular for. Thus, even if you have only a limited time to visit The Lion City, ensure that you take some time to visit popular food stalls and restaurants. This way, you can try some if not all of the signature dishes that are famous around the world. With this, you will be able to produce unforgettable memories just by trying out these remarkable dishes in this beautiful country.
Brooke has been a connoisseur of back roads and obscure places since she was a girl. Growing up in a small working farm, she knew at a young age that there was so much to see and understand about the world. Since she left home at 17, she’s been gallivanting around the world. She’s a go-to resource for fearless Euro travel and extreme budget adventures. Her colorful experiences moving from one country to another with only time to spare will surely inspire you to leave the rat race and chase your backpacking dreams.