One of the reasons we love Singapore is the incredible food. So, today, we’re going on an adventure to Singapore’s Chinatown. From bustling hawker centers to hidden local gems, let me bring you the top spots to eat. If you’re planning a trip to Singapore, our guide will definitely come in handy!
#1 Hawker Chan
This place is famous for being the world’s first hawker stall awarded a Michelin star. Let’s order their signature dish: the Soya Sauce Chicken Rice. And as a side dish, let’s get some Pork Dumplings in Hot and Spicy Sauce.
The glossy chicken, the flavorful rice, and a bit of green vegetables—it’s literally the perfect combination, right?
Not only that, behind the forest of vegetables, there was a soy sauce-marinated egg hiding. Even setting the taste aside, it was nutritionally balanced. If I lived in Singapore, I might have become a bodybuilder. You know it’s hard to find such a well-balanced diet at this price.
The chicken was cooked to perfection. It wasn’t tough at all; it was incredibly tender and maintained a wonderfully moist texture. And the soy sauce-based sauce was amazing. It was not too salty; just perfectly seasoned with a pleasant aroma. I know some people might find Chinese food a bit strong, but this one? Even a five-year-old kid would love it.
Now, about the dumplings! They were doused in the sauce. To be honest, I wouldn’t say they were the the best dumplings I’ve ever had, but they had a pretty decent flavor. If you’re not planning to stay in Singapore for a month with a chance to visit this place several times, I’d suggest skipping the dumplings and getting another Chicken Rice instead. It’s a much better deal.
#2 Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
This is one of the most famous chicken rice spots in Singapore, and as expected, there was a long line of people waiting. But don’t worry about it! The line moves really fast, so we could get our food much sooner than we thought. (Just a heads-up: they only take cash, so make sure to bring some!)
Look at this—freshly cooked chicken, super fragrant rice, and that special sauce on top. What’s not to love? And I have to say something about this sauce because it was seriously incredible. It added a pleasant umami to both the chicken and the rice.
The chicken was unbelievably tender and juicy. It was so soft, so it just fell apart with the slightest touch. It really made me wonder how they cook it this perfectly. You know… cooking one or two chickens to this level might be possible with lots of love and care—but you saw the number of people waiting. It was seriously impressive how they maintained such great quality while serving so many dishes every day, especially in that small kitchen.
And the rice was super fragrant and flavorful. Since the rice was cooked in chicken broth with aromatics, every bite had that deep, rich flavor along with an aromatic scent. If I lived nearby, I’d probably come here every day. I was so jealous of the people who live in Singapore!
#3 Lao Ban Soya Beancurd
At first glance, it looked similar to silken tofu, but it was much richer and sweeter, more like a delightful pudding. Even if you’re not a big fan of tofu, you’ll fall in love with its natural sweetness, nuttiness, and heavenly smooth texture.
#4 Oriental Chinese Restaurant
This restaurant specializes in cuisine from the Northeast and Sichuan regions of China. If you’re new to Chinese food or still getting used to it, this will be a great place to visit. I mean, most of the dishes here are super approachable—even picky eaters in your group will find something to love.
Out of the hundreds of menu items, we went with Shredded Pork with Green Pepper, Mapo Tofu, and Northeast-Style Sweet and Sour Pork. The sweet and sour pork was a bit delayed, but no big deal. We just enjoyed cold beer with those two dishes first.
Mapo Tofu looks like the most delicious volcano, right? It was a bit on the spicy side and had a strong mala flavor, but with some rice, it was just right.
Personally, I really loved the pork and pepper stir-fry. The pork was tender, the peppers had a perfect crunch, and that incredible wok hei added an amazing smoky flavor. Wrapping it all up in these fluffy steamed buns was so good.
There are so many versions of sweet and sour pork, and this tangy one is my favorite. I do wish the pork pieces were cut a little more evenly—it was slightly overcooked—but flavor-wise, it still hit the spot.
#5 Mei Heong Yuen Dessert
This place is known for its shaved ice, and they offer a wide variety of options. They even have Cendol shaved ice, a dessert unique to Singapore— definitely worth trying if you’re curious. Honestly, you can’t go wrong—everything looked delicious!
We got the mango shaved ice, and it was only $5—plenty for two people to share. It came topped with a generous amount of fresh mango chunks, and what I loved most was that it didn’t have any artificial mango taste; instead, it had a rich, natural mango flavor that was super refreshing.
