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Thali

🇸🇬 The food of Singapore

79 dishes from Singapore, best known first, across 1 city or region.

Singaporean cooking blends Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, and Western influences, reflecting the city’s diverse history as a trading port. Hawker centres, with their wide range of affordable dishes, are central to daily life and social identity. The cuisine is known for its balance of flavours, moderate spiciness, and adaptability to different dietary customs.

  • Hawker centres are central to Singapore’s food culture.
  • Hainanese chicken rice is considered a national dish.
  • Chilli crab and black pepper crab are signature seafood dishes.
  • Kaya toast with coffee or tea is a classic snack.
  • Singapore hawker culture is recognized by UNESCO.

The cooking of Singapore

Singapore’s food is shaped by centuries of migration and trade, drawing on Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, and Eurasian roots. The city’s colonial past and its role as a port have brought in British, Japanese, and Thai touches as well. Dishes often combine ingredients and techniques from different cultures, resulting in unique local creations. Flavours tend to be bold but balanced, with moderate use of spice and a focus on savoury, sweet, and sometimes tangy notes. Eating together is a key part of life, and meals are often shared in bustling hawker centres, which serve as community gathering spots.

Staple foods in Singapore

Rice and noodles are at the heart of most meals, often paired with chicken, seafood, or pork. Coconut milk, spices, and herbs like pandan and lemongrass are common. Soy sauce, sambal (a spicy chilli paste), and fermented products add depth. Fish and shellfish are widely used, reflecting Singapore’s coastal location. Toast with kaya (a coconut egg jam) is a popular snack or breakfast.

Snacks and street food in Singapore

Snacking is woven into daily routines, with kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs served at coffee shops called kopitiams. Street food is central, with stalls offering dishes like laksa (noodles in coconut prawn broth), roti prata (flaky flatbread), and char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles with seafood and sausage). Hawker centres provide a wide range of quick, affordable options.

Sweets and drinks in Singapore

Desserts often feature tropical ingredients and Chinese influences. Tau suan, a sweet soup of split mung beans, is commonly eaten with fried dough sticks. Drinks include strong local coffee and tea, usually served sweetened and with condensed milk. Cold desserts and drinks are popular in the tropical climate.

From region to region in Singapore

While Singapore is small, its food reflects the heritage of its main communities. Chinese, Malay, and Indian traditions are each represented in hawker centres, with dishes adapted to local tastes and ingredients. Peranakan cooking, blending Chinese and Malay elements, is also distinct. Eurasian and Western dishes show the city’s colonial and international ties.

At the table in Singapore

Meals are often eaten out, especially at hawker centres or coffee shops, which offer communal seating and a casual atmosphere. Food is shared, and people from different backgrounds often dine together, choosing dishes that respect religious dietary rules. Asking if someone has eaten is a common greeting, reflecting the importance of food in daily life.

Festival and religious food in Singapore

During Lunar New Year, nian gao (sticky rice cake) is enjoyed, a tradition from Chinese culture. Other festivals and religious occasions bring their own special foods, shaped by the customs of Singapore’s many communities.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Singaporean cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of Singapore

Katong 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
Biryani 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreRice and spiced meat or vegetables layered and cooked together Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Bubble tea珍珠奶茶 🇹🇼 Taiwan and 5 moreSweet tea with chewy tapioca pearls, served hot or cold Drink Soy milkVegan豆奶 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA plant-based drink made by soaking, grinding, and boiling soybeans Drink, Breakfast, Snacks Mu kropMeat 🇹🇭 Thailand and 4 moreThai-style fried pork belly with a crunchy golden skin Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Roti canaiரொட்டி சென்னை 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 5 moreUnleavened flatbread tossed thin and cooked until crisp, served with curry or dal Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Mooncake月饼 / 月餅 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA round Chinese pastry with sweet or nutty filling, eaten at the Mid-Autumn Festival Pie or savoury pastry, Tea time, Snacks DosaVegetarianದೋಸೆ 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreA thin, fermented rice and lentil pancake from South India, served hot with chutney and sambar Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Bento弁当 🇯🇵 Japan and 4 moreA Japanese meal packed in a box, often with rice, meat or fish, and vegetables Main dish, Lunch Nasi goreng 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreSoutheast Asian fried rice seasoned with sweet soy sauce and spices Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Satayꦱꦠꦺ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreGrilled skewers of seasoned meat or seafood, often served with peanut sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner RendangMeatRandang 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 moreMeat simmered with coconut and spices until coated in a rich, dry sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Wonton云吞 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChinese dumplings with a thin wrapper, filled and served in soup or fried Dumpling, Lunch, Dinner Zongzi粽子 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSticky rice parcels with sweet or savoury fillings, wrapped in leaves and steamed or boiled Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Laksaلقسا / 叻沙 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 3 moreSpicy Southeast Asian noodle soup with coconut or sour broth Soup, Breakfast, Lunch Sambal 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreA spicy Southeast Asian paste or sauce made mainly from ground chillies Sauce, pickle or ferment KetupatVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreRice packed in woven palm leaf pouches and boiled until firm Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Nian gaoVegan年糕 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSticky rice cake enjoyed at Chinese New Year for good luck Sweet or dessert, Snacks Fish ball魚丸 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSoft balls of minced fish, boiled or fried, eaten across Asia and Northern Europe Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Omuriceオムライス 🇯🇵 Japan and 3 moreJapanese fried rice wrapped in a thin omelette, often topped with ketchup Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Rojakrujak (ꦫꦸꦗꦏ꧀) 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreA spicy-sweet fruit and vegetable salad with peanut and palm sugar dressing Salad or side, Snacks Egg tartVegetarian蛋撻 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA small pastry tart with a sweet egg custard filling, found in Cantonese cuisine Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Tea time CendolVeganꦕꦺꦤ꧀ꦝꦺꦴꦭ꧀ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreGreen rice flour jelly with coconut milk, palm sugar syrup and ice Drink, Snacks LemangVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreGlutinous rice cooked with coconut milk in bamboo tubes lined with banana leaves Main dish, Lunch, Dinner RawonMeatꦫꦮꦺꦴꦤ꧀ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 1 moreJavanese beef soup made dark with keluak nut Soup, Lunch, Dinner Char siuMeat叉燒 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCantonese-style pork, marinated and roasted until glazed and red Main dish, Lunch, Dinner MurtabakMeatمُطَبَّق 🇾🇪 Yemen and 5 moreA stuffed, folded pancake or flatbread with savoury or sweet fillings Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Tamago kake gohan卵かけご飯 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreCooked rice mixed with raw egg and soy sauce, a classic Japanese breakfast Main dish, Breakfast Bak kut tehMeat肉骨茶 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 3 morePork ribs in a spiced herbal broth, served with fried dough and condiments Soup, Breakfast, Lunch LontongVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreCylindrical rice cake wrapped in banana leaf, served with sauces or soups Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Misua麵線 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreVery thin wheat noodles common in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Chilli crabMeat 🇸🇬 Singapore and 1 moreCrab stir-fried in a sweet and spicy tomato-chilli sauce Main dish, Dinner Soto 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreIndonesian soup of spiced broth, meat and vegetables with many regional versions Soup, Lunch, Dinner Tumpengꦠꦸꦩ꧀ꦥꦼꦁ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreCone-shaped rice surrounded by assorted Indonesian side dishes Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Gulai 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 moreSpiced Southeast Asian stew with coconut milk and a blend of local herbs Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Parotta 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreLayered flatbread from South India, soft and flakey, made with refined flour Bread, Breakfast, Lunch Oyster omelette 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA chewy egg and oyster dish fried with starch, popular across East and Southeast Asia Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Ginger teaVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreA hot drink made by steeping ginger root, often with tea, sweetener or milk Drink, Breakfast, Snacks DouhuaVegan豆花 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSoft tofu served as a sweet or savoury snack across East and Southeast Asia Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Hokkien meeMeat福建面 🇸🇬 Singapore and 2 moreEgg and rice noodles with pork, seafood and broth, popular in Singapore and Malaysia Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Gudeg 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreYoung jackfruit slow-cooked in coconut milk and spices, a specialty of Yogyakarta Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Apam balikVegetarian 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreA folded sweet pancake filled with peanuts and sugar, sold at roadside stalls Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Asam pedasاسم ڤدس 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreA sour and spicy fish stew from maritime Southeast Asia Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Onde-ondeVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreSweet rice flour balls with palm sugar and coconut, common in Southeast Asia Sweet or dessert, Snacks Nasi kuningVegetarian 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreRice cooked with coconut milk and turmeric, served for celebrations across Indonesia Rice dish, Breakfast, Lunch Kaya toastVegetarian 🇸🇬 Singapore and 1 moreToasted bread with coconut jam and butter, served with coffee and soft-boiled eggs Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Char kway teow炒粿條 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 1 moreFlat rice noodles stir-fried with seafood, sausage and soy sauce Noodle or pasta dish, Breakfast, Lunch SachimaVegetarianᠰᠠᠴᡳᠮᠠ 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreSweet, airy strips of deep-fried dough held together with sugar syrup Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks Wonton noodlesMeat雲吞麵 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreEgg noodles in broth with wonton dumplings, from Cantonese cooking Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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