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Top 10 Must-Try Delicacie SingaporesIn Singapore, the allure of cuisine is omnipresent, with every bite being an ultimate temptation for the taste buds. Here are the top ten signature dishes in Singapore, offering you a glimpse into the unique food culture of this Lion City.

May 13, 2025, 10:54 am EDT

Top 10 Must-Try Delicacies in Singapore 

In Singapore, the allure of cuisine is omnipresent, with every bite being an ultimate temptation for the taste buds. Here are the top ten signature dishes in Singapore, offering you a glimpse into the unique food culture of this Lion City.

1. Chili Crab

 

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Chili crab, a signature dish of Singapore, can be regarded as the national dish. Made with chili and crab as the main ingredients, this dish features a sweet and sour taste with a hint of spiciness, perfectly preserving the tenderness of the crab. Compared with the spicy crab in China, it has less spiciness but more of the original flavor of the crab. It is recommended to visit restaurants like JUMBO Seafood, Long Beach, and Red House Seafood to savor this delicacy.

2. Hainanese Chicken Rice

 
 
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Hainanese chicken rice is one of the three national dishes of Singapore. The rice is cooked in chicken broth and served with tender poached chicken, roasted chicken, and vegetables, accompanied by special chili sauce and soy sauce, making it extremely delicious. Its origin can be traced back to the immigration culture in the mid-19th century. Hainanese immigrants brought Wenchang chicken to Singapore and improved the recipe over time, forming the unique flavor we know today. Restaurants such as Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, Boon Tong Kee, and Ng Hiang are very popular for their Hainanese chicken rice.

3. Bak Kut Teh

 
 
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Bak Kut Teh is a unique dining style, divided into the Teochew style in Singapore and the Fujian style in Malaysia. It is not actually tea but a pork and herbal soup, often served with white rice or fried dough sticks dipped in the soup, and seasoned with soy sauce, chopped red peppers, and garlic. The authentic Bak Kut Teh has tender meat and a rich broth. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh and Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh in Singapore are great places to taste this dish.

4. Pork Jerky

 
 
 
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Pork jerky is a must-try snack in Singapore's food guide. Made from meat pieces with seasonings and grilled over charcoal, it is tender, crispy, and slightly charred. It is not only a favorite snack of Singaporeans but also a necessary delicacy during the Chinese New Year. It can also be eaten in a sandwich. Brands like Bee Cheng Hiang, Lim Chee Guan, Xin Dong Fang Jin Chi, Jin Yu Yuan, and Hu Zhen Long are widely popular.

5. Salted Egg Yolk Fish Skin

 
 
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Salted egg yolk fish skin is a special snack in Singapore, mainly made from basa fish skin, paired with ingredients like salted egg yolk and butter. The authentic salted egg yolk is made from sea duck eggs in the mangrove area, pickled by hand with coarse sea salt, and the fish skin is marinated and deep-fried until crispy, with a double frying process at a low temperature to remove excess oil. It combines various flavors such as salty, fresh, spicy, and sweet, and is a favorite "beer companion" and "drama-watching partner" among young Singaporeans. The brand IRVINS is the most popular for salted egg yolk fish skin, and there are also innovative dishes like salted egg yolk fish skin rice balls.

6. Laksa

 
 
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Laksa is a representative dish of Singapore, originating from the noodle cuisine in Malaysia. It is somewhat similar to Indian curry but has a stronger coconut aroma. A delicious Laksa has a spicy soup base, with coconut milk and dried shrimps, and is topped with fresh clams, shrimps, and fried fish cakes. It combines the characteristics of the Nyonya cuisine, presenting a variety of flavors such as sweet, sour, spicy, and fragrant. Katong Laksa is famous for its rich soup base and short noodles, and Sungei Road Laksa retains the traditional cooking method of boiling the soup base over charcoal.

7. Kaya Jam

 
 
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Kaya jam is a traditional condiment in Singapore, made by slowly boiling eggs, coconut milk or cream, sugar, and pandan leaves. Depending on the proportion of pandan leaves and eggs, kaya jam can be green or yellow. It has a sweet taste with the aroma of eggs, the milkiness of coconut, and the fragrance of pandan leaves, making it a favorite among dessert lovers. The traditional way to eat it is to toast thin toast or bread slices, spread a thin layer of butter, and then spread kaya jam on it, accompanied by a cup of coffee or milk tea. It can also be paired with biscuits or used for making stewed milk.

8. Nasi Lemak

 
 
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Nasi lemak is a local delicacy in Singapore. The fragrant rice is soaked in coconut milk and pandan leaves, with soft and glutinous grains that are distinct and have a springy texture when chewed. It is served with fried fish or chicken wings, spicy grilled fish cakes, fried anchovies, peanuts, eggs, cucumber slices, and chili sauce, and sometimes a large fried chicken drumstick, presenting a combination of colors, aromas, and flavors. Restaurants like Punggol Nasi Lemak Centre, Feng Xing Fast Food Nasi Lemak, Hong Ni Xiao Chu, and Nasi Lamak House are very popular for their nasi lemak.

9. Nanyang Coffee

 
 
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Nanyang coffee, also known as Kopi or Gahwa, is a traditional coffee beverage in several Southeast Asian countries and a special product of Singapore. Different from Western coffee, Nanyang coffee is stir-fried and roasted with white sugar, butter, and salt, resulting in a rich and sweet taste. Ya Kun, Kaya Toast/Toast Box are great places to enjoy Nanyang coffee. In Malaysia, white coffee does not add sugar when roasting the beans, so it has less smoky and bitter taste. In Vietnam, the drip coffee uses ice cubes for dripping instead of boiling water. In Thailand, iced coffee is the most popular.

10. Ma Lai Gao (Malay Cake)

 
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Ma Lai Gao was originally a food loved by the Malay people in Singapore, formerly known as "Malay Cake," and later introduced to Hong Kong and Guangdong. The authentic Ma Lai Gao is made by fermenting flour, eggs, lard, and butter for three days and then steaming it in a steamer. It has three layers of air holes, with the top layer straight and the bottom layer horizontal, and is golden yellow in color. When fresh, it is fluffy, soft, and has a slight fragrance. Besides the original flavor, there are also versions in Singapore with local special seasonings, which are definitely worth a try.

 

If you are planning a trip to Singapore, don't miss these mouth-watering delicacies, which will add an unforgettable taste experience to your journey.