Singapore boasts a rich food culture, blending flavors from Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisines. From humble street food to intricate dishes, the city-state offers a wide variety of culinary delights. Join me as we explore the best foods Singapore has to offer!
Welcome to Part 1 of our blog series on Singapore's culture food. In this article, we'll explore some of the finest examples of breakfast food in Singapore.
Singaporean Breakfast Culture:
1-Roti prata
Roti prata, is a beloved Indian flatbread, and it is popular across Southeast Asia. Served with dal or curry, it also comes in sweet or savory varieties with fillings like beef, egg, or cheese. The dough, made with ghee, flour, and water, is kneaded, folded, and flattened to create flaky layers when cooked.
2-Teh Tarik
Teh Tarik, which translates to "pulled tea" in Malay, is a popular hot milk tea beverage that is commonly found and enjoyed across Singapore. The name "Teh Tarik" is derived from the unique pouring process used to prepare the drink, where the tea is repeatedly poured and "pulled" between two containers from a height. This not only creates a frothy top but also helps to mix the tea with the condensed or evaporated milk, creating a rich and creamy texture.
Teh Tarik is not only loved for its unique preparation method but also for its delicious taste. The combination of strong brewed black tea with creamy condensed or evaporated milk creates a rich and flavorful beverage that is both satisfying and comforting. It is often enjoyed as a breakfast drink or as a refreshing pick-me-up throughout the day.
3-Putu Mayam
Putu mayam, featuring thin rice vermicelli, grated coconut, and orange-colored sugar, is a classic breakfast dish that is not as commonly enjoyed today. However, there are still many places where you can find this delightful treat.
4-Kaya Toast
A beloved national breakfast in Singapore, this iconic toast is a staple in any kopitiams. Kaya, a sweet curd made from caramelized sugar, coconut, eggs, and pandan, is spread on toast with butter. It's often accompanied by soft-boiled eggs and kopi. While many of my friends find Yakun and Toast Box convenient and are willing to spend money there, those seeking a more traditional experience often praise the following establishments: Tong Ah Eating House and Heap Seng Leong.
5-Chwee Kueh
Chwee Kueh, a popular breakfast dish in Singapore, features steamed rice cakes topped with preserved radish and a hint of spicy chili sauce. This Teochew cuisine delight balances the sweetness of rice with savory flavors, perfect for starting a day of flavorful Singaporean dining.
6-Chai Tow Kway
Fried Carrot Cake 菜头粿 is a beloved local hawker delicacy in Singapore. Despite its name, it bears no resemblance to the Western dessert carrot cake and contains no actual carrots, making it a unique and cherished dish. Here are some affordable and delicious options you might want to consider trying: Tian Tian Fa, Yuan Cheng Fried Carrot Cake and Unforgettable Carrot Cake 忘不了萝卜糕.
7-Mee Goreng
Mee Goreng is a stir-fried noodle dish. The Noodles are tossed with chicken, prawns, vegetables, and signature egg ribbons, coated in a sticky, savory-sweet sauce. A beloved street food favorite!
8-Fish Ball Mee Pok Noodle Soup
Fish Ball Mee Pok Noodle, a popular Singapore hawker dish, originates from Teochew cuisine. It features flat egg noodles coated in a savory, sour, and umami sauce, topped with fish balls, fish cakes, and minced pork. Typically served with a side of soup.
9-Beancurd (Tau Huay)
This seemingly simple bowl of white pudding, known as tau huay, can spark strong opinions. Some prefer it hot or cold, with less sugar syrup or added soy milk. Traditionalists enjoy it plain, while others like it mixed with toppings like bubble tea pearls or glutinous rice balls. Whether as a late-night snack or a morning breakfast, tau huay is loved by Singaporeans. For convenience, many opt for Lanban Soya Beancurd, but if you're craving the traditional type, here are some places to consider: Whampoa Soya Bean & Grass Jelly and Tan Soon Mui Beancurd.
10-Congee/Rice Porridge
Available in most hawker centres, rice porridge is a flavorful soup made from dissolved rice, offering a creamy yet slightly textured consistency. It's commonly served with sliced fish, pork, century egg, or frog, providing a mild contrast to other bold flavors. This dish is enjoyed in large bowls throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any other mealtime.
11-Curry Puff
In Singapore, the curry puff is a beloved snack that has its roots in Southeast Asian cuisine. It's a small pie filled with a flavorful curry mixture of chicken and potatoes, encased in a deep-fried or baked pastry shell. This snack is particularly popular during breakfast or tea time and can be found at most Malay stalls in hawker centers across Singapore. Additionally, you can purchase curry puffs at convenient locations such as Old Chang Kee or 1A Crispy Puff stalls in Shopping malls.
12-Popiah
Popiah is a tasty snack from Singapore. It's a roll filled with yummy ingredients like eggs, shrimp, carrots, peanuts, and more. These fillings give it a nice mix of flavors. The roll is soft and thin, making it easy to eat. People love its delicious taste, and it's a popular choice for a breakfast, or quick snack and meal.
It usually doesn't come with the external vegetables as shown in the image.
13-Economy Fried Bee Hoon
The "economy fried bee hoon-mee" is perhaps the simplest yet most common breakfast item in Singapore. A typical stall offering this dish will have at least two types of noodles: the drier fried "bee hoon" and the "mee" (or more accurately, "Hokkien mee": fat yellow Hokkien noodles) fried in dark, sweet soy sauce, which gives the noodles its rich, caramelly flavor. One typically requests a mix of "bee hoon" and "mee" for a variety of noodles.
14-Dim Sum
Dim sum is a type of food enjoyed during yum cha, which means "drink tea" in Chinese culture. Yum cha is a social gathering that feels more like a meal, where people come together to chat and enjoy food. However, in Singapore, we often have dim sum for breakfast without Yum Cha, similar to some other Asian countries nearby. The small, bite-sized portions of dim sum are perfect for snacking during a quick breakfast. However, dim sum alone may not be filling enough for those with a big appetite.
What Do Singaporeans Eat For Lunch?
Whether you're into fine dining or prefer the vibrant street food scene, Singapore has something for everyone. Explore the culinary wonders of this island nation and discover why it's a food lover's paradise! Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post coming soon!
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♥ Thanks for reading as always!
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