good food singapore

20 Best Places for Good Food (Singapore): Must-Eat Local Dishes Under $15

Top Brands Admin

If you consider yourself a foodie with a craving for international dishes, then Singapore is one of the places to be. If you happen to be a Singapore local, you already know this almost by heart. But what you might not know yet is where to find some great dishes scatte red across the country.

Singapore is a heavily urbanized country for its size, considerably making it one of the most expensive places to live in. Despite that fact, you’ll want to get great food to fill your gullet without putting too much pressure on your wallet!

This is why we’re excited to bring you this big list of some of the most beloved dishes and the restaurants in Singapore where you can find them. Read on, and dig in!

What Makes A Great Dish For It To Make It On This Ultimate List?

There’s a lot of great food out there, even in a single country. Naturally, we wouldn’t be able to fit every favorite on a relatively short list, so we’ve come up with a few criteria to at least pick some of the better dishes out of a competitive list of greats.

1. Great Taste

First and most importantly, taste. Food is a necessity, of course, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make sure we enjoy it! If our only standard for what it is that fills our stomachs the most, then any nameless gruel will do. 

But, we want something that will please our palates, hitting just the right notes, and has a masterful combination of ingredients bringing out a blessing on our tastebuds. 

2. Value-for-Money

Taste is the primary criteria for food, but we shouldn’t just be thinking about our stomachs—our wallets need to be satisfied with our purchase, too! It’s best that we don’t hurt our finances in the process of filling our bellies with good food, so this particular criterion is something we’ll consider. 

3. Consistency

Finally, if not an afterthought of taste, we want something consistent. If you are only as good as your last performance, then the same should be considered for dishes. We don’t want something hit or miss, we want something that will deliver the same deliciousness no matter how often we come back for it.

The Best Food and Restaurants in Singapore 

Again, there’s no shortage of great dishes in Singapore. But in this country, going for a meal is not just a question of WHAT to eat, but also WHERE to eat, whether you’ll find it in food courts, hawker stalls, or restaurants.

Fortunately for us, there are a great many restaurants in Singapore that deliver, each with their own considerable expertise. 

Without further ado, here are the top 20 dishes and street food in Singapore, and where you should get them for no more than $15: 

  1. Laksa @ Sungei Road Laksa
  2. Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Tian Tian
  3. Char Kway Teow @ Hill Street Char Kway Teow
  4. Bak Kut Teh @ Outram Park Yahua Rou Gu Cha
  5. Roast Meats @ Kim Heng Cafe
  6. Peranakan @ Daisy’s Dream Kitchen
  7. Roti Prata @ Prata Saga Sambal Berlada
  8. Hokkien Mee @ Nam Sing
  9. Fish Bee Hoon @ Jing Hua
  10. Nasi Padang @ Sinar Pagi
  11. Nasi Lemak @ Selera Rasa
  12. Chili Crab @ 21 Seafood
  13. Coffe Breakfast @ Chin Mee Chin Confectionary
  14. Zi Char @ Two Chefs Eating Place
  15. Yong Tau Foo @ Yong Xiang Xing Dou Foo
  16. Royak @ Toa Payoh Soon Heng Rojak
  17. Fish Head Curry @ YuCun Claypot Curry Fish Head
  18. Bak Chor Mee @ Hill Street Tai Hwa
  19. Carrot Cake @ Song Zhou Luo Bo Gao
  20. Oyster Omelette @ Ah Chuan

1. Sungei Road Laksa: For Laksa ($4)

Sungei Road Laksa

Price Range
$3 per bowl

Address
27 Jln Berseh, #01-100, Singapore 200027

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Closed on Wednesday)

If there’s ever a delight that’s a great choice in hawker stalls, it’s the Laksa, and Sungei Road Laksa delivers. Its signature noodle dish has an interesting origin, with the recipe being obtained from a customer who then disappeared. Nevertheless, this stall has consistently served their laksa the same way for decades, making it a long-time favorite that lines can get very long at its peak hours.

Service Highlights:

  • Laksa. As its namesake, Sungei Road Laksa offers laksa and ONLY laksa. One of the best combinations of Chinese and Malaysian ingredients and flavors, it comes with rice noodles, with gravy or curry, and some toppings. This hawker stall serves it with coconut milk, with mild spice, lightly cooked blood cockles, herbs, and sambal chili sauce. 
  • Quick Lines. While the line at the hawker stall can get long at its peak times, it moves fast due to the fact that it only serves one dish. Even then, take the long queue as a testament to its great flavor.
  • Affordable. A single bowl won’t hurt your wallet because it’s only $4! Go for seconds, if you’d like!

Reviews (4.1/5 on Google Reviews):

“Thick flavourful gravy with smooth noodles. A small bowl with just the perfect match of cockles, fish cake and bean sprouts. Nice chilli sauce too.” – Gohht13

“Really nice Laksa. The soup was a little thinner than I usually like but really tasty, fresh and well cooked. The cockles were just right. Bowl size is small so I ordered 2 and got through them no trouble. Really food flavour and texture.” – Paul Gwylim.

Tian Tian Cover Image

Price Range
$5 per plate

Address
Maxwell Branch
1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Simpang Bedok Branch
12 Jalan Pari Burong (Simpang Bedok) Singapore 488678

Opening Hours
Maxwell Branch
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Simpang Bedok Branch
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 9691 4852, +65 6448 0120

This Michelin-rated chicken rice hawker stall is without a doubt one of the most famous in the country. The late Anthony Bourdain, an international chef, raved about the stall’s signature dish, and Gordon Ramsey has even lost a hawker challenge against the stall. It’s a stall loved by foreigners and locals alike.

Service Highlights:

  • Hainanese Chicken Rice. While Tian Tian’s chicken is nothing to scoff at, with its fragrant rice cooked to perfection in chicken stock, and as oily as is expected of the dish, almost like the glutinous rice of lo mai gai. The flavorful rice has been lauded by Anthony Bourdain for its fragrance and taste.
  • Affordable. For its renown and taste, the price is fairly cheap at $5. Not only is it great but competitive pricing just entices you to come back for more.

Reviews (4.0/5 on Google Reviews):

“Pretty good chicken rice when there is no queue, but would not eat here if there was the usual long queue. $5 portion gave several large slices of tender chicken; not much skin given, though what was given was good. Rice is flavourful but less oily than I prefer; could be good for more health conscious diners.” – G Lim

“Still one of the best. Needs no introduction or review. Just getting my fix. Shiok.” – Case Woo

Hill Street Char Kway Teow Cover Image

Price Range
$3 per plate

Address
2Blk 16 Bedok South Road #01-41 Bedok South Road Market & Food Centre Singapore 460016

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 6442 1763

If you’re looking for some Char Kway Teow, locals will tell you that there’s no better place to look than the 40-year-old hawker stall at Bedok South Road Market & Food Centre. And it’s no surprise that it is for how its rendition differentiates itself from other versions of the sweet sauce dish.

Service Highlights:

  • Char Kway Teow. It is a dish done with a stir fry with egg, noodles all flat and wide, with some added dark soy sauce, shrimp paste, and chili, bean sprouts, chinese sausage, and blood cockles. Hill Street’s distinctive flavor of “wok hay” and the alluring crunchy pork lard differentiate it from the rest. 
  • Affordable. Get your money’s worth for no more than $3 to $5 depending on your chosen portion

Reviews (4.1/5 on Google Reviews):

“Stood in line for more than 40 minutes but it was worth it. One of the best on the island.” – Thomas Situ

“Just had it for the first time and now know why people are willing to queue for an hour for this awesome CKT” – SayYoung

Outram Park Yahua Rou Gu Cha Cover Image

Price Range
$$8.50 per bowl, up to $11.20 for premium spare rib. You may refer to their website for prices.

Address
7 Keppel Road, #01-05/07 PSA Tanjong Pagar Complex, Singapore 089053

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Friday: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Saturday to Sunday: 7:00 am to 10:00 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 6222 9610

Craving for some bak kut teh late at night? You aren’t just going to satisfy that craving, you’re also going to love the taste of Yahua Rou Gu Cha’s bak kut teh. Since 1973, a late-night meal at this coffee shop-like setting along with their food will surely make your late-night a memorable one.

Service Highlights:

  • Bak Kut Teh. Bak kut teh is a Chinese dish translating to “pork bone tea”. Pork ribs are boiled with garlic and pepper until all the flavor mixes with the juices of the pork bones, and are typically served with side dishes. Yahua Rou Gu Cha hits it just right.
  • Open Late at Night. Whether you’re a late-night clubber or on the night shift, you can enjoy their food until 11:30 pm (formerly until the morning)!
  • Other options. You can add side dishes to your bak kut teh, and other meals like sliced pork loin soup, liver soup, and more, and it’ll only cost an average of $13 per person.

Reviews (4.2/5 on Google Reviews):

“Enjoyed the premium spare rib soup. The meat came off easily from the bones. The soup was not too peppery yet had depth of flavour. The pig’s kidney soup and braised pig’s big intestines were great too. The service was excellent.” – Royal Pears

“Old school bak kut teh, one of the best in town. Open early morning until late evening. Plenty of seating available.” – Michael Sidaway

Kim Heng Cafe Homepage

Price Range
From $5, no online menu

Address
214 Serangoon Avenue 4, #01-88 Ideal Coffeeshop, Singapore Singapore, Singapore 550214

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 9:30 am to 7:30 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 6283 3695

There’s no way you can miss a trip to Kim Heng Cafe if you’re dreaming about seeing the most incredible display of Cantonese roast meats. Every mixed meat combination is available on the menu written on top of the hawker stall. Kim Heng Cafe is the best option for meat lovers, especially Cantonese roast meat lovers.

Service Highlights:

  • Roast Meat Options. Whether it’s roast duck, roast pork, pork belly, roast chicken, and more, there’s an option for you to enjoy. Indulge yourself, from pork slices to duck rice, get as much as you want.
  • Affordable: Prices start at $5 for each plate with rice, more for extra meat plates.

Reviews (4.1/5 on Google Reviews):

“Delicious! The roast pork has the crispiest skin I’ve ever tasted, and the char siew was sweet and juicy. Had the lotus root soup. Soup was great but don’t eat the lotus root—was rather rough.” – Doreen Tan

“Love the char siew here, fat and juicy. Ordered with the double booked soup like old cucumber soup which cost only 2.80, char siew rice is 3.50. The taste of the charsiew is nice & delicious, is juicy, is char, the sauce added with the rice makes it even better. Good, quite like it.” – Jennifer Tan

Daisy's Dream Kitchen Homepage

Price Range
Meals start at $12.80. You may check their menu and prices here.

Address
131 #01-01, Rifle Range Rd, Temasek Club, Singapore 588396

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 am to 9:30 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 6779 1781

There’s a special kind of cooking that you’ll just immediately feel the passion that comes into each dish. Daisy’s Dream Kitchen, while not a Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant like Candlenut, is a juggernaut of homemade deliciousness that is a must-try.

Service Highlights:

  • Home-Cooked Peranakan Food. Daisy’s Dream Kitchen offers a wide range of Penarakan dishes that are home-cooked and flavorful. Choose from many options to fill your bellies with! Deep fried
  • Island-Wide Delivery. Get your meal from anywhere within Singapore!

Reviews (4.3/5 on Google Reviews):

“One of my favourite Peranakan restaurants. We ordered fried fish bento, chicken curry, ngoh hiang and sauteed greens. They were great with a special mention about the chicken curry. You had to go everything with the Belachan chilli, it was done to the right fiery spiciness.” – L.G. Wee

“Was gifted lunch today from Daisy’s Dream Kitchen by my student. I would like to say a very big thank you to his parents for gifting lunch cos the food is so so so good. And I am very particular about the taste of peranakan food. The sambal belachan did it for me. So super spicy shiok! 5 thumbs up! I’m already planning to go down to have dinner with my friends soon!” – Rachel H.

7. Prata Saga Sambal Berlada: For Roti Prata (from $1.80)

Prata Saga Sambal Berlada Cover Image

Price Range
$1.80 for two (prices not listed online)

Address
Stall #01-258, Tekka Market and Food Centre, 665 Buffalo Rd, Singapore 210665.

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 7:00 am to 1:00 pm

If you’re looking for good Roti Prata in Singapore, there’s no better place to go than one of the little hawker stalls at Tekka Market. Like the usual Roti Prata, it’s an Indian flatbread that is often served with curry, but this stall takes it a step further—instead of curry, you get sambal sauce! Despite the owner’s passing, it remains one of the best Prata stalls out there.

Service Highlights:

  • Roti Prata. You may see many Roti Prata stalls offering sambal sauce as an alternative dipping instead of curry. In actuality, Mr. Zulkifli claims to be the first one to do so! He crafted sambal that creates a unique taste that pairs great with Prata. Why not try where it all began? 
  • Affordable. Get so much value for your money, with a buy-one-get-one deal. $1.80 can get you two pieces with your choice of dip. Whether you’re broke or among crazy rich Asians, anybody can sure get their fill.

Reviews (4.2/5 on Google Reviews):

“Amazing mutton curry – it felt like I was eating mutton meat even though it was just the curry. Love their sambal too! Prata was fresh, crispy, and slightly chewy too. Love that they help cut the prata into pieces, so that it’s much easier to eat. They’ll also ask if you want the curry on the side or mixed in (i.e. mine), and whether you want sambal.” – Lynn Wee

“While it’s not the Crispy type of Prata that I prefer, it’s very light, fluffy and airy without any taste of the dough. The Mutton Curry is also very savoury and pairs with the Prata very well!” – Ryan YTH

Nam Sing Fried Hokkien Mee Cover Image

Price Range
$5 for a small bowl, $8 for a medium bowl

Address
Old Airport Road Food Centre #01-32, 51 Old Airport Road, Singapore 390051

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 7:00am until sold out (may be closed on random days)

Contact
Phone: +65 6440 5340

Everybody who frequents Old Airport Road Food Centre is sure to know Nam Sing. This hawker stall gives some of the best hokkien mee in Singapore, and is a common haunt for locals and foreigners alike for their delicious, unique take on the popular noodle dish.

Service Highlights:

  • Hokkien Mee. Usually made with a mixture of both yellow egg noodles and white rice noodles that are fried in a wok with egg, along with bean sprouts and some seafood. However, Nam Sing does it a little differently—they use fine bee hoon which while different, blends well with their combination of ingredients.  
  • Affordable. Whether you’re picking a small or medium size, it’s all reasonable pricing that makes your meal even better.

Reviews (3.6/5 on Google Reviews):

“With the 1st mouthful, wow, my impression totally changed! Very flavourful stock, with great consistency. Noodle texture was nice, with a good crunch. I would go order off peak, to minimize wait time. A good sambal chilli would be a perfect complement.” – Kenny Soo

“Being the first time to try this dish and as an angmoh I can say I quite enjoyed it. The chilli is not hot and the dish left me wanting more of it 🙂 I would return. If you have not ordered ahead I would recommend doing so for takeaway.” – Paul Henshaw

9. Jing Hua Sliced Fish Bee Hoon: For Fish Bee Hoon

Jing Hua Sliced Fish Bee Hoon Cover Image

Price Range
$5 per bowl (prices not listed online, and may have changed)

Address
1 Kadayanallur St, #01-77 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 11:30am to 7:30 PM (Closed on Thursday)

Another popular Hawker Stall at Maxwell Food Centre is Jing Hua Bee Hoon. They serve a soup version that is deceptively simple, yet with all its seafood ingredients combined in the milky soup, you get a taste you’ll never forget and was even mentioned on CNN as a must-try dish.

Service Highlights:

  • Sliced Fish Bee Hoon. Its signature and namesake dish served with either fried, boiled, or sliced fish head and mustard greens, and then topped with fresh scallions.  
  • Affordable. A bowl of this soup will only cost you $5

Reviews (4.1/5 on Google Reviews):

“Stall owners are not the friendliest and can be a bit slow. However soup was clean (def not msg loaded), fish slices were fresh. I added vegetables and hence the serving was generous. Overall a comforting meal for a rainy day.” – Cynthia Lim

“Been eating their fried fish bee hoon since 20 years ago, still taste as good. Fish head bee hoon is good too.” – KH Chong

Sinar Pagi Nasi Padang Cover Image

Price Range
From $7 to $8 for set meals, various other prices for other options. Check here.

Address
Stall No. 02-137, Geylang Serai Market, 1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 6536 5302

A well-known stall serving Nasi Padang dishes is located at Geylang Serai Food Centre, one of the main Malay and Indonesian food courts in Singapore. Despite being a small stall, it offers traditionally cooked meals of an extremely large variety, from beef rendang, dendeng balado, and more. There’s going to be something for you if you look hard enough.

Service Highlights:

  • Nasi Padang. Nasi Padang dishes is the term for rice meals with a selection of different dishes like rendang, some curries, vegetables, and chili sauce. Sinar Pagi offers variety for this dish already known for its variety, with four set meals to choose from and a lot more side dishes. 
  • Affordable. The amount of food you can get with a single set meal of $7 or $8 is enough to fill your stomach to the brim. Truly a value for money choice.

Reviews (4.1/5 on Google Reviews):

“Wide selection of dishes. Hubby loves the Dendeng and their fish in particular. I love their sambal and the gravy. Always a long queue. Ordered 2 packets of rice with dendeng, 2 fish, petai, brinjal, Ikan bills all for 22.50” – Michelle Ong

“Tasty authentic taste. Be sure to try the Rendang and Oxtail Soup.” – Dewi Zheng

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak Cover Image

Price Range
$5 – $6 meal sets

Address
2 Adam Rd, #01-02 Food Centre, Singapore 289876

Opening Hours
Monday to Thursday: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday to Sundays. 7:00 am to 3:00 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 9843 4509

Not many food stalls and restaurants in Singapore can say that their signature dishes are so good to the point that their name becomes synonymous with the food they serve, but Selera Rasa surely can. This simple stall is widely beloved that it always has such a long line.

Service Highlights:

  • Nasi Lemak. In a nutshell, nasi lemak is nothing without signature rice cooked with coconut milk, salt, and sometimes pandan leaves. From there, it’s up to the restaurant what to add. Selera Rasa makes their rice with basmati rice, adds numerous options like fried chicken, grilled fish cake, and more for their toppings.
  • Affordable. Even bigger meal sets from Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak will only cost you as little as $5! Plenty of opportunities to save (or get more food)

Reviews (3.9/5 on Google Reviews):

“I think this is the best nasi lemak in Adam Rd food center, the rice was fluffy with good coconut milk aroma, fresh fried chicken wings was golden and crunchy and tasted crispy. Overall, it’s really terrific.” – Kevin Kong

“Best Malay nasi lemak in Singapore. At least that’s what they say. Rice was nice and fluffy. Not sure if it’s still Temasek gold. Rice packs are now in ordinary clear plastic. Chicken wings were extra crispy. Otah was a bit sour though. Maybe left out there for too long. If you want to order by phone and pick up, be prepared to wait for an hour or more.” – Foodie Directory

21 Seafood Cover Image

Price Range
Starts at $45 for 3 pieces of 300g being the most value for money option. You may check the price list here.

Address
212 Hougang Street 21, Singapore 530212

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm to 11:30 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 6343 0771 ext. 97582363

It’s no surprise that Chilli Crabs make up the most expensive food on this list, and while we could’ve easily replaced it with something more affordable, we couldn’t miss out on such a favorite! Thankfully 21 Seafood offers some of the most affordable chili crab prices out there, and it’s something you definitely shouldn’t miss!

Service Highlights:

  • Chilli Crab / Crab Dishes. 21 Seafood offers great crab dishes that are worth a try, from the classic chili crab to crab in black pepper sauce. They come in a variety of sizes (as sizes may change with the season), with plenty of other flavors like Claypot Curry, Cereal Oats, and Salted Egg Sauce
  • Affordable. Compared to most other crab restaurants that can usually average a per pax price of more than $80, 21 Seafood offers some of the cheapest chili crabs out in Singapore, if not THE cheapest.

Reviews (3.8/5 on Google Reviews):

“Very nice price with good food. Chilli crab for local people, and other variety is really good as well. Worth visiting if you stay in Singapore for long. Not really for travelers, because it is far from the city center.” – 조현준

“Always offer good value for your money. Love the salted egg crab and crispy baby sotong. It’s situated in a quiet neighborhood and offers a less stressful dinner experience.” – Alaine Mendoza

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery Cover Image

Price Range
Kaya Toast is at $2.2, but other pastries and items may range from $1.6 to $10. For full price list, visit here.

Address
204 East Coast Road, Singapore 428903

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm

Located down East Coast Road in the historical Katong area is a little coffee shop in a quaint neighborhood. Having been around since 1925, a trip inside is a trip into history and their offers are a treat straight from the past. They offer coffee, kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, and more—the makings of a quintessential breakfast perfect for cozy mornings. 

Service Highlights:

  • Coffee Shop Breakfast. While one look might tell you that there’s nothing really special about what the shop offers, you only need to hear that for the past near-century, so little has changed from its Kaya Toast recipe. Only great things can stand the test of time like that. 
  • Affordable Variety. It’s revitalization just this year from a partnership with Ebb & Flow brought about new menu items for more breakfast variety, or afternoon tea confections. It still retains its affordable pricelist, with the classic kaya toast at $2.2.
  • Cozy Atmosphere. Even before it was reopened, CMC was a sight to behold with its age only adding to its charm. The renovations only add to it, adding a little sleekness and comfort, while retaining the vintage feel.

Reviews (3.6/5 on Google Reviews):

“Good place for breakfast or afternoon tea, closed at 3:30pm. Be prepared for long Q, at least 20-30min. Only accept credit cards, no cash transactions. Nice goodies n cakes, after re-opening and closing for business since end 2018.” – Albert Tang

“The soft boil eggs were well timed and cooked beautifully, and the buns were soft with a good amount of tasteful kaya. It was a good breakfast and could have earned 5 stars if not for the long queue. I believe the queue could be better managed as it seems that the tables are turning around faster than the cashier. Food still good but maybe some improvement on the queue management would be much better.” – Kang WeiRong

Price Range
Variety of prices, with main dishes starting at $10. Full list here

Address
116 Commonwealth Crescent #01-129 Singapore 140116

Opening Hours
Monday: 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Tuesday: Sunday: 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 11 pm
(Closed on the last Monday of every month)

Contact
Phone: +65 6472 5361

Two Chefs Eating Place is a hidden gem in the Commonwealth area. This eatery is known for its Zi Char meals, often coming with seemingly weird, but surprisingly delicious takes. This makes Two Chefs a unique dining experience due to the innovative nature of its food, along with their fast service and a whole array of Zi Char dishes. 

Service Highlights:

  • Innovative Zi Char Meals. When translated from Hokkien Chinese, Zi Char means “cooked food”, implying made to order, and pertaining to cuisine that is usually inclusive of mostly stir-fry meals, and deep-fried food. Two Chefs retains the spirit of Zi Char with their expansive menu, like butter pork ribs, cereal shrimp, and more, putting a spin on classics for the enjoyment of modern taste buds.
  • Fast and Affordable. Two Chefs can get a little crowded for its popularity, but the shop allows you to order while in line so it’ll only be a matter of time before you get your food after you get to sit down. In addition, prices remain in a reasonable range.
  • Great Atmosphere. Unlike the usual shabby nature of most Zi Char places, Two Chefs retains a clean atmosphere that doesn’t feel too constricting even when it gets crowded.

Reviews (4.2/5 on Google Reviews):

“Been here a couple of times, but first time in a long while. Still love the food. The milk pork rib dish and salted egg prawns were delicious. Surprisingly the fried mee suah was good too (although it doesn’t look appetising from the pic itself).” – Bernie Chin

“One of the best zhi char places in SG. Great and attentive service with consistent food quality over years. This place is famous for their ribs but my favourite is their honey chicken. Simply delicious!” – Adhi Kurnianto

15. Yong Xiang Xing Dou Foo: For Yong Tau Foo ($4.50)

Yong Xiang Xing Dou Foo

Price Range
$4.50 for 10 tofu pieces

Address
32 New Market Rd, #01-1084, Singapore 050032

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

If you ever are in People’s Park Food Centre and spotted a queue in front of a hawker stall, chances are that’s Yong Xiang Xing Dou Foo. Most stalls likely wish to reach their success, open only for 3 hours a day but with enough customers to usually deplete its supplies. It only has one item on the menu, the Yong Tau Foo, and it does it to perfection.

Service Highlights:

  • Yong Tau Foo. Unlike your usual Yong Tau Foo stall, the Yong Xiang Xing Dou Foo experience is largely different. You can’t choose ingredients, nor broth. And that’s because you should trust that you are in the hands of masters who have perfected their craft, combining its tofu, meat, and other ingredients into a satisfying meal.
  • Affordable. Their single menu item costs only $4.50, which includes 10 pieces of tofu in a soup bowl.

Reviews (4.5/5 on Google Reviews):

“Delicious bowl of Yong Tau Fu soup ($4.50) just full of umami. There is only 1 item on the menu and you will get a 10 piece mix of tofu, fried tofu, beancurd fish paste rolls, and fishballs in a soya bean-based soup. The dipping sauce is tasty but sometimes I am ok without it. Expect a perpetual snaking queue since opening. The uncles will serve your bowls to your table after you have ordered.” – Simple Foodie

“Delicious Yong Tau Foo ingredients as well as the soup! One bowl was just nice enough to make one full. Be prepared for a queue though” – Wilfred Loy Yong Kang

Toa Payoh Soon Heng Rojak Cover Image

Price Range
Different sizes at $2.50, $3, $4, or $5.

Address
51 Old Airport Rd, #01-108, Singapore 390051

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 11:00 am to 9:45 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 6958 9380

The Old Airport Road Food Centre, being its age, has seen many stalls come and go. One such that has stood the test of time is Toa Payoh Rojak. It carries with it its signature dish, so good that it will often have a seemingly never-ending queue.

Service Highlights:

  • Rojak. Rojak literally means “mixture”, characteristic of its anything-goes combination of multiple flavor profiles and textures. Chinese rojak often has fruit, water morning glory, and other ingredients in a shrimp paste and palm sugar glaze, with a sprinkle of crushed peanuts. The Indian version will usually have fruit, veggies, fritters all paired with a peanut sweet and spicy sauce. Toa Payoh does their rendition differently, albeit retaining its feel and sprinkled with a whole lot of passion in its making.
  • Affordable. Each serving can come in different sizes all differently priced, but all remain affordable with great value for money!

Reviews (3.5/5 on Google Reviews):

“Best rojak I have eaten in my life. Enough said. Must eat. Don’t go for small, just go big. Definitely coming back again.” – Emily Soon

“Toa Payoh Rojak is popular. The system for ordering is quite different.  You pick the queue card number abs wait for your number to be display.  You tell the stall holder your order for small, medium or large serving.  The are additional addon like cuttlefish, century eggs or extra rojak sauce.  He, then, preloaded and mix, stir up your order and hands it to you before collecting payment. I ordered the small portion with cuttle fish addon. Wow!  Was it delicious and spicy.  Would love to have it as often as possible.” – Walter Wu

YuCun Claypot Curry Fish Head Cover Image

Price Range
Their fish head curry runs for $37.20 for 2-4 people. Other prices can be found here.

Address
147 Upper Paya Lebar Rd, Singapore 534849

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 6286 0491

The Banana Leaf Apolo is quite a legendary Indian restaurant for fish head curry, but a little expensive to go on this list. Instead, we present YuCun Claypot, another restaurant offering the popular dish just as good, while a lot more affordable! 

Service Highlights:

  • Fish Head Curry. You can enjoy both Nonya (Assam) Fish Head and Fish Head curry at Yu Cun. Three levels of spiciness are offered in these well-balanced dishes. The fish is very fresh and the curry has that moreish quality that will make you order a lot more rice!
  • Affordable. Unlike most places offering the dish, YuCun offers more reasonably priced options. Their curry comes in a for-sharing meal that can feed 2-4 people.

Reviews (4.2/5 on Google Reviews):

“This curry fish head is one of the best in Singapore. Service is good and efficient, with clean environment but more importantly the dishes are exemplary. Curry fish head is fragrant and tasty while the other dishes like the Mantou bun and special pork ribs are very good also. The drinks are also refreshing and goes well with the curry.” – Derek Neo

“The curry fish head really not bad. The gravy is just nice. Not too thick not too thin. Enough to drizzle over the rice and eat it without feeling too cloying. The fish is also fresh and tender. Not overcooked. Also ordered the shrimp paste chicken and the smoked duck. Both taste quite decent also. Nice place to eat if you want to have a change of taste from ur regular zhi char.” – Ray Tan.

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles Cover Image

Price Range
Choose from different serving sizes: m $5, $6, $8, or $10

Address
466 Crawford Ln, #01-12, Singapore 190466

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30 am to 9:00 pm

Originally started back in 1935 (though at a different location), and easily one of the most well-known bak chor mee hawker stalls in Singapore, is the heritage stall Tai Hwa Bak Chor Mee. It is a Michelin-awarded stall for its world-class pork noodles.

Service Highlights:

  • Bak Chor Mee. Is a dish that literally translates to “minced pork and noodles”. It comes with egg noodles, a sauce made of chili, vinegar, and soy sauce that is then topped with minced pork. Hill Street Tai Hwa doesn’t deviate from this formula and instead masters it.
  • Affordable. Choose from different serving sizes, all at an affordable rate. The smallest size is at a cheap $5 dollars, and you can spend $10 if you want to go big.

Reviews (3.9/5 on Google Reviews):

“The stall really lives up to its Michelin’s name!! The pork livers are soft and moist. The Chinese black vinegar brings up the fragrance of minced meat noodles. We like the fried fish slices. Super crispy with the crunchy bones.” – Tyler Teo

“This is a place I would visit specially for the food, but perhaps when I have the luxury of time. I believe the waiting time is relatively torturous esp if you need to stand in line for it. Alternatively, come down at 3pm+ where the wait time is around 15 min!” – Chunwen

 Song Zhou Luo Bo Gao Cover Image

Price Range
Ranges from $3 to $5. You may check their prices here.

Address
Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, 208B New Upper Changi Rd, 01-37, Singapore 462208

Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday: 6:30 am to 8:00 pm

Contact
Phone: +65 9684 3555

Song Zhou Luo Bo Gao is a well-known Chai Tow Kway vendor in Singapore, located at the Bedok Interchange Food Centre, which is a major transportation hub. They offer both black and white versions, both of which taste great enough to warrant regular visits and popularity. Rice cakes rice flour

Service Highlights:

  • Carrot Cakes. Song Zhou Luo Bo Gao sells carrot cakes, Singapore delicacies made with rice flour and shreds of daikon rolled into rice cakes. Then they are fried in pork lard and eggs. You can get the white carrot cake which is soft with crunchy bits, or up the flavor profile with the squid/prawn version and additional eggs.
  • Affordable. You will certainly get value for money from a purchase here. Their most expensive dish is at $5, which means if you plan to splurge, you can get as much as you want without hurting your wallet.

Reviews (4.0/5 on Google Reviews):

“They provide a substantial portion of either “black” or “white” carrot cake. A local delicacy that complements their chilli. The “white” variation is my personal favorite. I tried the “black” version, which was quite tasty. A modest local delicacy that satisfies my hunger and gets me ready for the day!” – Gra Cious

“I’m a fan of carrot cake partly because I’m a Malaysian so I’m looking for something more authentic carrot cake in Singapore. I personally like white carrot cake and this is really nice. Every part of the dish is on point, the char taste, chilli is good and they have added prawns. This is one of the most flavourful carrot cakes I had.” – Rosalind Kang

Ah Chuan Fried Oyster Omelette Cover Image

Price Range
At $4, $5, and $8 for small, medium, and large sizes, respectively.

Address
Blk 22 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh #01-25, 310022

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm (Closed on Tuesday)

Contact
Phone: +65 6286 0491

Proudly nominated as one of the best Orh Luak stalls in the country, Ah Chuan is a local favorite for its signature dish that you should definitely not miss out on. Head on over at Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre and get a taste of this local delight from a respected hawker stall.

Service Highlights:

  • Oyster Omelettes. In a typical recipe, potato starch batter is fried in lard on a hot skillet, followed by eggs, which are then combined and make crispy goodness. After the mixture is mixed with bean sprouts, it is topped with fresh oysters, mostly served raw. Ah Chuan serves its own fried to perfection while retaining the gooey, fresh oyster filling.
  • Affordable. Get affordable options whether you order a large size at $8. You’ll certainly get your fill of oysters while staying on budget.

Reviews (4.1/5 on Google Reviews):

“Can never go wrong with this oyster omelette (the hao dan 蚝旦 version). i can eat this almost every day (i had it 4 times this week). Always perfectly cooked, oysters are always fresh, complemented by the chili and well-balanced sauce. i just love it so much i can’t think of anything else to say. A true hawker gem.” – Chloe

“Fancy having fried oyster omelettes for breakfast? This is most probably the only shop that sells the dish for breakfast. This is one of the best fried oyster omelettes in Singapore.” – Seo Hin Yeoh

How We Rate And Review The Products and Services We Recommend

Make informed choices when torn between different products and services in Singapore. Top Brands looks at the many offers in the country and reviews them to help you come to a decision. Which is why our rating system is something we hold to a high standard by which each brand is evaluated.

You can check how we do it here.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the best choice for food comes down to your preference. Cuisine remains a subjective topic, but it’s always best to explore the opinion of others in case they help us make our own more efficiently.

  • Not every local favorite can be included. So whether you want curry puffs, Chwee Kueh (steamed rice cake topped with chilli sauce), or western faves like chicken cutlet or steak, be sure to review your different options.
  • Prefer dining at home? Double-check for delivery with each store/stall. 
  • A great way to explore a business without being physically there is to check other customer reviews.

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