Singapore is one of the greatest
food cities in the world. Full stop.
No matter where you are from or
what you like to eat, Singapore
will surprise, delight and satisfy
you at every meal.
From SGD 3 plates of chicken rice
at a hawker centre to SGD 300
tasting menus at Michelin-starred
restaurants, Singapore's food scene
is extraordinary in its range,
quality and cultural diversity.
As an expat, discovering Singapore's
food landscape is one of the most
enjoyable parts of living here.
This guide is our honest, practical
recommendation of the best places
to eat in Singapore in 2026 —
covering all budgets, cuisines
and dining styles.
If you are still settling in and
figuring out where to live, check
out our guide on the
best areas to live in Singapore for expats
which also covers the food scene
in each neighborhood.
Understanding Singapore's Food Culture
Before we get into specific
recommendations, it helps to
understand how food culture
works in Singapore.
Singaporeans are obsessed with food.
This is not an exaggeration.
Food is a national passion,
a social institution and a
source of fierce local pride.
When two Singaporeans meet,
the first question is often
"have you eaten?" rather than
"how are you?".
This food obsession means that
the standards are incredibly high
even at the most affordable
eating establishments. The hawker
uncle who has been making the
same bowl of noodles for 40 years
takes enormous pride in his craft.
This is why Singapore's hawker
culture was recognized by UNESCO
as an Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Humanity in 2020.
Hawker Centres — Singapore's Greatest Food Institution
If you eat at only one type of
place during your time in Singapore,
make it the hawker centre. These
open-air food courts are where
Singapore's incredible street food
culture comes to life and where
many of the best meals in the
country are served for just
a few dollars.
What is a Hawker Centre?
A hawker centre is an open-air
complex housing dozens of individual
food stalls, each run by a
specialist cook who has often
spent decades perfecting just
one or two dishes. The diversity
of food available at a single
hawker centre is remarkable —
you can find Chinese, Malay,
Indian and international dishes
all under one roof.
Average meal cost: SGD 3 to SGD 8
Best Hawker Centres in Singapore
Maxwell Food Centre (Chinatown):
One of Singapore's most famous
hawker centres and home to the
legendary Tian Tian Chicken Rice
which was visited by the late
Anthony Bourdain. Located in
the heart of Chinatown, Maxwell
is convenient, atmospheric and
consistently excellent.
Must try: Tian Tian Hainanese
Chicken Rice, Maxwell Fuzhou
Oyster Cake
Old Airport Road Food Centre:
Many food critics and local
foodies consider Old Airport Road
to be Singapore's best hawker
centre. It has been operating
since the 1970s and is home
to some of the longest-running
and most celebrated hawker stalls
in Singapore.
Must try: Toa Payoh Rojak,
Heng Heng Chee Cheong Fun,
Fei Fei Wonton Noodle
Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market):
Located in the heart of the CBD,
Lau Pa Sat is a beautiful Victorian
cast-iron market building that
houses a large hawker centre.
It is particularly famous for
its satay street which comes
alive in the evenings when
rows of satay stalls line
the street outside.
Must try: Satay (evening),
Oyster omelette, Carrot cake
Chinatown Complex Food Centre:
The largest hawker centre in
Singapore with over 200 stalls.
It is home to Chan Hon Meng's
soya sauce chicken rice stall
which became the world's cheapest
Michelin-starred meal. The stall
no longer holds its star but
the chicken rice remains outstanding.
Must try: Soya Sauce Chicken Rice,
Hainanese Chicken Rice, Char Kway Teow
Must-Try Singapore Dishes for Expats
Hainanese Chicken Rice
This is Singapore's unofficial
national dish and arguably the
best chicken rice you will eat
anywhere in the world. Poached
or roasted chicken served over
fragrant rice cooked in chicken
stock with a trio of sauces —
chili, ginger and dark soy.
Simple, perfect and deeply satisfying.
Where to try: Tian Tian Chicken
Rice at Maxwell Food Centre
Chili Crab
Chili crab is Singapore's most
iconic seafood dish and a must-try
for every expat. Fresh crab
cooked in a rich, sweet and
slightly spicy tomato-based sauce,
served with fried mantou buns
to soak up every last drop.
Best restaurants for chili crab:
No Signboard Seafood (multiple outlets)
Jumbo Seafood (multiple outlets)
Long Beach Seafood (Dempsey and East Coast)
Price range: SGD 60 to SGD 120
per crab depending on size and restaurant
Laksa
Laksa is a spicy coconut milk
noodle soup that is one of
Singapore's most beloved comfort foods.
Rich, fragrant and utterly delicious,
a good bowl of laksa is one of
Singapore's great eating experiences.
Best laksa in Singapore:
328 Katong Laksa (East Coast Road)
— considered by many to be the
finest laksa in Singapore
Char Kway Teow
Flat rice noodles wok-fried with
eggs, prawns, Chinese sausage,
bean sprouts and dark soy sauce
over high heat in a traditional
wok. When done well the wok hei
(breath of the wok) transforms
these simple ingredients into
something extraordinary.
Hokkien Mee
Thick yellow noodles and thin
rice vermicelli stir-fried with
prawns, squid and pork in a
rich prawn stock, served with
sambal and lime. One of Singapore's
most satisfying hawker dishes.
Best Hokkien Mee:
Nam Sing Hokkien Mee at
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Roti Prata
Indian flatbread cooked on
a hot griddle until crispy
on the outside and flaky
inside, served with rich
curry dipping sauce.
Singapore's roti prata
culture is outstanding
and a Saturday morning
prata breakfast has become
a beloved expat ritual.
Best roti prata:
The Roti Prata House (Upper Thomson Road)
Best Mid-Range Restaurants in Singapore for Expats
When you want something more
than a hawker meal but are
not ready for fine dining,
Singapore's mid-range restaurant
scene is exceptional.
PS. Cafe (Multiple Locations)
PS. Cafe is a beloved Singapore
institution that offers excellent
Western comfort food in a relaxed
and stylish setting. Their truffle
fries are legendary and the
brunch menu is consistently
outstanding. Popular locations
include Dempsey Hill, Ann Siang
Hill and Palais Renaissance.
Price range: SGD 25 to SGD 50 per person
Best for: Weekend brunch, casual
dining with friends
Burnt Ends (Teck Lim Road)
Burnt Ends is one of Singapore's
most celebrated restaurants —
an open-fire restaurant serving
exceptional wood-fired meats
and creative small plates.
The restaurant requires advance
reservations and often books
out weeks in advance. Worth
every bit of the wait.
Price range: SGD 60 to SGD 120 per person
Best for: Special occasions,
food enthusiasts
Birds of a Feather (Amoy Street)
A wonderful Sichuan-meets-Western
restaurant that has become a
favorite among expats and locals
alike. The menu is creative,
the flavors are bold and the
environment is stylish without
being pretentious.
Price range: SGD 35 to SGD 65 per person
Best for: Dinner with colleagues,
date nights
Iggy's (Hilton Hotel Orchard)
A Singapore institution for
fine casual dining, Iggy's
offers creative modern European
cuisine with Asian influences.
The wine list is exceptional
and the service is polished
without being stuffy.
Price range: SGD 80 to SGD 150 per person
Best for: Business lunches,
special dinners
Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Singapore
Singapore punches well above
its weight in the fine dining
department with multiple
Michelin-starred restaurants
offering world-class cuisine.
Odette (National Gallery Singapore)
Consistently ranked among
Asia's 50 best restaurants,
Odette is widely considered
Singapore's finest restaurant.
Chef Julien Royer's modern
French cuisine is technically
brilliant, beautifully presented
and deeply delicious. Three
Michelin stars. Book months
in advance.
Price range: SGD 298 to SGD 398
per person for tasting menu
Best for: Once-in-a-lifetime
dining experiences
Les Amis (Shaw Centre)
One of Singapore's most storied
fine dining restaurants, Les Amis
has maintained its position at
the pinnacle of Singapore's
restaurant scene for over
25 years. Three Michelin stars.
Classic French haute cuisine
with impeccable service.
Price range: SGD 250 to SGD 400
per person
Zén (North Canal Road)
A stunning extension of the
legendary Frantzén restaurant
in Stockholm, Zén offers
a multi-course tasting menu
that blends Scandinavian
and Japanese culinary philosophy.
One of the most unique and
memorable dining experiences
in Asia. Three Michelin stars.
Price range: SGD 450 to SGD 550
per person
Best International Cuisine in Singapore
Japanese
Singapore has an outstanding
selection of Japanese restaurants
from affordable ramen shops
to high-end omakase counters.
Best ramen: Ippudo Singapore
(multiple locations)
Best sushi: Shinji by Kanesaka
(multiple locations)
Best izakaya: Tampopo (multiple locations)
Indian
Little India in Singapore is
a vibrant and authentic Indian
community with outstanding
restaurants serving cuisine
from across India.
Best North Indian: Rang Mahal
(Pan Pacific Hotel)
Best South Indian: Komala Vilas
(Buffalo Road, Little India)
Best Indian vegetarian:
Banana Leaf Apolo (Race Course Road)
Middle Eastern and Lebanese
For expats from the Middle East
or those who love Arabic food,
Singapore has a good selection
of Middle Eastern restaurants.
Best Lebanese: Artichoke (Middle Road)
Best Arabic: Sufood (multiple locations)
Singapore Food Delivery Apps
When you do not feel like going
out, Singapore's food delivery
scene is exceptional.
GrabFood: Part of the Grab app,
the largest food delivery platform
in Singapore with the widest
restaurant selection.
Foodpanda: Strong competitor
to GrabFood with frequent
promotions and discounts.
Deliveroo: Popular for restaurant
deliveries, particularly strong
for premium and international
restaurant options.
Tips for saving on food delivery:
Use cashback credit cards for
payment to earn rewards
Look for promo codes before ordering
Order during non-peak hours
for lower delivery fees
Use subscription plans like
GrabUnlimited for frequent
delivery users
Useful Resources
Singapore Michelin Guide:
guide.michelin.com/sg/en
Burpple (Singapore food reviews):
burpple.com
HungryGoWhere (restaurant directory):
hungrygowhere.com
Final Thoughts
Singapore's food scene is one
of the greatest gifts of expat
life here. Whether you are
spending SGD 4 at a hawker
centre or SGD 400 at a Michelin-starred
restaurant, you will eat
extraordinarily well.
Our advice: start with the
hawker centres. Eat chicken
rice at Maxwell, laksa at
Katong and satay at Lau Pa Sat.
Build your Singapore food journey
from the ground up and let
the extraordinary flavors
of this remarkable food city
reveal themselves to you
one meal at a time.
And do not forget to say
"shiok!" when something
tastes amazing. It is
Singapore's highest
culinary compliment
and you will be using
it a lot.
For more tips on living
in Singapore, check out
our complete guide to the
cost of living in Singapore for expats.
Have a favorite Singapore
restaurant or hawker stall?
Leave a comment below and
share your recommendation
with our expat community!
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