3 must-try restaurants in Singapore

[JulienH]

Ohno a discussion about food. Always a divisive topic amongst Singaporeans as to which is better.

@AngieYC very nice photos, and I'm glad you got to try some great restaurants. 

Hokkien Mee - personally it's not my dish, but it's really a long-time favorite and comfort food for many. It's found almost everywhere, in all neighbourhoods. People appreciate the fresh seafood ingredients, the rich flavour of the sauce. Expert cooks strike a good balance between making it not too wet or not too dry. Chili must be fragrant, and serving it on banana leaf further enhances the flavour!

The best ones are usually found in the older neighbourhood hawker centres, along with good char kway teow, fried carrot cake, wanton noodles etc. 

Old Airport Road Food Centre https://goo.gl/maps/k3UMtgAE14E2, Bedok 85 market https://goo.gl/maps/jDUV6PYypXQ2, Whampoa Hawker Centre https://goo.gl/maps/1r58iXjbZfR2

Haidilao hot pot is a really nice chain of hot pot restaurants that's opening all over the island, with consistently long queues. You can either reserve very early in advance, or call in and have them take a number for you, or go during off peak hours, to save time. As you mentioned, the noodle performance, free manicure for ladies, free snacks while waiting. 

I would definitely recommend first timers to try the Singapore Chili Crab. Melben/whatever-the-new-name-is, is a bit odd these days. It is probably better to go to the Jumbo Seafood chain of restaurants. They have good outlets at Clark Quay and Dempsey and few others. It's actually a rather sweet chili sauce, goes well with the fried bread buns. If you're afraid of spice, this is actually less spicy than the black pepper crab. These days, salted egg yolk crab is also quite popular. 

@HiroyukiTakisawa well there's a few vegetarian restaurants, but I wouldn't say they are really that iconic of Singapore food, as the Chinese seem to just eat everything. The Buddhist abstain for meat on certain days. 

high end vegetarian - Ling Zhi https://goo.gl/maps/5XCsv7MYdHU2 / https://goo.gl/maps/xdQXZ1xrPqs

daily vegetarian fried beehoon (I really like their crunchy beancurd skin) - Meow Xiang https://goo.gl/maps/gwiPDcpxYJ72

@Kol-Colleen_2018 if you're talking about pekin duck style of roast duck, the best is usually at high end chinese restaurants like 

Crystal Jade Paragon https://goo.gl/maps/xRu14VcWU5K2 or Imperial Treasure https://goo.gl/maps/XTh5QoTxh6C2

Make sure you call to confirm, preferably some days before to be really sure.

Some more random stuff:

Beach Road Prawn Noodle house https://goo.gl/maps/qDeNiEeQLZt

Ngee Fou yong tau foo https://goo.gl/maps/NVMaxvZuSR82

Casuarina Curry prata https://goo.gl/maps/vvuQ3czpc7m

Founder bak kut teh https://goo.gl/maps/fyJWLR1PQ9D2

Loy kee chicken rice https://goo.gl/maps/UgpJjfDuh842

[Victoria_v]

I have been to Singapore several times, but usually in transit. There are also many restaurants at Changi airport, I liked the restaurant Paradise Inn.

You can also order a duck in it.

Singapore also has a lot of food courts. There, food is more affordable than in restaurants.

There is even a whole street of food in Singapore.

[JulienH]

@Victoria_v you bring up a good point! Food at the airport!

Paradise Inn is also a fairly good chain of chinese restaurants. Very authentic and good affordable price for everybody. 

If at Terminal 2, i recommend Soup Restaurant https://goo.gl/maps/BAU6ShtpPAS2 (actually a chinese restaurant). Ginseng chicken very good.

If at Terminal 3, try Dian Xiao Er https://goo.gl/maps/88xBGypDLGP2 nice classic chinese ambience. Lovely herbal smoked duck. They have so many flavours and meal sets.

Terminal 3: https://goo.gl/maps/SjpbU76tj2E2 Curry Times - authentic local food, really like this place.

Terminal 1: alot of renovation recently so I'm not sure what's still open, Crystal Jade would be good. https://goo.gl/maps/pjxVwonZpst

If you're in chinatown: try Chinatown Complex second floor. https://goo.gl/maps/nJMHjiYzqVG2. There's a little xiaolongbao stall that is really nice and cheap. https://goo.gl/maps/QwwNorbivXF2 

As a local, I will tell you to skip the "food street" outside - it's a bit too touristy. 😃 haha. The second floor hawkers really have much nicer stuff. Don't worry it's all safe to eat.

[AngieYC]

Hello @JulienH,

I tried another crab dish, but I don't know what is the name of the dish. It's steamed crab, with rice noodle and a bit of seafood broth.

Caption: Crab dish, with rice noodle and seafood broth on a plate (Local Guide @AngieYC)

Do you know anything about this dish? It was very delicious! I had this crab at De Golden Spoon restaurant, Singapore. 

[AngieYC]

Hello @Victoria_v,

Thank you for sharing, when I was having a transit at Singapore, I ate at the other place it looks like a food court but it was full with Japanese cuisine only. But this place looks amazing, for an airport restaurant. 

[HiroyukiTakisawa]

Thank you @JulienH

I see. These are also interesting! I have added to the list!!

Before we go there, we will search for some vegetarian restaurants that are serving Singapore foods. At that time, please advise us about them:-)

[HiroyukiTakisawa]

@AngieYC

That sounds great! I love Tonkotsu ramen that like Ichiran too:-)
Recently, vegetarian ramen shops are increasing in Japan. This is a very good news for my wife and vegetarians who are living in Japan. I hope to them to become cheaper and familiar and spreading to the countryside.

That crab dish also looks tasty! 🙂 

In Singapore, Chilli Crab seems to be famous. Is it a close one?

[AngieYC]

Hello @HiroyukiTakisawa,

That's great, I really miss Japanese food and their hospitality as well. I always had the 7/11 sushi for breakfast when I was visiting Japan, last year. 

Chili crab in Singapore are famous as @JulienH had mentioned. This crab dish, I just checked on their website it's actually one of their famous it's called 'crab bee hoon soup', which are milder taste than the chili crab. 

[HiroyukiTakisawa]

Hi, @AngieYC

I see, interesting! Thank you for telling the name and taste:-9

[JulienH]

@HiroyukiTakisawa I think many culture in Singapore is that those who are vegetarian will just avoid the dishes with meat or ask the chef to leave out the meat. So it is not so common to find dedicated vegetarian restaurants. Many zhi char or chinese restaurants will all have lots of vegetable based dishes like tofu, fried veggies etc etc. 

@AngieYC you might have gone to Sora Japan Gourmet Hall https://goo.gl/maps/5Pip864R3Dx, it's actually pretty new. Their tendon bowl is very large serving and instagram-worthy. 

Saboten at Terminal 1 is very nice. https://goo.gl/maps/C7FMSQDXNvE2. Their katsu is great. Free flow rice and salad I think. 

Another way of having crab is in a stir-fried dry noodle - crab bee hoon.