Singapore is a city that eats around the clock. From breakfast toasts with kopi (local coffee) to late-night oyster omelettes, locals know that food isn’t just fuel – it’s part of their identity. For travellers, exploring the island’s food scene is the fastest way to understand its multicultural heart.

What makes Singapore unique is the spectrum: hawker food stalls serving SGD$4 meals sit alongside Michelin-starred restaurants and seafood institutions where dinner can cost SGD$100 per person. Both ends of this spectrum are equally celebrated as authentic Singapore eats.

Here are 10 of the best local food spots – a curated mix of hawker icons, mid-tier gems, and high-end restaurants – that every visitor should try at least once.

At around SGD$6 per plate, it’s budget-friendly yet world-class. Even Gordon Ramsay once challenged Tian Tian in a hawker showdown — and lost. If a Michelin-starred TV chef can’t topple this humble stall, you know it’s the real deal. Affordable, consistent, and deeply comforting, chicken rice isn’t just for tourists hunting for iconic Singapore food — it’s also the weekday lunch of countless locals who never tire of one of the most authentic Singaporean eats around.

2. Kampong Glam Café

In a neighbourhood best known for its golden mosque and hip boutiques, Kampong Glam Café keeps things refreshingly real. Sitting right along Baghdad Street, this unpretentious open-air spot has been feeding locals for over two decades — day, night, and long after the bars have closed.

Its menu is a greatest-hits collection of authentic Singapore eats: mee goreng (fried noodles in Malay) sizzling in a wok, nasi lemak fragrant with coconut rice, mee siam — thin rice vermicelli of hot, sweet and sour flavours and teh tarik (pulled milk tea) frothed by hand. Don’t expect fine dining — just honest, hearty food — the kind Singaporeans actually crave for breakfast or supper. The food here generally costs around SGD$6, a real reasonable price tag for grub so satiating and filling!

What makes Kampong Glam Café special is its people-watching perch. You’ll sit shoulder to shoulder with taxi drivers, creatives, and families winding down after prayers — all sharing the same plates of local food Singapore is built on. It’s the kind of place that proves you don’t need white tablecloths to experience real Singapore food culture — just good sambal chilli and great company.

4.  328 Katong Laksa

If there’s one dish that defines the Katong area, it’s laksa — and 328 Katong Laksa keeps that legacy alive with every creamy, coconut-rich bowl. Located along East Coast Road, this humble stall serves up a deeply aromatic broth that balances spice, sweetness, and the subtle brininess of

dried shrimp. 

Each bowl is filled with short, slurp-ready noodles (cut for convenience — no chopsticks needed!), fresh cockles, fishcake slices, and prawns that soak up the fragrant curry gravy. The signature touch? That rich sambal spooned generously on top, giving the laksa a fiery depth that locals swear by. All these at an extremely reasonable price range of SGD$6-8 make it a real steal, considering the

amount of ingredients that go into a single bowl.

While 328 Katong Laksa has fierce competition in the neighbourhood, its charm lies in its consistency — a true daily comfort food that locals return for. The shop’s pared-down menu and quick service also make it a favourite pit stop for anyone cycling along East Coast Park or exploring nearby Joo Chiat shophouses.

5. Lau Pa Sat

Looking for the best of Singaporean hawker food? Search no further than Lau Pa Sat, Singapore’s only iconic hawker centre that is housed within a national monument.  Within its heritage building, you’ll find plenty of hawker delights from laksa to hokkien mee to rojak – you name it, you have it. If you find yourself visiting in the evening, you have to head out to the outdoor area where the roads transform into Satay Street — quite literally a street tailored for satay vendors. This is where you can sample the best of satay, which are meat skewers that are best enjoyed with cucumbers, rice cakes and an aromatic peanut sauce!

These local classics cost between SGD$6 –12. For travellers short on time, it’s the perfect way to sample a wide range of authentic Singaporean eats under one roof.

While you’re there, don’t miss Food Folks at Lau Pa Sat, a retail space that celebrates all things local. It brings together a curated selection of Singaporean brands — from artisanal sauces and snacks to beverages and souvenirs — making it a great spot to pick up gifts or taste innovative local creations. Lau Pa Sat is the perfect one-stop destination for travellers who want to experience Singapore’s rich food culture and take home a piece of it too.

Lau Pa Sat

18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582

6. East Coast Lagoon Food Village

If you want to eat like a local but chill like you’re on holiday, East Coast Lagoon Food Village is your spot. Set right by the sea, it’s where Singaporeans gather after work or on weekends for grilled seafood, satay, and ice-cold beer under the palm trees.

The vibe is unbeatable — hawker classics meet beach bar atmosphere. Locals queue for Fried Oyster, Satay, BBQ Chicken wings, Carrot cake, Sambal Chilli Stingray or Hokkien mee — noodles tossed in a rich prawn-and-squid broth. Families share chilli crab at round tables, cracking shells and laughing through the mess — the kind of communal meal that defines authentic Singapore eats.

Nothing here feels staged for tourists; it’s where city dwellers go to unwind. Grab a table facing the sea, kick off your sandals, and taste the laid-back side of Singapore food culture — equal parts chaos, comfort, and charm.

7. Mama Diam 

For diners who’ve explored the hawker scene and want to see how chefs are reimagining authentic Singapore eats, Mama Diam is a perfect next stop. It captures the nostalgia, humour and ingenuity that define Singapore food culture — with a cheeky shot of whisky on the side.

Behind a nostalgic provision shop façade on Prinsep Street, Mama Diam hides one of Singapore’s most creative modern bistros. Step through the “secret” door and you enter a retro speakeasy where 90s Singapore comes alive — thinkmosaic tiles, tin biscuit and the hum of Mandarin pop.

The menu riffs on childhood snacks and kopitiam staples: cocktails infused with pandan and Milo, sliders glazed with kaya butter, and bar bites that turn curry puffs and rojak into sleek small plates. It’s equal parts playful and proudly local.

9. JUMBO Seafood

Ask any Singaporean what dish defines the nation, and award-winning chilli crab will be the unanimous common answer. JUMBO Seafood has won numerous accolades and awards, including being crowned the 77th Most Legendary Restaurant in the World among the top 150 by TasteAtlas in 2023. Here, the symbolic national dish is perfected. Large crabs are cooked in a tangy, spicy, slightly sweet sauce and served with deep-fried mantou buns that you’ll use to mop up every morsel of that delicious sauce.

Prices here are on the higher end, making it a splurge — but one that’s worth it. Dining at JUMBO, especially at its Clarke Quay or East Coast outlets, is both a culinary and cultural experience. It’s one of the most iconic Singaporean food experiences that visitors simply cannot miss. 

10. Candlenut

Our little red dot is also home to the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, Candlenut. Nestled within the cosy Dempsey Hill, Candlenut serves age-old Nonya recipes that has been reimagined into a contemporary version.

Chef Malcolm Lee, born and raised in Singapore, has created recipes on the menu that tell a story. Each dish showcases an intricate balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy — a remarkable multi-dimensional aspect of gastronomy. Every element, from the plating to the pacing, feels intentional — a modern dialogue with the past rather than a departure from it. This restaurant is truly an iconic spot that encapsulates the best of Singaporean food.

Candlenut