CAJ2

We're staying for four nights in Singapore in April. A big part of our trips is the food!

It looks like "must trys" are Fish Head Curry and Chilli Crabs, which is great as we love really spicy food. Anything from Hawker Centres to top end restaurants is fine as we want to eat a variety of food at a variety of places.

Are there any other dishes that you'd recommend as must trys? For any of the above, where would you recommend we try them?

We're staying in the Marina Square area.

KMLoke

checkout these blogs. Since my budget is more modest I am more familiar with hawker food.

My personal favourite at the moment:

http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/

http://www.chubbyhubby.net/blog/

My favourite hawker centers.

Old Airport Road Temp Food Center. As the original location is being upgraded, the food stalls have moved to a temporary location just behind.

Must try at Old Airport, Toa Payoh Rojak (Chinese salad with prawn paste) I eat rojak only from this stall, Nam Sing hokkien mee (fried noodles) you won't believe the flavour in the noodle, To Rico's spare parts (local slang for pig's organs and parts (intestines etc) best in town. Not for the squeamish though. Wash all that down with sugar cane juice!

http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/...0Food%20Centre

Maxwell Road Food Centre

http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/...0Food%20Centre

Forget about the hawker center at Newton Circus. It's for tourists. Few of the stalls have been suspended for soliciting.

For chilli crab try No Signboard at the Aljunied Road/Geylang location. They have several others at fancier places but this is where it all started.

For prata, go to Jalan Kayu. Thasevi has been the flagbearer for years although there's many pretenders to the throne.

http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/...ayu-prata.html

If you have the time join the queue at Astons. Good and cheap! Be prepared to wait though. Minimum is 30 minutes.

http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/...um-ribeye.html

A must try Peranakan food which is only found in Singapore and Malacca/Penang in Malaysia. It's a fusion of Chinese/Malay/Indonesian cooking (with pork). There's 2 peranakan restaurants next to Aston if you find the queue too long. Won't go wrong there.

Bon apetit!

hobbes

Coastal Chettinad India food at Mango Tree at East Coast Park, tell the driver behind the McDonalds - well combined with night safari if you had planned to go

mjs

I cannot recommend the No Sign Board. While the Chili Crab and pepper crab was fine we were not that impressed with the food. The food was good but nothing out of the ordinary. We had however, the worst service I have ever seen in a restaurant and walked out 30 minutes into the meal.

BnS

I must always visit the seafood restaurant at Long Beach.
Their crab is a must (Singapore chilli, black pepper).
I also recommend the steamed prawns.

Here is their web address, there may be a branch close to you.
http://www.singaporemirror.com.sg/co_longbeach.htm

MichaelBKK

Laksa is another dish famous among locals. There are a lot of Laksa stalls, along with several other restaurants, in the 'Katong' section of the old east coast road.

KMLoke

The laksa places are a short walk from the peranakan restuarants/Astons.

CAJ2

Thanks for all your help on this. I'm getting the impression that the best Singaporean food is found along the East Coast, and not further into the City.

We'd had our eye on going to the Mango Tree, so it's good to know we are on the right lines, there. Hobbes, are you suggesting to go there for an early-ish dinner and then on to the Night Safari? We were planning on going to the Night Safari, though we thought we might cram in the Orchid Garden, the Zoo and the Night Safari into one day.

We've also decided on one meal at Doc Cheng's too (though I accept it's not traditional food there!)

Is there anywhere, say, in Little India, that's worth a try for Fish Head Curry?

Thanks again!

CAJ2

Topping...

Lindsey

I would NOT suggest doing Night Safari and Mango Tree in the same night. They are at opposite ends of the island. Mango Tree has excellent food and a lovely setting on the East coast. Why would you want to rush through the meal there to get somewhere else? Hawker food is quick and casual....a better choice IMO before the Night Safari. (You want to get to the NS around 7:30, when it's completely dark. After the narrated tram ride, wander off by yourself on the footpaths for the really magical part of the experience.)

My personal favorite for chili and pepper crabs, and easy to access from where you are staying, is the Long Beach outlet in Marina South. Better food and much more relaxing atmosphere than the East Coast outlet, which is noisy and hectic.

Maxwell Center hawker stalls are great because they are right in Chinatown and a convenient stop in between other sightseeing. Old Airport Rd and Jalan Kayu are very local and authentic, but well off the beaten path for visitors. Just be aware that if you decide to try those spots, you will be using some of your time here getting there and back. Since food is an important part of your visit, it could be time well spent.

Another of my favorite local foods is seafood char kway teo...a classic noodle dish. I prefer it "dry" ie without gravy.

If you are in the Arab Street area, be sure to visit Zam Zam, for the best chicken murtabak in town. Go past the takeaway counter at street level and head upstairs to the air con part of the restaurant.

For good fish head curry in Little India area, try Muthu's or Banana Leaf Apollo, both on Race Course Rd.

Lindsey

Oops, forgot to mention, Zam Zam is just down the street from the big mosque in Arab St area. Ask anyone in the neighborhood for directions. All the locals eat there.

CAJ2

That's great, thank you so much! We had seen Muthu's and Banana Leaf in the guidebooks for the Fish Head Curry but didn't know if they were just the "standard" entries or really worth going to.

I wish we had double the nights now, so double the food! Oh well, maybe we'll just have to start planning our next trip! We'll be sure to post a foodie review when we get back! Thanks again!

Smeagol

black pepper crab on the corner of joo chiat road ... delicious

kuranosuke

such good info on where to eat. i like the black pepper crab at long beach in east coast complex, the fish head curry at apollo banana leaf, the laksa in katong(close to joo chiat rd), and the penang hokkien mee at penang delight, blk 17, al juired complex.

hi lindsey. , still there?

btw, if you go to apollo, be sure to audit your check, as they have the tendency to add phantom items to your bill. lol.

thit_cho

http://www.chenfuji.com.sg/

Great fried rice.

KMLoke

Whilst browsing the chenfuji website found some info on Tong Heng. If you are around Chinatown do drop by to try the custard tart (dan tart). There's 2 styles than with the hard pastry and the soft and flaky pastry. This is the soft and flaky type. The best in Singapore.

285 South Bridge Road (just before Maxwell Food Centre, Chinatown)
Tel 62233649
Fax 62258484

Lindsey

Hi Ken,
Yes, still here, but only until first week of June, when we repatriate to the US. Working hard to make the most the time we have left! Have trips planned to Laos, Koh Samui and Chiang Rai before we go.

While I am here, I just thought of another yummy local dish to mention .....Hainanese Chicken Rice. One of the more famous stalls is in Maxwell Rd Food Center....Tian Tian Chicken Rice. (I think that might be the one Anthony Boudain visited.) It's not spicy on its own, but is served with chilis that can "hot" it up. Definitely worth a try!

KMLoke

Tian Tian Chicken rice at Maxwell is the one.

There's a stall selling peanut soup for dessert. Good and cheap. Taken with you tiao (long stick of fried dough).