Gourmet Paradise

Eating is the highlight of life in Singapore. Just like its people, Singapore has a wide variety of food. We heard that when Singapore had a labor shortage, the government encouraged both spouses to work. With neither spouse having time to cook, food stalls catering to these families flourished. With so many choices ranging from gourmet restaurants to simple food stalls, we find ourselves eating out daily.

Take Away
Any food can be ordered for "take away". Noodles, rice porridge, and even left over beer can be taken home. Speaking of beer, we were surprised that many people drink beer with ice. Since it's so warm in Singapore, adding ice is the only way to keep beer cool while drinking.

Hawker Center
Centered in public housing districts for local residents are hawker centers. Tens of food stalls are lined row after row. Shared tables and chairs in the center are invariably bolted into the concrete floor.

Famous Chinese meat dumpling shop at Tiong Bahru Market. Since the menu is in Chinese, Masami studied a few words before going out to buy some. There's always a long line at this shop at Tiong Bahru Market. Masami tried their rice cakes and recommends them.

Coffee Shop (Kopitiam)

One step up from a hawker center is a Coffee Shop. The area is typically owned by the beverage shop owner who sells, in addition to can drinks, local coffee with condensed milk. Within the Coffee Shop area are 10 or so assorted food staffs that rent space from the Coffee Shop. The tables and chairs are usually free standing and can be moved about.

Food Court
Food courts are found in any air conditioned shopping center. The type of food varies little from a hawker center or coffee shop, but the food court stalls are cleaner and the air conditioning is a luxurious escape from the unrelenting muggy climate outside. The food prices, however, are higher. Lunch at a hawker center may cost between S$2 to S$3 (US$1.20 to US$1.80). A similar meal at a food court will cost between S$4 to S$7 (US$2.40 to US$4.15).

Typical Singaporean Food

Chicken Rice: Don't dismiss this dish from its simplistic name. The rice is cooked in chicken broth. Baked or steamed chicken can be chosen. Add some pickled vegetables and a spicy red pepper sauce to complete the dish.

Kway Teow: A wide flat rice noodle cooked with egg, oysters, bean sprouts, and leaks in a thick dark brown sauce. At first sight, it doesn't look good, but it sure is tasty.

Fish Ball Noodle Soup: Ramen noodles with a few fish balls and a pinch of green vegetables. When this dish is ordered "dry", the soup comes on the side. We see many people eating Fish Ball Noodle Soup for breakfast.

Yong Tofu: A number of vegetables and fish based items are chosen and cooked in a soup or "dry". This light meal with lots of veggies is one of Masami's favorites.
Laksa: Noodle soup with think yellow noodles and a coconut milk soup base. The soup color looks frighteningly red, but it isn't that spicy. Use chili paste to add some kick.
Nasi Lamak: The rice of this Malay dish is cooked in coconut milk. Over the rice are fried fish, fried chicken, and egg. A serving of Nasi Lamak at lunch will hold your hunger until dinner time.

Beef or Chicken Hor Fun: Hor Fun, a flat white rice noodle, is cooked with beef or chicken and vegetables. Its delicious with vinegar marinated spicy green chili peppers.

Duck Rice: Roasted duck over rice with a thick dark sauce.

Chili: Singaporean food can't be eaten without chili peppers. They can be found at every restaurant with local food. Various types of chili are available. Red chili is placed in a small dish with brown vinegar poured over the top. Green chili is marinated in a clear vinegar. Red chili paste is in a jar on the table. Singaporeans seem to consistently use each type of chili with each local dish.

Wet Market

Selling chicken.
Wet Market stands selling fruit, vegetables, meet, fish, and dried food.

Singapore has Wet Markets and Dry Markets. The difference is the existence of plumbing. All locally produced food are available at a these markets. Each stand at the market sells one product. Similar to the chicken stand pictured above, there are pork stands, fish stands, beef stands, vegetable stands, fruit stands, and stands selling things we don't recognize. The operating time of most of the stands is 06:00 to 10:00. Since we tend to sleep in late on weekends, we usually arrive at the market after many of the shops are closed for the day.