[Updated 9 August 2021]
Most countries take serious pride in their food and cuisine, and Singapore is no different. This island nation has become infused with different cultures (and therefore cuisines!) thanks to migrants that have come from all across the world.
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As the food brought over has been adapted over time to suit local tastes, several dishes have distinctly become known to be the those that you have to try when you visit. It’s time to eat your way through Singapore by having the country's must-try dishes at these halal eateries!
Hainanese Chicken Rice
No trip to Singapore is complete without trying our national dish! Choose from the steamed or roasted chicken, served with a plate of fragrant rice along with chilli and ginger paste. Cooked in chicken stock with ginger and pandan leaves, the rice is flavourful and decadent even on its own. The delicious combination of chicken, rice and sauces will guarantee that you’ll be back for more!
1. Tong Fong Fatt at Bedok Food Centre
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Tong Fong Fatt has been selling chicken rice since the nineties and has become a household name when it comes to this popular dish, with several outlets across Singapore. While most of them aren't halal, the one at Bedok Food Centre is! You'll be in for an amazing meal.
Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: Bedok Food Centre, #01-28, 1 Bedok Road Singapore 469572 (Al-Taqua Mosque is just a 5-minute walk away)
Opening hours: Thursday – Tuesday (Closed on Wednesdays), 11am – 9pm
Closest MRT: Tanah Merah
2.Evertop Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
Open ever since 1989, Evertop has built up its loyal fanbase over the decades with its succulent chicken meat, mouth-watering rice, and their special achar (pickled vegetables) that seal the deal! They have 2 outlets in Joo Chiat and Clementi, so no matter where you stay in Singapore you’re never too far away from an iconic meal to make your day a little brighter.
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Halal status: Halal-certified
Address:
Joo Chiat – 89/91 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427383
Clementi – 354 Clementi Avenue 2 #01-259, Clementi Avenue 2 Shopping Centre, Singapore 120354
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 10pm daily
P.S. Check of our full list of places to get chicken rice!
Chilli Crab
The star of this iconic dish is arguably the sauce! Despite its name, this dish is typically mildly spicy, sweet and savoury at the same time. It’s so addictive that you’ll be licking your fingers after every bite. Don’t forget to dip the deep-fried buns, also known as mantou, to soak up every last bit of the sauce ?
3. Home of Seafood
Home of Seafood is a halal-certified eatery where you'll be able to get your seafood fix, including their Chilli Crab which has fresh juicy crabs coated in a thick and sweet chilli sauce and has just the right amount of spice. Home Of Seafood is also very proud of their Pepper Crab dish, something which has been voted as the best in Singapore so don’t skip over it!
Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: 1 Joo Chiat Place Singapore 427739
Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 11am – 2pm and 5 – 11pm; Weekends and public holidays, 11am – 11pm
Closest MRT: Paya Lebar
4. Chai Chee Seafood
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Chee Seafood is a beloved name when it comes to seafood, especially those living in the east of Singapore. Besides their chilli crab, some signature dishes you can find include lobster salad, cereal prawns and clay pot seafood.
Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: 359 Changi Road Singapore 419821
Opening hours: 11:30am to 11pm, daily.
P.S. Looking for more seafood places in Singapore? Check this out!
Sup tulang merah
Sup tulang merah (which translates to redbone soup) is a truly special dish! The soup is made using mutton bone marrow, cooked into a stew. The chilli paste and tomato sauce give the dish its signature red colour (it'll stain your hands if you used your fingers!). Rich and savoury, the bone marrow melts into the stew making a sauce that's awesome to dunk bread into.
5. Deen Tiga Rasa
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Halal status: Muslim-owned
Address: 505 Beach Rd, Singapore 199583 Beach Rd, Singapore 199583
Opening hours: 8am - 11.30pm daily
Murtabak
Variations of Murtabak can be found throughout Southeast Asia but Singapore’s version is unique! It consists of dough stuffed with minced meat (chicken, beef, mutton or venison), eggs and vegetables. Fried to a perfect crisp and served with a side of curry, it’s a must-try for every traveller!
6. Zam Zam Restaurant
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Located right across from Masjid Sultan is Zam Zam Restaurant, the eatery that's pretty much a historical establishment here in Singapore. Opened since the early 1900s, it's easily the most popular Indian Muslim restaurant in the country. Choose from the variety of murtabak available (such as beef, chicken, mutton and even deer) which also comes in different sizes Don't forget to try their other dishes too, such as their briyani!
Halal status: Muslim-owned
Address: 697-699 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198675
Opening hours: 7am - 11pm daily
Closest MRT: Bugis
7. Victory Restaurant Singapore
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You can't mention Zam Zam without also talking about Victory. Located just a shop down from each other, Victory has long been Zam Zam's arch rival, with a historical track record to match. Similar to Zam Zam, Victory is know for its murtabak and briyani. Which one is better? The answer varies from person to person ? You'll just have to try both to see for yourself!
Halal status: Muslim-owned
Address: 701 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198675
Opening hours: 7am - 11pm daily
Nasi Padang
Nasi Padang came to Singapore's shores from Indonesia, brought by Minangkabau settlers from the Sumatra region. Over time it has evolved to suit local tastes and develop a stronghold in the Lion City, with Nasi Padang eateries serving a mixture of Malay and Indonesian-style dishes eaten alongside rice.
8. Hajah Maimunah
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Hajah Maimunah first opened in the nineties and has since become a successful business, operating two restaurants and a catering business. The more popular dining outlet is the one located along Jalan Pisang, just a short walk from Masjid Sultan. Their signature siput sedut lemak (needle snails in coconut gravy) and beef rendang will keep you wanting more – and their assortment of traditional kuih and desserts will be the perfect end to the meal!
Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: 11 & 15 Jalan Pisang, Singapore 199078
Opening Hours: 7am – 8pm (Mon-Sat), closed on Sundays
Closest MRT: Bugis
Website | Facebook | Instagram
9. Rumah Makan Minang
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Rumah Makan Minang is in an institution in Singapore, with its history going back to the 1940s. This business continues to be a family-owned establishment, with the grandchildren of the original founder running the Rumah Makan Minang today. Known for dishes like their beef rendang, it's something you definitely have to try.
Halal status: Muslim-owned
Address: 18 & 18A Kandahar Street, 198884. There's also a newer outlet located at Our Tampines Hub.
Opening Hours: 8.30am - 7.30pm daily
Closest MRT: Bugis
Kaya toast
Coffee shops play a major part in Singapore cuisine. An essential part of a classic Singaporean breakfast is Kaya toast - 2 slices of toast with a generous spread of butter and kaya jam (homemade coconut jam). Best enjoyed with a cup of hot kopi (coffee) or teh (tea)!
10. Heavenly Wang
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Get your fix of toast and kopi at Heavenly Wang, the halal-certified chain of eateries that is operated by the same management behind Wang Cafe, which has been operating since the 1950s. Besides toast, soft-boiled eggs and kopi, they also serve local favourites like Mee Siam, laksa and Mee Rebus.
Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: Various outlets. Please refer to their website for full details.
Opening Hours: 8.30am - 7.30pm daily
Hokkien Mee
While you can find Hokkien Mee in both Malaysia and Singapore, they are some differences to the one you can find in the Lion City. This dish of stir-fried noodles with prawns is not as dark as its Malaysian counterpart (which usually uses dark soy sauce).
11. Warong Kim's Seafood
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Warong Kim's Seafood has an illustrious lineage - founded in the 1960s by "Hokkien Mee Master" Mr Tan Kue Kim, who supposedly fried up plates of Hokkien Mee while wearing a Rolex watch! Nowadays the business is run by his son, who has further evolved the dish - you can order X.O. Hokkien Mee (the X.O. stands for 'Extra Oyster'), a variation of Hokkien Mee which includes, you guessed it, oysters!
Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: 31 Ah Hood Road, Singapore 329979
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am - 1am; Sun, 11am - 12am
Roti Prata
Roti Prata is another food that has a counterpart in Malaysia (roti canai)! This South-Indian flatbread is made with stretched dough flavoured with ghee (Indian clarified butter), which is then fried and usually served with curry as an accompaniment. Fun fact: did you know that prata means 'flat' in Hindi?
12. Al Tasneem
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Remember Zam Zam and Victory? Well, if you're familiar with the area, you'll know that there yet another store located at the corner called Al Tasneem, which serves similar fare. But we love their prata - nice and crispy while also fluffy. Plus, Al Tasneem tends to be quieter than Zam Zam and Victory, making it a nice place to relax with a cup of teh tarik too.
Halal status: Muslim-owned
Address: 709 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198681
Opening Hours: 8am - 11pm daily
Fried Oyster Omelette (Ohr Luak)
Ohr luak, or oyster omelette is a much-loved hawker speciality in Singapore. The mixture of oysters in an egg and flour batter that's fried up is a Chinese savoury delight.
13. Soon Lee Fried Kway Teow & Carrot Cake
Credit: 준치의 호커센터 탐방기 HawkerJunchy on Facebook
While it's usually quite hard to find fried oyster stalls that are halal, Soon Lee stall at Bedok Food Centre will save the day. This halal-certified eatery specialises in the dish, along with other Chinese favourites like char kuay teow and fried carrot cake!
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Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: Bedok Food Centre, 1 Bedok Road, Stall No. 2, 469572
Opening Hours: 10.30am - 9.30pm daily
Bonus: Ice Cream Bread
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We couldn't wrap up our list without mentioning this sweet dessert that's become a favourite among visitors strolling along Orchard Road - ice cream bread! Also known as Singapore ice cream sandwich, this dessert is genius in its simplicity. It's just a block of ice cream served on a slice of bread (usually rainbow bread!). It's something you can find several ice-cream sellers selling it along Orchard Road, especially near Takashimaya Department Store. It's a refreshing treat while you're walking along the road on a hot day!
We've come to the end of our list! These 13 places will hopefully give you a taste of some the must-try dishes in Singapore. It's time to eat your way through the city on a foodie adventure!