Singapore's Dynamic Food Scene.

Everyone told us we would really enjoy the food in Singapore.  I have to admit: I was skeptical.  I am not a huge fan of Asian cuisine.  I don't mind it, but it's just not something I crave.  But after visiting Singapore I realize why I have never particularly craved Asian food--I just have never had good, authentic versions of it.  Because of the diverse cultures that make-up Singapore's population, you can eat Malay, Thai, Korean, Chinese, Indian, and a hybrid food that is Malay-Chinese called Peranakan.


Food vendors are highly regulated in Singapore.  Food stall owners are forced to post their grades from the health department--A, B, or C so customers know the sanitary conditions.  You can either find these vendors clustered open tent structures or more bricks and mortar, still open air structures called Hawker Centers.  There are several famous ones, such as Maxwell Road in Chinatown or Newton Circus, but there are small ones peppered throughout the city.  One night, we stumbled on a small, Hawker Center with about ten food stalls and a clutch of tables being staffed by a lively barmaid.  You order your food and then go to a different stall and order a beer and then staff from the stalls bring your food to you and you pay them.  The range of foods at these stalls is impressive--stir-fry noodle and rice dishes, dumplings, kebabs, soups, and each vendor tends to specialize in chicken or beef or seafood.  Because of the diverse population that includes Muslim and  Hindu, halal and vegetarian options are in abundance.  Not only are the choices impressive, food is dirt cheap.  We averaged spending $10 per person and that includes one or two beers.  Although hotels are pricey in Singapore, food and public transit make Singapore a destination for travelers of all price points.


Kevin and Chris eating at the Maxwell Road Hawker Center in Chinatown.



Besides the Hawker Centers, a slightly more tame version of the vendor scene can be found in the plethora of malls that are literally on every corner and part of every MRT station in downtown Singapore.  To escape a rainstorm on our first day, we scurried into a mall near the Botanical Gardens and enjoyed an amazing meal of spicy squid.  We continued to eat our way through the food courts and hawker centers during our visit, usually eating at least one, if not two meals there each day. 

I can say that I never tired of the fresh, stir-fried meals and now crave Asian food--at least the kind you can eat in Singapore.