Singapore Food Tips

Food Tips

:: Hawker Centres
One of the best ways to immerse oneself in the local food scene is to head to one of our many hawker centers. Hawker centers are where you will find a veritable feast of Chinese, Malay and Indian treats.

It is best to find yourself a seat before you order. Placing a packet of tissue on the table will signal to others that the table has been reserved. Sharing a table with strangers is fine if you cannot find a vacant one.

Place your orders at each stall and state your table number and your selections. Most hawker centers have numbers on each table, however self-service is practiced in some hawker centers and food courts. It is also a good way to ask Singaporeans about their favorite food or stall. Chinese dishes come with chopsticks, though a fork and spoon will be made readily available upon request.

When ordering seafood, you should ask for the exact price you will be charged for the dish to avoid any misunderstanding.

A must-visit is the very popular Newton Circus along Bukit Timah Road and across the Newton MRT station. Try the fish ball noodles, barbecued chicken wings as well as the delicious seafood. Other favorite hawker centers in the city area include Lau Pa Sat and Maxwell Road Market.

For an in-depth taste of Singapore's hawker centers, visit the Makansutra (no relation to the famous Kama Sutra text) website.

:: Food Courts
Food courts are basically air-conditioned, indoor hawker centers. They are popular because they offer diversity of choice in a clean, modern and sometimes even luxurious setting. As with hawker centers, it is best to find a seat before you order your food.

Some favorite food courts in the city include Bugis Junction, Clarke Quay, Picnic Food Court, Takashimaya Food Village, Market Square at Centrepoint, China Square Food Centre and Kopitiam.

:: Prices
Singapore has a wide range of differently priced menus to suit the needs of travelers. Local fares are found at hawker centers. Kopitiams or open-fronted local coffee shops are also reasonably priced while luxurious meals served at five-star establishments are still excellent value for money.

:: Dress Code
Smart casual dressing is the rule for most restaurants in the city. At open-air food centers, you'll probably find shorts, bermudas and sandals far more comfortable.

:: Credit Cards
Most major credit cards are widely accepted at Singapore restaurants. Food courts and hawker centers are the exception. You may wish to call ahead to confirm that your card will be accepted at whichever restaurant you choose.

:: Service Charges
Most hotel restaurants and dining establishments levy a service charge of 10%, a Goods & Services Tax of 4% and a government tax of 1%. Some suburban eating places and most hawker centers and food courts do not levy this charge. Tipping can be practiced at your discretion.

:: No Smoking
In the interests of public health, smoking has been banned in most air-conditioned buildings and restaurants.

(c) Provided by Tourism Authority of Singapore