Singapore Restaurants & Eating

The food scene in Singapore has evolved drastically since yesteryears. In the olden days, hawkers used to line the streets, shouting and selling as they walked. Today, there are brightly-lit hawker centres, coffee shops, well-designed food courts and top-class restaurants.

Hawker Centres

Hawker centres are open-air and large halls, with rows of stalls totalling about 50 in a single complex. Food is at its most most affordable, S$0.80 for a cup of kopi or coffee and S$2.50 for a plate of noodles. A common complaint is the lack of air-conditioning, coupled with the inefficient ventilation system, but as far as authentic experiences go, this is it.

However, hawker centres are touted to serve the most authentic food, as stall holders are usually aunties and uncles who have decades of experience in cooking. The variety is also immense, with Chinese, Malay, Indian, Fusion and Japanese food stalls under the same roof. Lau Pa Sat and Newton Circus are popular, but somewhat touristy and rather expensive hawker centres in the Financial District and near Orchard Road, respectively.

Coffee Shops and Food Courts

Coffee shops are a miniature version of hawker centres, with a central seating area. Food courts are the modern version of hawker centres, with air-conditioning, bright lighting, design elements and sometimes even a curry-stained sofa couch or two. Food courts have been morphing continuously into edgier concepts.

There are now several themed food courts in Singapore, one of them the Food Republic at Wisma Atria shopping centre. In a non-themed food court, prices are from S$3, while the themed ones start from S$4.50.

Restaurants

Restaurants are typically air-conditioned, indoor and with the option of al fresco dining. Generally, the food is good and the area always clean and bright, like in Din Tai Fung and Spizza. Restaurants are abundant in the city center. Further afield, most districts host a number of good quality restaurants as well.

Holland Village, a vibrant expat area, and Dempsey Hill have fancier and more expensive restaurants such as Bistro Petit Salut and Samy's Curry, respectively.

Children and Kids

Most eating venues provide high chairs, while several fast food chains sell kids’ meals. Japanese ramen chain Ajisen also has children’s meals served in an attractive airplane set.