Singapore Hawker Dishes Explained

Singapore hawker food: what you will find

Singapore hawker food is cheap, freshly cooked food sold at small stalls. Most stalls make only a few dishes, and they make them every day. The recipes come from Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan cooking, and many have changed over generations to suit local tastes. This page helps you put a name to each plate, so ordering feels easy.

A hawker centre is a large, open-sided food hall with dozens of these stalls under one roof. Read What Is a Hawker Centre? A Plain Guide for Visitors for the basics.

The main hawker dish groups

Rice dishes

• Chicken rice: poached or roasted chicken with rice cooked in chicken stock. See What Is Hainanese Chicken Rice? A First Look for Visitors.
• Nasi lemak: rice cooked in coconut milk, served with sambal (a chilli paste), fried anchovies, peanuts and egg. Malay Hawker Dishes to Know Before You Order covers it and more.
• Claypot rice: rice cooked in a clay pot with chicken and Chinese sausage, so a crisp crust forms at the bottom. Read How to Eat Claypot Rice: Mixing, Sauce and the Crispy Base.
• Braised duck rice: duck simmered in a dark, spiced soy sauce. Learn more in Teochew Braised Duck Rice: What It Is and How to Order.
• Economy rice: plain rice with your choice of cooked dishes from a long counter. See How to Order Economy Rice and Keep the Bill Low.

Noodles

• Char kway teow: flat rice noodles fried in a very hot wok with dark soy sauce, egg, Chinese sausage and cockles. Read What Is Char Kway Teow? Singapore's Fried Flat Noodles.
• Bak chor mee: noodles tossed with minced pork, vinegar and chilli. It is usually served dry, with a small bowl of soup.
• Hokkien mee: yellow noodles and thin rice noodles fried with prawns and squid in a rich stock. Find stalls on the Hokkien Mee page.
• Laksa: rice noodles in a spicy coconut curry soup. See Laksa.
• Wanton mee: thin egg noodles with small dumplings and slices of sweet roast pork.

Snacks and sides

• Carrot cake: not a cake at all. It is made from radish and rice flour, steamed, cut into cubes and fried with egg. It comes white, or black with sweet soy sauce. White vs Black Carrot Cake: Which Should You Order? explains both.
• Satay: grilled skewers of chicken, beef or mutton with a peanut sauce. See Satay.
• Rojak: a salad of fruit, vegetables and fried dough in a thick, sweet prawn paste sauce. Crushed peanuts go on top.
• Oyster omelette: small oysters fried with egg and a starchy batter until the edges turn crisp.

How to order at a hawker stall

1. Find a seat first. At busy times, locals save tables with a packet of tissues. Pick a table without one.
2. Read the signboard. Many stalls number their dishes, often with photos and sizes. Pointing is fine. Say 'dabao' if you want to take it away.
3. Say the size and any changes. You can ask for no chilli, dry or soup noodles, or no cockles.
4. Pay at the stall. Many stalls take cards or QR code payments, but carry some cash too.
5. Collect your food. Some stalls give you a buzzer. Others ask for your table number and bring the food over.
6. Return your tray. Take trays and crockery to the tray return point when you finish.

For more detail, read How to Order at Hawker Stalls in Singapore and Hawker Centre Etiquette in Singapore: 9 Simple Rules.

Tips for choosing what to eat

• Share plates. Portions are small, so a group can try several dishes. Most single dishes cost around S$4 to S$8. Prices change, so check the board.
• Look beyond the longest queue. A long line often means a well-loved stall. Stalls nearby can be just as good, with less waiting.
• Ask about spice. Chilli usually comes on the side. Say 'no chilli' if you prefer.
• Check halal status. If you need halal food, look for the MUIS halal certificate at the stall. MUIS is the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.
• Mention allergies clearly. Many dishes use shrimp paste, peanuts, egg or soy. Read Eating at Hawker Centres With Food Allergies.
• Go early for popular stalls. Some sell out and close before the day ends.

Ready to eat? Browse Hawker Favourites or read Best Hawker Centres in Singapore for Tourists.

FAQs about Singapore hawker dishes

Which hawker dish should I try first?

Chicken rice is a gentle start. It is mild, filling and sold almost everywhere. Try laksa or char kway teow next if you like richer flavours.

Why is it called carrot cake?

The dish uses white radish, which shares a local name with carrot. There is no orange carrot in it, and it is savoury, not sweet.

How do I know what to order at a stall?

Look at the signboard. Many show photos, numbers and prices. Pointing at a photo is fine, and many stall owners speak some English.

Can I eat hawker food if I do not eat pork?

Yes. Many stalls serve no pork at all. Pork and lard are common in some Chinese dishes, so ask before you order. If you need halal food, look for the MUIS certificate.