From the simple and cheap to five star world-class restaurants! by Emma Lewis
Not for nothing is Singapore often referred to as the food capital of Asia. Apart from their beloved shopping, there's not much a Singaporean would rather do than sit down to eat at one of the many restaurants jammed into this tiny island state. Singapore's location and large immigrant population ensures there is a fantastic variety of foods certain to tempt anyone's taste buds. From India there is a massive range of hot and spicy Southern, creamy Northern and Muslim dishes. A trip into bustling Little India also offers the chance to try the popular dish fish head curry. Locals argue that the fish's head contains the sweetest, most succulent meat of all. Be warned however the heads are huge and in no way disguised!
Malaysian and Indonesian cooking is also found all over town with its robust flavours of coconut, tamarind and peanut - don't miss rendang curry or satay with peanut sauce. Singapore's largest ethnic community is Chinese and food from all over China can be tasted. Hot and spicy Sichuan, elegant Cantonese, hearty Beijing, chicken's foot (a favourite snack) and no trip to Singapore is complete without trying Hainan chicken rice. Singapore is also great for sampling Nonya or Peranakan cooking. The original fusion cooking it combines Chinese staples such as noodles with Malay flavourings producing an explosive combination. Singapore is a great place to try food from all over Asia, but if the chilli and spices and exuberance get too much don't worry. Pasta has taken off in a big way here and many Western foods from home cooked chicken wings, fast food burgers to novelle cuisine are on offer.
If the range of food is vast so are the locations for eating it. From the simple and cheap hawker centres which scatter the city to five star world-class restaurants. You can sample fine French cooking in the middle of the Botanical Gardens, relive the old colonial lifestyle with afternoon tea at Raffles hotel, or grab a seat outside a stall for an authentic slice of Singaporean life.
ALKAFF MANSION 10 Telok Blangah Green, Singapore 109178 Tel: (65) 278-6979 A highlight of Singapore dining is served up in an old colonial mansion perched on top of a hill. Rijsttafel or rice table, a traditional colonial Dutch-Indonesian meal is the highlight here. Starters are followed by a line of ten waitresses, clad in traditional dress all bearing sumptuous plates of food - rendang curry, rice cakes, potato fritters, grilled snapper wrapped in banana leaf all giving a taste to the pampering of the past.
JUMBO SEAFOOD UDMC, 1206 East Coast Parkway #01-08 Tel: (65) 442-3435 Seafood lovers may well find Nirvana here. This island is just filled with fresh and cheap seafood. But locals maintain the best is to be found in the Chinese restaurants on the East Coast and the aquariums round the restaurants show you just how fresh the fish is. For the squeamish it's sometimes a little too fresh. Popular dish drunken prawn involves live prawns doused in liquor being brought for inspection to the table and then whisked back to the kitchens to cook.
MICHEALANGELO'S Blk44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-60 Chip Bee Gardens, Singapore 278116 Tel: (65) 475-9069 This cosy candle-lit restaurant serving up Australian-Italian has proved so popular that the owner has opened up three other restaurants on the same stretch. Not that this has had effect on the food featuring a wide selection of starters including a delicious Caesar's salad topped with a poached egg. Entrees range from meats and a selection of fish to numerous types of pasta, and if there's nothing you like on the menu, a word with the chef allows you to concoct your own meal! Don't miss the delicious (and decadent) desserts either.
INDOCHINE 49B Club Street Tel: (65) 323-7347
42 Waterloo Street Tel: (65) 333-5003 Vietnamese food is now fairly common in restaurants - but where else can you find exquisitely cooked Laotian and Khmer fare? These two exotically decorated outlets provide the perfect place to try this original food. The more expensive restaurant (above a stylish bar) is at Club Street while Waterloo Street branch has more of a café feel with food served outside. A true taste sensation with mint, coriander and chilli piled liberally on most dishes it's a wonderful introduction to these ancient cooking styles.
MUTHU'S CURRY RESTAURANT 78 Race Course Road Tel: (65) 293-2389 This legendary curry house is located in Little India. Décor is very basic but the prices are consequently extremely cheap and it serves up some of the best curry in town. Chicken curry, mutton curry and its famous fish head curry among others are on offer. Served thali style that is accompanied by rice and vegetables, the food is dished up on a banana leaf. For an authentic experience try eating Indian style with your right hand.
LAU PA SAT or TELOK AYER MARKET Raffles Quay/Shenton Way Tel: None A must in Singapore is a visit to a hawker centre. Right in the middle of town this one offers an amazing variety of food. Wander round stalls with fresh seafood, satay cooked over fires and fanned by hand, endless varieties of noodle soup, Nonya spring roll with crabmeat, and a selection of Malay curries. The food is so cheap it's your chance to work out what you like and don't like in Asian cooking. Don't miss the fresh juice stalls either - ever tried soursop juice? Here's your chance.
RED 29 Club Street, Singapore 069414 Tel: (65) 227-7187 Want to taste authentic Chinese? Try Red. Located in a traditional Chinese shop house this stylish restaurant serves up elegant portions of hot and spicy Sichuan Food. Chilli fans will love the endless variety offered here, but it's no macho chilli contest none of the food is overpowered with chilli and non-fans can find a couple of dishes to keep cool with.
SUKOTHAI 47 Boat Quay, Singapore 049836 Tel: (65) 538 2422 What is better than dining outside on a bustling stretch of river eating delicious Thai food? The crowds who flock here every night know the secret of Sukothai's success - a mix of innovative and common Thai dishes. From the flavoursome beef salad, prawn in chilli sauce or unusual pomelo salad to traditional favourites such as pad Thai, red and green curry and pineapple rice served in a whole fruit.
JP BASTIANI'S 3a River Valley Road #01-12 Merchant's Court, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179020 Tel: (65) 433 0156 JP Bastiani's in addition to offering a wide selection of wine (no mean achievement in this island thousands of miles from the nearest vine!), also serves up great Mediterranean style food. From pan-fried salmon with smoked duck slices, succulent rack of lamb to creamy meringue cake it's not to be missed if the delights of Asian food start to fade.
TEA AT RAFFLES Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673 Tel: (65) 337-1886 Served from 3 p.m. onwards in the Tiffin Room tea at Raffles is a reminder of times gone by when writers such as Somerset Maugham propped up the bar and tigers occasionally ran through the hotel. A selection of Chinese dishes such as dumplings and congee are complimented by traditional English cucumber and salmon sandwiches, scones, jam and cream and of course a large selection of cakes, patisseries and sweet things. All this is washed down by endless cups of tea.
The Top List of Great Restaurants - Singapore