The best Chinese food in Singapore is easy to find with a great Chinatown within walking distance of downtown.
Singapore’s Chinatown is a dream for anyone who travels for food. It’s packed with hawker stalls, historic shophouses and some of the best Chinese Singaporean dishes.
A day here isn’t just about eating, it’s about understanding the history, culture and traditions behind the food.
History of Chinatown in Singapore
When Singapore was founded as a British colony in 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles implemented the Raffles Town Plan or Jackson Plan, which divided the city into ethnic enclaves.
Enclaves were a method of segregation. You could only live in your designated ethnic enclave.
Chinatown was designated for the growing Chinese immigrant population, who arrived in large numbers seeking work.
This history shaped the area’s food culture, blending Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew and Hakka influences into unique Singaporean-Chinese dishes.
Despite its name, Chinatown was never exclusively Chinese. Indian and Malay communities lived there as well, as you can see with the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple.
So it seemed that as long as the other ethic groups did not attempt to live in the European enclave, migrating elsewhere was permitted.
VIDEO: Chinese Food in Singapore
Morning: Start with a Traditional Breakfast
Begin the day at Tong Heng Bakery, known for its signature egg tarts.
This Cantonese-style bakery has been around since the 1920s. The egg tarts have a flaky, buttery crust with a soft custard center.
If you’re still hungry, grab a kaya toast set at Ya Kun Kaya Toast which is a popular chain or Killiney Kopitiam, which are popular chains for locals although it may not compare to the local experience at independent kopitiams.
Kaya is a coconut jam spread on crispy toast, served with soft-boiled eggs and kopi (local coffee).
Explore the History of Chinatown
After breakfast, take a walk through Chinatown’s streets. Pagoda Street is lined with heritage shophouses selling souvenirs, herbal medicine and Chinese tea.
Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, is just around the corner. Built in 1827, it stands out with its colorful statues.
Right next to it is Masjid Jamae (Chulia), one of Singapore’s oldest mosques, built by Tamil Muslims from South India in 1826.
These landmarks show how different cultures lived side by side in early Singapore.
Midday: Hawker Stall Lunch at Chinatown Complex
Lunch should be at Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Singapore’s largest hawker center. It has over 200 food stalls with some of the best Chinese Singaporean dishes.
Try Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle, which became famous after earning a Michelin star. The chicken is tender with a glossy soy glaze, served with fragrant rice.
There’s often a line but if you get there early it goes fast.
Another must-try is claypot rice from Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice. The dish takes time as it’s cooked over charcoal, giving the rice a smoky aroma.
If you want something light, get a plate of popiah from Ann Chin Popiah. Popiah is a fresh spring roll filled with turnip, egg, shrimp and crunchy peanuts, wrapped in a thin wheat crepe.
Or eat one of the signature breakfasts in Singapore: chee cheong fun. There are numerous vendors selling the traditional silky noodles or those filled with pork, shrimp or mushrooms.
Afternoon: Walk, Shop and Have a Midday Snack
Walk off lunch by exploring Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. This Buddhist temple is said to house a relic of Buddha’s tooth.
The first floor has a giant golden Buddha statue, while the rooftop has a peaceful prayer wheel.
For a snack, head to Mei Heong Yuen Dessert. Their cendol is a must-try. This shaved ice dessert comes with pandan jelly, red beans, coconut milk and gula melaka (palm sugar syrup).
Another snack option is pan-fried dumplings from Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao. These juicy dumplings have a crispy bottom and are best dipped in vinegar with ginger.
Evening: Dinner at Maxwell Food Centre
For dinner, walk over to Maxwell Food Centre. It’s one of the best hawker centers for local Chinese food.
Order a plate of Hainanese chicken rice from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. This stall became famous after Gordon Ramsay lost to them in a cook-off.
The rice is cooked in chicken fat, giving it extra flavor. The chicken is poached until silky smooth and served with chili sauce, ginger paste and dark soy sauce.
Another great dish is oyster omelette from Lim Kee Oyster Omelette. The eggs are crispy on the edges, while the oysters add a briny richness.
If you want noodles, get char kway teow from Marina South Delicious Food. This stir-fried noodle dish has prawns, Chinese sausage, eggs and bean sprouts, all tossed in dark soy sauce.
Night: Drinks and a Slow Stroll
End the day with a drink at Smith Street Taps, a craft beer stall in Chinatown Complex.
They have local and international beers on tap, including Singaporean brews. If you prefer something non-alcoholic, try a cup of chrysanthemum tea or sugarcane juice from a hawker stall.
Take a slow stroll through Chinatown’s night market before heading back. Lanterns light up the streets, and the smell of roasting chestnuts fills the air.
Craving more food? Here are suggestions for Chinese food in Singapore that you may find in other countries but these foods have a local Singaporean twist.
10 Chinese Food in Singapore You’ll Love
- Bak Kut Teh (Chinatown Style)
Unlike the peppery Teochew version found elsewhere, Chinatown’s bak kut teh is herbal and rich. - Charcoal Claypot Rice
Traditional claypot rice cooked over charcoal, giving it a smoky depth. - Soya Sauce Chicken Rice
A uniquely Singaporean take on Cantonese-style soya sauce chicken. - Chinatown-Style Popiah
Thinner crepe and more robust fillings than versions found in other parts of Singapore. - Fuzhou Oyster Cake
A crispy, deep-fried seafood pancake that’s rare outside Chinatown. - Chinatown Satay Bee Hoon
A fusion of Chinese rice noodles with Malay-style peanut sauce. - Ban Jian Kueh (Chinatown Edition)
A thicker, chewier peanut pancake than those found elsewhere. - Chee Cheong Fun with Sweet Sauce
A Cantonese rice noodle roll adapted with local sweet sauce and sesame seeds. - Pork Trotter Jelly
A traditional Teochew dish made from slow-cooked pork trotters in gelatin. - Hakka Thunder Tea Rice
A rice bowl topped with vegetables, tofu and ground tea leaves, popular among Hakka Chinese in Chinatown.