Our guide on how to eat like a local

To many people, food is life. To many Singaporeans however, food is more than life. Singaporeans live, breathe and are fiercely proud of our local food. Just like our rich cultural heritage, food has always been an essential ingredient for Singapore’s diverse identity. Here at MetroResidences, our love for food never stops. From Hokkien Mee to Nasi Lemak, to Roti Prata and Chicken Rice, we have handpicked some of our local favourites to come up with a list of the absolute must-try foods while you’re here in Singapore!

Nasi Lemak.

At the heart of Nasi Lemak, lies a good serving of fragrant rice commonly flavoured with coconut milk and pandan leaf. Nasi Lemak is a Malay dish often served with a generous portion of side dishes comprising of fried chicken wings, fried eggs, ikan billis, peanuts and the necessary sambal chilli. Because of its richness, it is often eaten as a hearty breakfast, delicious fuel for many Singaporeans here to start off their busy day.

Hokkien Mee.

To many people, food is life. To many Singaporeans however, food is more than life. Singaporeans live, breathe and are fiercely proud of our local food. Just like our rich cultural heritage, food has always been an essential ingredient for Singapore’s diverse identity. Here at MetroResidences, our love for food never stops. From Hokkien Mee to Nasi Lemak, to Roti Prata and Chicken Rice, we have handpicked some of our local favourites to come up with a list of the absolute must-try foods while you’re here in Singapore!

Chili Crab.

Two words: Messy goodness. If there is a national dish of Singapore, this is it. Chili Crab is dish proudly born and raised in Singapore. While many debate over its origin, most of us can agree that this dish originated back in the 1950s with its humble beginnings as a simple mixture of bottled chilli and tomato sauce. Today, the chilli crab sauce has evolved into a blend of complex ingredients, with every restaurant swearing by their own unique recipe. For non-crab lovers fret not, we guarantee you will still come to love this dish when you dip a hearty serving of lightly crisped mantous (i.e. Chinese steamed buns) into the savoury sauce.

Roti Prata.

Roti Prata – Don’t let the simplicity of this dish fool you. With South Asian origins, this fried flatbread will have you craving more than just a piece. Roti Prata is also perhaps one of the most versatile dishes Singapore has to offer. In its purest form, Roti Prata is often served with Curry and Sugar. But in many Prata houses here in Singapore, you’ll find endless combinations of pairings to enjoy the Prata with. With flavours like Chocolate, Banana, Coconut Jam (i.e. Kaya) and much more, you’ll be spoilt for choice. It’s no wonder we don’t stop just at one.

Char Kway Teow.

Char Kway Teow is a flavoursome mix of basic ingredients that are stir fried together with flat yellow noodles and sweet Chinese soy sauce. It is most commonly cooked with ingredients like bean sprouts, vegetables egg and prawns. Though a little bit on the greasy side, it’s definitely one dish we’ll skip counting calories for.

Bak Chor Mee.

Minced Pork Noodles, also known as Bak Chor Mee, is enjoyed with a choice of either flat or thin yellow noodles. It is often served with a generous portion of minced meat and pork meatballs lightly drenched in sauces like vinegar, chilli and soy sauce. In 2016, one hawker stall, ‘Hill Street Tai Hwa’ was actually awarded a Michelin Star, exponentially increasing its popularity overnight. But of course, you don’t necessarily need that to enjoy the authentic experience of Bak Chor Mee. More often than not, you’ll find one that’ll leave your tummy happily satisfied.

Chicken Rice.

Last but definitely not least, we have Chicken Rice. Simple yet packed with flavour, this dish boils down to three basic components – Rice, Chicken and Chili sauce. Because of its simplicity, it is actually one of the most difficult dishes to master. While many Singaporean hawkers have mastered the art of making good chicken rice, diehard fans swear by their own favourites. Some of the big names of Chicken Rice in Singapore include Boon Tong Kee, Tian Tian and Wee Nam Kee. (Stay tuned for our picks for the best Chicken Rice!). This is one staple dish you definitely have to try once here in Singapore.

If you are a guest staying in MetroResidences’ corporate serviced apartments, you will have easy access to the aforementioned dishes. As the apartments are located conveniently near transport amenities (MRT stations and bus stops), getting around to satisfy your hunger cravings is a breeze!