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Why Food in Singapore Is a Separate Journey
Singapore is a city where Michelin-starred establishments receive stars with price tags of 5–7 dollars per plate. This is no exaggeration: the hawker center Liao Fan Hawker Chan was included in the Michelin guide in 2016, offering soy chicken for approximately 450 rubles (5 SGD). Gastronomy here is a blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan cuisines, arising from centuries of migration.
Hawker Centers: The Main Entry Point
Hawker centers are covered street food markets where hundreds of stalls operate under one roof. Entry is free, payment in cash or card (Visa/Mastercard) at most vendors. MIR cards are not accepted in Singapore — it is recommended to exchange rubles for Singapore dollars in advance or withdraw cash upon arrival.
- Maxwell Food Centre — one of the oldest, near Chinatown, more than 100 stalls
- Lau Pa Sat — in the business district, the street closes in the evening for satay barbecue
- Old Airport Road Food Centre — a cult spot among locals, minimal tourists
- Tekka Centre — in Little India, strong Indian and Malay selection
Prices for Popular Dishes
| Dish | Where to Find | Price (rubles) |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Rice (soy or fried chicken with rice) | Hawker centers | 360–540 |
| Char Kway Teow (fried rice noodles) | Hawker centers | 400–620 |
| Laksa (coconut soup with noodles) | Hawker / cafe | 450–700 |
| Roti Prata (Indian flatbread with curry) | Mamak establishments | 90–180 |
| Chilli Crab (spicy crab in sauce) | Waterfront restaurants | 5 300–9 000 per kg |
| Kaya Toast + eggs + coffee (breakfast) | Kopi-tiam, Ya Kun | 270–400 |
Coffee Culture: kopi and teh Tea
Local coffee kopi is robusta roasted with oil and sugar, served with condensed milk. You need to order by code: kopi-o — black, kopi-c — with evaporated milk, kopi-gao — strong. The price of a cup in a traditional kopi-tiam is about 120–180 rubles. In chain cafes like Starbucks — from 620 rubles.
A Singaporean breakfast in a kopi-tiam — toast with coconut jam kaya, two soft-boiled eggs and a glass of kopi — is one of the cheapest and most authentic ways to start the day in the city.
Practical Tips
- In hawker centers, you reserve a table with a pack of napkins or an umbrella — this is local etiquette
- Most hawker centers are open from 6:00 to 22:00–23:00, individual stalls operate until dawn
- Alcohol in hawker centers is expensive: a can of Tiger Beer — about 620–800 rubles; cheaper to buy at FairPrice supermarket before 22:30
- For navigation and menu translation, you will need mobile internet — an eSIM for Singapore is available from 94 rubles from Russian operators and can be connected before departure
- Halal stalls are marked with a green sign — relevant for mixed groups
Food in Supermarkets and Shopping Mall Food Courts
Supermarkets Cold Storage and FairPrice offer ready-made dishes from 270 rubles. Food courts in shopping centers (Kopitiam, Food Republic) are a middle price range between a hawker center and a restaurant: 540–900 rubles per dish. The restaurant segment at Marina Bay Sands or Orchard Road starts from 2 700 rubles per person without alcohol.