Leave No Iconic Stall Unexplored With The Best Food Tours In SG
Visiting tourist attractions in Singapore is a great thing to do, but it’s also overdone. So if you’re looking for a unique experience, may I suggest joining a food tour instead?
The best part about food tours in Singapore is that they all have a theme, so even if you join multiple ones, your experience will be different every time. Here are some of the food tours I’ve joined myself, and I think you might like them as well.
The 10 Tastings of Singapore: Street Food
— From: kanchana_122
Where to Meet: %Arabica, 56 Arab St
The 10 Tastings of Singapore: Street Food is a private tour hosted by WithLocals, a global organization that offers food tours in different countries.
With this particular tour, you’ll be accompanied by a local foodie who will bring you to ten spots around the country. These spots are usually in Kampong Glam, Little India, and Chinatown.
In my opinion, the highlight of the tour was when we tried different versions of kopi and teh.
Even though I’m not really a coffee enthusiast, I admit I do like kopi. It’s aromatic and its flavor profile is rich and unique (definitely different from instant coffee).
Aside from kopi and teh, I loved the wide variety of sweet and savory treats.
One snack I’ll always come back to is rojak. It’s a salad with mixed vegetables and fruits, and the sauce is delightfully sweet and sour.
Another reason why I really like this tour is that it has vegetarian options. I’m personally not a vegetarian, but it’s nice to see that they’re accommodating other types of people.
Pro Tip:
- If you have dietary restrictions like allergies, let your tour guide know. They’ll take it into consideration when creating the itinerary.
A Taste of Singapore: Hawker Center Tour
— From: laupatsat.sg
Where to Meet: Chinatown MRT Station, Exit A on street level
A Taste of Singapore: Hawker Center Tour is another private tour offered by WithLocals. The reason I joined this one—and why I’m recommending it to you now—is because it lets you experience Singapore’s unique hawker center culture.
The country has so many hawker centers, but this tour focuses on five of the most famous ones, usually Telok Ayer Market and the ones in Chinatown.
You’re free to request places as well. I recommend Lau Pa Sat and Maxwell Food Center.
Don’t worry because you’ll still be able to taste the best hawker food! Some of the dishes I tried and loved are biryani (so savory and filling), bak chor mee (a hearty noodle dish), and crispy curry puff (crispy, flaky, and bursting with savory flavors).
Aside from enjoying the delicious, comforting dishes, the tour guide will regale you with stories. By the end, you’ll be impressed at how centers have persevered throughout time and how humble stalls have attracted the attention of the Michelin Guide.
Pro Tip:
- This is mostly a walking tour, so wear your most comfortable clothes. It’s also recommended that you wear a hat or apply sunscreen.
Drinks and Bites in Singapore Tour
— From: danielfooddiary
Where to Meet: Eunos MRT Station, Exit B
If nightlife is more your scene, you might want to book the Drinks and Bites in Singapore Tour. This tour takes you around Geylang, a district known for its vibrant nightlife…and other things (ask your tour guide for a brief history, and you’re in for a surprise!).
Since this tour is themed around a night hangout, we checked out local nightclubs. We also asked our tour guide to stop by a few local shops selling unique drinks and delicious bites like Ducking Good (the roasted duck is heavenly!).
Aside from all the tasty food, Geylang boasts several architectural marvels, so feel free to do some sightseeing.
I was ecstatic to see the colorful Peranakan houses. I would’ve preferred to see them in the daylight, but they look just as gorgeous as night.
This tour also offers vegetarian options, so if you don’t consume meat, there’s no need to worry.
Pro Tip:
- This is a walking tour that lasts for more than 2.5 hours. So, it’s recommended you wear comfortable clothes and shoes so that you’ll have a seamless experience.
Singapore Chinatown Private Food Tour
— From: markwong6482
Where to Meet: Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, 235 Telok Ayer St
Chinatown is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Singapore, thanks to its rich history, beautiful landmarks, and tasty cuisines. If you want to explore this neighborhood further, join the Singapore Chinatown Private Food Tour.
This food tour stops at three popular hawkers: Chinatown Street Market, Hong Lim Market and Food Center, and Maxwell Food Center. Each stop lasts around an hour, but I admit in my experience, I probably spent more than an hour exploring.
Savory snacks are the star of the show. Personally, I really like rice rolls, chicken rice, curry noodles, curry puffs, and popiah (Teochew-style fresh spring rolls).
There are also sweet options for dessert lovers. My favorites are the various chiffon cakes.
Pro Tip:
- If you have any questions about accessibility, contact the team via the number +18552755071 and refer to the product code 141889P1.
Singapore’s Chinatown “Off the Beaten Track” Foodie Tour
— From: mickey._trip
Where to Meet: 62 Smith Street
As great as Chinatown is, most of the food tours I’ve joined that explored this neighborhood stuck to the popular tourist spots. Fortunately, I discovered an “Off the Beaten” Foodie Tour, a tour that focuses more on the underrated gems.
The tour starts at a wet market, which I found fascinating because it gives a glimpse of what normal life is like there.
It’s buzzing with energy. Shop owners are always shouting to get anyone’s attention, and locals seem to know which stalls to go to.
My favorite part of exploring the wet market is checking out the stalls that sell exotic herbs, spices, and even teas.
These stalls smell so great. Even though I’m not much of a cook, I can’t resist the temptation to buy spice blends or tea blends from China.
After the wet market, you’ll go to a hawker center to grab some food. I recommend the chicken rice (it’s simple yet hearty), but I also really like the dumplings (who doesn’t?) and laksa (a spicy noodle dish).
Other highlights of my experience with this tour include stopping by a Chinese delicacy shop (you might be interested in buying traditional Chinese medicine) and relaxing at a traditional tea house.
Pro Tip:
- If you’re more fluent in Chinese than English, you can ask the guide to conduct the tour in Chinese instead. They’re bilingual, so they’ll be more than happy to oblige.
Singapore’s Food and Wet Market Adventures
— From: 703w33
Where to Meet: Tekka Center, 665 Buffalo Road Zhujiao Centre
Touring a wet market may not sound appealing at first, but don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! Try joining Singapore’s Food and Wet Market Adventures. It’s a food tour that’s centered on Tekka Center, a well-known wet market in Little India.
I’ve heard of Tekka Center before, but admittedly, I never thought much about it. But with this tour, I’ve come to realize that it’s almost a unique sort of paradise.
It has everything you need—from fresh produce to a hawker with various food stalls.
There are even spots here selling clothes and jewelry for cheap prices! If I hadn’t come with a tour guide, I would’ve spent hours just checking out the stalls and trying my negotiation skills (they’re non-existent, but that has never stopped me).
Just like the wet markets in Chinatown, Tekka Center has several stalls selling exotic herbs and spices. I purchased some (cardamom, asafoetida, and black cumin) because though I don’t cook, I’d like to try and recreate my favorite Indian dishes.
When it comes to the food, I recommend getting a meal that consists of biryani, dosa (a thin, savory crepe served with chutney and sambar), or teh halia (ginger tea).
Pro Tip:
- Aside from English, the tour guide can speak Russian and Japanese, so if you speak either of these languages, you can request the guide to conduct the tour in your preferred language.
Vegetarian Culinary Adventure in Singapore
— From: chaleteating
Where to Meet: Tekka Center, 665 Buffalo Road Zhujiao Centre
I’m not even a vegetarian or vegan, but I tried the Vegetarian Culinary Adventure in Singapore, and I absolutely adored the whole experience!
This tour starts in Tekka Center, where the guide takes you to different shops selling mouthwatering fresh fruits and dried products. In the market’s food center part, I recommend ordering something from Yi Lian Vegetarian Food (they sell out fast!).
After Tekka Center, you’ll explore more of Little India and then make your way to Chinatown. Along the way, the guide will direct you to restaurants serving a great variety of cuisines, specifically Chinese Buddhist, Japanese, and Indian.
Another thing I like about this tour is that we come across several Buddhist and Hindu temples.
Though these aren’t the main highlights, you can ask the guide to check these temples out. I recommend you do so because they’re so beautiful to look at.
Pro Tip:
- This tour lasts for three hours, and you’ll spend most of it walking around under the sun. Because of this, you should wear comfortable clothes and footwear.
Bringing a hat or an umbrella is also a good idea.
Katong Walking Food Tour
— From: allin2
Where to Meet: 112 East Coast Rd
Do you want to take a break from downtown Singapore? Then I recommend checking out Katong instead. It’s one of the coolest neighborhoods on the East Coast.
The food tour I joined to explore this neighborhood is the Katong Walking Food Tour. It’s through this tour I learned about the history of the Peranakan community (people with mixed Chinese, Malay, and/or Indonesian heritage) in Singapore.
This was my first time getting into Peranakan (Nyonya) cuisine, and I can’t believe I waited this long.
The flavor profiles are very varied because of the mixed heritage. Some dishes are savory with earthy notes, while others are spicy with a hint of sourness.
Two of the dishes you’ll try during this tour are Katong laksa and Nonya bak zhang (glutinous rice dumplings). You’ll also be able to taste a few sweet treats, such as curry puffs and different kinds of kueh (a bite-sized snack, usually a rice cake).
While exploring the area, don’t miss out on seeing the beautiful Peranakan houses, and maybe even take some photos with them as a background. The bright colors and the gorgeous motifs are sure to stun your Instagram followers.
Pro Tip:
- This tour is ideal for people with a moderate physical fitness level because you’ll spend a lot of time walking around.
- Bring an umbrella or a raincoat just in case the weather switches up on the day of your tour.
Singapore Food Tour in Central and East Coast
— From: jasontangy
Where to Meet: 7-Eleven, 213 E Coast Rd, No. 213
Prepare your most comfortable shoes and maybe even train your muscles beforehand because the Singapore Food Tour in Central and East Coast is a beast. Seriously, you’ll be spending at least six hours exploring places and sampling different cuisines!
Just like the previous tour, this one takes you around Katong, but you’ll also explore other neighborhoods on the East Coast. My favorite stop in this part of the tour is the Old Airport Road Hawker Center. I’m fond of the hearty lor mee at Xin Mei Xiang.
After this hawker center, you’ll find yourself swept away to Kampong Glam and Little India.
Take your time walking along Arab Street. It’s lined with so many amazing restaurants and cafes (I recommend checking out the House of Kebab).
Pro Tip:
- Come to the meet-up spot at least a few minutes before the start of the tour. If you come super late, the guide will probably cancel the tour, and you can’t get a refund.
- There won’t be transportation to the meet-up point provided (though there’s a bus during the tour), so research how to get to the meet-up point from your hotel beforehand.
The best option is riding the public bus and stopping at the drop off at Opp The Holy Family Ch Bus Stop. The meet-up point is just a one-minute walk from there.
Small Group Michelin and Local Hawker Food Tour
— From: andiemarie36
Where to Meet: 133 New Bridge Rd
I bet it never occurred to you that hawker stalls can get stars from the Michelin Guide. Well, now you do, and you can try them yourself by joining the Small Group Michelin and Local Hawker Food Tour!
Just be warned though: these hawker stalls with Michelin stars tend to attract many people (both tourists and locals), thus having long queues. Even we locals can’t get enough of their food!
Most of the featured hawkers are in Chinatown, especially Chinatown Street Market and Maxwell Food Center. My personal favorites include Eminent Frog Porridge (yes, I tried frog porridge!) and the Hawker Chan Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle).
Additionally, you might also explore other areas, such as South Bridge Road and Sago Street (Street of the Dead). These roads are home to several iconic attractions, especially the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum and Sri Mariamman Temple.
You don’t want to miss out on these temples because they hold many mysteries.
For example, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple does have the Buddha’s alleged tooth. I didn’t believe it either until I saw it for myself!
Pro Tip:
- Please arrive at the meet-up point at least 15 minutes before the call time. If you come late, the tour won’t be extended, and no refund will be issued.
- You might want to bring extra cash. The tour does include food and drinks, but just in case you might want to try something that’s not on the itinerary, extra cash would be helpful.
- This tour operates rain or shine, so be prepared. Bring an umbrella or poncho just in case.