GRIP, Internships Abroad Singaporean Dining Experience: Hawker Centre

KK Fund - Singapore

It has now been two weeks since I first arrived in Singapore for my GRIP internship! Although adapting to this new environment has been challenging in certain aspects (especially the heat and humidity), the only challenge regarding food is choosing what to eat. Given Singapore's tropical geographic location and recognition as a cultural melting pot, there is so much interesting produce and diverse cuisines to experience.

In such a metropolitan city, there is no shortage of fancy restaurants and eateries. However, in my opinion, the highlight of the Singaporean food scene, as well as staple of local life here, is the hawker centre. Hawker centres are very common in Singapore, as well as neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Hongkong, and can be described as an open-air food court. A typical hawker centre will feature stalls selling Singaporean staples such as chicken rice, char kway teo and carrot cake (the savory kind). However, centres in more metropolitan areas will have an even more eclectic range of cuisines -- Lau Pa Sat, in the heart of Downtown, also features stalls selling ramen, salads, and bibimbap. Not only is the food at hawker centres very tasty, but the food is also very affordable ($3 - $5!) and therefore perfect for anyone undertaking an unpaid 12-week internship in a country with a high cost of living! 

Like everything else, you tend to pick up a few tips from experience. Here are a few of mine regarding eating out at hawker centres:

• Avoid peak lunch and dinner times: Singapore is a densely populated city and the centres can get very busy at noon. Plan accordingly if you want to avoid queues, especially for hawker centres near office blocks as people will tend to 'reserve' tables buy leaving a pack of tissues or an umbrella.

• BYO tissues and hand sanitizer: In Singapore, or really Asia in general, more casual dining spots do not provide napkins so it's definitely a good idea to have your own handy.

• Try sambal: Many traditional Singaporean stalls will have this aromatic hot sauce on the counter. If you're into sriracha or spicy food, definitely give sambal a go.

• Follow the crowd: When you're overwhelmed by all the choices, a good heuristic to follow when picking a vendor is to choose one that looks busy. The locals definitely know which stalls have the best food.

Hawker centres are an essential part of Singaporean cuisine. I already know that I will be a frequent them over the next couple of months because the food is so convenient, delicious and cheap. With all of this being said, I do wish that lighter/healthier options were more readily available at the hawker centres. It's really up to you to be mindful about swapping out your third bowl of wonton mee that week for some sauteed bok choy! Or even better, find the nearest wet market and try some interesting tropical fruits!

Image Attribution - Wikipedia Commons