Sambal stingray is one of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth. But really, the entire time I spent in Singapore was a foodie's paradise. If you want to experience the entirety of Asian cuisine in only one stop, make that stop Singapore.
> If you want to experience the entirety of Asian cuisine in only one stop, make that stop Singapore
I have to disagree with that. Genuinely good vietnamese, thai or even japanese food is pretty hard to find in singapore, and believe me I tried. Its specialities are dictated by its influences - southern china, malaysia of course, india, to some extent indonesia. The rest is decent of course but I just don't think there's an adequate population of, say, vietnamese in the city to sustain a general standard of quality comparable to what's available back home. Just try and find a good pork Banh Mi in singapore, I dare you.
If I had to name the city with the best general variety and everyday average standard of asian food - believe it or not I'd probably say Sydney.
I love Singapore. My wife and I go through Singapore when flying to Europe (from Australia) and usually stay 1-2 nights. We'll do the same again on the way back.
It's super clean, well run, the public transport makes every other country look like a joke, the food is amazing, the laws are tied meaning it's a super safe place to live and wonder around, and everyone is lovely. We're considering a year of living there (and bracing ourselves for how expensive it is.)
If you haven't been: go. It's one of humanity's gems.
Aussie but not a fan of Singapore here, I live in China and prefer Bangkok for food. A couple of years I did an alphabet foodie tour there and had no problems starting with Afghanistan, Burmese, Chinese, Danish, Ethiopian ... right through to Yemeni and Zhajiangmian. :) If anyone wants to join the next one, hit me up. I believe the unique feature of Bangkok is intact communities supporting real food from a range of regions, not just show cuisine.
Errr, I think that over states things just a tad. I really love Singapore, but:
1. Public transit: it’s good if you go where public transit goes. Try to get out to East Coast park, and you have a 45 minute transit ride vs a 15 minute Uber.
2. It’s clean for an Asian city and depends where you go. Try Little India on a Friday night (and then Saturday morning) but it does clean up amazingly well.
The food centers are amazing. I haven’t visited in a few years and miss it. Maybe you’re right, for a year it would be super fun.
Just a note that 'laksa' here means the usual version served in Singapore. As the Wikipedia article [1] notes, there are many variations of laksa served in the region.
Personal story: my father came to visit me here in Singapore, when I was studying at the local university here in the early 1990s. He went to a hawker stall to order laksa for lunch and was surprised to be served by what he called 'curry noodles'. The laksa in our hometown in Malaysia was a completely different version [2].
As a Singaporean, I'm a bit sad that the Peranakans (i.e. "Straits-born Chinese") [1] only got a passing mention in the article, since the Peranakans are quite possibly the best representation of the melting pot that is Singapore's local population. The founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, was known to have Peranakan roots too [2].
The Peranakans also have a cuisine that they can call their own [3].
On the other hand, I've never had the "feng" curry mentioned in the article before.
Singaporean here. I think Singapore and Malaysia tend to share ownership of many dishes.
What wasn't mentioned in the article is that the peppery Teochew style is far more common in Singapore. The herbal Hokkien variant is often known as "Klang bak kut teh" here in Singapore, after Port Klang in Malaysia. Malaysians also seem to like that version better.
The name Bak Kut Teh is Hokkien Chinese. Of course the same dish appears in Malaysia too. Culinary history of Singapore and Malaysia is shared and intertwined, nevermind that the perennial favourite flamewar between Malaysians and Singaporeans is about what dish is whose :)
Chicken Rice and Chilli Crab are regarded as the usual trademark dishes of Singapore. The article interestingly departs from usual practice.
Singapore is without doubt my favorite place to eat in the world. I say that having lived and worked in the UK, Belgium, France, the USA and Australia.
How refreshing NOT to see faux 'Singapore Noodles' on that list. Having been born and raised in Malaysia, it is the street food that I miss the most, now that I live in Australia. Probably why I love going to the night markets in my town.
[+] [-] GlenTheMachine|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sho|7 years ago|reply
I have to disagree with that. Genuinely good vietnamese, thai or even japanese food is pretty hard to find in singapore, and believe me I tried. Its specialities are dictated by its influences - southern china, malaysia of course, india, to some extent indonesia. The rest is decent of course but I just don't think there's an adequate population of, say, vietnamese in the city to sustain a general standard of quality comparable to what's available back home. Just try and find a good pork Banh Mi in singapore, I dare you.
If I had to name the city with the best general variety and everyday average standard of asian food - believe it or not I'd probably say Sydney.
[+] [-] zawerf|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] movedx|7 years ago|reply
It's super clean, well run, the public transport makes every other country look like a joke, the food is amazing, the laws are tied meaning it's a super safe place to live and wonder around, and everyone is lovely. We're considering a year of living there (and bracing ourselves for how expensive it is.)
If you haven't been: go. It's one of humanity's gems.
Edit: also, it has $4 Michelin Star food: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/singapore-cheapest-mi...
[+] [-] contingencies|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] as-j|7 years ago|reply
1. Public transit: it’s good if you go where public transit goes. Try to get out to East Coast park, and you have a 45 minute transit ride vs a 15 minute Uber.
2. It’s clean for an Asian city and depends where you go. Try Little India on a Friday night (and then Saturday morning) but it does clean up amazingly well.
The food centers are amazing. I haven’t visited in a few years and miss it. Maybe you’re right, for a year it would be super fun.
[+] [-] sohkamyung|7 years ago|reply
Personal story: my father came to visit me here in Singapore, when I was studying at the local university here in the early 1990s. He went to a hawker stall to order laksa for lunch and was surprised to be served by what he called 'curry noodles'. The laksa in our hometown in Malaysia was a completely different version [2].
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laksa
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laksa#Asam_laksa
[+] [-] ValentineC|7 years ago|reply
The Peranakans also have a cuisine that they can call their own [3].
On the other hand, I've never had the "feng" curry mentioned in the article before.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peranakan
[2] https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/mr-lee-kuan-y...
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peranakan_cuisine
[+] [-] satoshisvision|7 years ago|reply
~1500 A.D
[+] [-] tootie|7 years ago|reply
http://viterbivoices.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IMG_...
[+] [-] philliphaydon|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ValentineC|7 years ago|reply
Singaporean here. I think Singapore and Malaysia tend to share ownership of many dishes.
What wasn't mentioned in the article is that the peppery Teochew style is far more common in Singapore. The herbal Hokkien variant is often known as "Klang bak kut teh" here in Singapore, after Port Klang in Malaysia. Malaysians also seem to like that version better.
[+] [-] ricudis|7 years ago|reply
Chicken Rice and Chilli Crab are regarded as the usual trademark dishes of Singapore. The article interestingly departs from usual practice.
[+] [-] elliotec|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jessaustin|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aryehof|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cyberferret|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lewilewilewi|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hitekker|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vvdcect|7 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jtms|7 years ago|reply