• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work & Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
      • Readers’ Choice Awards
        • horoscopes for julyHoroscopes for June 2023!
        • Portrait photography in Singapore: the best studios in town
        • Singtel Dash money transfersThis easy-to-use app makes overseas money transfers a breeze
        • Rachel’s peaceful semi-detached house in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • horoscopes for julyHoroscopes for June 2023!
        • Puzzle Pages – answers for June 2023!
        • What’s on this week and beyond
        • Floral Atelier flower arrangingLearn the elegant arts of flower arranging and calligraphy!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Portrait photography in Singapore: the best studios in town
        • Fabulous Father’s Day Present Ideas & Things to Do
        • character developmentAuthentic American education at XCL American Academy
        • The Children's Showcase at cluny courtWhere to bring kids to shop – Cluny Court of course!
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Fabulous dinnerware, crockery and tableware in Singapore!
        • Heveya best mattress and bedsheetsBest mattresses in Singapore – for the best sleep!
        • candles in singapore with essential oilsCandles with essential oils – the perfect gift!
        • antique furniture singaporeAntique furniture shops – vintage & reproduction furniture!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Australasia
      • Rest Of The World
        • Things to do in Dubai with familyHave some fun at one of the best hotels in Dubai
        • Beach holiday resortsFancy a long weekend getaway at a beach resort?
        • international health insuranceProtecting your health overseas
        • Indonesian holiday Wakatobi Dive Resort and House ReefDive into this luxury beach resort!
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Hydration: Drinking water for good health
        • 16 of the best breakfast spots in Singapore!
        • good chai people F&B SingaporeMeet Radio DJ, F&B Entrepreneur & First-time-Dad
        • salmon recipesGet the best sustainable salmon in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • JulietteC sandals and beachwearResort wear & beachwear that’s cool and casual
        • Beauty news: New beauty products, makeup and more!
        • Best facial in Singapore? Read our face spa & beauty salon reviews
        • Art N Ash, lab-grown diamondsDo’s and don’ts of buying diamonds & lab-grown diamonds
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • candles in singapore with essential oilsCandles with essential oils – the perfect gift!
        • Top personal trainers in Singapore
        • Hydration: Drinking water for good health
        • City Osteopathy & PhysiotherapyWhere to find a good physio in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

11 spots for a good local breakfast in Singapore

20th April 2022 by Expat Living 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/11-spots-to-go-to-try-a-local-breakfast-singapore/

Fancy a local breakfast in Singapore? There are so many options at kopitiams or hawker centres. With less than $5 for a satisfying meal at most places, what’s not to love? Most of our suggestions are available at any hawker centre; these were just the places that got rave reviews from customers and regulars. Getting around to these spots is fairly easy, but you can also rent a car for short periods to make it a whole lot easier!

#1 Chee Cheong Fun

For those who love noodles, be prepared to be blown away by this rice noodle roll. A rice flour mixture is first steamed into thin sheets before it’s rolled into tubes and dressed in light soy sauce and sesame oil. Silky smooth and savoury, this is an absolute must-try. Common fillings include shrimp and char siew (roasted pork), although the ones without filling are equally tasty.

Where: Pin Wei Hong Kong Style Chee Cheong Fun, #01-25 Pek Kio Market & Food Centre, 41A Cambridge Road

local breakfast -Chee Cheong Fun kopitiam

#2 Nasi Lemak

Traditionally wrapped in banana leaves, nasi lemak is an extremely versatile dish that can be served with different toppings. A classic nasi lemak comes with fragrant coconut rice, ikan bilis (fried anchovies), peanuts, egg and sambal (chilli paste). If you’re lucky, your set might even come with a fried chicken wing or fish at some stalls.

Where: Tan Beng Otah Delights, #01-74 Old Airport Road Food Centre, 51 Old Airport Road

Nasi Lemak local breakfast singapore kopitiam

#3 Kaya Toast

Available at almost every kopitiam, kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs accompanied by a nice, strong kopi is the quintessential traditional breakfast. And, hey, what could be better than hot toasty bread slabbed with a sweet kaya jam and some coffee to wake up our senses?

Where: Heap Seng Leong, Blk 10 North Bridge Road, #01-5109

Hawker food for kids Singapore - Kaya Toast and Kopi

#4 Chwee Kueh

We love our kueh here in Singapore, but chwee kueh takes the prize among all the others. This dish perhaps isn’t the best visually, but it definitely makes up for it in taste. While the freshly steamed rice cake itself isn’t too unhealthy, the preserved radish and chilli on the side give this local breakfast a sinful calorie boost. Completely worth it, though!

Where: Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh, #02-05 Tiong Bahru Market, Seng Poh Road

local food -Chwee Kueh

#5 Bak Chor Mee

Literally translated as minced meat noodles, bak chor mee is a bowl of deliciousness tossed in a mixture of vinegar, pork lard and chilli, perfectly coating al dente noodles. It’s then topped off with all things pork – minced meat, pork slices, pork balls, you name it. Our favourite addition, though, is the savoury, stewed mushrooms slices!

Where: Fa Ji Minced Meat Fishball Noodle, #01-05 Kovan Market & Food Centre, Blk 209 Hougang Street 21

local food - Bak Chor Mee kopitiam

#6 Kway Chap

This is another classic and a favourite among locals looking for some warm comfort food. A traditional Teochew dish, it features thick, broad sheets of rice noodles served in a savoury soy sauce broth. A set usually comes with pig innards, hard-boiled eggs and tau pok (deep-fried tofu) drenched in a dark sauce, though you could always request to omit certain ingredients.

Where: Garden Street Kway Chap, #01-21 Serangoon Garden Market and Food Centre, 49A Serangoon Garden Way

Miss Tam Chiak Kway Chap hawker centre
Credit: Miss Tam

#7 Carrot cake (Chai Tow Kway)

Not related to the dessert at all, this is a local staple present in most, if not all, hawker centres. Fried with delicious nuggets of radish cake, garlic and chai poh (preserved radish), this dish is offered ‘black’ or ‘white’ style. The black variety is fried with dark soy sauce, giving off a slight sweetness, whereas the white is only fried with eggs to create a crispy exterior that perfectly contrasts the soft rice cake.

Where: Ghim Moh Fried Carrot Cake, #01-16 Ghim Moh Market & Cooked Food Centre, 20 Ghim Moh Road

Chai Tow Kway carrot cake kopitiam

#8 Lor Mee

Carb-conscious friends turn away, this noodle is far from healthy but oh so worth it. Coated with a thick, starchy gravy and served with flat yellow noodles, it’s definitely not a light items as far as local breakfast goes. Add on the various toppings such as deep-fried fish, fish cakes, crispy bits and more, you’ve got yourself a happy belly.

Where: Zhi Xiang Special Lor Mee, #01-49 Palm Springs Hawker Centre, Blk 93 Toa Payoh Lorong 4

Lor Mee local breakfast singapore

 

#9 Congee

This delicious Cantonese-style rice porridge is the perfect light breakfast for those who prefer something a little less heavy in the morning. Rice is boiled until it starts to break down into a creamy consistency, forming the classic congee texture; it can be made with any ingredient you fancy. The most common ones are fish, pork, chicken and century eggs. Crack in a raw egg for good measure to add a little oomph.

Where: Zhen Zhen Porridge, #01-54 Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street

Congee food

#10 Popiah

Sort of like the lighter sibling to the regular fried spring roll, popiah is usually stuffed with stewed turnips, eggs, bean sprouts and crispy bits, all wrapped in a deliciously thin crepe-like skin. More innovative fillings have come onto scene in recent years but the original style is our personal favourite.

Where: Old Long House Popiah, #01-03 Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre, 22 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh

Popiah hawker centre local breakfast

#11 Curry puffs

A delicious, savoury curry filling that’s encased in buttery pastry – who can say no? The classic version is a chicken curry with potato but variants such as tuna are available as well. Perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or quick snack when you’re feeling peckish, this humble puff simply had to be included in our list.

Where: AMK Curry Puff, #01-372 Super 28 Coffee Shop, Blk 184 Toa Payoh Central

curry puffs hawker centre local breakfast singapore

Hungry? Here’s how to get to these spots!

There’s so much of Singapore that’s easier explore by car. If a long-term rental option’s not on the table (‘scuse the pun), rent one for a weekend or a month so you can get your fix of local food, walks and historical buildings that are hard to get to by public transport. It’s especially fun and convenient for when you have visitors, parents or kids in tow.

Find out more through the team at BizLink Rent-a-Car:
Bizlink Rent-a-Car
6285 6616 | bizlinkrentacar.com.sg

 

For more helpful tips, head to our Living in Singapore section!

10 quirky places to take out-of-town visitors
Must-try local desserts in Singapore

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

Categories: Asian Cuisine Living here Wine & Dine Tags: Biz Link Car Rental Ghim Moh Market & Cooked Food Centre Hawker Centres Heap Seng Leong Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre Kovan Market & Food Centre Local Breakfast local breakfasts Local Food Maxwell Food Centre Old Airport Road Food Centre Palm Springs Hawker Centre Pek Kio Market & Food Centre Serangoon Garden Market and Food Centre Singapore Food Super 28 Coffee Shop Tiong Bahru Market

Expat Living

Expat Living has everything to help you make the most of living in Singapore! We've got information on neighbourhoods, things to do and see, dining, entertainment, schools, travel, fashion, furniture, finance, health and beauty. And more!

You May Also Like

Singtel Dash money transfers

This easy-to-use app makes overseas money transfers a breeze

Donate in Singapore to this school in Sri Lanke

Supporting kids one school bag donation at a time

Hydration: Drinking water for good health

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.