Singapore is renowned for its vibrant multiculturalism, which is vividly reflected in its diverse and delectable culinary offerings. This includes a wide range of local and international dishes.
On our trip to Singapore, we had the pleasure of sampling an array of snacks and treats, all of which left a memorable impression on our taste buds.
For those of you planning a visit to Singapore, I highly recommend exploring some of these delightful snacks. Curious about what they are? Stay tuned!
The first snack we picked was Haig Road Putu Piring. While exploring Jewel, this stall caught our eye. It stands out with its intriguing display of steam, generous coconut toppings, and the unique putu piring molds placed near the cashier.
This setup allows customers to witness the fascinating process of making kue putu, a traditional cake crafted from rice flour with a palm sugar center, steamed in bamboo. This snack is particularly beloved!
Interestingly, this snack is called piring (plate) due to its flat mold, unlike the typical bamboo ones. It gained fame after being featured in a Netflix series about street food.
The stall is owned by Aisha Hashim, who has successfully continued her parents' legacy in making putu cakes. This dessert even earns a Michelin Star recognition in Singapore! Under Aisha's leadership, the business has expanded, opening several branches across Singapore.
She introduced some technology to enhance the production process. Ingredients like rice flour and gula Melaka (palm sugar) are prepared in large quantities at a central factory and distributed to various branches for steaming in small stainless steel molds. This innovation is truly impressive!
When my husband and I tasted it, we were amazed. The putu tasted remarkably similar to the Putu I often enjoy here in Bandung (our hometown).
Its authentic flavor and the perfect sweetness of gula melaka, combined with a delicious, fragrant, and coconut-rich batter, made it irresistible. The abundant pandan leaves added as garnish maintained their aroma, enhancing the overall experience.
If your travels take you to Haig Road or Jewel, this snack is a must-try. I purchased two varieties, Gula Melaka (SGD 4) and Brown Coconut (SGD 4.50), each containing four pieces. Both were delightful, but I found a special affinity for the classic taste of the Gula Melaka variant.
Beyond Putu Piring, our culinary adventure led us to another dessert featured in Singapore's Michelin Guide: Birds of Paradise (BOP) Gelato.
We visited one of their outlets located at Tanjong Pagar, 53 Craig Rd, #01-01, Singapore 089691. The ambiance of the place was breathtaking! Its clean, all-white decor and well-placed lighting enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the entire space.
Setting itself apart from other gelato brands, BOP Gelato focuses on crafting flavors that are not only less sweet but also healthier and more natural.
The choices of flavors at BOP Gelato is impressive, including unique options like White Chrysanthemum, Midnight Gianduja, Lychee Raspberry, Pistachio, Strawberry Basil, Sea-Salt Hojicha, Roasted Sesame, Dark Chocolate Sorbet, Hazelnut, Earl Grey & Lemongrass, and Mango Sorbet.
BOP Gelato draws inspiration from the botanical world, utilizing flowers, plants, herbs, and spices to create their exquisite ice cream. I opted for a cup combining two flavors: Lychee Raspberry and Dark Chocolate.
Each flavor was a delight in its own right. The gelato's texture was exceptionally smooth and retained its form without melting too quickly.
The Lychee Raspberry was a revelation, offering a unique, plant-like aroma that I hadn't tried elsewhere. The Dark Chocolate, rich and slightly bitter with just a touch of sweetness, left me longing for more.
For those in search of a satisfying snack, Mother Dough Bakery is an excellent choice and happens to be one of my top bakery picks in Singapore.
What makes this bakery stand out is its ever-changing menu, offering unique selections that are updated monthly. This ensures a fresh and diverse range of choices on every visit.
During my October visit, I ordered an Iced Latte, Roti Boyan Pie, and a special weekend treat – Chai Cake with Apple Cider Cinnamon Glaze. Each item was exceptionally delicious, with perfectly balanced textures and flavors that left me longing to return.
You can find Mother Dough Bakery nestled in the vibrant neighborhoods of Kampong Glam and Arab Street, located on Kledek Street. They welcome patrons from Tuesday to Sunday, between 10 am and 5 pm. It's a popular spot, so I suggest visiting when they open to avoid missing out on their delicious choices!
Our next stop was the popular Mr. Coconut, known for its trendy beverages among Singapore's youth. I decided to try their Avocado Coconut Milkshake, topped with Nata de Coco and with only 25% sugar.
The drink was a delightful surprise! It has a refreshing taste with just the right touch of sweetness. The fresh coconut flavor was a standout. Mr. Coconut has several locations throughout Singapore, so you can easily find an outlet nearby to experience it for yourself.
On our culinary journey, we also visited Mr. Appam at Maxwell Food Center, easily accessible via the MRT Maxwell Station (TE18).
As the name suggests, Mr. Appam specializes in a snack called Appam. From the outset, we speculated that this might be Singapore's take on the traditional Indonesian apem cake.
Our hunch was confirmed upon tasting the appam cake, which indeed bore a resemblance to Indonesia's apem cake. However, there are some differences. Mr. Appam's version is larger, almost the size of a dinner plate, and features crispy edges, setting it apart from the traditional Apem cake.
Customers can choose from various toppings, including chocolate, green tea, or peanut, and for those who prefer a savory option, there's also appam topped with egg and cheese.
In addition to appam cakes, Mr. Appam also has Putu Mayang. Its flavor and shape closely mirror the Indonesian version, with the main distinction being its size, which is also quite large.
A single serving comes with grated coconut and a packet of orange-colored granulated sugar for added taste. Both the appam and Putu Mayang cakes here are delicious and make excellent choices for snacks or breakfast.
Garrett Popcorn is a renowned popcorn brand from Chicago and is a favorite snack for many, including myself. During my recent trip to Singapore, I made sure to purchase some of them.
There are several Garrett Popcorn shops scattered across Singapore. I visited the outlet located on the first floor of Mall 313 Somerset. For those traveling by MRT, you can alight at Somerset station (NS23).
My go-to flavor is the Chicago Mix, a perfect blend of sweet and salty, so you can taste a variety of tastes in one pack. The flavor is irresistibly delicious, making it hard to stop eating and a great choice for souvenirs.
For those interested in learning more about Garrett Popcorn, I recommend reading my previous article on must-buy souvenirs when visiting Singapore.
The ice cream sandwich is a classic treat in Singapore, particularly around Orchard Road. It feels almost incomplete to visit Singapore without enjoying one of these.
You'll find several stalls selling ice cream sandwiches in front of the upscale malls along Orchard Road. I bought mine from a vendor near ION Orchard. He sells his ice cream from a motorbike, stationed in front of these malls, so it's easy to locate.
There's a wide selection of flavors available, and customers can choose between bread or a cone. I opted for blueberry, while my husband chose durian flavor. Each ice cream is reasonably priced at SGD 1.50.
The ice cream flavors are standard, similar to those offered by well-known brands like Walls. What truly makes the experience memorable is enjoying the ice cream while sitting with your partner, watching the world go by.
For those traveling directly to Orchard Road from Changi Airport, you can find a guide on how to get there using MRT and bus in my tutorial.
Next up is Ijooz SG! Ijooz specializes in providing freshly squeezed ice orange juice, prepared right in the machine in just 45 seconds. The oranges are kept at a cool 4 degrees Celsius, ensuring the juice is chilled and refreshing, even without the need for ice cubes.
The juice from Ijooz is pure orange juice, with no added sugar or other ingredients, making it a great choice for a healthy dose of vitamin C, especially in Singapore's climate.
What's more, the price is quite reasonable at SGD 2. However, we noticed that in some tourist areas we visited, the price was slightly higher at SGD 3, possibly due to partnerships with these locations.
Ijooz offers various payment options, including coins, banknotes, debit/credit cards, and EZ-Link. We successfully made a purchase using a contactless credit card from BCA.
One downside is that Ijooz doesn't provide location information for their vending machines on their website or Instagram.
We stumbled upon Ijooz machines in several places, including around City Hall, near the Singapore Indoor Stadium MRT station, 313 Somerset, Farrer Park (close to Mustafa Center), and near the National Gallery Singapore. It's definitely worth trying out!
