Hands up if you love carrot cake – we know the best places to find them in Singapore! Psst: are you team black or white?
Unless you’re a tourist or a new expat in Singapore, you’re likely familiar with our nation’s adoration for fried carrot cake. To our foreign friends: we’re not talking about the sweet dessert, but rather a local delicacy known as chai tow kway, which translates to radish cake. This savoury dish is made from white radish cubes stir-fried with eggs and seasoning.
There are two popular versions: white carrot cake, which is cooked with light soy sauce, and black carrot cake, which features dark soy sauce. The debate over which version is better often sparks lively discussions among food enthusiasts. Michael Jackson would be so proud… You’ll find at least one stall in every hawker centre selling this iconic dish. But with so many options, which carrot cake is truly the best in Singapore? Take our hand and let us guide your taste buds through the top picks.
The best carrot cake stalls in Singapore
1. Fried Carrot Cake
Yes, it doesn’t get more direct than this one. Clementi residents are lucky to have this hawker stall, also known as 448 Carrot Cake, in the neighbourhood. Its black carrot cake is often regarded as one of the best in Singapore. We’re talking soft and fluffy radish chunks, deliciously crispy egg bits, and savoury chye poh (preserved radish), all tied together with sweet soy sauce. It’s said they sell out pretty fast, so head down before the afternoon to avoid disappointment.
Fried Carrot Cake, #01-45, Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre, 448 Clementi Avenue 3, Singapore 120448
2. Ghim Moh Carrot Cake
If you’re into intense flavours, this is one carrot cake you shouldn’t miss. This stall’s black carrot cake has a rich sweetness thanks to the generous amounts of dark soy sauce and the frying also contributes to its strong wok hei taste. Those who are team white can try its white carrot cake, which is coated with eggs and fried to a good crisp. Unsurprisingly, the stall sees long lines every day.
Ghim Moh Carrot Cake, #01-16, Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre, 20 Ghim Moh Road, Singapore 270020
3. Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake
Ask any carrot cake connoisseur about their favourite stall, and more often than not, this one will likely make the cut. This beloved local business has been around since the 1950s, with decades of experience serving up the savoury dish to the masses. Can’t decide between the black and white carrot cake? We suggest getting the former. It’s sweet and savoury, with much spiciness to balance the flavour profile.
Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake, #01-37, Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, 115 Bukit Merah View, Singapore 151115
4. Hai Sheng Carrot Cake
Things are becoming more expensive in Singapore, and that’s a fact. So if you’re on a tight budget, we recommend hitting up this spot in Bendemeer Market & Food Centre. A plate costs only $2, which is a pretty sweet (and savoury) deal. There’s no mixed option here, so if you want the best of both worlds, order the black and white carrot cakes individually and combine them yourself. Life hack! Don’t forget to stir in the chilli for a spicy kick.
Hai Sheng Carrot Cake, #01-85, Bendemeer Market & Food Centre, 29 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 330029
5. Chey Sua Carrot Cake
Those of you on team white should be familiar with this stall in Toa Payoh. It’s regularly featured in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, which speaks volumes about its offering. Chey Sua’s white carrot cake is crispy yet soft, with a lovely crunch thanks to the chye poh. Look closely and you’ll spot carrot strips all over your plate. Yes, you can tell foreigners that this is a “legit” carrot cake!
Chey Sua Carrot Cake, #02-30, Toa Payoh West Market and Food Court, 127 Toa Payoh Lorong 1, Singapore 310127
6. Geylang Traditional Carrot Cake
Everyone in Singapore knows long queues mean a food establishment serves seriously good stuff. This carrot cake stall sees a snaking line before its opening hours and constantly sells out before closing time. Now that’s a testament to its cult status. Egg lovers, you’re going to love this place. The folks are very generous with the egg portion.
Geylang Traditional Carrot Cake, #01-21, Upper Boon Keng Market & Food Centre, 17 Upper Boon Keng Road, Singapore 380017
7. Fu Ming Cooked Food
We found another Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient to add to your foodie list. This humble stall is known for having Mickey Mouse adorn its signboard. Another thing that’s equally iconic here is its carrot cake. Picture chewy radish bits, spicy chilli, and sweet soy sauce coming beautifully together on a plate. We can wax lyrical about the wok hei (a Cantonese phrase to describe a smoky taste), but it’s better to try Fu Ming’s carrot cake yourself.
Fu Ming Cooked Food, #01-49, Redhill Food Centre, 85 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150085
8. Song Han Carrot Cake
Who knew Tampines has one of the best carrot cakes in Singapore? Run, don’t walk to Tampines Round Market & Food Centre, which is home to this hawker stall. Song Han’s black and white offerings feature a special ingredient – curry powder, which adds flavour and aroma. Who would’ve thought? Mini prawns are also scattered around the dish, further enhancing the taste and texture.
Song Han Carrot Cake, #01-07, Tampines Round Market & Food Centre, 137 Tampines Street 11, Singapore 522137
9. Heng Carrot Cake
Most carrot cake stalls open early in the morning and shutter before the day ends. But if you’re craving some fried goodness in the evening, drop by Newton Food Centre and head straight for this stall. The business has been steaming its own carrot cake since 1971, so you’re not getting those factory-made stuff. The white version has plump prawns, while the black carrot cake has a deliciously smoky flavour.
Heng Carrot Cake, #01-28, Newton Food Centre, 500 Clemenceau Avenue North, Singapore 229495
10. Carrot Cake
Here’s another stall in Singapore with a straightforward name. Located near Chomp Chomp’s entrance, this shop is instantly recognisable thanks to its distinctive white signboard. While it serves both black and white carrot cake, the latter consistently earns raves among serious foodies. The white version is delightfully crispy and eggy with a good bite. Don’t discount the black carrot cake, though – it’s on equal standing with its fairer counterpart.
Carrot Cake, #01-36, Chomp Chomp Food Centre, 20 Kensington Park Road, Singapore 557269
11. Katong Jago Carrot Cake
This food spot has taken our island by storm with its rendition of the beloved carrot cake. The radish cubes are soft and tender, and each plate is filled with a generous serving of chye poh. If you’re not good at making decisions, you’ll have difficulty deciding between the black and white versions. Katong Jago is only open for a few hours daily, so you better make it like the early bird and catch this worm!
Katong Jago Carrot Cake, 228 East Coast Road, Singapore 428925
It doesn’t matter if you prefer black or white fried carrot cake, as long as you get it from the top stalls in Singapore.
