Kaya toast, prata, nasi lemak… we sure know how to enjoy a fantastic local breakfast spread in Singapore. It’s cheat day everyday!
If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it shouldn’t be anything less than epic. Consider yourself lucky to be living in Singapore where breakfast is merely a concept. Want to eat rice for breakfast? Try nasi lemak. Need something fried and dough-y? We’ve got prata and vadai. Here are our favourite dishes we love to start the day with. Just a heads up, look away if you’re anti-carb and gluten-free. This is how we do local breakfast in Singapore!
Best local breakfast dishes in Singapore
1. Congee
Rain or shine, there’s nothing quite like an appetising bowl of porridge to instantly perk up your day. Fondly known as congee in Singapore, this comfort food comes in various permutations, including Hainanese and Cantonese styles. The simple yet hearty dish will fill you up and give you that energy boost you need to last the day… or at least, till lunchtime.
2. Lontong
Close your eyes and imagine sliced rice cakes in a milky, spicy vegetable curry that’s accompanied by a boiled egg, tofu, and grated coconut flakes. Of course, we’re talking about lontong, a beloved breakfast staple. Don’t forget to mix in the sambal before slurping up the broth! Join the early morning queue at Queenstown Lontong to enjoy heaven in a bowl.
3. Kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs
Who doesn’t love toast for breakfast? We level it up by slathering kaya (a custard jam made from coconut milk, pandan, egg yolk and sugar) on toasted bread or soft warm buns. Plus, a simple side of two soft-boiled eggs paired with a cup of hot teh tarik or kopi. This traditional breakfast set is available at any local coffee shop – and it won’t even cost you more than $5. You can find us scarfing down the kaya toast at Tong Ah Eating House…
4. Nasi lemak
There’s nothing quite like it. Nasi lemak is fragrant coconut rice usually served with fried ikan bilis and nuts, fried fish, fried egg and a dollop of sambal. Some places go all out and provide a lot more variety in the side dishes with fried chicken, otah, luncheon meat, and fishcake. Ponggol Nasi Lemak exclusively opens in the evenings to long queues, but if you’re hunting down breakfast, check out Selera Nasi Lemak at Adam Road.
5. Fried economical noodles
What’s a local breakfast if you can’t find noodles in the mix? Available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions, here’s the beauty of economical noodles (which are usually vermicelli). You can add anything, including crispy beancurd skin, eggs, sausages, luncheon meat, mock char siew, and even vegetables if you want to keep things healthy.
6. Prata
If there’s a dish we’ll never get bored of, it’s roti prata. A staple of local breakfast (and supper) in Singapore, prata hits the spot every time. Crispy on the outside, soft and dough-y on the inside, there are many variations of prata. Our faves include everything from kosong (plain prata) to prata bom (a thick smaller version with sweet filling), and prata plaster (like eggs benny, but prata) to prata tissue (super thin and crispy prata drizzled with chocolate sauce). We love it so much we even attempted to make it at home – true story.
7. You tiao
If it ain’t fried, it ain’t breakfast. The best thing about you tiao, a long, golden brown sort-of donut, is that it’s the gateway to other equally delicious breakfast dishes. The sweet soya beancurd and tau suan (a dessert mung bean soup) are usually accompanied by a you tiao stick. Remember to eat it while it’s still hot!
8. Chwee Kueh
And we’re back to the high-cholesterol food again. Chwee kueh is a type of steamed rice cake topped with crunchy and salty fried preserved radish and eaten with – never forget – a side of sambal. Because it’s so bite-sized and easy to eat, you’ll never stop at just one.
9. Thosai
A type of pancake with South Indian origins, thosai is always crisp and made from fermented rice and lentils. It’s usually served with a selection of curries and stuffed with a spicy potato filling. The best thing about it? Thosai is vegetarian and healthy. Not all our breakfasts are heart attack-inducing, alright?
10. Chee cheong fun
Fun fact: Chee cheong fun translates to “pig’s intestines”, in reference to the way these rice sheets are rolled up and steamed. While it’s also a dish in dim sum restaurants, the breakfast version is usually served without any meat or prawns but topped with sweet-salty hoisin sauce, chilli sauce, and sesame seeds for flavour.
11. Kacang pool
An underrated dish in the spectrum of local breakfast types, kacang pool is a broad bean gravy with minced beef. It’s served with a runny sunny side up, chopped onions, fresh green chillies and a plate of warm bread on the side for dipping. While it’s not native to Singapore, it can still be found in some coffee shops for breakfast. Think of it as a Middle Eastern bowl of chilli. While it’s not as indulgent as the rest of the dishes on this list, kacang pool is just as comforting and filling.
That’s a wrap on our favourite local breakfast dishes in Singapore!
