Food: Tummy-filling food courts in Singapore

Still in Singapore, after exploring the rough and ethnic side of Singapore, I was raring to see the wholesome and family-friendly city spots the lion city has to offer. Which was weird for most travelers because they tend to explore the ethnic side after they explore the urban side.

As I went to the pantry of this hostel where I was staying called Inn Crowd to take my breakfast, I found out that my backpacking buddy George already left for Thailand. See, backpackers bond with fellow travelers and off they go to their next destination without a word. It’s kind of sad for the sentimental. But backpackers come and go. After feeling a little sad, I was asked by English girls Pam and Amy if I would want to join them to Sentosa. I thought to myself, what could be more perfect?

Sentosa is a very wholesome theme park, highlighted by its clean albeit man-made beaches, Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong. Site-seeing, and festive circus shows are some of the main attractions. One should also see the Orchard Road, Esplanade and Clark Quey where parks and malls offer the stereotypical urban Singapore lifestyle.  

Famished, our stomachs guided us to one of the packed and lively food courts inside the mall called Food Republic. These food courts, I’ve been told, were installed to prevent the clutter of hawker stalls in the city streets. How efficient!

Inside the food court, one would feel like being in a world food convention. An array of food choices – Chinese noodles, succulent dimsums, Indian curry and beryani (rice-based food with meat), Malaysian roti, kaya (made of eggs, sugar, coconut milk and pandan essence) toasts, even Western food abound as if the stalls are representing every race! 

What stood out in my book is the famous Singapore National Dish, the Hainanese Chicken Rice (steamed chicken and rice that’s so tasty and packed with natural oils and chicken flavor) and the Singapore laksa (a rich, sour, coconut-flavored noodle soup of Peranakan or Chinese-Malaysian origin, made extra delectable with prawns, tofu, scallions, garlic, vegetables, and chili).

We didn’t leave out Singapore’s legendary Chili Crab of course. The crabs were crazy big, with juicy and flavorful meat, tasty but not overpowered by the chili. Capped with the refreshing Ais Kacang,( shaved ice, beans, corn, jelly and colored syrup, their version of our halo-halo), there’s no other way to describe the meal but perfect

Check out my related food-tripping in Malaysia!
Quickly Kuala Lumpur
Hungry for Hawker Food