Singapore food porn: Exotic hawker fare from around the world

Blame it on the expats, foreign students and workers. It was their homesick stomachs that brought mohinga, pork lechón, kebabs, chocolate-coated waffles, and gnocchis and raviolis in quattro formaggi sauces (the really good ones and not those fly-by-night hacks) into Singapore’s hawker centers.

Blame them for changing our street food landscape on the cheap. Once upon a time, any food foreign to Singaporean’s taste buds was only available in expensive restaurants for exorbitant prices. Now we can get them at prices that are little more than a plate of char kway teow, and in singlet-and-slipper comfort too.

But maybe all these foreign food isn’t such a bad thing. CNNGo's culinary hunters went on the search in Singapore's hawker centers for some of the most exotic foods to come from the United Nations of Gastronomy.

The döner kebabs rice set

Döner kebabs from Turkey

The good: Well-marinated and juicy meats roasted to perfection on the döner. Served as wraps or as rice sets with lots of salad thrown in for good crunchy measure.

Not so good: Not easy to get to. Your best bet is to take the MRT to Buona Vista station and walk down the line. If it’s any consolation, it’s near Holland Village, which is always good for some after-meal shopping or cuppa coffee.

Price: Rice sets at S$6.90, wraps at S$10 each.

Kebab-Xpress
#01-263 Block 19, Ghim Moh Road (opposite Ghim Moh Food Centre), Singapore
tel +65 9642 0775
Opens daily from 11am to 10pm

The sfigato special pizza

Pizzas, pastas & lasagnas from Italy

The good: A breath of fresh pasta as their 17 types of pizzas and 23 types of pastas deviate from the usual carbonara, bolognese, and hawaiian offerings found in other Italian hawker stalls. Go for the Crespelle Di Spinaci -- soft crepes wrapped around spinach, mushroom, and chicken. It’s creamy and bursting with umami flavor.

Not so good: The surroundings are due for a makeover as it’s dirty, oily, smoky, and noisy. But if you’re sensitive about it, why are you even thinking of eating in hawker centers?

Price: Pizzas from S$8 to S$15, pastas from S$5 to S$9.

Castel Sfigato Pizza
#04-47 Beauty World Centre Food Center, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore
tel +65 6402 0898
www.sfigato-pizza.com
Opens daily from 11am to 9pm

BBQ pork with rice

Lechón (roasted pork, beef, or chicken) from the Philippines

The good: Huge portions of roasted beef, pork, or chicken and accompanied with rice and peppery soup. Don’t miss out on the plum and spicy soy sauce dip.

Not so good: We’re told that it’s supposed to have burst-in-your-mouth flavor and crispy, crackly skin. When we were there, the skin was tough and the meat wasn’t quite tender. We did get there a bit late so maybe all the good stuff had been eaten. Maybe. 

Price: Barbecued pork belly at S$6 per serving

Mang Kiko’s Lechón
National Youth Park, 121 Somerset Road, Singapore
tel +65 9646 6444
Opens daily from 11.30am to 11pm

Belgium waffles with chocolate sauce

Liege Waffles from Belgium

The good: Super-rich, almost solid chocolate sauce that’s simply choco-gasmic. Goes well with their thick, bready, and chewy Liege waffles served in bite-sized pieces.

Not so good: Not enough chocolate! And the waffles aren’t as exciting without the chocolate sauce. For chocoholics, there’s a fondue option (best shared with friends) that should solve this problem.

Price: One waffle and dip at S$2.50 per serving. Claypot fondue with gelato, waffles, fruit at SS$25 (serves four).

Sweet Stone Waffles
#01-67 Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road, Singapore
tel +65 9738 9868
www.sweetstoneholdings.com
Opens daily from 10.30am to 9.30pm

The Ramly special burger

Ramly burgers from Malaysia

The good: The burger patty filleted and marinated with curry and chili powders and Maggi sauce, and then wrapped in an omelet and bundled between a pair of toasted sesame seed buns. It beats Carl’s Junior and other gourmet burgers anytime.

Not so good: The meat patties don't pack as much "ommph!" as the ones in Johor Bahru as it’s missing Ramly Monknin’s special spices. We blame NEA and their ultra-strict import regulations for depriving us of the "real stuff."

Price: At S$3 each, the Ramly Special consists of a choice of beef or chicken patty, and the omelet and toasted bun.

Ramly burger stall
Tanjong Pagar KTM Station, 30 Keppel Road, Singapore
Opens daily from 3pm to late night

A Burmese spread -- notice the chicken head in the soup

Tea leaf salads & mohinga from Burma

The good: Perfect for those who like robust flavors as the food is heavily laced with fish sauce, chili, and spices. Don’t miss out on their national dish, the Mohinga -- rice vermicelli in fish soup. Give their barbecued meats a try, but we’re not sure where it’s from.

Not so good: Super low tables and minuscule stools for diners. Menus covered with curly Burmese script. Our solution -- ask the staff for recommendations.

Price: Soups at S$3, noodles at S$5, and barbecued items at S$3 .

Mandalay Style Café
#B1-29 Peninsula Shopping Centre, 3 Coleman Street, Singapore
tel +65 9183 3546
Opens daily from 12pm to 10pm

Found a brilliant hawker food that’s not quite Singaporean? Tell us about it.