Singapore Trip, Eating Options for a Family

AFOS on 07/06/2022 - 12:46

Greetings everyone,

I need your help here. We are going to Singapore for a week in August. Recent Scoot sale was too tempting😊

Last year I bought some IHG points for short local staycation. That did not happen because of COVID. And now it will not happen because IHG devalued their points, which puts intended destination out of reach.

So, the goal now is to spend IHG points in Singapore as I do not want to get burned again.
So far, the plan is to stay at Intercontinental (Bugis Junction). The problem is that there is no way to redeem the points and get breakfast included into the rate. One has to pay for it separately. Over the course of the week and for 3 people (one child included), this may be not the most economical (or best) solution.

Would anyone please recommend a decent place nearby for daily breakfasts. I am not a fussy eater (after all I have been having the same meal for breakfast for the last 20 years), but given that we are travelling with a child, I do not want any surprises (upset stomach etc).
The prerequisites (a big caveat here): cleanliness & western cuisine. Preferably not too far.

Ability to pay with a credit card preferred. Buffets would be awesome!

Any advice on family dinners would also be appreciated.
Thanks a lot!

Travel Asia Singapore

Comments

      • sobriety22 on 09/06/2022 - 18:12

        Ice cream is expensive because dairy in general in Asia is expensive.
        What you had sounds like a variation of ABC or Ais Kacang, shaved ice with a variety of toppings, usually jellies, beans, corn, coconut milk and of course cane sugar. It's their form of cool dessert.

      • alkalinity on 13/06/2022 - 21:34

        boomers man

  • Vote for Pedro on 07/06/2022 - 19:38
    +1

    You will generally have no issues with food in Singapore. Hawker centres are clean and quite good. Even the shopping food courts are decent if you go for local options

    You’re on holiday, don’t overthink the budget as far as practicable

  • Drakesy on 07/06/2022 - 19:51
    +2

    Hawker centres
    Theyre literally a cultural staple there.

    I have family that lived there and visiting them on holidays with the hawker centres was the highlight of my childhood.

    Real shame Australian Asian food is overpriced and subpar

    • mskeggs on 08/06/2022 - 16:34

      It's come a long way since the "Chinese" restaurant with a page of "Australian" meals at the back of the 400 choice menu.
      Even in 1983 I was mystified who would go to the Chinese place and order steak and egg.

      Between then and my first trip abroad in 1997, I was the first in my family to eat Thai, Indian, Viet, Yum Cha and Sushi.
      These were wildly exotic for a kid from the suburbs!

  • greater mimic on 07/06/2022 - 20:50
    +1

    Maybe eat some Malaysian food before you go so you become more familiar with it

  • Local Bogan on 07/06/2022 - 21:15
    +1

    When I went to Singapore, I followed this guys food recommendations and I was blown away. I would definitely recommend exploring, its all part of travelling and the experience. Can't go wrong with $3 Hainan Chicken Rice

    https://youtu.be/6fHASeSrH8w

  • fredk1000 on 07/06/2022 - 21:47

    BYO tissues, napkins. Maybe BYO toilet paper too.
    That was 20yrs ago, not sure it has advanced since then.

    • KiwiTheGreat on 08/06/2022 - 14:32

      Still the same.

      • fredk1000 on 08/06/2022 - 19:21

        Still remember the man making roti, rolling the dough with his forearms. Yum.

        A few other things I remember.

        The humidity
        The pinging of the bell in the blue taxi.
        Getting out of the airport without someone scanning like my bag (in front of me at least) and asking me questions. Collect your bag and wheel out, it felt weird not being questioned and checked.
        The dude in the toilet handing out towels (I was never sure if I was to tip them).
        Singaporeans are skinny, I adjusted to this as the normal, when I came back hear and I had to adjust again.

    • plentifoo on 09/06/2022 - 18:32

      you need tissue packets to CHOPE or reserve seats

      • fredk1000 on 09/06/2022 - 22:03

        Ah it seems bringing the tissues is pretty important.

  • hippieyippie on 07/06/2022 - 22:45
    +2

    If you are staying at Bugis, you should no issues finding amazing food within 15 mins walk. All food stores are inspected by health officials on a regular basis to ensure food safety and cleanliness are up to scratch. If in doubt follow the crowds. Do a search on google or youtube, there should be plenty of recommendations. The food court at Bugis Junction is pretty good too with a few restaurants next to it. The hawker centre near Bugis is one of the better ones around as well https://goo.gl/maps/9p3hCHzCEaGaiCGw5

    When I was living there Bugis is one of my favourite places to go to.

    Get cash off the ATM machines, the most affordable and delicious food are usually not payable by credit card. ATM machines offer a fair enough rate and fees.

  • relentless on 08/06/2022 - 02:19

    Pizza Hut of old and Popeyes Chicken

  • istoleyourid2 on 08/06/2022 - 07:48
    +3

    Toast box for breakfast or the local equivalent of bread top.

    Toastbox do something called kaya, a coconut jam. Nothing Western about it but it's fantastic and a few bucks each. Best is the steamed one. They also do the closest to Australian coffee if you get a medium double iirc. Might have a different name like medium extra strength or double draw. Something like that.

    Otherwise little breadtop equivalents here and there, can get pastries for a few bucks each that go alright on a western palate.

    For lunch and dinner, by Western standards, some of the hawker markets aren't as clean as you'd like. The worst one was near little india for us, someone there had rotting fish and every surface was filth. Mustafa centre was a bit how ya goin too (someone will fight me about this but idc). All cheap eats mind you and you get that extra, hasnt been cleaned flavour.

    We found a hidden gem though, at orchard in tangs department store there was a food court up the back. About a half dozen stores but everything clean, good quality food and decently priced. The big steam buns with the egg in it… wow. Hainaese chicken, dim sims and lots of good stuff there. Went there a few times for lunch for cheap, not quite hawker cheap but far better than a restaurant for each meal daily.

    Other options include buying fruit for lunch, but find local fruit shops not the big chain retaillers or it's still pricey. Fill up on a boba tea and some snacks, top quality boba tea in Singapore.

    Remember to splurge on a chilli crab or two. I personally preferred the black pepper crab over chilli crab (again someone will want to fight over that haha). Female crabs are sweeter imo.

    Enjoy

    • AFOS on 08/06/2022 - 09:42

      Thank you:)

      • istoleyourid2 on 08/06/2022 - 09:49

        No probs, also if you didn't know Bugis is almost pronounced like boogers. My inner child loved hearing that on the MRT, next stop… boogers.

  • samfisher5986 on 08/06/2022 - 08:41
    +1

    When I passed through Singapore I felt a lot of the food was very foreign to me and I had no idea what to order so I can understand OP's point of view.

    I think its because we have a lot more Thai/Japanese/Chinese food exposure then Singaporean food, although I've noticed that is changing lately.

  • acoma on 08/06/2022 - 09:16
    +1

    Go to a Hawker centre and have Hainan Chicken rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is the way.
    (Give your kid some chicken congee).

  • gimme on 08/06/2022 - 10:13

    Welcome to the internet. Some guy asks a seemingly innocuous question and receives a pile of judgment. So what if he wants to eat western food? His choice right?
    I've been to Spore more times than I remember and not a big fan of traditional Asian food (especially Asian brekky) and still had a great time. I wouldn't go near hawkers as it's not my thing. So what?? Others might be the opposite.

  • Wasabi Ninja on 08/06/2022 - 10:22
    -2

    I just feel sorry for the uncultured children you are raising. Hopefully when they escape your clutches as young adults they can sample the multitude of cuisines the world has to offer.

    • gimme on 08/06/2022 - 10:43
      -2

      yeah ok, so anyone who doesn't like Asian food (or any type of cuisine by extension) is uncultured. You heard it here people!

      • Wasabi Ninja on 08/06/2022 - 11:55

        Take you for example…. Thanks for proving my point :)

    • KiwiTheGreat on 08/06/2022 - 14:33
      -1

      That is uncalled for….

  • Navanod66 on 08/06/2022 - 10:30
    +2

    I'm from Singapore and you'll have a higher chance of getting COVID than food poisoning there.

    The National Environment Agency and Ministry of Health come down so hard on unhygienic food handlers that most dodgy places don't last long.

    Highly recommend "Ya kun Kaya Toast" and their coffee, soft-boiled egg and toast breakfast set. Remember to order the "Kaya butter toast" and add dark soya sauce & pepper to the eggs. For coffee, order the "Kopi-C" and you'll look like a connoisseur LOL! You can find an outlet in the basement of Bugis Junction, close to the subway entrance.

    Enjoy your treat and hope you change your opinion of Singapore food after this visit.

    • md333 on 08/06/2022 - 12:29

      Only get soft boiled egg if you are happy eating warm raw egg white though.

    • xavster on 08/06/2022 - 16:39
      +1

      This is the way!

      Kaya toast is a definite must try….

  • gromit on 08/06/2022 - 11:07
    +3

    cleanliness wise I feel you are far more likely to get an upset stomach in an Australian restaurant, Singapore is an incredibly clean city.

  • lainey13 on 08/06/2022 - 11:08
    +2

    You won't be getting breakfast included? What a privilege! Yet another opportunity to eat delicious Singaporean food :) I swear there's not enough stomach space to fit in all the yummy food you can get there on one holiday. So. Much. TO EAT!

  • MrThing on 08/06/2022 - 11:45
    +2

    Going for a week, what are you going to do the other 6 days

  • ass3ts on 08/06/2022 - 11:53

    He should stick to local staycations.

  • Jiyujin on 08/06/2022 - 14:10

    Please watch Adam Liaw's Destination Singapore on SBS and you will get the best of the local cuisine.

  • Hangryuman on 08/06/2022 - 14:39

    'I am not a fussy eater (after all I have been having the same meal for breakfast for the last 20 years), but given that we are travelling with a child, I do not want any surprises (upset stomach etc).
    The prerequisites (a big caveat here): cleanliness & western cuisine'

    I won't add to the pile-on - traveller to Asia wants to avoid Asian food - right …

    if I went to Singapura the first place I'd want to revisit is Komala Vilas for marsala dosa on a banana leaf and marsala chai - https://goo.gl/maps/q5UCaJ96KNiQaEnd7 - https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g294265-d87… - been there since 1947 - must be dodgy, right ? - https://komalavilas.com.sg/

    and any muslim roti chanai place in the Serangoon Rd area - but then again I haven't been there for 20 years so it may have changed

    I love the points focus - travelling to burn my points but don't care about the actual place/culture/food - maybe head to Sentosa for a day - enjoy the 32C all day every day !

  • kaleidoscope on 08/06/2022 - 15:51

    Food is lot cheaper over there if you get from Hawker centres. You can find varieties of cuisines in them and given you are staying in Bugis junction there will be plenty around. Use cash so you will not need to pay any fees for currency exchange rates. Food stalls have ratings on them marked A/B/C or so that are representative of the quality of food and hygiene and for obvious reasons the ones rated C have cheaper food.

    Buffets would be awesome

    We used to visit an indian buffet place once of a month or so that is run for the purpose of charity. You basically pay an amount you wish at the end. Its vegetarian though. Some korean all you can eat buffets are there but I can't recall any names. I didn't in particular like these ones as the cuts of meats they had were very fatty, but ymmv :)

  • drfuzzy on 08/06/2022 - 16:35
    +1

    Troll post, mod delete.

  • Fobsessive on 08/06/2022 - 17:22

    Hawker centres. Get out there and have fun!

  • ozbjunkie on 08/06/2022 - 18:03

    Chicken rice - any food court.

    Welcome :)

  • drprox on 08/06/2022 - 19:26

    Singapore would be cleaner than Australia for sure

  • millhouse on 08/06/2022 - 22:18
    +1

    Every time I've had food poisoning in Singapore, it has come from western food that was from a well-presented street-stall (like a New York newsagent).

    Stick with local food, and you'll be fine. Hawker's markets are boss - great cultural experience, amazing food, and just great to chill, eat, drink and people watch.

  • thermos on 08/06/2022 - 23:15

    Maybe be adventurous and try some Asian food first in Australia. Hopefully, you might find something you like and can try it in Singapore.
    I have been to Singapore many times, including a weekend trip just to have Chilli Crab (Jian Fa Seafood BBQ - Newton Circus stall 43).

  • ass3ts on 09/06/2022 - 00:58

    People like OP are more common than you might think. I had a staff member who would only eat ham sandwiches literally every day for lunch. On a couple of occasions during paid company events he had a burger/chicken nuggets and chips, wouldn't touch anything else offered to him.

  • Bren20 on 09/06/2022 - 08:25

    7-eleven to fantastic chicken katsu sandwiches

    Hawker centres are also great, but a bit overwhelming as there's so much on offer

  • RandomNinja on 09/06/2022 - 12:02

    My favourite bakery in SG is a few minutes walk from the Intercontinental, check it out! https://www.asanoya.asia/location/queen-street

    If you're concerned about food options, the malls adjacent to the Intercontinental (Bugis Junction/Bugis+) will have plenty of options that will suit your tastes.

  • 1Kenobi on 09/06/2022 - 15:10

    Where ever there is an A rating on the food store is good

  • bobolo on 10/06/2022 - 08:59

    Honestly in Singapore, you're probably a lot more likely to get food poisoning from Western Food than what the locals eat.

    • Hangryuman on 10/06/2022 - 12:09

      'in Singapore, you're probably a lot more likely to get food poisoning from Western Food than what the locals eat'

      I saw that in an Anthony Bourdin (world travelling chef) episode the other day - his companion complaining about upset stomach after the western breakfast at their hotel in a different country

      Anthony basically said yeah it's generally the worst choice to eat western breakfast in eastern countries, or somesuch

      I will exclude the Best Western I think in Mikimoto which was one of my best ever - but that's an exception

      • bobolo on 10/06/2022 - 13:40

        In general, the worst choice is to eat a cuisine in any country that's not native to them (in terms of risk)

        In Australia, you will get a higher chance of getting food poisoning at a local Chinese joint, over a steak at the local pub

        In Singapore, you will get a higher chance of food poisoning at a steak place over a Chinese restaurant

  • altitudinous on 10/06/2022 - 09:02

    Every available space in Singapore is filled with eating and shopping, for several levels into the air and a few levels underground. There are tons of places. No need to plan it, just walk out the door.

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