Singapore
ANTHONY WAS HERE
The late Anthony Bourdain put the Maxwell Food Centre on the culinary map after visiting in 2008 and eating chicken rice. I joined the longest line, which was for porridge at 11 am, just like the locals who travel from near the airport (25 minutes away) each day to come and get their breakfast. This place is famous for the fish porridge and sashimi-style salad. Dishes are served up by the husband and wife team who have been doing this for over twenty years. 1 Kadayanallur St
Fancy a Bowl of soup?
Head to the hawker centre on Old Airport Road. Stalls offer bowls of wonton noodle soup, pig intestine soup, fish head soup or minced meat fishball noodle soup. Join the locals at a table to experience their lives, watching them dine, gather groceries or just banter. The fishball noodle soup is laced with chili, with a refreshingly light chicken broth — the best I had in Singapore. 17 Old Airport Rd
Dumplings
While you wait to be seated at Din Tai Fung, you can see the dumplings being made by a team of six, rolling, stuffing and steaming. Once you have filled out your order card at this Taiwanese dumpling chain, baskets fill your table. Highlights were the crab, prawn and the traditional soup dumplings. www.dintaifung.com.sg
Award Winning Roti
Opposite the Sultan Mosque you can watch roti being handmade through the window of Zam Zam. If you love roti chanai this place is worth visiting. Their deer murtabak, a generous sized roti stuffed with deer meat, has won many awards. Wash it down with a tey (tea). www.zamzamsingapore.com
NEED A SNACK?
The Amoy Street Food Centre offers the cheapest lunches in the CBD. From Indian and Chinese to Malaysian. The standout for a quick bite is a curry puff — flaky pastry filled with a spiced chicken and potato mush. If you dare you should try the sardine curry puff. 7 Maxwell Rd
the locals in Singapore for their favourite spot to eat chili crab, laksa or chicken rice and the answer will vary greatly. Best bet is to ask any cab driver to take you to their favourite hawker centre for a real taste of f Singapore.