Food to Try in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia (Combo Asia).

09 November 2023

Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia are undoubtedly among the most visited countries in Asia. Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia occupy the major part of south-eastern Asia. These countries are known for their natural scenery, culture, history, and archeological development. 

In this article, we will be looking at some of the finest foods you can try in these countries when you are on the Combo Asia Trip with Guru Travels Limited. 

Foods to Try in Singapore 

Singapore, despite being geographically small, offers a wide range of foods you can select from. Street foods are massively popular in Singapore. Hong Lim Market & Food Centre and Bangkit Market are some recommended places where you can try street foods in Singapore. Other than street foods, you can explore restaurants and bars for more food items and cocktails. 

1. Bak Chor Mee (Translated: Minced Meat Noodles) 

Bak Chor Mee is a unique Singaporean hawker dish that in its basest form consists of pork meat and noodles with a special signature sauce. The taste of  Bak Chor Mee can be described as savory, tangy, and spicy. Based on the stall you visit, you can find additional toppings such as liver, fish cake, eggs, pak choi, etc. 

Recommended Where: OG Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, Famous Eunos Bak Chor Mee 

2. Bak Kut Teh (Translated: Pork Rib Soup) 

Mostly, people relate street foods with unhealthy and junk foods. Bak Kut Teh is a healthy dish you can try in the streets of Singapore. Mostly preferred as breakfast, this dish is popularly consumed with tea. 

The dish existed in the early 1920s when most Chinese workers couldn’t afford to eat meat regularly. They used meatless bones, garlic, pepper, and other vegetables to cook this healthy and energizing soup. In modern times, it is topped off with pork meat slices, mushrooms, tofu, etc. 

3. White Bee Hoon 

White Bee Hoon is a relatively recent dish on this list originating in 2000 created by Tay King Huak. It has grown widely popular in the past decades for its texture and cooking methods. 

Recent versions of this sea dish include thin white noodles served with shrimp, eggs, tofu, fried chicken, etc. Hotdogs have become a popular topping on White Bee Hoon recently. 

4. Lei Cha Fan (Translated: Thunder Tea Rice) 

Lei Cha Fan's unique name is a simple dish consisting of white or brown rice topped with tofu, spinach, peanuts, and more vegetables. The uniqueness comes from the special tea soup prepared by pounding a number of ingredients such as mint leaves, basil leaves, coriander leaves, sesame seeds, ginger, salt, pepper, and many more. This tea soup takes great care of the ratio of ingredients and time to prepare which is one of the reasons for its popularity. 

Foods to Try in Thailand 

Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Thailand is rich in cuisine and offers many tasteful dishes. 

1. Tom Yum Goong (Translated: Spicy Shrimp Soup)

As the name suggests, this soup packs a kick of spices and a bit of tanginess. It is created using vintage Thai ingredients which include fragrant lemongrass, kaffir limes leaves, lime juice, fish sauce, chilies, shallots, etc. It is one of the most preferred Thai dishes among tourists. 

A variant of this dish, Tom Kha Kai (Chicken Coconut Soup) is also readily available in Thailand and uses coconut milk or cream instead of chili. It is a great alternative for people who prefer something other than chili-based dishes. 

3. Som Tam (Spicy Green Papaya Salad) 

Som Tam is a popular refreshing dish in Thailand. A classic Som Tam consists of shredded green unripe papaya, carrots, peanuts, dried shrimp, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, and chilies. The ingredients are mixed well which gives a sweet, spicy, and sour dish. 

4. Khao Soi (Translated: Thai Coconut Curry Noddle Soup) 

Foods to Try in Malaysia 

Food in Malaysia is greatly affected by the people inhabited for a long time. That includes Chinese, Indians, Thai, and real Malays. Due to the influence of such diverse cuisine and many others, the food selection in Malaysia is diverse and greatly interesting. 

1. Nasi Lemak (Translated: Fat Rice) 

Nami Lemak is considered the national dish of Malaysia. It is made using fragrant rice, herbs, pandan leaves, and coconut milk. It is prepared by cooking rice with coconut milk and pandan leaf. It can be served with prawns, peanuts, sambal, eggs, and more supportive items. 

2. Roti Jala (Translated: Fish Net) 

This unique dish in Malaysia is made using a special perforated spoon that is shaken across a hot pan which creates this net-like dish. It is a popular snack in Malaysia eaten with curry or sweet sauce. It is a delicate dish that requires a precise mixture of ingredients for the best texture and taste. 

3. Sambal Udang (Translated: Prawn Sambal) 

Sambal Udang is a simple dish in which prawns are cooked in a chili paste. Tamarind juice and Pineapple juice are added later on optionally for additional flavoring. Adding some prawn paste finally completes the dish. This delicious dish and its gravy is enjoyed with rice in Malaysia. 

4. Char Kway Teow 

Char Kway Teow is a delicious Malayan noodle dish prepared using pork, eggs, and prawns. It is a stir-fried noodle dish popular for its smoky and savory features. The texture, mixture of spices, and smokiness of this dish make it so loved in Malaysia. 

Conclusion 

Every country or region has its way of preparing foods extracting different tastes and textures. There's no doubt foods in Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore are unique and loved in different ways by people originating from different countries. The above list includes only some of the most popular dishes, visit these three countries through Guru Travels Limited's Combo Asia to try them all.