Singapore’s street food scene offers an array of vegetarian options that are as diverse and flavorful as their non-vegetarian counterparts. Here are some of the best vegetarian dishes you can savor in Singapore:
“Chicken” Rice: This dish is a Singaporean favorite. It typically consists of aromatic ginger-infused rice with ‘chicken’ made from soybean or wheat gluten, accompanied by a tangy garlicky chili dip. Popular places to enjoy vegan chicken rice include Genesis Restaurant and Privé Tiong Bahru.
Kaya Toast and Coffee/Tea: A classic Singapore-style breakfast, featuring coconut egg jam on crispy, hot buttered toast, usually enjoyed with strong black coffee or frothy pulled tea. Ya Kun Kaya Toast and Killiney Kopitiam are well-known for serving some of the best versions of this dish.
Roti Prata & Murtabak: This is a crisp, buttery flatbread, enjoyed with spiced curry or sweetened with sugar, condensed milk, or chocolate. For vegetarian versions, Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s and Gokul Restaurant are recommended.
Nasi Lemak: This dish includes fragrant coconut cream rice accompanied by soybean and nori ‘fish’, fried crisps, crunchy peanuts, and chili paste, all wrapped in a banana leaf. Xin Yuan at Fortune Centre and Grove Café are notable places to try vegan Nasi Lemak.
Laksa: A spicy coconut curry broth filled with tofu, mushrooms, mock seafood, and beansprouts. Greendot and Sunny Choice offer vegan versions of this slurp-worthy dish.
Rojak: A salad featuring a mix of fruits and vegetables drenched in a sweet, sour, and spicy tamarind sauce. Gokul Restaurant and Rojak Line are great places for vegan Rojak.
Char Kway Teow: Flat rice noodles and vegetables, wok-fried in dark soy sauce. Loving Hut is a recommended vegan option for this dish.
Thunder Tea Rice: A unique combination of white rice, vegetables, peanuts, and herb-infused tea soup. Thunder Tea stalls in People’s Park Centre and Raffles Hospital food courts are worth visiting.
Appam: A South Indian pancake with crisp edges and a fluffy center, often served with fresh coconut milk and orange sugar. Deen’s in Tekka Centre is a great place for vegan Appam.
Peranakan Kuihs: Traditional mixed-culture desserts, available in vegetarian and vegan versions at Kim Choo Kueh Chang.
Thosai: A thin, crepe-like pancake made from fermented rice and lentils, typically served with vegetable ‘sambar’ stew and chutneys. Madras Woodlands is a recommended spot for vegetarian Thosai.
Carrot Cake: Despite its name, this dish contains steamed rice flour cakes and white radish, often stir-fried with eggs and preserved turnips. Tang Leng Chay at Circuit Road Food Centre is a good place for a vegetarian version.
Additionally, Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant, Kwan Inn Vegetarian, Loving Hut, Nature Cafe, and New Fut Kai Vegetarian Restaurant & Catering are some of the best vegetarian hawker stalls in Singapore, offering a diverse menu ranging from local delights to traditional Indian eats.
Lastly, dishes like Popiah, Mee Goreng/Nasi Goreng, Nasi Padang, Gado-Gado, Ice Kachang, Dosai, and Goreng Pisang are other popular vegetarian Singaporean dishes, available at various locations across the city.
