Singaporean National Day

by Stephanie and Juliann
on Friday, August 07, 2009

On August 9, 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia and became its own independent nation. To celebrate Singapore's National Day, why not head to your closest Singaporean restaurant and enjoy one of the country's favorite passions - its food.

Singapore's vibrant mix of cultures is reflected in the cuisine's spicy blend of Malaysian, Indian, Indonesian and Chinese influences. Typical dishes include Hainanese Chicken Rice, originating from Hainan Island but with a Singaporean twist; Char Kway Teow, a savory-sweet fried noodle dish; Carrot Cake made from radish, turnips and sweet paste (it's better than it sounds, trust us) and Roti Prata, a sort of flaky Indian pizza.

Surprisingly, given its popularity and proximity, Singaporean cuisine is not well represented in Shanghai. Orang3, hidden on the second floor of the Hong Mei Lu pedestrian street, offers great food in a relaxed atmosphere. The Ngoh Hiang pork roll is a stand-out, with large chunks of water chestnut paired with coarsely chopped spring onions, minced pork and shrimp, wrapped in a thin bean curd skin. Singapore Fried Prawn Noodles, a gargantuan plate of thick yellow stir-fried noodles, bean sprouts and crispy shallots with a killer chili paste, is another favorite.

Frankie's Place is a friendly outpost presided over by charismatic owner Frank, who is generally on hand to help with menu recommendations. Good choices here are the Beef Pendang and Ayam Limau Purut (chicken in lime leaves), a Singaporean specialty not commonly found in Shanghai.

Orchard CRC in Jing'an has three floors and is a popular late-night eating joint where Singaporeans gather to slurp Char Kway Teow and play "competitive board games" on the top floor until the wee hours.

Our final suggestion for authentic Singaporean cuisine is Rendezvous in the Kerry Center. While they tend to slightly sweeten some of their Malaysian and Singaporean dishes to meet the local customers' preferences, they are willing to prepare the dishes more authentically on request. A few great dishes to ask for are their curry chicken, salt and pepper pork ribs, laksa, and crispy shrimps.