Singapore’s food scene is legendary, but not every dish is a winner.
Ready to explore the flip side of this culinary paradise? I’ve rounded up 10 foods that might make you think twice.
From fishy odors to odd textures, these dishes challenge even adventurous eaters.
Curious about what to avoid? Read on for a fun, honest look at Singapore’s less appetizing offerings. 😊
1. Fish Head Curry
If you’re not into overwhelming spices, skip the fish head curry.
From the name itself, the main highlight of the dish is the fish head. This means you are seeing just the head of the fish and some vegetables.
The large structure of fish is a bit off-putting, especially the eyes and mouth. The taste and odor can also be intense. When eating, you need to pick through the bones.
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2. Nasi Goreng Kampung
Go for other Singaporean dishes instead of Nasi Goreng Kampung. This fried rice can be too greasy and strong for your liking.
Plus, the anchovy combined with egg creates a strong aroma that’s not for everyone.
It can be overpowering, especially if you just eat it without pairing. So, if you’re not into the pungent fish taste, might as well try other local options.
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3. Sambal Stingray
Have you ever tried to eat a stingray? How about sambal sauce? A combination of these two can be too much to handle, especially for picky eaters.
Stingray has a distinctive taste that doesn’t appeal to all taste buds.
You might also be surprised by the rubbery texture of the fish. The cartilaginous body makes it challenging to enjoy your eating. Lastly, the sambal sauce can be too spicy.
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4. Clay Pot Rice
Perhaps you’ve come across some clay pot rice in some hawkers. While this is a popular dish, you might want to skip this one.
More often than not, the rice at the bottom gets burned while the top is soggy. Or worse, the middle portion of the rice is uncooked.
Plus, some meat slices are not chewy. There might also be stalls that use too much soy sauce, making the dish too salty.
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5. Fish Soup Bee Hoon
When eating Fish Soup Bee Hoon, it can either be too fishy or just bland.
If not washed or cooked properly, the fish can create a pungent taste. This muddy element can linger on your tastebuds for quite some time.
Another concern would be the bee hoon noodles. When soaked for a long time, the noodles can get soggy. The mushy texture can make the dish unappetizing to eat.
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6. Yusheng
From raw fish to crispy crackers, Yusheng has a distinct texture that might raise eyebrows. The mix of slippery fish, crunchy vegetables, and other spices is quite odd.
And sometimes, the sweet plum sauce makes it even more questionable.
If you’re not a fan of raw fish and bizarre combinations of textures, this isn’t for you. Plus, the tossing of the yusheng may appear unhygienic to some people.
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7. Fried Carrot Cake
From its name, you might expect a tasty dessert. But don’t get your hopes too high because fried carrot cake is not a luscious treat.
It’s actually a dish made of fried radish cubes, garlic, and egg. No traces of the orange carrots at all!
Well, it’s because locals call their radish as white carrots, hence the name. Another reason not to buy it is the greasiness of the dish.
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8. Moon Cake
If you’re looking for delectable desserts, some of you might just opt for moon cake. But don’t be too focused on this pastry though! There are other more luscious treats for your palate.
Some moon cakes are too sweet and too sticky. There are stalls that use store-bought paste instead of the traditional lotus seed paste.
And if you’re trying to be fit, be careful of the high-calorie content.
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9. Kway Chap
Are you up for some exotic dishes? Kway Chap is a local cuisine made of pork intestine, belly, hard-boiled eggs, and tofu.
Sometimes, they add duck meat and other offal. The combination of different meat parts may create a pungent flavor.
Plus, you might not like the broad rice noodles because of their texture. It can be slippery to eat, especially with the dark soy broth.
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10. Fresh Spring Rolls (Popiah)
If you really want to try the Popiah, make sure they are really fresh. If not, it can be the worst food because of the soggy skin. Some filling may not be properly seasoned, making it bland.
Others also find the sauce too sweet. Eating this can also be messy because of the filling and sauce. You need to be cautious with the raw bean sprouts and other vegetables from falling.
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