Singapore Chinatown: Street Food Tour & Michelin Hawker Tasting

Chinatown flavors from smoky bakkwa to soya chicken rice

You’ll follow a local through Singapore’s Chinatown as evening falls, tasting smoky bakkwa straight off the grill, sampling hawker classics like carrot cake, and sitting down for Michelin-starred soya sauce chicken rice. There’s laughter over mispronounced words and dessert shared among new friends: an evening that lingers long after you leave.

Step-by-step itinerary

Singapore Chinatown Foodie Tour

• Start at bakkwa store
• Savor grilled meat snack
• Explore tropical fruit stalls
• Visit hawker center
• Taste carrot cake or Char Keow Teow
• Eat soya sauce chicken rice
• Enjoy dessert at dessert shop
• Return via Chinatown MRT Station

The experience

“Try this one, but don’t ask for the recipe,” our guide grinned, sliding a slice of warm bakkwa into my hand. It was still sticky from the glaze, sweet-smoky, and I could smell charcoal in the air. We stood outside a little shop in Singapore’s Chinatown, just after five: the kind of humid dusk where your shirt sticks to your back and every sound is sharper. Locals hurried past with bags of fruit or chattering on their phones. I tried to say thank you in Mandarin. Li laughed and corrected me gently (I’m still not sure I got it right).

We wandered through rows of stalls selling everything from dragonfruit to durian (which honestly smelled like old socks but everyone else seemed unfazed). The main keyword here is food tour Singapore, but it didn’t feel like a “tour” at all, more like tagging along with someone who knows all the shortcuts. At the hawker center, Li pointed out which auntie made the best carrot cake (not actually cake or carrots, it’s radish fried with egg and soy sauce). The place was loud: spatulas clanging, someone singing along to an old pop song on the radio. I burned my tongue because I couldn’t wait for it to cool down.

The highlight was soya sauce chicken rice at this tiny stall that apparently has a Michelin star, not that you’d know by looking at it. Tender chicken, glossy with sauce, over plain rice with peanuts on the side. Simple but somehow perfect after all those flavors. Dessert came last: something cold and wobbly with coconut (I forgot the name), eaten standing up while watching teenagers play on their phones outside. When we finished, Li pointed us toward the MRT station and waved goodbye like we were old friends. I still think about that first bite of bakkwa sometimes.

What’s included

Your evening includes five dish tastings ranging from grilled bakkwa to classic hawker favorites and dessert, bottled water throughout, a private group setting just for you and your companions with a knowledgeable local guide leading every step, plus convenient access via public transport from Chinatown MRT when you’re ready to head back.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English17:00

Guide in English17:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 17:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (1 to 11 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Our tour guide will be waiting for you at Bee Cheng Hiang Shop, address: 69 Pagoda Street Singapore 059228. Please look for your guide wearing Discova Black T-Shirt.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Discova Southeast Asia

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How many dishes are included in this Singapore food tour?

This tour includes tastings of 5 different dishes during your walk through Chinatown.

Does this foodie experience include a local guide?

Yes, a local guide leads your private group through each stop and shares insights about the food and area.

What time does the Singapore street food tour start?

The tour begins at 5 pm in Chinatown.

Is transportation provided back to my hotel after the tour?

No hotel drop-off is included. You finish near Chinatown MRT Station for easy public transport access.

Are dietary requests accommodated on this tour?

No, dietary requests are not available for this experience.

Is this food tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces visited are wheelchair accessible.

What is bakkwa in Singapore cuisine?

Bakkwa is a sweet-salty jerky-like meat snack slow-grilled over charcoal using traditional recipes.