Laksa aficionados will tell you that this is the undisputed king of laksa vendors on the island, having seen off years of competition from poor imitators. Laksa is a noodle dish with a rich coconut curry base, typically served with shrimp, tofu and cockles. The perfect laksa has the right combination of sweetness in the coconut milk, saltiness in the broth, and vibrancy in the accompanying chili paste (which you mix into the dish). This is a little hole-in-the-wall joint, with plastic tables and chairs, so don’t come wearing your finest.

A Singaporean staple, roti prata is an Indian flatbread that's moist and chewy on the inside but flaky and crispy on the outside, served with an accompanying dish of spicy curry. While there are many stalls in Singapore claiming to be "famous" or "the best", this eatery really does deliver, and is well worth the drive out of town. If you're feeling slightly adventurous, try the durian or chocolate pratas for dessert.

This 25-year-old hawker center was given a new lease of life with an extensive facelift in 2004, and remains one of the best places to sample real local food. If you’re unfamiliar with hawker center etiquette, here’s what you do: find a table (lurk if necessary), note the table number, and then wander around ordering anything and everything you fancy. In addition to the satay, popular dishes here include the beef noodle soup, satay beehoon (thin noodles with a spicy peanut gravy) and barbequed chicken wings. Just look for the stalls with the longest queues! Hours vary by stall; some are closed in the afternoons.

As an island, Singapore is, unsurprisingly, famed for its seafood. While everyone has their favorite joint, Red House stands out from the crowd of eateries at the East Coast Seafood Center for its quick service, consistently good cuisine and inventive signature dishes. Try the spicy seafood combination ­ a sunny, flavorsome dish of scallops, shrimp, squid and fish, the black pepper crab and the teriyaki cod, then mop up the remains of your chili crab (yes, it's a must-have) with some fluffy steamed buns. A second branch recently opened downtown (60, Robertson Quay).

When you can't decide what to eat, have nasi padang. This Indonesian fare consists of a dizzying variety of meat and veggie dishes, served with steamed rice. The secret to good nasi padang is in its balance of flavors ­ you don't want anything too spicy or oily ­ and with its mountains of colorful, fresh offerings, Sinar Pagi deserves its reputation as one of the best in town. Order as many dishes as you can eat, but don't forget to try the succulent grilled chicken in coconut gravy or the wonderfully tender beef rendang redolent with the scent of a Balinese spice garden.