• Lau Pa Sat is an enormous food centre, spread beneath a beautiful wrought-iron filigree canopy in the central business district;
• Tiong Bahru Market is located in the identically-named housing estate and which specialises in lor mee, a sticky noodle dish;
• Geylang Serai Market is near the Paya Leybar MRT and famous for its Malay dishes; and
• Newton Food Centre is often considered one of the more touristy places, but don't let that deter you — the food is outstanding, the setting is delightful and it's easy to find, being just across from the Newton MRT stop.

If you see a pack of Kleenex on a table, move on. That means someone has choped, or reserved the spot. Speaking of Kleenex, bring your own as serviettes are not supplied. And don't be afraid to experiment. All stalls are monitored by Singaporean authorities for cleanliness. If you're concerned, you can choose one with an "A" rating, the highest rank possible. But sometimes, the biggest line — a much better indicator of quality — is at a stall with a "C" or no rating at all!

Laksa is a spicy, noodle-filled, coconut-broth-based soup that comes from the Perannakan (blended Malay and Chinese) culture. The most authentic place to get a bowl is Katong Laksa, an area just behind the Roxy Grand Mercure Hotel in the east coast on East Coast Road, where any of the several shops will set you up right. Katong Laksa is unique in that the noodles are snipped so you can eat the dish with a spoon. Makes a great morning-after meal!

Along with chilli crab, black pepper crab is one of the national dishes of Singapore. You can get them both at the East Coast Seafood Centre. But for a more local, affordable and delicious experience, head to Eng Seng Seafood at 241 Joo Chiat Place, where the black pepper crab is regarded as the island's best. They open at 5pm, which is when you should plan to line up to avoid being disappointed — they always run out!

Located on Race Course Road in Little India, you'll get heaps of authentic, mouth-watering curries served on nothing but a banana leaf. Their fish-head curry is legendary and the atmosphere — full of locals chowing down — is superb.

A standout Chinese restaurant in a city full of them and the place to go for satisfying dim sum (yum cha). Located in an unlikely spot on the seventh floor of an office building at Blk 54, Chin Swee Road in Chinatown.