Part of the reason I love attending Anime Festival Asia so much is the fact the the con is held in Singapore, undoubtedly one of the best places in the world to stuff your face with food (glorious food!). Here are some six suggestions to try out on your very first Singapore food trip.

Laksa

A rich noodle soup made with rice noodles, seafood, coconut cream, and curry spices — this meal in a bowl gives new meaning to the term “it hurts so good”. This fiery hell broth of exotic flavors can be a bit overwhelming for those who hate spicy food, but for those of us who love it, it is just heaven. Try the two competing laksa stalls along East Coast Road — 328 and 49, for a bit of Laksa Wars fun.

Char Kuey Teow

A fried noodle dish (like Filipino pancit) with flat noodles, eggs, sliced vegetables, and seafood like prawns and cockles cooked in a dark soy-based sauce. Variations occur across all the stalls and restaurants in the city that serve them, but the main ingredients are basically the same. Great with a cold beer or soda after a long hard day of walking and standing around a convention center 😀

Kueh Pie Ti

A kueh pie ti is a tiny savory pastry cup filled with cooked veggies, chopped hard boiled eggs, and sometimes topped with one juicy piece of prawn. Each piece is supposed to be eaten in one bite — just pop it into your mouth by hand and savor the delicious mix of salty, sweet, smooth, and crunchy all in one go.

Fishball Noodle Soup

A Singaporean comfort food, fishball noodle soup is a simple concoction of fresh fish balls (mixed with knives and moulded by hand), vegetables, and rice noodles in fish stock. It is very light and clean-tasting — none of that muddy, fishy smell associated with most fish stocks, and is a perfect light supper for those too tired out after a convention to even attempt to eat.

Chicken Rice

The unofficial national dish of Singapore, chicken rice looks deceptively simple — a plate of sliced white chicken and some rice steamed in chicken broth and spices. However, the simplicity belies a distinct and addictive nuance of flavor that is easy to love and difficult to forget. Plain or garnished with the many sauces provided, chicken rice is something chicken-loving Pinoys will rave about.

Teh Tarik

Teh tarik or “pulled tea” is black tea mixed with condensed milk, and poured from one container to another at a great height to stir (instead of using a spoon). The air that is incorporated in the pouring process gives it a light and frothy texture. Mostly served hot, you can also get it cold by pouring the freshly-pulled hot teh tarik over ice. Sweet, delicious, and caffeinated — a breakfast for champions!

These are just six of our favorites — we haven’t even mentioned chicken satay, bandung, roti, rojak, Singaporean chicken wings, ice kacang, and a myriad of other treats you can get your hands on during AFA X weekend. See you guys there!