lemiA “salad bowl” rather than a melting pot of cultures, Singapore is a diverse city-state known as one of the world’s top destinations
Sinful S’pore Carrot Cakes
Singapore
Move past the bewilderment—Singaporean Carrot Cakes are a far cry from its dessert counterpart. Known as Chai Tow Kway amongst the Teochew immigrants that brought it over in the 1960s, this hawker staple doesn't actually have carrots in them despite its name. It is, however, made with white radish or “white carrot.” The famed dish comes in two variations: white, wherein the radish cake is fried on top of a beaten egg to form a crust; and black, which simply mixes the two ingredients and infuses soy sauce for a sweet finish! Brace yourselves for the long queues because we’ve shortlisted the best Chai Tow Kway that we’d travel the farthest corners of Singapore for.
Updated 3 years ago
3
Lau Goh is one of the earliest hawkers to serve Teochew-style Chai Tow Kway in the 1960s, selling them from pushcarts along Merchant Road. Nowadays, his son Peter, who is partially deaf, continues his legacy of frying the legendary Carrot Cake in Riverside Food Center. If you’re undecided whether to try the black or the white variant, you may opt for the Dual Carrot Cake—a combination of the egg’s crispness and the black soy sauce’s sweetness in one plate.
- +65 9674 5483
70 Zion Rd, Singapore 247792
Chey Sua is a legendary hawker serving white carrot cake for over 50 years now, and they are even recognized by the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand award. Second-generation owners Grace and Shirley man the stalls themselves, preserving the famous pancake-like recipe passed on by their parents.
- +65 9816 9412
Block 127 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #02-30 Toa Payoh West Market and Food Centre, Singapore
2
If you’re craving for a late-night carrot cake fix, look no further than this Michelin-awarded eatery open until 1:00 AM. Their White Carrot Cake is a big hit with a sweet and salty punch in every bite, spiced up with the addition of bouncy prawns, pickled radish, and chili on the side. The secret lies in their skillfully prepared cakes, which they steam in-house while others merely source from factories.
500 Clemenceau Ave N, #01-28, Singapore 229495
3
Don’t be fooled by the ordinary signage, this restaurant boasts the most extraordinary queue in Clementi 448 Food Center! Fried Carrot Cake attracts its loyal clientele with old-school soft and mushy cakes, classically mastered by its original owner Mr. Ng who is fond of wearing quirky straw hats. His son, who took over the business, further improved their offering with crispy and charred bits that had people lining up for an hour just to get a taste.
Blk, 448 Clementi Ave 3, #01-45, Singapore 120448
Bukit Merah View is one of those stalls that still mill their rice by hand, resulting in a quintessential version of the old-school Singaporean snack. A lot of residents in the neighborhood swear by their Carrot Cake, made by two brothers who are cooking with over 60 years of family heritage. Their cakes are soft and mushy around the edges, loaded with lavish amounts of egg, chopped scallions, chye poh (dried radish), and dollops of sweet black sauce for a sweet and savory flavor explosion.
Bukit Merah View, Singapore
Ang Moh Kio 107 might be located off the beaten path, but it surely serves one of the regularly raved carrot cakes in the city. Mr. Ngerng Mui Cheu, the restaurant’s owner and father of blogger Roy Ngerng, claims that there’s nothing special in his ingredients—it all boils down to his passion and excellent service to his customers. He’s been at it for over 30 years now, offering generous servings of moist-looking fragrant Carrot Cake that have patrons coming back for more.
107 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, Singapore 560107
2
Known as the Mickey Mouse Carrot Cake, Fu Ming’s is more than just its cutesy signages. Open at 5:00 PM until midnight, their selection of cakes is popular with the supper crowd. They serve a mean Carrot Cake with equally delightful Bak Zhang on the side. Their cakes lean on the soft and wobbly side, with a hint of flavorful radish, eggs, and black sauce added twice for that extra oomph of sweetness!
- +65 9641 0565
85 Redhill Ln, #01-49, Singapore 150085
Carrot cakes tend to be overly greasy depending on the oil used in preparation; but, thankfully, Ghim Moh uses vegetable oil for a heart-healthier alternative. It’s a crowd favorite among early risers, as they dish out Carrot Cakes as early as 6:00 AM and finish up at noon. Each plate is freshly made from scratch on-site and contains both white and black. If you’re looking to taste the perfect but gentle balance of the two flavors, this stall is your best bet.
20 Ghim Moh Rd, #01-16, Singapore 270020
2
Head over to West Coast Food Center for a generous serving of extremely fragrant Chai Tow Kway. The egg is crispy and compliments the radish cake well. Plus, their homemade heibi hiam (shrimp chili paste) is sure to captivate your taste buds best as it makes a heavenly pair with their Carrot Cake.
Stall #180, 535 West Coast Rd, Singapore
Hong Heng might just be a humble food stall in Bedok North Street, but their delicious offerings are enough to capture the loyalty of hungry foodies looking for a good plate of carrot cake. Their Radish Cake is flawlessly executed with fresh spring onions on top, perfect if you’re craving for something vibrant and light!
01-71 Bedok North Street 1, Singapore 460216
About Singapore
