Two of the great joys in travel – apart from getting lost in new and foreign places – are in sampling food specialties and meeting the locals. In Singapore – a must-eat Paradise of affordable Asian food – the only way to learn the city and immerse yourself in the many cultures of the country is to mix the two. And it’s easy: Singaporeans eat together in their public food courts, the ubiquitous ‘hawker centers.’

Singapore has a reputation for being spotless: in parks, on the streets, in markets and even in the metro. And the standard of cleanliness applies to hawker centers and the food served there. Pair that standard with the diversity of culture and Singapore is perhaps the perfect place to try exotic food without the traveler’s worry of getting sick.

Exploring the hawker centers is indeed a traveler’s dream. In learning to eat like the locals you learn how to make city life affordable. And in creating a list of all the specialties you want to sample, you get the chance to explore the entire country.

Singapore is also known for its cultural diversity, and the wide range of food available in is testament to that. Whether you’re amongst the suits in the soaring Central Business District, shopping for luxury goods on Orchard Road, close to the golf courses, supermarkets and private communities in the suburbs, or visiting one of the country’s sprawling parks – you’re never far from a hawker centre packed with locals and visitors alike eating dishes originating from all across Asia.

Across Singapore, you’ll find Nonya specialties of the Peranakan (Straights Chinese) culture found across the country, a mix of Malay, Indonesian and Chinese. Laksa is a staple; a coconut-based curry soup with rice noodles, prawns, cockles and chili. Looking for your favourite variation will take you all over the place.

You could try laksa – best paired with the infamous Tiger lager beer – on the seaside, in the sprawling East Coast Park, or you can sample other specialties such as succulent chili or black pepper crab, your feet in the sand and the palm trees soaring high above your head.