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Chicken and meat satay skewers with rice cakes and vegetables
Representative dish photo, not a venue listing. Photo: LeonardKong via Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY 2.0). Cropped from the original.

Satay

a.k.a. sate

About Satay

Smoke, fire, and the smell of charred meat define the satay experience. It is the quintessential sharing food for a night out at a hawker centre. Order by the dozen and enjoy the social atmosphere that comes with every stick.

Category
Malay
Price
$$
Spice
🌢️
Halal
Common
#supper#share#classic

The Charcoal Char

The best satay is grilled over real charcoal. This gives the meat a smoky depth that gas grills just cannot replicate. The edges should be slightly burnt and caramelized. Whether it is chicken, beef, or mutton, the meat must be well-marinated with lemongrass and turmeric.

The Spiced Peanut Sauce

The sauce can make or break the experience. It should be thick, crunchy with crushed peanuts, and have a layer of chilli oil on top. Many stalls add a dollop of pineapple puree for a sweet, acidic lift. Don't forget the ketupat rice cakes to soak up the leftover sauce.

Quick answers

How do I order?
Stalls usually have a minimum order of 10 sticks. You can mix and match different meats to try a bit of everything.
Is satay halal?
Most satay stalls in Singapore are run by Malay vendors and are halal, but always look for the official halal sign at the stall.
Find Satay near me β†’