We Singaporeans are major foodies, so it's no surprise we go above and beyond to push culinary boundaries – but how far is too far? Here are some wacky and weird food combinations we've spotted
Part of our Singaporean pride and spirit has always been food – we pride ourselves on our local cuisine that’s been meticulously crafted over the years. We love pushing the boundaries with fusion dishes as well, but where do we draw the line? Over the years, we’ve seen some diabolically weird food combinations that have gone viral on the likes of TikTok and Instagram. Got a curious teen? Parents, in case you missed these, we’re sharing them with you just in case you spot one of these creations in your kitchen one day!
Weird viral food combinations
1. Curry Maggie with Milo
This one has been around since 2016, but is definitely a weird food combination that has stood the test of time. Mixing spicy and creamy Maggi Curry with sweet and malty Milo seems like an outrageous combination, but this one may surprise you! According to netizens who have tried this one, the Milo not only adds sweetness to the curry, but it actually acts as a thickening agent to make a creamier curry soup base. While the colour turns into a rather unappetising brown, the sweetness actually does compliment the savouriness of the Maggi Curry – this one might be worth a try if you like a mix of sweet and savoury!
2. Hashbrown and Oreo McFlurry from McDonald’s
What started as a viral food hack trend in the middle of 2023 became something McDonald’s Singapore even acknowledged when they gave away 50 free ‘Hashbrown Oreo McFlurry’ sandwiches in 2023. It’s definitely another sweet and savoury combo, but the crunch and grease of the hashbrowns pair well with the rich, creamy and sweet Oreo McFlurry. Think fries and soft serve – which was another candidate for the list but at this point has reached normalcy – but with the additional layer of the Oreo as well being able to eat it as a sandwich. Hot tip: let the hashbrowns cool first before slathering the McFlurry on so it doesn’t melt too fast!
3. Bubble tea and rice
Video from @趣胃丸子 via Douyin
This one started recently in July 2024 – netizens were baffled when the bubble tea and rice trend in China reached Singapore shores. Many found it hard to find the appeal in this combination! Because of the hot weather, many Chinese citizens were losing their appetite and decided to mix milk bubble tea with rice to help them eat. The mixture was described as a sweet rice pudding or porridge almost, which doesn’t sound terrible if you really think about it – several desserts like rice pudding or mango sticky rice might be comparable. If you’re curious, there’s only one way to find out – the weather in Singapore gets pretty warm too!
4. Lao Gan Ma ice cream
Lao Gan Ma is a chilli oil crisp from Guizhou, China used in Chinese cuisine or even as a condiment. It may be a bit too spicy for the little ones but imagine what it would taste like with some soft-serve vanilla ice cream. What might appear to be a strawberry sundae at first glance may turn out to be a spicy, creamy, sweet treat. Great if you’re a fan of sweet and spicy! This viral food combination might not be as weird as it seems – the milk and fat from the ice cream is a natural counter to spiciness. Eating them together creates a rollercoaster for your tastebuds, from intense spice to relief and back again. Plus, it’s easy to recreate at home as long as you can find Lao Gan Ma or an equivalent chilli oil crisp – any soft-serve vanilla ice cream works!
5. Durian with milo and rice
Durian with rice is actually commonly enjoyed in many parts of Asia – you might be especially familiar with the sticky rice and durian variant as a dessert. However, throwing Milo into the mix seemed to evoke a mix of emotions in netizens when this photo went viral in 2019. Whether you like this combination or not, make sure to hydrate well as both Milo and durian are considered “heaty” foods!
6. Pei Pa Koa milk tea
Pei Pa Koa is an herbal cough syrup, so why is it in milk tea? In 2019, Woobbee released their Pei Pa Koa milk tea that opened the eyes of Singaporeans to a whole new world. Don’t worry though, it isn’t medicinal so there’s no need to wait to get a cough to try this combination! The Pei Pa Koa adds both a minty and sweet taste to the milk tea… Doesn’t sound too bad now does it? Plus it might even help soothe your sore throat while you get to enjoy a cold beverage – win-win!
7. Ramen with peanut butter
If you usually have peanut butter with bread for breakfast, you might find it hard to imagine what it’s like in ramen. However, you might be pleasantly surprised by the creaminess and extra layer of flavour it adds! This is one of the food combinations I have personally tested out after seeing it all over TikTok, and I have to say it is definitely worth the try. There are also many variations of this combination – some have also tried including sesame oil or even mayonnaise on top of the peanut butter.
8. Salted egg ice cream
The craze for anything salted egg hasn’t died down yet. From fish skin to pasta, there are so many salted egg flavoured foods out there. However, having it in ice cream is not something people would normally expect, especially since it’s supposed to be a dessert. This one might be for the adventurous foodies – expect a very unique taste!
9. Durian and pizza
Mention pineapples on pizza and you might get some death stares from people around you – apparently fruit doesn’t belong on pizza. If they thought that was a weird food combination, just wait till they hear about durian on pizza! Dubbed the king of fruits, durians already have a very strong and pungent smell that might be off-putting to some. However, durian lovers seem to love its aroma – they might even love it more when mixed with the creaminess and cheesiness of pizza.
10. Milk and Pepsi
This one isn’t technically a food, but the combination of Pepsi and milk that has been endearingly nicknamed ‘pilk’, has made its rounds on the Internet for quite some time. Dairy and carbonated drinks already seem like a disaster for the tummy, but think about it – root beer floats exist! While not exactly the same, it has been described as having a very creamy and interesting texture when mixed in the right proportions. If you’re lactose intolerant, ‘oat Pilk’ is also an alternative that has another layer of flavour added to it that you can try out.
Anything here pique your interest? Set off on your own weird and whacky gastronomical adventure!
