Is the Singapore Airlines carrot cake worth ordering? Here's my honest review

I’m the kind of person who does way too much research before flying. Especially when it comes to food. I don’t travel very often, so when I do, every flight feels like an event. And if I get the chance to pre-book a meal, there’s no way I’m wasting it on something boring.

So, for this premium economy flight with Singapore Airlines, I had the chance to choose my lunch ahead of time with the "Book the cook" option. After falling into the usual Reddit rabbit holes and reading way too many mixed opinions, I landed on the famous carrot cake. It was mentioned by many as their must try Singapore Airlines food menu. Of course I had to try it. And no, before you imagine me eating a slice of cream cheese-frosted dessert at 35,000 feet, this is not that. Singapore’s version of carrot cake is a savory hawker-style dish made with radish, not carrots. A lot of people mistake it for a dessert. So don't be one among them.

When the tray finally arrived

There’s something exciting about waiting for your tray to arrive when you know you’ve pre-ordered something different. Everyone else is getting their chicken and pasta, and you’re sitting there thinking, “Oh, just wait till they see my carrot cake.” And when it did arrive, the first thing I noticed? Prawns. Not a couple, not a sprinkle, but a proper pile of them. It was almost like the prawns were the main event and the radish cake was the supporting act.

For a second, I wondered if the smell might bother the people around me. After all, seafood on a plane is a gamble. But then I thought, honestly, who cares? If there’s ever a time to be a little selfish, it’s when you’re strapped into a seat in the sky, eating a meal you’ve been excited about for weeks. Food is such a big part of the fun of traveling, and I wasn’t going to sit there embarrassed about my prawns.

The tray also came with the usual extras: a bread roll, a small salad, and a dessert. But I barely glanced at those because, let’s be real, I was here for the carrot cake.

Taste and texture

The flavors were good. It had that familiar wok-fried taste that instantly reminded me of fried rice. Except, of course, there was no rice. The radish cake itself had a softer texture than I imagined—almost a little noodle-y or bread like, instead of the firmer cubes I was picturing. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it did catch me off guard at first.

The prawns, though, were excellent. Juicy, fresh, and cooked just right. I kept thinking about how easy it is for prawns to turn rubbery on a plane, but these were surprisingly well done. The sauce that came along (no idea what the name was) tasted tangy and good as well. Honestly, without them, I feel the dish might have felt a little flat for my personal taste.

Was it worth the hype?

So, did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? Not really. After a few bites, I realized I was missing something more filling. Maybe a side of rice would have rounded it out and made it feel like a proper meal. Yup, I'm a huge rice lover! The flavors were good, but it didn’t leave me with that satisfied “airplane food coma” feeling.

That said, I think part of the hype is about the experience. It’s not every day that you get to try a local hawker-style dish in the middle of a long-haul flight. And for that reason alone, it felt special. It made the meal feel like part of the journey, not just something to get through.

My final thoughts

If I had to give it a score, I’d say a solid 7 out of 10. It was tasty, different, and definitely added something extra to the flight. I’ve also read that it tastes very close to what you’d actually get at a hawker stall in Singapore, which makes it feel more authentic. And honestly, that’s the fun part—some people might absolutely love it, while others, like me, might just find it okay. That’s the thing about food. It’s subjective.

Would I order it again? Maybe not. But would I recommend trying it at least once? Absolutely. If you enjoy experimenting with local flavors, it’s worth stepping outside the safe “chicken or pasta” zone. After all, flights don’t come around every day for me, and I like making the most of them. And honestly, even if I didn’t fall in love with it, it was still a good memory that I will remember.

So, if you’re flying Singapore Airlines and spot carrot cake on the menu, I say go for it.