10 Local Christmas Party Food Ideas in Singapore (Beyond Turkey)

Turkey and log cake are lovely, but in Singapore, the Christmas parties people talk about are often the ones with a local twist. Think DIY popiah stations, crispy Kueh Pie Tee, smoky satay and a creamy Teochew dessert to finish. Here are 10 ideas for a Christmas party menu that feels festive, easy to host and very Singapore, plus sample menus for 10, 20 and 50 guests.

We've put the best of these ideas into two ready-made Christmas bundles for 10, 20 or 30 guests, The Kampung Christmas (from $250.30) and the Salmon & Popiah Feast (from $262.90), available 1 December to 1 January with 48 hours' notice. See the Christmas party food delivery page for what's in each size.

Would rather order a ready-made spread? See our Christmas catering and party sets.

10 local Christmas party food ideas

1. DIY popiah station. Lay out soft popiah skins, braised turnip filling and toppings, and let everyone roll their own. It doubles as a party activity, which kids and adults both enjoy. See our DIY popiah delivery guide.
2. Golden popiah with tiger prawns. A more festive take on popiah for a special occasion: the Golden Popiah Set, or upgrade either Christmas bundle to Golden Popiah for $55.
3. Kueh Pie Tee "top hats". Crispy little cups that guests fill at the table. Bite-sized, colourful and perfect for mingling. See Kueh Pie Tee delivery.
4. Smoked duck wraps instead of roast turkey. Smoked "Peking" duck rolled in soft skins brings the "carving the roast" moment to a local table. See smoked duck delivery.
5. Grilled salmon on almond pilaf. For the table that still wants a "main": salmon in a mushroom kombu sauce over warm roasted almond pilaf, the centrepiece of our Salmon & Popiah Feast.
6. Chicken satay. Ready to eat, loved by every age, and great for grazing. See satay delivery.
7. Laksa, mee siam or mee soto. A warm bowl of noodles is a crowd-pleaser on a rainy December evening. Rich, spicy laksa is the classic: see our DIY laksa catering, or for 50 guests or more, a laksa live station with bowls made to order. Our Mee Siam Set (tangy and spicy-sweet) and Mee Soto Set (fragrant chicken broth) each serve 6 to 18 guests; see the mee siam and mee soto party guide.
8. XO glutinous rice. A fragrant, filling main that is easy to portion for a group.
9. Orh nee for dessert. Smooth Teochew yam paste with ginkgo nuts makes a comforting alternative to log cake. See orh nee delivery.
10. A live food station. For bigger parties, have our team make popiah, Kueh Pie Tee, laksa, muah chee or orh nee fresh in front of your guests. See food live stations.

Sample Christmas menus

Cosy dinner for 10

• The Kampung Christmas for 10 ($250.30): DIY popiah, mee siam, torched teriyaki chicken, hearty mushroom soup, roasted almond pilaf and muah chee
• Or the Salmon & Popiah Feast for 10 ($262.90): salmon in mushroom kombu, almond pilaf, DIY popiah, Kueh Pie Tee and orh nee
• For a halal table, the Golden Teochew Feast for 10 ($233): Golden Popiah, smoked "Peking" duck, XO glutinous rice and orh nee
• Add a Satay Set ($54, 50 sticks) for grazing before dinner

Office party or open house for 20

• The Kampung Christmas for 20 ($473.70) adds Kueh Pie Tee to the 10-pax spread; the Salmon & Popiah Feast for 20 ($576.60) adds mushroom soup and smoked duck wraps
• Fortune High Tea for 20 ($418): finger food platter, rojak, 50 Kueh Pie Tee, 50 satay, muah chee and orh nee
• Add a DIY Popiah Set for a hands-on centrepiece

Want a full meal instead? Try the Simple Mini Buffet for 20 (from $468). Planning for the team? See our office party food guide.

Satay and the Fortune High Tea aren't available on Christmas Day (25 December), a public holiday; order them for Christmas Eve or other dates.

Year-end party for 50 or more

• One or two live stations, such as popiah and laksa, made fresh on site
• Two 30-pax Christmas bundles, ready-to-eat popiah rolls (minimum 100 rolls) or a mini buffet to round out the spread
• Muah chee or orh nee to finish

For live stations, request a quote at least 5 working days ahead. Companies can also ask about credit terms and e-invoices on our corporate catering page.

Christmas dinner without turkey or ham

Not every family in Singapore does a roast at Christmas. If you're hosting a sit-down dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and want to skip the turkey and ham altogether, build the table around three things: a centrepiece, something to roll and a warm bowl.

• A centrepiece: grilled salmon in mushroom kombu sauce on warm roasted almond pilaf (topped with toasted almonds and fried shallots, with no raisins), torched teriyaki chicken, or smoked 'Peking' duck wraps wrapped at the table.
• Something to roll: popiah, whose handmade skins are springy enough to hold a generous filling, and Kueh Pie Tee, which has no prawns.
• A warm bowl: hearty mushroom soup, mee siam (with prawns) or laksa.
• Dessert instead of log cake: Teochew orh nee or muah chee.

Both our Christmas bundles, The Kampung Christmas and the Salmon & Popiah Feast, are built this way, with no turkey or ham. Hot dishes arrive ready to serve in black plastic containers. For Christmas Eve, order by 22 December; for Christmas Day, by 23 December.

How much food do I need?

A simple rule: if the party is a meal, plan on one main dish per guest plus a couple of sides; if it is a mingling party, plan on more small bites. Some quick guides:

• Satay: 3 to 5 sticks per guest as a side, 8 to 10 if it is a main
• Kueh Pie Tee: 2 to 3 pieces per guest

For any headcount, our Party Planner works out quantities for you, and our party bundles are already sized for 5 to 30 guests.

Tips for a stress-free Christmas party

• Book early. December weekends fill up fast. The Christmas bundles need 48 hours' notice: order by 22 Dec for Christmas Eve and by 23 Dec for Christmas Day. Delivery on those two days has a $100 minimum.
• Choose food that travels well. DIY sets and ready-to-eat platters let you set up in minutes.
• Mix hands-on and ready-to-eat. A DIY popiah or Kueh Pie Tee station keeps guests busy, while satay and finger food keep everyone fed.
• Think about everyone at the table. Our popiah, Kueh Pie Tee, satay, laksa, orh nee and muah chee are prepared in a MUIS Halal-certified central kitchen, so Muslim friends and colleagues can enjoy the same spread. The two seasonal Christmas bundles are not halal; they are produced in our MUIS halal-certified kitchen. The Mee Siam and Mee Soto Sets are not yet certified.

See all our festive ideas on the Christmas party food delivery page.

Christmas party FAQ

Are you open over Christmas?

Yes, we are open throughout the Christmas season, from 1 Dec to 1 Jan. Pick your date in the cart: the date picker shows the dates you can still order for.

How early should I order for Christmas?

The Christmas bundles need 48 hours' notice: order by 22 Dec for Christmas Eve and 23 Dec for Christmas Day. For most other items, pick your date in the cart: the date picker shows the dates you can still order for. Satay and finger food need 48 hours, and live stations need at least 5 working days. December fills up quickly, so earlier is better.

How much is delivery?

Delivery is usually a flat $18 with a $50 minimum order. On 24–25 December and 31 December–1 January the minimum for delivery is $100. Self collection from our Bedok kitchen is free.

Is your Christmas party food halal?

Our popiah, Kueh Pie Tee, satay, laksa, orh nee, muah chee and year-round bundles are prepared in our MUIS Halal-certified central kitchen in Bedok. The two seasonal Christmas bundles are not halal; they are produced in our MUIS halal-certified kitchen. The Mee Siam and Mee Soto Sets are not yet MUIS Halal-certified.

What can I serve instead of turkey?

Smoked "Peking" duck wraps, grilled salmon on almond pilaf, golden popiah with tiger prawns or a DIY popiah station make a festive, local centrepiece.