This question keeps popping up. Some international guests and friends (I shall call them collectively ‘kakis’ here) arrive at Singapore for a holiday and visit.
Where should we bring them to experience some Asian and local delights, other than the hawker centres (and Michelin starred restaurants)?
An all-you-can-eat buffet offering some of the best local delights is one of the most obvious choices. Also, why not a hipster wanton noodle shop, or a modern European restaurant with local influence in the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown?
Here are some 7 restaurants you can bring your foreign kakis (and local friends of course) to.
The better news is: Make a reservation at Chope to dine at one of these restaurants and get $10 off your bill when you pay with your VISA credit or debit card. (Minimum spend of $30 to redeem, only reservations made from this page eligible for the VISA $10 giveaway.)
StraitsKitchen
Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road, Lobby Level, Singapore 228211
Opening Hours: 6:30am -10:30am, 12pm – 2:30pm, 6:30 – 10:30pm (Mon-Fri)
6:30am – 11am, 12pm – 3pm, 6:30pm – 10:30pm (Sat, Sun & PH)
Reserve Online Now – StraitsKitchen
Popular Halal-certified buffet with the best of local cuisine
StraitsKitchen is a familiar name to many Singaporean foodies, and is where we would bring foreign guests to have all the best of local delicacies in one place.
The Laksa, Tandoori and Butter Chicken, Satay, Beef Rendang, Carrot Cake, Hainanese Chicken and Pandan Kaya Cake (just naming some) continue to be my favourites.
The live theatre kitchen will also allow you to catch some of the action especially at the Satay and Naan sections.
Don’t miss the chicken satays, grilled right in front of you with charcoal, then served with slurp-worthy peanut sauce.
Buffet Lunch goes for $52++ (adult) and $28++ (children 7 – 12), and Buffet Dinners is at $62++ (adult) and $35++ (children 7 – 12).
Flavours at Zhongshan Park
Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park, 16 Ah Hood Road, Singapore 329982
Opening Hours: 6:30am – 10:30pm
Reserve Online Now – Flavours at Zhongshan Park
Modern Asian cuisine buffet with Hawkerlicious offerings
Flavours at Zhongshan Park churns out Asian flavours infused with Western cooking techniques, bringing varied items from Baked Miso Cod (must-have), Flavours Asian Club Sandwich, Slow-Cooked Pork Cheek, to Pandan Tiramisu; and local hawker favourites of Fried Seafood Hokkien Mee, Dry Mee Siam, Assam Fish Curry with Vegetables, Wok-Fried Oyster Omelette and Mutton Rendang.
What caught my eye was an “Ah Hood” stall offered during the ‘Hawkerlicious’ Dinner Buffet, where you would see a display of fresh seafood on ice, to be paired with their home-made signature sauces.
Choose from prawns, clams, mud crabs, snapper fish and squid, and get the chef to wok-fry the seafood with salted egg yolk sauce (is this calling your name?), Assam curry sauce, black pepper, or ginger and onion sauce.
Your choice, whatever sauce you want, fresh, with wok-hei.
‘Hawkerlicious’ Weekday Lunch Buffet (Mon – Fri, 12 – 2:30pm)
$28++ per adult, $14++ per child
‘Hawkerlicious’ Weekday Dinner Buffet (Mon – Thurs, 6 – 10pm)
$45++ per adult, $22.50++ per child
‘Hawkerlicious’ Weekend Lunch Buffet (Sat, Sun, PH, 12-2:30pm)
$45++ per adult, $22.50++ per child
‘Hawkerlicious’ Weekend Dinner Buffet (Fri – Sun, PH, 6-10pm)
$49++ per adult, $24.50++ per child
21 on Rajah
1 Jalan Rajah Singapore 329133
Opening Hours: 6am – 10:30pm
Reserve Online Now – 21 on Rajah
Mediterranean cuisine, Asian delights, Halal-certified buffet
Interesting. A Mediterr-Asian theme buffet with Mediterranean favourites such as Spiced Basmati, Sultana Saffron Rice, Fattoush Salad with Sumac and Olive Oil, Buffalo Mozzarella and Roma Tomatoes with Pesto Sauce.
After going through a recent update, there is a new station featuring items such as Seafood and Chicken Paella, Tortilla de Patatas Espanola (Spanish Omelette with Potatoes) and assorted pizzas (for the kids).
The buffet also caters to those craving for familiar street Asian food, with the likes of Barbecued Chicken with Sambal Squid Rings, tender Braised Lamb Shank, and savoury Clams in Assam Chilli.
Literally having the best of both worlds.
Breakfast (Mon – Sun, 6:00am – 10:30am)
Adult: $18++, Child: $9++
Lunch & PH Eve (Mon – Fri, 12pm – 2:30pm)
Adult: $30++, Child: $15++
Brunch (Sat, Sun & PH, 12pm – 3pm)
Adult: $40++, Child: $20++
Dinner (Mon – Thurs, 6 – 10pm)
Adult: $40++, Child: $20++
Dinner (Fri – Sun, PH Eve & PH, 6pm – 10pm)
Adult: $44++, Child: $22++
Restaurant Ember
Hotel 1929, 50 Keong Saik Road Singapore 089158
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 10:30pm (Mon-Fri), 6-10:30pm (Sat), Closed Sun
Reserve Online Now – Restaurant Ember
Modern European with an Asian and Japanese influence
Located on the hipster stretch of Keong Siak Road within Hotel 1929, Restaurant Ember is known for serving modern European cuisine with Asian and Japanese influence.
Helmed by new Executive Chef Alex Phan, the restaurant has gone on to initiate more collaborations with home-grown producers. Thus, you would see mains such as Ah Hua Kelong Sea Bass with Tomato Butter ($32) appearing on the menu.
The long standing favourite of Restaurant Ember has been the Sakura Ebi Cappellini with Konbu, Chilli & Crustacean Oil ($32), while other items not to be missed are the Market Balsamic-Glazed Pork Belly with Enoki, Parsley & Cashew ($34), and desserts of Tiger Beer Sorbet with Lap Cheong & Pineapple ($14), and Kaffir Lime with Coconut & Pandan ($12).
WANTON, Seng’s Noodle Bar
52 Amoy Street Singapore 069878
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Thurs),
11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 11pm (Fri)
11:30am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 10pm (Sat), Closed Sunday
Reserve Online Now – WANTON
Singapore local wanton noodles goes upmarket
From humble wanton mee stall at Dunman Food Centre (operating since 1968 by the way), to hipster noodle bar on Amoy Street.
The Char Siew Mee ($7) comes with aburi slow cooked pork belly instead of the typical char siew with wontons, spring onions, fried shallots on thin, springy noodles.
During weekday and Saturday dinners, you can order a bowl of Seng’s plain noodles for a dollar, matched with bites and sides such as Batalong Egg ($9), 18 hours slow cooked Aburi Pork Belly ($13), Salted Duck Egg Chicken Wings ($10) and Gangster Baby Kailan ($10).
Do add some of those *secret recipe* Seng’s ‘infamous’ chilli sauce.
Baba Chews
86 East Coast Road #01-01 Katong Square Singapore 428788
Opening Hours: All Day Dining 11:00am – 10:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm – 10:30pm, Bar Bites 11am – 11:30pm, Weekend Brunch 10:30am – 3:00pm (Sat = Sun)
Reserve Online Now – Baba Chews
Modern Peranakan Neighbourhood Café In Heritage Katong
Katong is already known for its heritage shophouses, many with Peranakan influence. Housed within the former Joo Chiat Police Station, Baba Chews looks set to attract hipsters with its modern meets Straits Chinese cuisine.
Other than the recommended Chilli Crab Cake with Mantou Chips ($15) and Foie Gras Tau Kwa Pau ($20), the Ayam Buah Keluak Burger ($18) looks intriguing enough.
This consist of chicken patty doused in a special buah keluak sauce, with achar (pickled vegetables) in a multigrain ciabatta burger. It is a creative take, and I hope they will expand on this selection.
For more Asian and local favourites, there is a variety from Penang Char Kway Teow ($15), Nonya Fried Rice, Hokkien Mee ($16), Nonya Laksa ($18) and Hainanese Chicken Rice ($17). Portions surprisingly quite satisfying.
1933
15 Stamford Road, Capitol Piazza #01-83 Singapore 178906
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm, Last Order 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Reserve Online Now – 1933
Local ‘kopitiam’ Toast Box with a difference
Craving for local breakfast, Nanyang style kopi and Singapore cuisine at City Hall area? 1933 by Toast Box is a two-storey outlet offering local food, mostly with a modern take.
Some of 1933’s mains include Laksa Pasta ($13.90), Nanyang Curry Chicken ($11.90), and Hainanese Chicken Rice ($12.90). End the meal with a Gula Melaka Pandan Cake ($7.90) – soft pandan chiffon served with Gula Melaka syrup.
There you have it. Remember if you want to dine at any of the above restaurants, make a reservation at Chope to get $10 off your bill when you pay with your Visa credit or debit card.
Visa Flash Giveaway TnCs:
1. Reservations must be made and fulfilled by 31st August.
2. Minimum spend of $30
3. Bill has to be paid using a VISA credit/debit card to qualify.
4. Limited to one redemption per reservation.
5. Cancellations or no-shows will result in the giveaway being forfeited.
6. Not valid in conjunction with ongoing promotions, offers, discounts and/or vouchers.
7. The giveaway is not exchangeable for cash or vouchers.
8. No multiple Chope vouchers can be used at the same time.
9. In case of disputes, the restaurant’s decision is final.
* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Chope.
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