Bak kut teh in Singapore
Bak kut teh is the ultimate comfort food in Singapore, with hearty broth sporting thick cuts of meat, especially comforting in rainy weather. This dish literally translates to ‘pork bone tea’, but you won’t find any tea in this pork-laden soup. In fact, tea is usually enjoyed alongside bak kut teh, to cut through the heaviness of the meat.Â
There are so many different versions of the dish to explore too. While I grew up eating the peppery, Teochew-style bak kut teh, I have also come to enjoy the Hokkien style, which tastes more herbaceous. There’s even dry BKT, with ribs tossed in a dark sauce, commonly found in Malaysia. Our list rounds these different types up with 12 best bak kut teh in Singapore, including dry Klang BKT, 80-year-old Hokkien BKT and more.
1. Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh
West-siders may be familiar with Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh, a Teochew-style BKT stall in Jurong East. It’s run by second-generation hawker Mr Chua, who previously worked as a risk analyst. Their current menu sees family recipes fine-tuned over the years.Â
We enjoyed their Prime Ribs Bak Kut Teh ($8.50) which comes with two tender prime ribs, steeped in a garlicky, peppery broth. Double the meaty goodness with their Pig Trotters ($5.50), cooked in an aromatic sauce. We recommend getting Youtiao ($1) on the side, so you can mop up every bit of the soup and gravy.
Check out our Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh review!
Address: Blk 349 Jurong East Avenue 1, #01-1215, Kai Xiang Food Centre, Singapore 600349
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 8am to 7:15pm
Tel: 9111 8129
Website
Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh Review: Peppery Teochew-Style Bak Kut Teh With Over 30 Years Of History
2. Nanjing Street Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: Jaclyn
Nanjing Street Bak Kut Teh has over 80 years of heritage, as the owner is an ex-employee of the now-defunct Ong Say Bak Kut Teh, formerly the oldest BKT restaurant in Singapore. This stall uses Ong Say’s original recipes, so you can enjoy Hokkien BKT that is as authentic as it gets.
Their Bak Kut Teh (from $4) stars a dark herbal soup, made with the same dark soy sauce that Ong Say used. Apart from the standard BKT served with ribs, their Pig’s Kidney Soup (from $5) is also a must-try, with firm kidney pieces cooked in their signature broth.
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-89, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 3pm
3. Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha
Image credit: @leeksk
Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha is owned by an ex-employee of Ng Ah Sio, another well-known bak kut teh brand in Singapore. Today, this humble stall has three outlets to its name, though I always frequent their flagship at Keppel Road. While their Spare Ribs Soup ($8+) is a must-order, they also do a great Fresh Fish Sliced Soup (from $8+), that gives most fish soup stalls a run for their money.Â
Priced from $4+ is their premium tea selection, with the likes of tie guan yin and xiao yue gan available to elevate your bak kut teh experience.
Address: 7 Keppel Road, #01-05/07, Singapore 089053
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 11:30pm
Tel: 6222 9610
Website
4. Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh
Malaysian style bak kut teh is hard to find in Singapore, so we are thankful for Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh, where we can get our fix of herbal and dry klang BKT.
The soup version is priced at $7, and highlights an aromatic herbal broth, brimming over with pork ribs, lettuce, and the quintessential fried beancurd skin. Their Dry Bak Kut Teh ($10.50) is equally stellar, with pork ribs tossed in a savoury dark soya sauce. Get the Fried Chicken With Shrimp Paste ($6.50), as these make for moreish bites alongside your BKT.
Address: 251 Geylang Road, Singapore 389309
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 11am to 11:30pm
Tel: 9380 1718
Website
5. Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @dianaaatan
Rangoon Road sees multiple BKT stalls lining its streets, and one of them is Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh, with origins dating back to the 1950s. It’s a well-known brand among Singaporeans, with over a million bowls sold since the move to their current location in 1988.
Their Premium Loin Ribs Soup ($11.80) comes highly recommended, which you can pair with rice or mee sua. This restaurant is also known for their Fish Maw Soup ($10.80) and Home-Made Ngoh Hiang ($10).Â
Address: 208 Rangoon Road, Hong Building, Singapore 218453
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 9pm
Tel: 6291 4537
Website
6. Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @i.makan.sg
Another Malaysian style bak kut teh in Singapore to visit is Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh, also located at Rangoon Road. Their signature Jia Bin Bak Kut Teh (from $8.80) boasts a herbaceous broth that’s been simmered with a variety of herbs and spices.Â
For dry style meats, consider both the Jia Bin Dry Bak Kut Teh (from $8.80) and Jia Bin Spicy Pork Belly (from $8.80), which are tossed in the same dark gravy, lightly spiced with dried chillies.
Address: 62 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218352
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10am to 3pm, 5pm to 9:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6900 7708
Website
7. Balestier Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @merryberryland
Established in 1966 is Balestier Bak Kut Teh, which has seen three generations of owners taking charge of the stall’s operations. Apart from the usual Spare Ribs Soup ($7), their Red Wine Glutinous Wine Chicken ($6) is a must-try, as this traditional dish is hard to find in Singapore today. What’s more, the stall does zi char dishes such as Thai Style Squid ($16) and Cereal Prawns ($20) that are great to go with rice. Jio your supper kakis here as they are open for 24 hours!
Address: 365/369 Balestier Road, Singapore 329785
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours
Tel: 6951 4798
Website
8. Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup
Image credit: @whattoeatagain
Ardent fans of Outram Park Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh will be happy to know about Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup. This stall is run by the Gwee siblings, whose father founded the popular BKT brand at Keppel.Â
The restaurant insists on using fresh meat, never frozen. This might explain why their Premium Spare Ribs Soup ($12++) is available in limited quantities. Other signature dishes include the Braised Pork Belly Bun ($16++) and Steamed Threadfin Fish Tail In Teochew Style, which is charged at seasonal prices.
Address: 127 Kim Tian Road, #01-01, Singapore 160127
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 9:30pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6684 0123
Website
9. Heng Heng Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @joliehwee
Located at an unassuming coffee shop near Farrer Park is Heng Heng Bak Kut Teh, known for their claypot bak kut teh. A single portion of this flavourful soup with ribs starts at $7, which is said to be sweeter than the usual Teochew style BKT.
You’ll also spot their famous steamed threadfin on the menu, charged at seasonal prices. Otherwise, load on the meat with their Braised Trotters (from $5), with gelatinous skin and melt-in-the-mouth pork meat.
Address: 107 Owen Road, Singapore 218914
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 7:30am to 2:30pm
Tel: 6292 4913
Website
10. Legendary Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @msjoyeh
Familial ties seem to be a recurring theme amongst bak kut teh eateries in Singapore, and we see it here as well in Legendary Bak Kut Teh. I’m sure most of us are well acquainted with Founder Bak Kut Teh. Legendary Bak Kut Teh is an extension of this business, owned by the founder’s daughter.
You can enjoy their Teochew Style Bak Kut Teh with normal, short, or prime ribs. These are priced from $7.80. Meanwhile, refresh your palate with their Salted Vegetables ($3.50), between sips of heavily flavoured BKT soup. Finally, wash everything down with their Traditional Gong Fu Tea (from $2.50).
Address: 154 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218431
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 3pm, 6pm to 11pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 11pm
Tel: 6291 4537
Website
11. Old World Bak Kut Teh
Recently making waves in the North is Old World Bak Kut Teh. Their Pork Ribs Soup ($6) is generously portioned for its price, and each bowl sports a light peppery broth. While they mainly sell bak kut teh, this stall is actually popularised by their Mixed Pig’s Organ Fried Porridge ($5), which is thoroughly infused with wok hei.Â
Other noteworthy dishes include their Dried Mee Sua which you can pair with various soups from $3.80, and their Braised Big Intestines ($5).
Read our Old World review.
Address: 732 Yishun Avenue 5, Singapore 760732
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 8pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 8:30pm
Tel: 9388 5288
Website
Old World Bakuteh Review: Teochew Bak Kut Teh With Fried Porridge And Dry Mee Sua At Yishun
12. Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @kotazzbktsg
Those who’ve travelled to JB before the pandemic hit might know about Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh, an eatery that specialises in Malaysian style herbal BKT. This bak kut teh restaurant arrived on our shores in 2019, and has two outlets in Singapore today.
Their signature Herbal Claypot bak kut teh starts from $12.50++, simmered with Chinese herbs and dark soy sauce to create a rich broth. You can load it with additional button mushrooms or fried beancurd skin, available at $1.10++ per serving.
Address: 15A Lorong Liput, Singapore 277730
Opening hours: Mon-Thur 11am to 3:30pm, 5pm to 9:30pm, Fri 11am to 3:30pm, 5pm to 10:30pm, Sat 11am to 10:30pm, Sun 11am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6592 3361
Website
13. Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh
Herbal and dry bak kut teh lovers should head down to Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh, which specialises in a Klang-style rendition of the dish. The Herbal Bak Kut Teh ($6.90) here comes with light, sweet herbal broth, and fall-off-the-bone tender pork ribs, great to enjoy with a bowl of rice or fried mee sua ($1). Their Dry Bak Kut Teh ($7.90) is also worth the order, thanks to the caramelised, sticky sweet finish on the ribs. Another hot favourite here is the Vinegar Pig’s Trotter ($5.90), a confinement staple starring a really mouthwatering vinegar and dark soy broth, along with fatty pig’s trotter.
Read our Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh review!
Address: 63 Kallang Bahru, #7 Days Coffee Shop, Singapore 330063
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 3pm, 4:30pm to 8:30pm
Tel: 9093 4756
Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh Review: Klang-style Bak Kut Teh And Fried Porridge From $5.90
14. Rong Cheng Rou Gu Cha
Rong Cheng Rou Gu Cha has nearly five decades of history in Singapore. After a brief closure, the brand has recently relaunched with hawker stalls in heartland areas such as Bedok and Ang Mo Kio. Their Teochew style bak kut broth is prepared with just meat, pork, garlic, and pepper, boiled for a couple of hours. The result is a light, comforting bowlful that lets the tender loin ribs stay the star. Fun fact: Rong Cheng claims to be the first stall in Singapore to offer loin ribs with their BKT.
Read our Rong Cheng Rou Gu Cha review!
Address: Blk 505, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, #01-2688, Singapore 560505
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 9:30pm
Website
15. Sing Heng Claypot Bak Koot Teh
Image credit: @rickloh
Sing Heng has long been a bak kut teh institution in Joo Chiat. The restaurant hails back to 1981, and serves up both peppery and herbal style bak kut teh, prepared in a claypot. Prices start at $12.50 a pot, but portions are generous enough that you won’t mind the pinch. For carbs, they offer your standard you tiao and white rice, but also soup mee sua and yam rice, for a small top-up.
Address: 439 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427652
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10am to 12am
Tel: 6345 8754
Website
16. Lau Ah Tee
Image credit: @alanloveshisboys
Lau Ah Tee draws long queues all day for their traditional Teochew dishes and BKT. They have been operating for over 30 years, with regular fans returning throughout their lifetime for the robust, pepper-rich broth, and tender pork ribs available here. Prices start at $6. You can get your BKT fix here with fresh-caught seafood, especially Teochew steamed fish. Fish are priced according to market rate.
Address: 34 Whampoa West, Singapore 330034
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 7am to 9pm, Wed 7am to 3pm
Tel: 9755 5250
Website
17. Founder Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @_sijis_diary
Founder Bak Kut Teh is one of the OG names in Singapore, and an easy option to get your BKT fix thanks to their multiple outlets islandwide. They’ve been around for 40 years, and specialise in peppery bak kut teh. Their famed Founder Bak Kut Teh ($9) sees a mix of pork parts served with their signature soup. If you’re a loin or short ribs purist, you can get a serving with your preferred cut from $10.
Where to eat bak kut teh in Singapore
We’ve rounded up a list of 17 best bak kut teh stalls to get your BKT fix, ranging from peppery Teochew style bak kut teh to Malaysian style dry klang BKT.
10 Bak Chor Mee Stalls In Singapore You Must Try, Including Mala And Japanese-Inspired BCM
For more heritage hawker dishes to try around our city, check out our guide to the best bak chor mee in Singapore. We also have a guide for the best Hokkien mee too.
12 Hokkien Mee Stalls In Singapore Every Local Foodie Must Try
Featured images adapted from @alethiatoh, @kotazzbktsg and @dianaaatan.
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