Most 90s kids will remember PoMo as a popular spot in town to chill after school or during the weekends. The mall had a facelift in 2021, unveiling a brand new look and name: GR.ID. Centrally located along Selegie Road, the revamped mall now offers a great selection of nosh to choose from, including IG-worthy desserts and hearty Taiwanese fare. Read on for 8 GRID food places to try in the former PoMo!
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Fans of the IG-worthy Smile Dessert at Bugis can check out the dessert cafe’s latest opening at GR.ID, which is fully decked out in a particular shade of blue: Klein blue. If you love sweet potato, go for the Multi-Layer Sweet Potato Cake ($10.90), layered with crepes, cream, and purple-hued sweet potato, and the Yogurt Mango Smoothie ($7.90), topped with whipped cream sweet mango cubes.
Matcha fans can also try their Taro Matcha Snow Ice ($17.90), a sharing-sized bingsu dessert made with green tea shaved ice.
If you’re in Bugis, read our Smile Dessert review!
Unit Number: #B1-12
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 11pm
Tel: 6518 9060
Website
Smile Dessert is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @isshinmachi.sg
Located on the ground floor of GR.ID is Taiwanese casual eatery Isshin Machi‘s third outlet. A signature here is the Hakka-style Braised Meat Rice ($9), their rendition of lu rou fan that sees rich braised meat and egg with salted veggie on top of fluffy pearl rice.
Those who are craving Din Tai Fung-style egg fried rice can try the Fried Rice with Specialty Marinated Pork Chop ($12.30), or the Sunrise Crispy Chicken Cutlet Rice ($12.90). Alternatively, the Signature Taiwanese Braised Beef Noodles ($12) would make an ideal comfort meal on a rainy day.
Unit: #01-01
Opening hours: 11am to 9:30pm
Tel: 9723 5001
Website
Isshin Machi is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re in the mood for hotpot, consider Chong Qing Xiao Mu Deng Traditional Hot Pot as your next lunch or dinner spot. Specialising in Chong Qing-style steamboat, the restaurant is known for its soup bases and unique ingredients. You get to choose from a wide range of hotpot and BBQ toppings, all at affordable prices, including a $5++ Vegetable Platter and $8++ Meat Platter. Those keen on ordering innards will be spoilt for choice here, as options include pig brain ($3++), duck stomach ($3++), beef tripe ($3.80++), and pig skin ($3++).
Read our full Xiao Mu Deng review!
Unit: #01-18
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10:30pm
Website
Chong Qing Xiao Mu Deng Traditional Hot Pot is not a halal-certified eatery.
Most known for their XXL Platter ($64.90), a massive meat feast that feeds five to six people, Chops! Grill & Sides serves elevated kopitiam-style Western fare at value-for-money portions. They’re also halal-certified! The aforementioned platter consists of six meats, such as the Australian grass-fed ribeye steak, and 10 sides including mac and cheese, and potato salad. Another must-try at this new outlet is the Smokin’ BBQ Lambshank ($15.90), which features a smoky BBQ sauce to offset the gamey lamb flavour.
Unit: #01-03
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 8840 1540
Website
Chops! Grill & Sides is a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Kamikaze Asian Tapas Bar
For some of the cheapest skewers in town—$0.90++ each—head to Kamikaze Asian Tapas Bar’s second outlet, located in GR.ID. The alfresco rooftop dining spot is great for those who get the midnight munchies, as they open from 5pm to 2am every day.
If you’re still peckish, check out their Asian-inspired pasta dishes, in flavours such as Tomyum Prawn ($9.90++) and Bak Kwa Carbonara ($9.90++). You’ll also find a great selection of donburi here, from Pork Cutlet Katsudon ($9.90++) to Spicy Kimchi Fried Rice With Prawns, Pork Belly and Onsen Egg ($9.90++).
Unit: #03-02
Opening hours: 5pm to 2am
Tel: 6677 3393
Website
Kamikaze Asian Tapas Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you love burgers as much as we do, you have to check out OOTB (Out of the Bun). We raved about this underrated burger joint at Artbox 2023 for good reason: they offer some of the juiciest, meatiest burgers in town, all at wallet-friendly prices! The Pulled Chick ($13.90) is a must-try; it features tender pulled chicken and crunchy slaw sandwiched by perfectly toasted buns. Purists can also opt for the signature Classic Cheese ($14.90) instead, which comes with Black Angus beef, caramelised onions, and the brand’s secret sauce.
Top up $3 for a meal that includes a side of fries and a drink!
Unit: #01-09
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 9750 1027
Website
OOTB is not a halal-certified eatery.
Meokja by JUNGGA is a Muslim-owned Korean restaurant run by Chef Jung Sang Woo, a Korean-Muslim convert, and his wife, Afrah. Tuck into Korean street food favourites including Tteokbokki ($9.90+) and TangSuYuk ($14.90+) AKA fried chicken with sweet and sour sauce, alongside hearty mains such as JjaJangMyeon ($12.90+) and Bibimbap ($12+). Those with bigger appetites can opt for various combos, including a JjamPpong set ($39.90+) that includes two servings of spicy seafood noodles and a side of tangsuyuk.
Read our full Meokja by JUNGGA review!
Unit: #02-03
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 12:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 9067 7077
Website
Meokja by JUNGGA is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Malaysian chain Chunz is most known for their halal-friendly Korean corn dogs that are cheesy, savoury, and oh so shiok. Their Mozza Mania ($8.50) is a must-try; this snack sees a thick block of mozzarella cheese coated in a sticky batter, and topped with panko crumbs before it’s thrown into the fryer. You can top up $1.50 for your choice of sauce—Spicy Korean comes highly recommended—or $4 for a refreshing beverage to wash it all down. For something more classic, get The OG ($6.90) instead, which stars a premium sausage that’s battered and deep-fried.
Read our Chunz review!
Unit: #01-04
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Website
Chunz is in the process of applying for halal certification.
Bookmark this GR.ID mall food guide for the next time you visit Dhoby Ghaut. If you’re in the area, also check out our Mama Diam review for a cool mama shop-inspired dining experience, located directly opposite GR.ID. Alternatively, venture to Somerset MRT Station to try one of these Orchard Gateway food places!
Feature image adapted from @isshinmachi.sg, @yc629joanne and PropertyGuru.
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