If you love Malaysian food as much as we do, but don’t fancy yourself standing for hours on end trying to clear Immigration, check out these Malaysian food places within Singapore that are guaranteed to transport your taste buds across the Causeway!
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Previously located in Joo Chiat, Dickson Nasi Lemak has since moved to Icon Village in Tanjong Pagar. $10.80+ for a packet of nasi lemak might sound outrageously expensive, but when you try Dickson Nasi Lemak’s Ayam Goreng Berempah (Chicken Leg), you’ll understand its appeal. Made following the recipe of Village Park Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, the sole dish here is as close as you can get to KL-style nasi lemak without actually flying to the capital city. Not only is the nasi light yet lemak, but the chicken leg it comes with is also deep-fried on order and well-marinated with lemongrass, turmeric powder, and ginger. The star of the show though, is their 18-ingredient sambal, which is less sweet than Singaporean-style sambal but still undeniably fragrant.
Check out our Dickson Nasi Lemak review.
Address: 12 Gopeng Street, #01-89/90, Icon Village, Singapore 078877
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Dickson Nasi Lemak is not a halal-certified eatery.
Meng Meng Roasted Duck is known by many as that famous dang gui duck in JB. Now you no longer have to make the journey across the border to taste their Dang Gui Roasted Duck Rice ($5.50), as you can find them in Hougang Mall‘s food court. The roasted duck is not in the least bit gamey and carries a faint hint of the flavour of angelica root.
Aside from their roasted duck, you should also try the Signature Char Siew Rice ($5.50). The char siew is glazed in a sweet honey marinade, which is best paired with the tangy and spicy chilli sauce.
Check out our Meng Meng Roasted Duck feature.
Website | Full list of locations
Meng Meng Roasted Duck is not a halal-certified eatery.
https://eatbook.sg/meng-meng-roasted-duck-hougang/
Penang-style rojak is what you’d find here at Lim Bo Rojak, which was started after a chance discovery by owner Leong Gwo Wei on a vacation to Kuala Lumpur. The fruit rojak comes in small, medium, and big, or as the store terms it: SHIOK ($5.50), xi bei SHIOK ($8), and Lim Bo Special ($12). All three sizes come with slices of green mango, guava, cucumber, pineapple, and turnip, as well as crispy you tiao. The largest portion is topped with an additional Hokkien-style prawn cracker. Fried to order, the lattice-like prawn cracker is hard and slightly savoury, which provides a contrasting texture to the rest of the rojak. With their growing popularity, Lim Bo Rojak has relocated from Joo Chiat to a new home at One Punggol Hawker Centre.
Check out our Lim Bo Fruit Rojak review.
Address: 1 Punggol Drive, #02-11, Singapore 828629
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 11am to 8pm
Tel: 9711 1342
Website
Lim Bo Rojak is not a halal-certified eatery.
With more than 40 years of legacy, Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Hor Fun is one of the most well-known Ipoh hor fun peddlers in Singapore. Serving Crayfish Prawn Hor Fun for only $11, you get four halves of fresh prawns, and a whole crayfish. The silky-smooth flat rice noodles are doused in brown viscous gravy, before they’re topped with choy sum and fried shallots. Although the gravy does not include egg like Singaporean-style hor fun does, it is still rich in umami, due to the chicken bones, prawns, and prawn heads that it’s been stewed with. You’ll also get fresh seafood here, to further elevate your Ipoh hor fun experience.
Check out our Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Hor Fun review.
Address: 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-40, Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, Singapore 051531
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 11am to 2:45pm
Tel: 9826 2083
Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Hor Fun is not a halal eatery.
Started by two millennial women, Fei Zhu Lok Lok has been charming the Singaporean crowd with their looks and their affordable lok lok. Each skewer costs $1, and you have more than 20 items to choose from. Our favourites were the Mushroom, Broccoli, and Smoked Duck skewers, which you can dip into their four sauces—a citrus mayonnaise, a house-made chilli, belachan, and Thai sweet chilli. Fei Zhu Lok Lok has also opened a second outlet in Jurong West, that remains open on public holidays for you to feast to your heart’s content.
Check out our Fei Zhu Lok Lok review. Do note that their Tai Seng outlet has closed down.
Website | Full list of locations
Fei Zhu Lok Lok is not a halal-certified eatery.
JB Ah Meng is known to Eastsiders as one of the best zi char stalls Singapore has to offer. Situated in the red-light district of Geylang, the eatery has seen the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay as patrons, despite having a history that only harkens back some 10 years ago. You’d be remiss not to order the JB San Lou Mee Hoon ($8/$12/$16), which presents a delightful contrast of crispiness and chewiness. Each mouthful of bee hoon is guaranteed to be full of wok hei as you enjoy it with shrimp, egg, and vegetables.
Address: 534 Geylang Road, Singapore 389490
Opening hours: Daily 5pm to 2:15am
Tel: 6741 2418
JB Ah Meng is not a halal-certified eatery.
With five locations islandwide, PappaRich is the go-to place if you want to enjoy a wide range of Malaysian food in comfort. This international brand boasts a menu that comprises roti canai, nasi lemak, prawn mee, and char kway teow, amongst others. Try the Penang Assam Laksa ($12.90++), which is a pleasant concoction of sweet, sour, and spicy notes. The broth carries the fragrance of ginger flower and mint, and even contains thick chunks of fresh mackerel, AKA batang fish.
Check out our PappaRich review.
Website | Full list of locations
PappaRich is a halal-certified restaurant.
If you miss the commute to Johor Bahru City Square, you can replicate the experience by travelling to this Jurong West Coffeeshop. Here, you’ll find one of the best kolo mee and Sarawak laksa outside of Sarawak in JJ Sarawak Noodles. Though owner Madam Wong is not Sarawakian, both her Sarawak Noodle ($4/$5) and Sarawak Laksa ($5.50/$6.50) are true enough renditions of the original.
Using ingredients from Sarawak, the Sarawak Noodle comes with thick char siew, fattier-than-usual minced meat, and fried wonton. The Sarawak Laksa is also quite tasty and boasts an intense coconutty fragrance. The prawns are plump and add a natural sweetness to the dish.
Address: 3 Yung Sheng Road, #03-127, Taman Jurong Food Centre, Singapore 618499
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 6pm
Tel: 8245 1991
Website
JJ Sarawak Noodles is not a halal-certified eatery.
Although Singapore seems to be saturated with Hong Kong-style chee cheong fun stalls nowadays, its Malaysian counterpart does not seem to have caught on to the hype. If you haven’t already, you should definitely visit Ipoh Curry Chee Cheong Fun for their Ipoh Curry Char Siew Chee Cheong Fun ($4.80). The rice rolls here are so remarkably thin that they resemble kway teow. Leaning sweet, the curry here only has a mild spiciness to it, though that is not to say that it is in any way less fragrant. You also get big chunks of char siew accompanying the chee cheong fun, plus some long beans, tau pok, and pig skin.
Check out our Ipoh Curry Chee Cheong Fun review.
Address: 1 Yishun Industrial Street 1, Staff Canteen Stall 10, Singapore 768160
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 8.30pm
Ipoh Curry Chee Cheong Fun is not a halal-certified eatery.
Klang-style bak kut teh comes in two versions—in a bright herbaceous broth and in a dry, sweet-savoury soya sauce. Opt for the Dry Bak Kut Teh ($9.50 for small, $16.90 for large) when you visit Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh. Served in a claypot with ladies’ fingers and garlic, the pork ribs are drenched in a treacly dark soya sauce. The sauce packs a punch, as it’s cooked with dry chilli, but it also has a hint of umami, due in part to the addition of dried cuttlefish.
Another Malaysian classic—fried porridge—can also be found here. The Pork Cutlet Fried Porridge ($8.50) sees the thick gruel fried till it emanates wok hei, before it is topped with thinly-sliced pork cutlet.
Check out our Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh review.
Website | Full list of locations
Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
Although banana leaf rice originated from South India, the dish has also been widely popularised in Malaysia. Karu’s Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant serves up its dishes on banana leaves, and you can have your pick from the Chicken Masala (from $7.30+) to Mutton Curry (from $8.50+) or even their signature Fish Head (from $27+). If you don’t eat meat, they have vegetarian options, too,
Address: 808/810 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678144
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6762 7284
Website
Karu’s Indian Banana Leaf Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
Dry chilli ban mian has quickly risen up the ranks as one of Singapore’s favourite dishes. A good bowl of pan mee, has got to be chewy, spicy, savoury, and umami. Owned by two KL-born hawkers, The Noodle Memories in Hong Lim Market and Food Centre serves up a mean bowl of ban mian. For only $5.50, the Specialty Dry Chilli Noodle ($5) is a must-try if you’re ever in the vicinity. Not only do you get a generous amount of minced meat, black fungus, fried shallots, chilli, vegetables and a poached egg, you also get a piece of the Handmade Fried Beancurd Skin ($4 for five pieces). The you mian here is handmade daily, giving it its wonderful springy texture.
Check out our The Noodle Memories review.
Address: 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-27, Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, Singapore 051531
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7am to 4pm
Website
The Noodle Memories is not a halal-certified eatery.
Chicken rice balls might be a familiar sight if you visit Malacca often, but here in Singapore, the dish is a rare find. At Qi Lin Xuan Chicken Rice, the staff starts work as early as 4:30am, steaming rice with ginger and chicken stock, poaching and roasting the numerous whole chickens the team would get through in a day’s work. We recommend getting the Soya Sauce Chicken Rice ($4), along with a couple more of their irresistible Chicken Rice Balls (price TBD). Drizzle some dark soya sauce and chilli over the rice balls to complement the richness of the rice.
Check out our Qi Lin Xuan Chicken Rice review.
Address: Block 442 Jurong West Avenue 1, #01-758, Singapore 640442
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 2pm
Website
Qi Lin Xuan Chicken Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @looklookeateat
Grab 10 Singaporeans on the streets and ask them what their favourite Singaporean dish is, and I guarantee at least one person would say “hokkien mee”. If you can’t decide between dry or wet, you should try Malaysian-style hokkien mee. $7.90++ at Daruma Tavern gets you a plate of their signature KL Dai Lok Mee, which is a darker, sweeter and stickier version of its Singaporean counterpart. Also fried with prawns and lard and served with a generous amount of sambal, the KL Dai Lok Mee ticks all the boxes for a sinful meal.
Address: 25 Springside Green, #01-14, The Brooks II, Singapore 786015
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 12am, Sat 9am to 12am, Sun 9am to 10:30pm
Tel: 9734 3484
Website
If there’s a dish that Singaporeans will concede that Malaysia does better, it would probably be chendol. In spite of our best efforts, Malacca’s chendol always seems to have a more refined sweetness and more pronounced fragrance. That said, Makan Melaka offers a pretty good alternative for when your chendol cravings hit. The traditional Cendol Melaka ($2) is made with gula melaka sourced from Malacca, and coconut milk that’s freshly squeezed every single day. The chendol strips are also light and carry the aroma of pandan. If you’d like to, top your bowl of chendol with red bean ($0.50, corn ($0.50), durian ($1), and even glutinous rice ($0.50)!
Website | Full list of outlets
Makan Melaka is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Nanyang Dao is a restaurant that specialises in classic Malaysian dishes. A standout option is the Seleyang Big Bowl Curry Mee ($9.90++), featuring yellow noodles topped with beancurd skin, boiled egg, fried pork belly, and prawns, all smothered in rich curry gravy. Another signature dish is the Penang Fried Kway Teow ($7.50++), stir-fried with bean sprouts, prawns, fish cake, and lup cheong. For a heartier choice, try their KL Hokkien Mee ($7.80++) or Penang Assam Laksa ($7++). Don’t forget to finish your meal on a sweet note with a bowl of Chendol ($3.50++) or a Puff Pastry Egg Tart ($2.60++)!
Read our Nanyang Dao coverage.
Website | Full list of locations
Nanyang Dao is not a halal-certified eatery.
Straits Club is a stall that specialises in Malaysian-style nasi lemak. Inspired by his experiences with locals in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the founder, James, decided to create his stall dedicated to this beloved dish. The menu features a single main item: Chicken Nasi Lemak, priced at $8.90. This satisfying plate includes fragrant coconut rice, ayam goreng berempah (spiced fried chicken), ikan bilis, peanuts, cucumber slices, a sunny-side-up egg, and a generous serving of sambal. Additionally, there’s a 5-piece Chicken Platter available for $7.
Check out our Straits Club review.
Address: 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, #01-01, Timbre+ One North, JTC LaunchPad, Singapore 139957
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 11am to 7pm, Thurs-Fri 11am to 8:30pm
Tel: 8500 0588
Website
Straits Club is a halal-certified eatery.
Malaysian food is great, but all-you-can-eat Malaysian food is even better. At Princess Terrace, enjoy a free flow of your favourite Penang dishes for only $60++ per person, available from 12pm to 2:30pm daily. Customise a bowl of Rojak and watch as your Popiah is rolled in front of you at the live stations. Sink your teeth into chopstick-tender Braised Pork Trotter and have your fill of Penang Chee Cheong Fun and Nasi Kuning. If you have a sweet tooth, you need to try the Assorted Nonya Kueh and Homemade Beancurd.
Address: 403 Havelock Road, Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore on Havelock, Singapore 169632
Lunch buffet hours: Daily 12pm to 2:30pm
Tel: 6733 0011
Website
Princess Terrace Authentic Penang Food is not a halal-certified eatery.
The Coffee Code is a popular cafe from Sarawak that’s just opened its first SG outlet in the heart of the city, along Neil Road. Here you’ll find a unique Bak Kwa Waffles ($18+), a heart-shaped waffle topped with chicken bak kwa, chicken floss, cornflakes, and whipped cream. We recommend topping up $1+ for nian gao to add some chewy goodness to the sweet-savoury combination. If you’re here for the aesthetics, the cafe sports neutral-toned interiors and a cute outdoor dining area that looks straight out of Kinfolk, so you won’t be disappointed here!
Read our The Coffee Code review.
Address: 37 Neil Road, Singapore 088822
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 11pm, Sun 10am to 10pm
Tel: 8208 9500
Website
The Coffee Code is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @myfoodsanctuary
Here’s one reason to head to one-North: Soon Huat JB Bak Kut Teh, the famous BKT eatery from JB, has quietly set up shop in Mediapolis! This marks their first overseas outlet. Definitely try their Signature Bak Kut Teh (from $8+), known for its savoury-sweet flavours and herbal notes. If you’re visiting in a group, zhng up your meal with more sides, including Sesame Oil Chicken ($10+) and Braised Pork Trotters (from $8.50+). The latter is said to be melt-in-the-mouth tender with chewy skin.
Read our Soon Huat JB Bak Kut Teh coverage.
Address: 29 Media Circle, #01-01, North Tower, Alice@Mediapolis, Singapore 138565
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm, Sun 11am to 7:30pm
Tel: 6539 9282
Website
Soon Huat JB Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
You can find legit Malaysian food in the heart of Orchard, at EatAlley, a food court with seven noteworthy stalls from KL. Look forward to Malaysian-style wonton noodles, Klang bak kut teh, pork soup and more!
Highlights include Koon Kee Wan Tan Mee that’s been around since the 1940s. Order their signature Duo Combo Wanton Noodle ($10.80), which comes with char siew, chicken feet, and braised mushrooms. There’s also Kam Heong Braised Duck, which serves the Kam Heong Signature Set ($9.80): old-school braised duck, braised egg, salted vegetables, and butter rice. Don’t forget to check out Hong Lai Hokkien Mee too, known as Kedai Kopi Dan Makanan Hong Lai in KL, for their KL Hokkien Mee ($9.80).
Check out our EatAlley review.
Address: 277 Orchard Road, Singapore 238858
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 9:30pm
Website
EatAlley is not a halal-certified food court.
Image credit: Kalaiselvan Thirugnasambandam
New to the Geylang food scene is Pontian MeiGui BBQ, a family-run business in JB that’s been around since 1982. A five-minute walk from Aljunied MRT Station, their SG branch offers their signature Sambal Stingray ($5 per 100g): grilled stingray coated with their house-made sambal. Make sure you dip your stingray into their house-made cincalok, AKA fermented shrimp sauce. Their Sambal Sotong ($10), stir-fried with sambal and lady’s finger, comes highly recommended too!
Check out our Pontian MeiGui BBQ feature!
Address: 121 Geylang East Central, #01-90, Singapore 380121
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 9008 0721
Website
Pontian MeiGui BBQ is not a halal-certified eatery.
Tampoi Ah B Wanton Mee, a long-queue stall in JB, has officially opened in Singapore. Conveniently located four minutes by foot from Aljunied MRT Station, the outpost offers the eatery’s signature Black Mee Kia Wonton Noodles ($4.50): springy egg noodles tossed in a dark soya sauce base, topped with slices of char siew and pork lard. They also serve Dry Wonton ($5), AKA 干捞云吞 (gàn lāo yún tūn), too. Mixed in chilli oil and a secret sauce blend, these wonton make for the perfect sharing side!
Check out our Tampoi Ah B Wanton Noodles review.
Address: 5 Upper Boon Keng Road, #01-22, Singapore 380005
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 10am to 8pm
Ah B Wanton Noodles is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Kee Mei Siew Pow
Open since 1976, famous Seremban brand Kee Mei Siew Pow has recently set up shop in Singapore, along MacPherson Road. The brand boasts over 200 distributors across Malaysia, and is most known for their handmade shao bao, AKA Pork Siew Bao ($1.80). Each round features a baked crust with a meaty char siew filling. You’ll also find a nice assortment of bakes to choose from at this outlet, including Portuguese Tart ($1.80), Black Sesame Biscuit ($1.60), and Coconut Tart ($1.40).
Read our Kee Mei Siew Pow review.
Address: 498 MacPherson Road, Singapore 368202
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 8pm
Tel: 8939 2037
Kee Mei Siew Pow is not a halal-certified eatery.
Penang Culture is a casual halal restaurant that serves a diverse selection of authentic Penang dishes. The menu boasts a variety of classic hawker favourites, such as assam fish head curry (price TBD), Penang char kway teow ($10.90+), Hokkien prawn noodles (price TBD), and oyster omelette ($12.80+). If you’re dining with a large group, be sure to check out the BBQ seafood platters inspired by George Town, featuring barbecue squid, king prawns, and satay chicken. Don’t forget to try their Penang Belacan Fried Rice ($12.90+) as well!
Read our Penang Culture coverage.
Website | Full list of locations
Penang Culture is a halal-certified eatery.
Shan Cheng was founded by sisters Elaine and Cheryl Tioh, who grew up in Ipoh helping their mother with her noodle stall. After spending 10 years in Singapore for work, they found themselves longing for the flavours of their childhood and their mother’s cooking, and thus got inspired to open Shan Cheng and share the beloved dishes of their hometown.
Their house specials include Authentic Shredded Chicken Hor Fun ($8.40), Char Siew Hor Fun ($8.10), and Charsiew With Shredded Chicken Curry Mee ($10.50), all crafted from their mother’s cherished recipes, which have been perfected over more than 30 years.. Additionally, Shan Cheng takes pride in serving Ipoh white coffee, a beloved beverage that complements their menu beautifully.
Website | Full list of locations
Shan Cheng is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re a fan of bak kut teh, Sin Heng Claypot Bak Koot Teh on Joo Chiat Road is worth a visit. This 43-year-old eatery offers both Teochew-style, peppery BKT and the less common Hokkien-style bak kut teh, which has a fragrant herbal taste. Their Special Bak Koot Teh (from $10) is served in a claypot with tender pork ribs and a rich broth featuring lettuce, corn, button mushrooms, and fried beancurd skin. Pair your meal with You Tiao ($2.50) for dipping, or try their popular Innards Soup ($9/$12) and Sesame Oil Chicken ($9) for a full experience.
Read our Sin Heng Claypot Bak Koot Teh coverage.
Address: 439 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427652
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10am to 11:30pm
Tel: 6345 8754
Website
Sin Heng Claypot Bak Koot Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
Before opening their stall, Pangkor Island Nasi Lemak began as a home-based business run by Christine, a native of Pangkor Island, and her husband, a former pastry chef. They offer nasi lemak recipes passed down from Christine’s grandmother. Some must-tries are their Nyonya Nasi Lemak Lemon Satay Fish Set (S$7.90), Lemongrass Chicken Set (S$7.90), and Turmeric Chicken Set (S$6.90). For something lighter, go for their Sambal Prawn (S$3.30) and Pangkor Ngoh Hiang (S$3.50 for two rolls), which features a delightful blend of five spice powder, minced pork, and water chestnuts.
Address: 21 Canberra Link, #01-17, Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre, Singapore 756973
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 8:30am to 7pm
Pangkor Island Nasi Lemak is not a halal-certified eatery.
For fans of Malaysian herbal bak kut teh, Ge Bi Lao Wang Bak Kut Teh is a must-visit. Ran by two friends from Johor Bahru, the stall offers a rich variety of bak kut teh dishes. Try their Soup Claypot Bak Kut Teh ($7/$15), which is packed with ingredients and fragrant with an herbal aroma. The dry Claypot Bak Kut Teh ($8/$15) is equally delightful, featuring similar ingredients in a rich dark sauce. Don’t miss the Yam Rice ($1) too, and if you go for the soup, consider the You Tiao ($1) for dipping.
Read our Ge Bi Lao Wang Bak Kut Teh review.
Address: 121 Geylang East Central, # 01-90, Singapore 380121
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 8:30pm
Tel: 9789 9523
Website
Ge Bi Lao Wang bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
Tucked away in the Bukit Merah industrial estate, Rong Fa Food Court is home to Yong Nian Claypot Chicken Rice. Their founder launched this stall in 2017 after realising that Singapore’s claypot rice lacked the authentic flavours she grew up with. The claypots are sourced from her hometown, Taiping, while the soy sauce is specially imported from Hong Kong. Their Claypot Chicken Rice (S$7.30) features tender chicken and lap cheong, generously drizzled with soy sauce and served with wonderfully charred rice. Meanwhile, their Claypot Noodles (S$7.30) present a bold herbal broth that is mildly spicy.
Address: Block 447 Bukit Batok West Avenue 9, #01-01, Singapore 650447
Opening hours: TBD
Tel: 8133 0032
Yong Nian Claypot Chicken Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Although these eateries might not be as cheap as their Malaysian counterparts, their authentic flavours will satiate your desires until you finally cross over to Johor Bahru again.
If you’re also not travelling to Japan yet, check out these affordable Japanese restaurants for sushi, okonomiyaki and kushiyaki! Our recommendations for Italian restaurants in Singapore also cater to all budgets from $5 to $50!
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