‘Tis the season to be jolly but before you get into all those Christmas feasts, be sure to save a bit of stomach space for all the new restaurants and cafes in Singapore this December 2023!
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The Japanese sando was one of the bigger food trends this year, and Manpuku Sando is ending off 2023 on a high with their Cuppage Plaza opening. They’re run by the same folks behind Dosukoi X Donpachi, a hidden izakaya. Nearly everyone in the team here is Japanese, which makes the vibes that much more legit.
Expect a wide selection of sando both sweet and savoury, beautifully prepared so the camera eats first. Our faves include the Crichee Cream Cheese Salmon Sando ($19.80), where colourful layers of greens meet cream cheese and smoked salmon, as well as the Fuwatoro Truffle Tamago Sando ($14.80), with a thick layer of egg mayo featuring chunks of egg white for texture.
Read our Manpuku Sando review.
Address: 5 Koek Road, #B1-23, Cuppage Plaza, Singapore 228796
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 3pm (last order at 2pm)
Website
Manpuku Sando is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Helen Ng
Taiwanese eateries are plentiful in Singapore, but joining the gang is Hou Lah along North Bridge Road. Formerly a pop-up at night markets, Hou Lah has set up a permanent shop now so you can get their popular thick toasts without having to head to a pasar malam.
Image credit: Kelvin Ngo
Try their Cheese Thick Toast ($5.80), baked with a crumble topping akin to bolo buns, or their Fish Floss Taiwan Crepe ($6.20), griddled till crispy, and packed with savoury-sweet floss.
Read our Hou Lah feature.
Address: 783 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198751
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Hou Lah is not a halal-certified eatery.
The popular Beauty World Korean restaurant, Myung Ga II, has established their second outlet in Tanjong Pagar, making this a great spot for CBD workers to grab lunch or an after-work bite.
Image credit: @foodietwoshoessg
The homely restaurant is best known for their Donkatsu ($20++), a Korean-style tonkatsu, served with thinner pork cutlets, dressed with a sweet gravy. The Haemul Jjambbong ($19++), a spicy seafood stew, is another popular pick amongst regulars! They’re also a K-BBQ spot if you prefer barbecue.
Read our Myung Ga II feature.
Address: 28 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088451
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 8042 8025
Myung Ga II is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you love rosti, waffles, and burgers, head down to GDMC x SEAL, a new cafe that puts two and two—or three—with their Roffle, where potato rostis are pressed in a waffle iron, then used as a bun for a burger.
Choose from four flavours: Chicken Roffle ($10.80), Fish Roffle ($10.80), Lamb Roffle ($12.80) and Beef Roffle ($12.80). It’s not the most visually appealing dish but we do think it’s worth a try if you’re big on rosti. The cafe is located about seven minutes away from Ubi MRT Station.
Read our GDMC x SEAL review.
Address: 71 Ubi Crescent, #01-01, Studio GDMC, Singapore 408572
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 11pm
Website
GDMC x SEAL is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: artice_sg
Kakigori isn’t the most common in Singapore, which makes Art Ice even more of a standout.
Image credit: artice_sg
The Duxton Hill cafe is hidden in an art gallery and specialises in the Japanese shaved ice dish, with eight options to choose from, including Pistachio ($22) and Dragonfruit & Passionfruit ($22). These make for a great respite from the heat when you’re walking around Duxton. Portions are generous so bring a friend to share.
Read our Art Ice feature.
Address: 20 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089603
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 12pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 11pm
Website
Art Ice is not a halal-certified eatery.
JJ Lin’s Miracle Coffee is no longer a pop-up, but now a permanent shop in Marina Bay Sands’ ArtScience Museum lobby.
The menu here has 10 drinks still, including their signature Kaya Cloud ($9), which comprises an Americano, topped with a kaya spiked cloud cream. Another pick we love is their Brown Sugar Hojicha Latte ($6.80), where a hojicha latte is topped with torched marshmallows.
Read our Miracle Coffee review.
Address: 6 Bayfront Ave, Lobby, ArtScience Museum, Singapore 018974
Opening hours: TBD
Website
Miracle Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Ju Xing Home is a Hong Kong zi char restaurant with an impressive line-up of credentials, with Michelin-minted chefs at the helm, alongside a place on the HK Bib Gourmand list.
They’ve opened their first Singapore outlet in Ngee Ann City, so you no longer have to board a plane to try out their signatures. You have to try their Australian Lobster with Crispy Vermicelli and Signature Sauce (seasonal price), with deep-fried bee hoon crackers, as well as their Sweet and Sour Pork (from $16.80++), which won us over with its well-balanced flavours.
Read our Ju Xing Home review.
Address: 391 Orchard Road, B2-36A, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Singapore 238872
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 9666 1357
Website
Ju Xing Home is not a halal-certified eatery
Unatoto has quickly become one of our go-tos for affordable unagi don. Good news, they’re opening another outlet in Novena, following their Tanjong Pagar flagship.
Their signature dish starts from $9.50++ for their classic Unadon, but their Unadon Double ($14.50++) is our value-for-money fave, as it comes with two whole unagi fillets, grilled and seasoned with their smoky tare.
Read our Unatoto review.
Address: 238 Thomson Road, #01-84/85, Velocity @Novena Square, Singapore 307683
Opening hours: TBD
Website
Unatoto is not a halal-certified eatery.
The Feather Blade’s Tanjong Pagar outlet is a fave for steaks in Singapore, but the location may not be super convenient. Easties can rejoice, as they’ve opened the doors to their second outlet in Joo Chiat.
The menu here is a bit of a surf-and-turf situation, with seafood dishes joining in the mix, exclusively available at their East side outpost. Pair their delicious Scallop Ceviche ($16++) or carb up with their unique Swordfish Sando ($32++) with cuts of their signature Feather Blade ($24++) steak. Check them out if you’re planning date nights in the area!
Read our The Feather Blade review.
Address: 225 East Coast Road, Singapore 428922
Opening hours: Mon 5:30pm to 11pm, Tue-Fri 12pm to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 11pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 11pm
Website | Full list of outlets
The Feather Blade is not a halal-certified eatery.
With 150 eateries in China, you know Wen Zhang Lao Mian is up there when it comes to noodles. Their selection of broths here are all boiled for at least three hours, resulting in a rich depth of flavour.
Choose from four bases: Pork Bone Pickled Cabbage, Spicy Beef, Big Bone Tomato, and Herbal. You can have this with ramen or rice noodles, as well as side dishes. Prices start at $13.90 for a bowl here.
Read our Wen Zhang Lao Mian review.
Address: 2 Tan Quee Lan Street, #01-03, Singapore 188091
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 10pm, Sat 11:30am to 10pm, Sun 11am to 11pm
Tel: 9817 3298
Website
Wen Zhang Lao Mian is not a halal-certified eatery.
The Tipo brand’s latest instalment comes in the form of Tipo Osteria, a Muslim-owned Italian restaurant serving up an ever-rotating menu of dishes and fresh bakes.
There are no DIY pasta or gnocchi dishes here; instead, the menu is divided the way a classic Italian menu is with antipasti, primi, secondi, and dolce. We recommend ordering the Duck Mousse Ravioli ($24++), topped with a rich duck broth, and the Chicken Cotoletta ($30++), featuring a crispy, golden-brown fried chicken cutlet served with an Italian slaw.
Read our Tipo Osteria review.
Address: 16 Hamilton Road, #01-05, Singapore 209186
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 8721 0868
Website
Tipo Osteria is a Muslim-owned eatery.
The Atlas Coffeehouse folks are back, this time with Moonchild, a new cafe in the Jalan Besar area. The menu here is split into morning and afternoon to evening fare, with the former featuring elevated breakfast dishes, and the latter Western-fusion eats such as Pork Dan-Dan Scallion Noodles ($21++) and Cereal Prawn ($20.90++) spaghetti.
Aside from the food, the interiors are another reason to visit—spacious, full of natural light and trendy decor in light and dark wood tones.
Read our Moonchild review.
Address: 351 Jalan Besar, #01-01, Singapore 208988
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 9am to 10pm, Sun 9am to 7pm
Tel: 6592 4755
Website
Moonchild is not a halal-certified eatery.
Good news for Muji fans, the Muji Cafe has officially reopened in Plaza Singapura after a renovation stint. The new space includes a larger dining area that can seat up to 94 people. The same hot and cold deli items are available here, as well as their lunch sets, which start at $14.90. This year-end, they also have a few exclusive festive items.
Try a bit of everything with their Festive Set ($22.90), which comes with four deli items, a soup, and a Salmon & Spinach Quiche. If you want our take on which deli items to pick, we suggest going with the White Wine Cranberry Pork Collar Stew and Braised Grain Fed Beef Oyster Blade with Red Wine.
Read our Muji Cafe review.
Address: 68 Orchard Road, #01-10 to 22, Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 6264 5838
Website
Muji Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’ve ever been to Taipei, then you might have made a pit stop at Draft Land, awarded the 45th best bar in Asia according to the Asia 50 Best Bars list. Their Singapore outpost has been established in collaboration with Nutmeg & Clove, a celebrated local cocktail bar. You’ll find 20 taps serving up draft cocktails at the bar, as well as Taiwanese fusion bar bites.
We’re big fans of their Egg Pancake (from $14+), flavoured with dill, aged cheddar, and jamon Iberico. Also try their Fried Oysters ($15+), an orh luak riff starring a trio of whole, huge oysters that are fried in a crispy egg batter.
Read our Draft Land review.
Address: 24 Purvis Street, Singapore 188601
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 4pm to 12am, Sat-Sun 2pm to 12am
Tel: 9657 8774
Website
Draft Land is not a halal-certified eatery
Get a taste of Sri Lankan cuisine at Kunthaville, located a brief 10-minute stroll from Little India MRT Station. This restaurant is housed within a two-storey heritage shophouse, and presents a variety of legit Ceylonese dishes. Plus, they’re vegetarian-friendly too!
Start with their Vallavu Spicy Beetroot Cutlets with Mango, Avocado, and Green Salad in Lime Mustard Dressing ($12++), a great introduction to the herbs and aromatic spices used in Sri Lanka. A must-try among the mains is the signature Curry Leaf Coconut Rice ($28++), comprising spicy jackfruit curry, sauteed small green beans, and mango and cucumber sambal. Besides food, they also have wellness programmes on the second floor organised by W Social to relax and unwind after a meal.
Address: 18 Veerasamy Road, Singapore 207326
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
Tel: 9772 5069
Website
Kunthaville is not a halal-certified eatery.
Consider us seated for Thai fried chicken at the new Good Gai, Singapore’s very first kiosk of its kind. Located at Aperia Mall, the spot serves up Hat Yai fried chicken, prepared with a legit recipe from Thai chef Jong. There are only two items on the menu, the regular Signature Thai Fried Chicken and Signature Hatyai Chicken. You get to pick between Cutlet ($6.90) and Thai Winglets (from $6.90).
The Hat Yai chicken is what we’d go for—marinated for 48 hours with fish sauce and other aromatics, these are tender on the inside, and crispy on the outside. Complement the chicken with a side of Thai glutinous rice ($1).
Read our Good Gai review.
Address: 12 Kallang Avenue, #01-20, Kiosk C, Thai Supermarket, Singapore 339511
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 8:30pm
Website
Good Gai is not a halal-certified eatery, but uses no pork or lard.
If you love Peranakan food, you’ll want to pay a visit to The White Tiffin Fusion, nestled in Hotel Faber Park Singapore. Currently, there’s an ongoing opening promotion till 31 December 2023—you can enjoy their Buffet Lunch at $28.80++ instead of the usual $32.80++!
There are two DIY stations for you to create your own versions of rojak, and a laksa bowl. As for the laksa, we added a variety of ingredients with the likes of fresh prawns, fish cakes, tau pok, and a hard-boiled egg! Also, their buffet spread comprises the signature Nasi Lemak, Hakka Pork Belly, Prawn Paste Mid Wings and more. Our favourite was the Nasi Lemak; it was fragrant with the perfume of coconut, and remained light on the palate. And of course, we had to round up our meal on a sweet note with their house-made Kueh Lapis, and Kueh Bingka Ubi. If you’re not a fan of kueh, opt for the mini cakes, fruit jellies, and green bean soup instead.
Address: 448 Telok Blangah Road, Hotel Faber Park Singapore, Singapore 099593
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 7pm
Website
The White Tiffin Fusion is not a halal-certified eatery.
Queic has come a long way since their opening in 2021, having expanded their menu to include a host of other cheese-lookalike entremet on their dine-in menu. In celebration of their second anniversary, they’ve created a Truffle Brie Cheesecake ($33+), made with Brie de Meax crémeux━a crème anglaise emulsified with chocolate to velvety, airy ends━and a layer of truffle-mascarpone.
Holding it all together is just the slightest, thinnest almond glaze, which adds a tinge of earthy sweetness. It’s served with house-baked sable cookies and house-made cherry compote. Fresh black truffle is also shaved on the cheesecake to serve.
Read our Quiec Cafe review.
Address: 41 Kreta Ayer Road, Singapore 089003
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 7pm
Website
Quiec is not a halal-certified eatery.
Aside from these new restaurant and cafe openings, we’ve got you covered for your upcoming festive feasts. Save time in the kitchen when you order from our best festive takeaways and best log cakes guides.
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