November means we’re just this close to the end of the year, but before you get into the thick of Christmas and other end-of-year feasting, it’s worth pre-gaming at the line-up of new restaurants and cafes in Singapore this November 2023.
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HENRI, helmed by the folks behind Bread & Hearth and Sourdough Factory, transforms from a cosy cafe by day to a swanky boulangerie by night. Nestled within Chinatown’s Far East Square, the restaurant is decked out in floral wallpaper and warm lighting, making it an intimate dining spot for fans of French cuisine.
HENRI’s Set Dinner, available from Monday to Friday between 6pm and 10pm, offers a three-course feast for just $48++. Start with the Duck Rillette, starring slow-cooked shredded whole duck, and the Salmon Tartare: salmon roe, rosemary cracker, and dill. Then, dig into tantalising mains, including the MS5 Australian Wagyu Ribeye that’s served with vegetable puree and caramelised onions, before ending your meal with a Classic Creme Brulee.
Address: 48 Pekin Street, #01-01, Singapore 048778
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am to 10pm, Sun 8am to 4pm
Tel: 8690 4927
Website
HENRI is not a halal-certified eatery.
From now till 31 December 2023, Eggslut is offering a limited-time-only truffle menu! The Truffle Gaucho Sandwich ($18) is a must-try; this stacked burger features the brand’s signature cage-free soft scrambled eggs infused with truffle, paired with seared Wagyu slices and finished with fresh arugula. If you’re going meat-free, there’s also the Truffle Sandwich ($14) that’s served without the beef.
Complete your meal with a side of Truffle Slut ($11), where house-made potato puree and mushrooms are topped with a coddled cage-free egg, and served alongside thin slices of crunchy baguette. The truffle menu is available at both outlets—Suntec and Scotts Square—for a limited time only, so make sure you visit before it’s too late!
Read our Eggslut review.
Website | Full list of outlets
Eggslut is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you love hidden gem finds, you’ll want in on this. Kemuri BBQ is a new restaurant tucked in Balestier Point, specialising in unique Texan-Japanese rice bowls! It’s run by a young 26-year-old chef who’s worked in Leroy and Lewis Barbecue, a popular smokehouse in Austin, Texas.
The cosy eatery offers affordable donburi packed with house-smoked meats. Choose from 10 bowls, including our favourite, the Bacon Donburi ($15+/$18+). This hearty rice bowl comes with pearl rice, kimchi, corn, pickles, and thick-cut bacon that’s smoked in-house. Alternatively, beef lovers can try their signature Smoked Beef Cheeks Donburi ($17.90+/$21.90+), spotlighting melt-in-the-mouth beef slices that are perfectly charred on the outside. Do note that the rice bowls are only available for lunch daily, while there’s a separate dinner menu in the evening.
Read our Kemuri BBQ review.
Address: 400 Balestier Road, #01-41 Balestier Plaza, Singapore 329802
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 9466 6919
Website
Kemuri BBQ is not a halal-certified eatery.
New kid on the Bugis block Frites specialises in Loaded Beef Fries ($10), available in four flavours: Truffle, Mentaiko, Cheesy, Creamy Onion. Each serving comprises thick-cut fries topped with a huge portion of shabu-style beef, finished with copious amounts of your sauce of choice.
If you love Genki Sushi’s mentaiko fries, you’ll be obsessed with Frites’ rendition. This hefty snack features creamy mentaiko mayo and juicy beef slices, piled atop chunky fries. Their Creamy Onion flavour is another winner, especially if you’re fond of sour cream and onion chips! Do note that the Muslim-owned kiosk is takeaway-only.
Check out our Frites review.
Address: 114 Arab Street, Singapore 199809
Opening hours: Sun, Tue-Thurs 12pm to 9pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 8749 9679
Website
Frites is a Muslim-owned eatery.
New in: Xin Shan Bakery, a popular cake shop in JB, has opened its first SG outlet in Chinatown! Located right outside Chinatown MRT Station, the takeaway kiosk offers eight cake roll flavours on offer. The bakery is said to be a seinyu roll specialty cafe: “seinyu” being a direct translation of 生乳 (shēng rǔ), which means milk.
The Yam Seinyu Slice ($6) is our favourite of the lot. This fluffy cake roll is generously packed with orh nee paste that’s prepared using fresh Thai yam, perfect as a pick-me-up for any time of the day. Otherwise, get their Matcha ($6.50) or Dalgona Coffee ($6.50) flavour if you’re a fan of Royce’s chocolate, as these decadent swiss rolls feature a nama-style chocolate ganache in the middle of the sponge. For something more fruity, you won’t go wrong with the Strawberry Seinyu Slice ($6), starring house-made strawberry jam and a fluffy cream filling.
Read our Xin Shan Bakery review!
Address: 64 Pagoda Street, Singapore 059223
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 8pm
Website
Xin Shan Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.
If the name Paik Jong Won rings a bell, that’s because you’ve probably paid a visit to Paik’s Bibim, a popular bibimbap joint with a handful of outlets islandwide. The acclaimed Korean chef now lends his name to Paik’s Noodle, a worldwide phenomenon with over 1,000 outlets, and finally, one in Singapore.
Housed in Suntec City, Paik’s Noodle serves up famous Jajang Myeon ($11++), prepared with handmade noodles and sauces flown in from South Korea. Pair this with their equally acclaimed Tang Suyuk (from $21++), where puffs of fried pork are tossed in a sweet-and-sour sauce that’s lighter than your zhap cai png version, but no less delicious.
Read our Paik’s Noodle review.
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, B1-177/177A, Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 8:30pm
Website
Paik’s Noodle is not a halal-certified eatery.
Two Men Bagel House has decided to expand their brand with Two Men Rice Bar, a casual Tanjong Pagar eatery serving up DIY loaded rice bowls. The standing-room-only space in Guoco Tower allows you to grab your lunch, dine, and leave, with ease.
There are seven different bowls on the menu, though they all come with the same sides. You get to pick your protein as well as your choice of rice—be it Japanese short-grain rice, turmeric long-grain rice, or mixed 16-grain rice. Portions are either full or half, depending on how hungry you are.
Read our Two Men Rice Bar review.
Address: 5 Wallich Street, #01-12, Guoco Tower, Singapore 078883
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 7:30pm
Tel: 6022 1880
Website
Two Men Rice Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
Don’t confuse this eatery with the franchise, Ajumma’s, because Ajoomma Korean Charcoal BBQ is something else altogether—a brand-new Korean restaurant serving elevated barbecue and mains. Start your meal with their Seafood Soybean Paste Soup ($20++), a seriously umami jjigae that’s great with a bowl of white rice.
Start off your K-BBQ experience by choosing your type of firewood, each imparting a distinct flavour to the meat. We recommend splurging on the Miyazaki A4 Wagyu 2MM Short Rib 150g ($70++) if you’re able to, a deliciously marbled cut. Else, the 2MM Pork Belly 150g ($28++) is a more affordable option, starring juicy Iberico pork swirled with fat.
Read our Ajoomma Korean Charcoal BBQ review
Address: No 2 & 4 Gemmill Lane, Singapore 069247
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 11pm
Tel: 8789 8650
Website
Ajoomma Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
You may know of Wild Coco from their kopitiam venture in Kallang, but they’ve recently moved to Lavender, where they’ve established a proper brick-and-mortar restaurant. You can get their famous Nasi Lemak Ayam Berempah ($15.90+) here, where a fresh chicken leg is marinated for 24 hours before it is fried to achieve an aromatic crust. The sambal here is also great for those who enjoy sweeter chilli jams, and is made with 10 different ingredients slowly stewed for five hours.
Aside from the nasi lemak, Wild Coco has a variety of Malay and Nyonya dishes on the menu to enjoy as a side, including Nyonya Assam Eggplant ($9.90+) and Topple Tauhu Telur ($7.90+).
Read our Wild Coco review.
Address: 14 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209184
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 10:30am to 9pm
Tel: 9119 3822
Website
Wild Coco is not a halal-certified eatery.
Eat 3 Bowls is another eatery that has revamped itself thanks to a new location. The Taiwanese cafe was famed for their classroom decor when they operated out of Lavender, but they’ve recently relocated to Compass One, with more polished interiors, but still affordable fare.
The menu here has expanded to include new dishes, including teatime snacks. We recommend ordering their 3 Bowls Signature Trio Combo ($12.90), which comprises their three bestselling mains, Braised Pork Rice, Oyster and Pig Intestine Mee Sua, and Shredded Chicken Rice. Pair that with the popular night market snack, the Crispy Fried Chicken & Crispy Mushroom Platter ($7.50). Most of the menu items here are under $10, which makes this quite the affordable spot for dining in Sengkang.
Read our Eat 3 Bowls review.
Address: 1 Sengkang Square, #B1-17, Compass One, Singapore 545078
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 9:30pm
Website
Eat 3 Bowls is not a halal-certified eatery.
The pizzas at La Bottega Enoteca were named 19th in the Top 50 Pizza Asia Pacific 2023, and were the only Singapore-based entrant on the list. If you haven’t managed to get a reservation at the Joo Chiat restaurant or secured a spot at Chef Antonio Miscellaneo’s hot private diner Casa Nostra, here’s your chance. The Casa Vostra pop-up will be running on weekends over the next two months on Ann Siang Hill.
Here’s what to expect at the pop-up: Casa Vostra’s signature Newpolitan pizzas with toppings such as Prosciutto e Funghi, starring prosciutto flown in from Italy, Tartufata, and Margherita. Chef Miscellaneo’s DoubleCrunch, a pizza-sandwich hybrid, will also be available, with a pop-up exclusive Smoked Salmon, Burrata & Rocket filling. Look forward to house-made pasta and gelato at the pop-up too!
Address: 8 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069788
Opening hours: Fri-Sun 11am to 10pm
Website
Casa Vostra is not a halal-certified eatery
Patisserie Woo is run by a former banker who left the trade to set up her own baking business. They have three takeaway kiosks islandwide, but have recently opened their first dine-in cafe in Bukit Timah, a short walk away from Sixth Avenue MRT Station.
The pastel cafe is great for dessert and casual hangouts, though it can be booked for events as well. Patisserie Woo’s famed Meyer Lemon Tart ($9+) is available here, where a buttery crust is filled with a zesty curd. If citrusy treats aren’t your thing, then try the Pistachio Tart ($9.50+), dressed with a house-made pistachio ganache. The cafe also serves up gelato!
Read our Patisserie Woo review.
Address: 1 Fifth Avenue, #01-01, Guthrie House, Singapore 268802
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 9:30pm
Website
Patisserie Woo is not a halal-certified eatery.
Fans of the popular Korean fried chicken brand, BHC Chicken, will be happy to know that they no longer need to travel all the way to Marina Square to get their fix, for the brand has opened another outlet in KINEX.
The Bburinkle Chicken (from $23.90++) is the signature dish here—double-fried chicken is dusted in an umami mix of cheese, onion, and garlic powder. Aside from their fried chicken offerings, the eatery also has a variety of comforting Korean side dishes, including Pork Kimchi Stew ($16.90++), Fish Congee ($12.90++), and Rabokki ($12.90++)!
Read our BHC Chicken review.
Address: 11 Tanjong Katong Road, KINEX, Singapore 437157
Opening hours: TBD
Tel: TBD
Website
BHC Chicken is not a halal-certified eatery.
If dining at the same array of Chinese restaurants in Singapore doesn’t tickle your fancy anymore, it’s time to add Nong Geng Ji to the rotation. The Hunanese restaurant has over 100 restaurants in China, and has recently set up shop in Raffles Place. Hunan cuisine is known for their spices—not so much the mala of Sichuanese fare, but pure heat from chillies.
Grab a few friends and order some of Nong Geng Ji’s bestsellers to share, including their Stir-Fried Pork with Abalone and Chilli ($27.90++), packed with native green peppers, and the fiery Stir-fried Beef with Fried Chilli ($28.90++).
Read our Nong Geng Ji review.
Address: 16 Collyer Quay, Collyer Quay Centre, #01-01/02, Singapore 049318
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 2:30pm, 4:30pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 6322 4887
Website
Nong Geng Ji is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Aung Ko Ko Tin
You may know Ollella for their authentic Indonesian kueh and hearty mains. They set up shop in Cluny Court two years ago, but have since relocated to Far East Square. The dine-in concept sports indoor and outdoor spaces, where you can dig into their hearty, spice-forward mains such as their Lontong Sayur ($5.80), where rice cakes are doused in a coconutty vegetable curry.
Image credit: @ollella_singapore
No meal is complete without an order of their freshly made kueh. You have plenty to choose from here, including their signature Kueh Dadar, Kueh Salat, and Kueh Bika Ambon. The kueh are mostly priced under $2.50.
Read our Ollella coverage.
Address: 135 Amoy Street, #01-04, Far East Square, Singapore 049964
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am to 3.30pm, Sat 9.30am to 3.30pm
Website
Ollella is not a halal-certified eatery but uses halal ingredients.
Local kopi and breakfast franchise Toast Box has established an expanded concept, Toast Box Coffee House, in Tiong Bahru’s Seng Poh Road to celebrate their 18th anniversary in Singapore.
Here, you get all the local dishes you know and love, as well as some all-new offerings, such as the Egg Sandwich ($4++), akin to cha chaan teng-style scrambled egg toast, and new variations on breakfast sets, with options such as Lemon Cream Toast ($2.60++) and Black Sesame Toast ($2.60++). If you’re there looking for heartier eats, note that they do sell Hainanese dishes, as well as hawker classics, including a moreish Claypot Hokkien Prawn Mee ($7.80++).
Read our Toast Box Coffee House review.
Address: 58 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 160058
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6223 0633
Website
Toast Box Coffee House is not a halal-certified eatery.
If Nico Cafe sounds familiar to you, that’s because they used to be known as Cafe de Nicole’s Flower—one of Singapore’s OG cafes located in the East. Their relocation and rebrand finds their home in Wheelock Place, where diners can expect the same, eye-catching garden-themed decor along with too-pretty-to-eat cafe fare.
The Original Souffle Pancakes ($17.90++) are a must; cloud-like pancakes served with a seasonal fruit compote and housemade sweet cream. Else, for savouries, get their French-inspired sandwiches, such as the Croque Monsieur ($12.90++) or Crowne Madame ($12.90++).
Read our Nico Cafe review.
Address: 501 Orchard Road, Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am to 7pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 7pm
Website
Nico Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Justine Indradjaja
Popular Indonesian cafe Fangko Coffee has opened another outlet in Singapore’s Margaret Market: Petit Fangko.
Image credit: @canigetmorecheese
Here, you can expect Fangko’s famous Smash Chimken, with 21 spice levels to pick from, paired with your choice of carb, from Blue Pea Rice ($9.50), Indomee ($9.50), Fries ($12), or Indomee Fries ($15). Aside from the signature dish, Petit Fangko has a range of classic brunch dishes and specialty coffees, including cold brew. We especially loved their Fangko Melaka ($6), where espresso is enriched with palm sugar and milk.
Read our Petit Fangko review.
Address: 38 Margaret Drive, #01 09, Singapore 141038
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 9pm
Website
Petit Fangko is not a halal-certified eatery.
Two homegrown F&B brands have joined forces to open The Olive Door in Joo Chiat. The cafe is the brainchild of Narrative Coffee Stand and Pelle & Pepe, the former a coffee joint, and the latter a bakery. Expect unique coffees, teas, and outlet-exclusive beverages to wash down your bakes with.
There’s a wide array of daily treats to choose from, largely sourdough options. If you’re spoilt for choice, try the Blueberry Cashew Donut ($7.50), filled with a tart blueberry jam, or the Corn Chowder Poptart ($7.50), a savoury, adult riff on the Pop Tart with bits of fresh corn, celery, and potatoes.
Read our The Olive Door review.
Address: 83 Joo Chiat Place, #01-01, Singapore 427800
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 8am to 4pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am to 4pm
Telephone: 9007 4274
Narrative Coffee Stand website | Pelle & Pepe website
The Olive Door is not a halal-certified eatery.
The Show Luo-endorsed Taiwanese beef noodle restaurant, Niu Dian, opened their first outlet in Balestier to much fanfare. If you’ve not yet paid them a visit because Balestier is a bit too out of the way, we suggest heading down to their new Bugis Junction outlet instead.
The Combination Specialty Beef Noodles ($19.90++) is the star of the show here, with a rich, clear stock and tender cuts of beef, including tendon and offal. The stock takes 24 hours to make, so you know it’s the good stuff.
Read our Niu Dian review.
Address: 200 Victoria Street, #02-50, Bugis Junction, Singapore 188021
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11am to 9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 10pm
Website
Niu Dian is not a halal-certified eatery.
Song Fa is the brand name you’d associate with Singapore’s most well-known bak kut teh brand, but the eatery is breaking out of its shell by opening Song Fa Kway Chap, a peppery kway chap specialty eatery in ION Orchard. While kway chap is often associated with a herbal soup—which is also available here—Song Fa offers you the best of both worlds by letting you slurp up your kway in a peppery, BKT-style broth too.
Try the Peppery Kway Chap Deluxe Set for 2 ($26.90), which comes with a generous serving of all your usual kway chap offal, meats, and sides, and is served with two bowls of kway—one in the braised dark broth, and the other, the lighter, peppery soup.
Read our Song Fa Kway Chap review.
Address: 2 Orchard Turn, B4-03/04, Food Opera stall #14, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9:30pm
Website
Song Fa Kway Chap is not a halal-certified eatery.
Boasting over 300 outlets across the Asia-Pacific Region, Tan Yu is best known for their signature Grilled Fish with Fresh Green Pepper. They recently celebrated the grand opening of their seventh outlet in Singapore which sits on the first floor of VivoCity. The interior is distinct from other outlets with a vivid orange and black interior that’s reminiscent of a game centre.
Indulge in the outlet-exclusive “Dopamine” series where they introduce three new dishes, Fish Skin Salad ($5.90++), Grilled Pork Jowl in Mala ($6.90++), and OH-YE! Coconut Ice Jelly ($3.50++). To round off your heavy meal, the OH-YE! Coconut Ice Jelly is a refreshing treat. It has a fragrant coconut flavour that’s not too cloying, accompanied by copious amounts of fresh fruits such as dragon fruit, honeydew, and slices of hawthorn.
Address: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-169/170, Vivo City, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6517 9707
Website
Tan Yu is not a halal-certified eatery.
Here are all the new restaurants and cafes worth checking out for November 2023. For more new hawker spots to check out, read our Jiakali review, for a hawker selling spicy Indian-Chinese curry with katsu, or our Tampoi Ah B Wanton Noodles review, for JB-famous wonton mee in Kallang.
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