August is here, which means National Day, but also a whole slew of new restaurants to check out. The line-up this month is pretty intense, with over 20 eateries on the list, as well as concept eateries! If you’re looking for suggestions on fresh places to feast at, here’s our guide to the new restaurants in Singapore this August 2023.
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Dakdoritang, AKA braised spicy chicken, isn’t one of the Korean dishes Singaporeans are the most familiar with. However, it’s time to get acquainted, as Kelim Dakdoritang, a famous Korean eatery with 60 years of history specialising in the dish, has opened their first Singaporean outlet. The eatery is located in Serangoon Gardens.Â
Kelim Dakdoritang offers a unique take on their signature spicy chicken stew, serving up hotpots of the dish with tender pieces of chicken, spring onion, potato chunks, tteokbokki, and a heaping serving of minced garlic. Prices start at $36.90+ for a small portion, which feeds two. Along with their chicken stew, the eatery serves a variety of sides that are worth trying, including their Dakbal ($19.90+), a spicy chicken feet dish, and their Chicken Gizzard ($15.90+), deep fried till crispy.
Read our Kelim Dakdoritang review.
Address: 14B Kensington Park Road, Singapore 557265
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm, Wed 5:30pm to 10pm
Website
Kelim Dakdoritang is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you love suan cai yu, AKA pickled greens fish, you’ll want to pay this new restaurant a visit. YAO YAO Sauerkraut dish is a household name in China with over 60 outlets around the country. Here, you can enjoy their signature Sauerkraut Fish in three sizes, priced from $48++. They only use Californian white seabass here, so you can be assured that the fish doesn’t taste muddy or fishy. The broth is cooked for eight hours with slices imported from Sichuan, and greens fermented for at least 24 days. It’s sour, funky, and spicy—the type of dish that hits the spot after a long day. Those looking for variety can also consider their half-and-half pot, which gets you your choice of Tomato Fish, Sichuan Poached Fish, or Typhoon Shelter Shrimp with Fries, alongside the suan cai yu.
The restaurant is also conveniently located at VivoCity, and seats 80 people. Add this to the rotation if you’re looking for a post-work dinner spot.
Read our YAO YAO review.
Address: 1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-145/146, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 9:30pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 3:30pm, 5pm to 9:30pm
Website
YAO YAO Sauerkraut Fish is not a halal-certified eatery
Butahage is a famous pork donburi restaurant that has recently reopened in Singapore after its closed down its Liang Court premises in 2018. Located at Suntec City, the new Butahage concept is helmed by the son of Butahage’s third-gen chef, Hitoshi Yano. Â
At Butahage, you’ll get to enjoy fuss-free bowls of butadon, available at wallet-friendly prices. Each bowl comes with pearl grain rice, tender slices of grilled pork loin, and a dash of their secret tare sauce, made from an 80-year-old recipe. A must-try item on the menu is their signature Obihiro Meibutsu Japanese Pork Loin Don, priced at $24.80++ for a large bowl. This gets you six thick slices of Kyushu pork loin, grilled till juicy, served atop Hokkaido Nanatsuboshi rice.
Read our Butahage review.
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #01-625/626 (Tower 3) Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Butahage is not a halal-certified eatery.
The gang behind NUMB Restaurant has brought Chengdu Bowl, a Sichuan tapas and grain bowl eatery to Tanjong Pagar. Their bowls are an alternative to the usual poke or salad offerings, highlighting Sichuan dishes and flavours instead. Three popular picks from that menu are the Signature Stir-Fried Ox Tongue Bowl ($13.80++/$15.90++), Savory Braised Beef Noodle ($14.80++), and Sichuan Dan Dan Noodle Delight ($12.80++).
If you’re there for a dine-in meal instead, expect reinvented Sichuanese dishes along with some more traditional bites. We particularly enjoyed their Classic Spicy Chilli Chicken with Fries ($24.80++), which comes tossed in a heaping serving of dried chilli and other numbing spices.Â
Read our Chengdu Bowl review.
Address: 120 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088532
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm, Sat 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 11pm
Tel: 9460 1960
Website
Chengdu Bowl is not a halal-certified eatery
Snap Cafe is another new Korean-inspired cafe, located in Tanjong Pagar. The minimal, industrial space is located right outside the MRT station, and is a convenient spot for CBD workers to grab a quick coffee break.
All their cakes and pastries are crafted with Korean flavours, from their Sweet Potato Pound Cake ($5++) to their Hotteok Sticky Roll ($6++). Aside from sweets, Snap Cafe also has savouries in the form of grilled sourdough sandwiches, priced under $15. Flavours range from Korean Spicy Chix & Egg ($12++) to Gochujang Prawn ($12++). On the coffee front, you can expect the usual coffee and tea suspects, as well as some interesting additions, such as the Iced Pistachio Espresso Latte ($8++).Â
Read our Snap Cafe review.
Address: 21 McCallum Street, #01-01/02 The Clift, Singapore 069047
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 5pm
Website
Snap Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Honbo, the renowned burger chain hailing from Hong Kong, has made its first international debut in Singapore. Their flagship 40-seater outlet is located in CHIJMES, and offers diners a wide variety of smashed burgers with flavours that cater to Asian tastes. The iconic Honbo Burger ($18++) is where you want to start off your Honbo experience. This burg features the brand’s famed 2oz crispy beef patties, generously topped with cheese, housemade pickles, onions, and their delectable house sauce.
As part of the opening, Honbo also has a limited edition Scallop Burger ($26++), available for the next three months. Thick, sweet sashimi-grade scallops seared just so are the star of the burger, and they’re finished with a zesty pico de gallo sauce laced with wasabi.
Read our Honbo review.
Address: 30 Victoria Street, #01-09 CHIJMES, Singapore 187996
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 10pm
Website
Honbo is not a halal-certified eatery.
Mahmud’s Tandoor garnered quite the buzz at ARTBOX 2023, and has since set up a permanent shop in Bugis. Founded by an Indian-Pakistani couple, the eatery offers two fusion burgers priced at $10 ala carte, or with Masala Fries for $12.Â
The first burger is the Crispy Doori Burger, which comes with a fried chicken thigh that’s been marinated extensively in tandoori spices. The smoky, crispy burger definitely hit the spot, especially when paired with their spiced fries. If you prefer something less sinful, there’s the OG Burger, where baked tandoori chicken thigh is topped with a fresh mint and yoghurt sauce for balance.
Read our Mahmud’s Tandoor review.
Address: 730 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198698
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 8:30pm
Website
Mahmud’s Tandoor is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Joo Chiat eatery Salt & Palm has released a new day menu! The restaurant, which hails from Sydney, is led by Executive Chef Natasya Soetanty, whose cuisine brings diners on a discovery of flavours from the whole Indonesian archipelago. This new menu is available on weekends between 11am and 3pm, and spotlights the same flavours in healthier bowls that are perfect for a light midday meal.
One of the highlights is Fried Quinoa ($20++), which sees the superfood reimagined as nasi goreng, fried with a house-made bumbu paste that makes the grain taste ultra legit. Their Poke Bowl ($24++) is also an easy favourite, similarly prepared with quinoa, plus rolled barley and lentils, but cooked with coconut and kaffir lime for an addictive flavour. It’s topped with sashimi salmon, scallop, and swordfish, as well as edamame, avocado, and an onsen egg.Â
Finish the meal with Pandan Ricotta Hotcakes ($18++), topped with hand-whipped pandan ricotta and drizzled with palm sugar syrup for a caramelly, decadent end.
Address: 467 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427678
Opening hours: Mon, Wed-Thurs 5pm to 10pm, Fri 5pm to 11pm, Sat 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm, Sun 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 11pm
Tel: 8939 9617
Website
Salt & Palm is not a halal-certified eatery.
Singaporeans love Don Don Donki, and the Japanese supermarket chain is showing us love right back by opening their first standalone eatery, Sen Sen Sushi, an affordable conveyor belt sushi joint in JEM.
Located on the mall’s third floor, the eatery seats 134 people and promises diners a fast-casual kaiten sushi experience that doesn’t skimp on quality. Most of their items are under $10. For starters, we really enjoyed their Recommend Oshi Sushi ($6.80++), which features Salmon, Shrimp, Conger Eel, and Pickled Mackerel. The fish was fresh and the rice was well-seasoned here, and you get four sushi for a decent price. They also have larger sets available, which offer more premium items. The Okinawa Set ($19.80++) is one we’d suggest, as it comes with six types of aburi sushi and a side of seared tamago.
Read our Sen Sen Sushi review.
Address: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #03-27/29, JEM, Singapore 608549
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Sen Sen Sushi is not a halal-certified eatery.
Singapore has a fair few concept eating houses that have opened, and TaiWan Night Markets is one of them. Housed in the basement of Cineleisure Orchard, the food court is styled to look like a Taiwanese night market, and offers the same street food fare. There are 19 different street food stalls and five eateries on site, and prices are typically under $10.
Highlights include their Peanut Crunchy Candy Rolls with Ice Cream ($5)—a Jiufen dessert staple—and their Taiwanese Sausage with Sticky Rice (Garlic) ($8.80), where grilled glutinous rice is wrapped around a juicy Taiwanese sausage. Prices here aren’t the cheapest, but hey, it brings Taiwan to your doorstep and is more affordable than an air ticket!
Read our TaiWan Night Markets review.
Address: 8 Grange Road, Singapore 239695
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30am to 10:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 12am
TaiWan Night Markets is not a halal-certified eatery.
Popular home-based-business KUKI has made a name for themselves with their open-faced molten lava cookies. You can now get them without having to bother with the fuss of ordering online as KUKI has opened CAFE REN, their first brick-and-mortar eatery.Â
Located in Farrer Park, CAFE REN sees KUKI move away from sweets with a wide savoury menu. Most of their items are Asian-inspired, from their Avocado, Mentaiko & Egg ($18++)—a Japanese twist on avo toast—to their Scallop & Truffle Cold Pasta ($14++), topped with ikura and furikake. Don’t fret if you’re a diehard lava cookie fan, though, as the cafe still has the brand’s signature on the menu. We especially enjoyed the Pistachio Lava Cookie ($10++), where a chocolatey cookie is dressed with a molten pistachio praline, and served with oat milk vanilla gelato.Â
Read our Cafe REN review.
Address: 681 Race Course Road, #01-305, Singapore 210681
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 3.30pm, 5.30pm to 10pm
Website
CAFE REN is not a halal-certified eatery.
Another overseas-themed food court in Singapore is EatAlley in Orchard Gateway. There are seven famous eateries from KL on-site, so you can get your fix of Koon Kee Wan Tan Mee, Siong Huat Bah Kut Teh, Kam Heong Braised Duck and more without having to cross the Causeway.
One of our favourite stalls on-site is Kampung Nasi Lemak, which has its roots in a renowned, no-name roadside stall in KL. Their Nasi Lemak with Ayam Rempah ($8.80) is a must when at EatAlley—it comes with a whole chicken thigh that’s fried till super crispy, served with aromatic coconut rice and sweet sambal.
Read our EatAlley review.
Address: 277 Orchard Road, Singapore 238858
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 9pm
Website
EatAlley is not a halal-certified food court.
Popular tart bakery, Wunderfolks, has arrived in the East with their latest opening at Tampines Mall. They first began as a home-based business in 2021, and have recently established a kiosk in the mall.Â
There are eight different flavours to pick from, all of them made in-house. The Mixed Fruit is an all-time classic, which sees vanilla custard topped with sliced fresh fruit, all encased in a shortcrust pastry shell. Another popular flavour is their Dark Chocolate, made with a chocolate crust, a rich chocolate filling, and a dark chocolate ganache to finish. All tarts are priced at $8 each, but a box of six is priced at $42.
Aside from tarts, the kiosk also sells sweet and savoury French pastries, and alcohol-free tiramisu.
Read our Wunderfolks Tampines review.
Address: 4 Tampines Central 5, #01-40, Tampines Mall, Singapore 529510
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 10pm
Tel: 9749 7940
Website
Wunderfolks is not a halal-certified eatery.
Food trucks aren’t the most common dining concept in Singapore, but the Gourmet Park at Sentosa shakes things up by offering 16 food trucks on-site. All 16 are established by well-known local eateries and offer dishes from a wide range of cuisines, from American to Sri Lankan.Â
Kotuwa, the Michelin-approved restaurant by Chef Rishi Naleendra, offers some of their signatures here, alongside popular food spots such as Dickson Nasi Lemak or Chun Noodle Bar. Aside from the savouries, there are food trucks offering sweet treats too, from the likes of Spank My Dough’s filled doughnuts to JAMBA Juice’s smoothies.
Read our Gourmet Park review.
Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Level 1, Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore 098269
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 8pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 9pm
Website
The Ralph Lauren cafe has finally opened in Singapore, named Ralph’s Coffee. Located on the first floor of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, the intimate cafe offers a range of coffee beverages and Singapore-exclusive menu items.
You wouldn’t expect a fashion brand to be famous for their coffee, but Ralph’s Coffee delivers surprises in spades. All their coffees are made with their signature Ralph’s Roast, a rich and chocolatey blend. Pair your caffeine fix with Ralph’s Chocolate Cake ($14), an ultra-rich layered fudge cake made by Plain Vanilla for the cafe.Â
Read our Ralph’s Coffee review.
Address: 2 Bayfront Ave, #01-72 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Ralph’s Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Surrey Hills Grocer is back again with a new outlet, this time in Raffles City. The Australian cafe has enlisted the help of MasterChef Season 2 winner, Derek Cheong, to conceptualise the menu of all-day brunch fare at this outlet. Must-haves include the Crab Avo ($28++), where avo toast meets creamy crabmeat mixed with a kelp aioli, and their Tater Tots ($18++), fried till crisp and pillowy in the middle, and topped with a house-made mentaiko mayo, as well as tobiko.
If you’re just there for coffee and sweets, you’ll be equally impressed with the range of brews, and desserts created by ex-Antoinette chef-owner Pang Kok Keong.Â
Read our Surrey Hills Grocer Raffles City review.Â
Address: 252 North Bridge Road, #03-42, Raffles City, Singapore 179103
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Surrey Hills Grocer is not a halal-certified eatery
Pojangmacha is a type of Korean streetside eatery, serving up classic comfort eats such as tteokbokki, oden, and the like. 88 Pocha is one of the latest local Korean restaurants to adopt the pojangmacha trend in both their menu and design. You may know them from their Holland Village flagship, but they’ve since expanded to open a second outlet in Kovan.Â
Here, they have their OG menu as well as three new dishes, from their Spicy Beef Stew with Rice Ball ($29.88++), Spicy Cheese Dakgalbi with Rice Ball ($29.88++), and Spicy Chicken Feet with Rice Ball ($29.88++). These go excellently with a bottle or two of soju or beer, which you can also enjoy in-house.
Read our 88 Pocha review.
Address: 957 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534717
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 12am, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 12am
Website
88 Pocha is not a halal-certified eatery.
Another overseas import landing on our shores is Onigiri Planet. While it sells the Okinawan snack, onigirazu, Onigiri Planet is, in fact, from Taiwan. Its Singaporean outpost is located in Hillion Mall and has a range of onigiri sandwiches priced under $10.
An interesting option here is their Peanut Butter Katsu ($6.90), an interesting sweet-savoury combo that’s quite moreish if you tend to be a fan of peanut sauce. Otherwise, more classic options are available here as well.Â
Read our Onigiri Planet review.
Address: 17 Petir Road, #B2-36, Hillion Mall, Singapore 678278
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 8815 2418
Website
Onigiri Planet is not a halal-certified eatery.
Margaret Market has recently opened, and with that comes a fair few new stalls and cafes within its premises. Aussie-style bistro Urban Folks is one such opening. Its founder wanted to bring a slice of Melbourne’s cafe culture to Singapore, and with that, Urban Folks was born.
The cafe is all laid-back vibes with warm wood furnishings and lush plant displays. For food, you can get your hands on a selection of jaffles—sealed toasties—priced from $7, as well as other grilled sandwiches. For sweets, try their The Urban Bowl ($9.50/$13.50), an organic açai concoction with mixed fresh fruit and your sauce of choice.Â
Read our Urban Folks review.
Address: 38 Margaret Drive, #01-07, Margaret Market, Singapore 141038
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 6pm
Website
Urban Folks is not a halal-certified eatery, but does not serve pork or lard.
If you’re looking for a place to grab picturesque desserts, then Cotelato is one to add to the radar. Located near Hillview MRT Station, the cafe specialises in eye-catching, experiential desserts designed to wow.
The Break the Blossom ($16++) is one such treat, and requires you to break into a chocolate shell in order to get to the delicate desert within. If you’re willing to splurge, there’s the Surprise Package ($48), where a cake is designed to look exactly like a miniature version of a luxury handbag.
Read our Cotelato review.
Address: 4 Hillview Rise, #01-01, HillV2, Singapore 667979
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10.30am to 10.30pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 10.30pm
Website
Cotelato is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, consider Open Farm Community, a chic restaurant with an on-site farm tucked in the quiet Dempsey neighbourhood. They’ve just rolled out an all-new, communal-style menu that’s perfect for sharing with the fam. Start with a light yet satisfying Seasonal Vegetables Platter ($22++), which spotlights an array of seasonal veggies served with an olive tapenade and tuna-anchovies sauce. For mains, get the Char-Grilled Koji Aged Beef (from $52++), which comes with a fragrant garam masala sauce and laksa chimichurri. Otherwise, fill up on carbs in the form of the Udon Cacio e Pepe ($32++) that stars handmade udon pasta and local mushrooms in a creamy sauce.Â
For a vegetarian-friendly option, we recommend the Roasted Cauliflower, Hummus, Coconut Serundeng, BBQ Glaze ($32++), an uber flavourful dish that features a whole head of cauliflower—great for sharing amongst the table. There’s also the delicious Carrots A La Plancha ($16++), a meat-free side comprising seared carrots with romesco, carrot leaf pesto, creamy feta cream, and crunchy walnuts.Â
Address: 130E Minden Road, Singapore 248819
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 11pm, Sat=Sun 11am to 4pm, 6pm to 11pm
Tel: 6471 0306
Website
Open Farm Community is not a halal-certified eatery.
Vin Geek, a hidden gem in Orchard, is another celebration-worthy spot for birthdays, anniversaries and more. This cosy restaurant bar is known for its unique DIY wine dispenser, which lets you enjoy a tasting portion (30ml), half glass (90ml), or full glass (180ml) of your chosen vino from as low as $2.50+. Food-wise, look forward to elegantly plated small plates such as Scallop & Endives ($25++), alongside meaty mains of Pork Loin ($28++). The latter features perfectly cooked pork slices on a bed of charred cabbage, served with a sweet and tangy mango chutney.Â
If you’re still feeling peckish, we highly recommend the Kombu Butter Lobster Risotto ($45++), a limited-time special that combines freshly churned kombu butter by artisanal brand Atas Butter with Maine lobster tail over a bed of creamy risotto. For dessert, you won’t go wrong with the Chocolate Lava ($15++), a sweet and malty treat served warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.Â
Read our Vin Geek review!
Address: 9 Scotts Road, #01-04/05/06/07, Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 12am
Tel: 6334 1622
Website
Vin Geek is not a halal-certified eatery.
For delicious Mexican-inspired fare in the West, head to Jaguarita’s at The Metropolis, a five-minute walk from Buona Vista MRT Station. If you’re visiting with friends for dinner, go all out with their variety of tacos in the form of a Taco Platter ($40++), which feeds a party of three or four. A must-try is the Birria ($7++), made with pulled beef, and served with a hearty beef consomme on the side for dipping. There’s also the classic Carnitas ($7++), a flavourful combination of different pork cuts—cheek, ear, and shoulder—and green salsa. If fish tacos are your go-to, try their Pescadillas ($7++), featuring beer-battered fish with purple cabbage slaw to cut through the grease.
Don’t miss out on the charcoal-grilled items, too. The Grilled Platter ($58++), which comes with chicken thigh, pork ribs, prawns, grilled peppers, and tomato salsa, is big enough for a group of four. The Grilled Squid ($28++) is a delightful add-on, too. This comes with a whole grilled squid complemented with salsa romesco and chimichurri for added brightness.
Address: 9 North Buona Vista Drive, #01-18 The Metropolis, Singapore 138588
Opening hours: Mon-Tue, Thurs 11:30am to 2:30pm, 4pm to 11pm, Wed 11:30am to 2pm, 4pm to 11:30pm, Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm, 4pm to 12am
Tel: 8260 1686
Website
Jaguarita’s is not a halal-certified eatery.
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