The true origins of brands can be elusive. Thanks to marketing efforts, design choices, and popular myths, we sometimes think of certain brands as foreign when, in reality, they are proper homegrown brands. We’re here to debunk the misconceptions with this list of 10 food brands you never knew were Singaporean. Show your support to these local brands!
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What started as a single shop in 1998 selling just one type of cake—the humble dark chocolate cake—has now grown into a beloved brand with a wide range of chocolatey treats. Awfully Chocolate was founded by Lyn Lee, a former lawyer, who wanted to bring her passion for chocolate to the masses.
Awfully Chocolate offers a variety of products, including their signature Original All Chocolate Cake (from $45), Chocolate Praline Cake (from $80), and the indulgent Super Stacked Chocolate Cake ($98). They also have a selection of truffles, brownies, and even ice cream to satisfy all your chocolate cravings. You can find Awfully Chocolate’s delectable treats at their outlets across Singapore or order online for a sweet delivery to your doorstep.
Arguably the most well-known supplier of consumer-grade fish balls, BoBo was started in 1987 by siblings Ang Yang Hua and Jill Ang, whose parents were wet market fishmongers. After sinking their roots into the local market, BoBo began looking abroad, and now exports its products to over 20 countries. These changes were also marked by evolution—beyond its popular BoBo Fresh Fish Ball ($3.35) and Big Flat Fishcake ($3.25), the brand now offers premium items such as the BoBo Fried Tau Kee ($10.14) and even BoBo Yellow Tail Fresh Fish Ball ($4.38), which is said to be made with traditional craftsmanship. These products are perfect for your next hotpot feast at home!
This month, the brand is celebrating BoBo Day, which falls on 8 August every year, with a campaign that features roadshows held at selected supermarkets from 2 August to 25 August 2024—this coincides with National Day! There are plenty of prizes and freebies to be won, so be sure to drop by if you’re a fan of BoBo’s products! Do check out their Facebook page for all the latest updates on BoBo Day.
Find out more about BoBo here.
In 1879, amid the bustling streets of Gopeng, Perak in Malaysia, Yan Sang was founded by Eu Kong, a migrant from China. At the time, opium addiction was rampant among tin mine coolies, who used the substance to alleviate various pains and ailments that were caused by their manual labour. This compelled Eu Kong to set up Yan Sang, a Chinese medical shop, to provide alternative TCM remedies and care for the workers.
By the 1910s, his son Eu Tong Sen had started tin mining and rubber plantations across Malaya and Singapore. Embracing his father’s legacy, Eu Tong Sen would go on to establish a TCM medical hall in the vicinity of his tin mines and rubber plantations. This expansion also marked the official renaming of the business to Eu Yan Sang.
Celebrating its 145th anniversary this year, the brand has certainly come a long way from when it opened its doors in 1879. Generations of consumers have come to count on the brand for quality fine herbs, soups, everyday health tonics like Bird’s Nest (from $51.50) and Essence of Chicken (from $19.90), as well as proprietary TCM formulations like Bak Foong, Hou Ning, Bo Ying Compound, heat expulsion and more.
To celebrate National Day, Eu Yan Sang is having a buy two, get one free campaign for their Essence of Chicken series! Drop by any outlet or visit their online store to enjoy this deal.
Find out more about Eu Yan Sang here.
Despite being a relatively young brand, Oatside has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the oat milk scene. The brand was founded by Benedict Lim, a 33-year-old whose love for coffee led him to experiment with crafting his ideal oat milk. His findings helped him create the creamy and malty milk that Oatside is known for today. But Benedict went a step further, which led to Oatside becoming Asia’s first “full-stack” oat milk brand, meaning they oversee every stage of the production and R&D process.
Aside from milk products including the Barista Blend ($6 for 1000ml) and Chocolate ($6 for 1000ml), Oatside also offers Oat Milk Coffee ($1.80 for 200ml), in flavours such as caramel macchiato and mocha. You can find all of these products and more at major local supermarkets.
If you’re looking to buy pizzas by the slice, then Pezzo is likely the name that comes to mind. After all, Pezzo was the very first brand to offer this concept in Singapore, having started doing so back in 2012. After achieving local success, Pezzo expanded overseas, opening outlets in Malaysia, China, Saudi Arabia and more.
A Classic slice of pizza at Pezzo will set you back just $4.90, and you can get it in flavours such as Pepperoni Party, BBQ Bonanza, Hola Hawaiian and more. You can also opt for the Gourmet options at $5.90 a slice, including the likes of Truffle Mushroom, Satay Sedap, and even Mao Shan Wang Pizza.
You may be surprised to learn that Sushi Tei, the popular Japanese restaurant chain, is actually a local creation. Founded in 1994, Sushi Tei filled a gap in the Singaporean market for affordable and accessible Japanese fare. Today, the brand has 13 outlets across the country, and many more in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
Sushi Tei is known for its wide selection of sushi and sashimi, including popular sets like the Hodaka ($19.80++), a platter of eight sushi featuring the likes of tuna, salmon, and shrimp nigiri. Their menu also features an array of donburi, tempura, and bento sets, such as the Salmon Ikura Don ($19.80++), Tendon ($13.80++) and many more.
Founded in 2000 by Andrew Chan, Anna Lim, and Benedict Leow, who were university students at the time, The Soup Spoon offers hearty, wholesome soups that could cater to a wide range of palates, all served in a comfortable, casual setting. To date, the brand has 30 outlets across Singapore, making it one of the most accessible brands on this list.
Some popular soups you can get at The Soup Spoon include the Tango Tomato with Basil (from $7.20), Tokyo Chicken Stew (from $9.20), and SG Chicken & Mushroom Ragout ($9.30). For those who prefer a full meal, you can upgrade to the Bread Bowl option, which comes with sourdough bread and a small salad.
Despite its European tea salon-inspired appearance, TWG Tea was actually founded on our shores. The “1837” included in all its branding? That refers to the year the Chamber of Commerce was established in Singapore, rather than when the brand was founded, which was in 2008.
TWG’s marketing may somewhat obscure their Singaporean origins, but it has undoubtedly created a “luxury teahouse” image that has driven their success. This luxuriousness is perhaps best embodied in their tea time sets, such as Parisian ($72++ for two people), which comes with items such as crab meat tart, truffle croque, brioche with Thai basil chicken, and your choice of two hot or iced teas.
Yew Kee Duck Rice is a true Singaporean heritage brand, with roots dating back to the 1960s. Originally started as a humble pushcart stall by Seah Teck Yew, the brand was later developed by his son, Seah Boon Lock, into a beloved local food chain. Specialising in braised duck rice, Yew Kee uses the traditional Teochew method of cooking which incorporates more than 10 different herbs, spices, and ingredients to create their signature braised sauce.
Yew Kee has expanded significantly over the decades, and now has 29 outlets across Singapore. At each outlet, the Yew Kee Set (from $6) remains a must-try, as it comes with the brand’s signature duck, tau kwa, peanuts, and other ingredients. You can enjoy the tender and flavourful duck with your choice of carbs, such as rice, porridge, noodles, and even kway. Their Speciality Chilli is also a crowd favourite—you can purchase a bottle of it for $5.90, or order it together with any Yew Kee set meal to get it for just $5. Beyond just pairing it with duck rice, its versatility means that it’ll go well with any home-cooked meal you whip up!
Find out more about Yew Kee here.
While the name Yum Cha might suggest Hong Kong origins, this popular restaurant in Chinatown is actually locally founded. First opening its doors in 2000, Yum Cha’s founders aimed to bring the authentic flavours of traditional Chinese tea house cuisine to the heart of our city. The critical and commercial success that followed eventually led to the opening of their second outlet in Changi.
Yum Cha is best known for its staggering range of dim sum dishes—there are almost 60 varieties here, ranging from traditional to contemporary dim sum items including siew mai, har kao, and xiao long bao. They are also popular for other nostalgic dishes such as Pig Trotters Vinegar ($16.80++), Assam Prawns ($33.80++), and Tai Lok Mee ($11.80++).
To celebrate National Day, Yum Cha has launched a National Day Set Menu, priced at $59++ per person and available till 30 September 2024. Each set gets you eight different items, including three seasonal dim sum, one soup, three mains, and a dessert—these items are also available in the a la carte menu. There are some really unique dishes here that are inspired by our local cuisine, including the Otak Siew Mai ($6.80++ for three), fragranced with lemongrass and spice, Bak Kut Teh Xiao Long Bao ($6.80++ for three), featuring a peppery BKT soup instead of classic pork broth, and Chilli Crab Bao ($3.80++), filled with spicy tomato sauce and crab meat.
Find out more about Yum Cha here.
We hope you’ve been surprised by some of the entries on this list! For a list of the oldest local restaurants that are still in business, read our oldest restaurants in Singapore guide. For the best Hakka eateries, ranging from heritage restaurants to lei cha stalls, read our best Hakka food places in Singapore guide.
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