We Found A New Retro Diner In Katong With $1 Arcade Games And Old-School Western Mains

Sta Western is a 24-hour retro diner at East Coast Road

Joo Chiat is no stranger to good food, but this new retro diner stands out among the rows of cafes and bars along East Coast Road. Located directly opposite Holy Family Church, on the same stretch as Awfully Chocolate, Sta Western is hard to miss with its bright blue neon sign and classic diner-style setup.

The space leans into a nostalgic, old-school vibe, complete with neon lights and arcade machines at the entrance, priced at $1 per play. Though Google Maps lists its opening hours as 10am to 10pm, signage at the stall states that Sta Western is open 24 hours a day.

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because the team behind Sta Western are the same folks operating Star Western in Kovan. Like their Kovan outlet, Sta Western serves local-style Western food in humongous portions.

Orders are placed via a self-service kiosk at the counter. The menu leans into Western comfort food, with classics including meat platters and breakfast sets. Most mains come as hearty full plates with your choice of meat, paired with familiar sides such as hot dogs, baked beans, garlic bread, sunny-side-up eggs, fries, and coleslaw.

Their most raved-about dish has to be the affordable Chicken Chop ($9.90), which you can pair with Mushroom, Black Pepper, or Hainanese sauce. When the dish arrived, we were blown away by how big the portion was. If you’ve got a smaller appetite, this main could even be shared between two people.

The grilled chicken was juicy and tender, complemented by a mushroom sauce with a savoury, slightly peppery flavour. Compared to the version commonly found at Western hawker stalls, this rendition was noticeably richer and slightly thicker, with bits of mushroom that added a pleasant bite.

The shoestring fries were seasoned with Cajun spices, giving them a light, spicy kick without being overpowering. I enjoyed the coleslaw, which came across creamy and refreshing, helping to cut through the heavier elements of the dish. The garlic bread, however, was slightly stale and could use a stronger garlic flavour, while the sunny-side-up egg was cooked a tad longer than expected.

We also tried the Lamb Chop ($14.50), served with the same sides. The portion was just as huge—the lamb chop was roughly the size of a palm—and boasted a slightly pinkish centre. Even if you’re not usually a fan of lamb, this version is worth a shot as it wasn’t overly gamey.

There was a smoky, slightly charred aftertaste that complemented the tender and juicy meat. 

If the mains aren’t enough to fill you up, there are also sides such as Onion Rings ($11.90), Classic Fries ($6.50), and Curly Fries ($5.50). We went for the USA Baked Potato ($3.50), loaded with a generous amount of sour cream. The potato itself was well-baked and held its shape nicely, but the sour cream was a little overpowering.

On the drinks front, options such as Iced Yuan Yang ($3) and Teh Limau Iced ($3) are also available, along with Kopi ($3) and iced Milo ($3). The Yuan Yang comes with a siew dai option, though we found it tasted slightly diluted compared to the regular version.

For more affordable Western food, read our Amei Western Grill review for $7.90 risotti with caviar. If you’re not looking to spend more than $5, head to $5 Western instead—they serve old-school chicken chop and fish and chips with generous portions in Kallang.

Address: 197 East Coast Road, Singapore 428901
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours
Tel: 8292 9478
Website
Sta Western is not halal-certified.

Photos taken by Nivian Chiang.