Tanjong Pagar is known to be a mini Koreatown, housing a series of Korean restaurants serving up KBBQ and more. However, there is more to this CBD neighbourhood than just Korean restaurants and soju bars; there are plenty of beautiful cafes and Japanese restaurants worth checking out. Here are 9 Tanjong Pagar food gems to keep a lookout for!
Gangsta Ramen is Singapore’s first-ever private ramen booth restaurant in Singapore! On the menu, you will find affordable ramen dishes ranging from $10 to $16. Staying true to classic Japanese flavours is the Original Ramen ($10) that features a creamy tonkotsu broth and two long pieces of pork belly. If you prefer your ramen with a bit of heat, order the Spicy Ramen ($12) boasting a dollop of sambal which gives the broth a slight pungent aroma.
Read our full review of Gangsta Ramen here!
Address: 1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-10, Singapore 082001
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 8:30pm, Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm
Website
Bearded Bella is a Melbourne-inspired cafe at Craig Road. Their coffee is brewed by 2016’s Singapore National Barista Champion, while their pastries are made in-house by a talented pastry chef. Great for the ‘gram is their Banana Passionfruit ($8) – banana mousse wrapped with a layer of passionfruit jelly-like exterior – and Green Apple ($8); a mousse shaped like an apple, containing apple, cinnamon, and raisins.
Read our full review of Bearded Bella here!
Address: 8 Craig Road, Singapore 089668
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 5pm
Tel: 9880 0775
Website
The name Keisuke shouldn’t sound alien to you, as Chef Keisuke has opened several Japanese restaurants – all named after himself – in Singapore focusing on ramen, tendon and more. At Hamburg Steak Keisuke, only two food items can be found on the menu: Keisuke Prime Beef Hamburg Set ($18.80++) and Triple Cheese Prime Beef Hamburg Set ($20.80++). The latter contains cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan, and as you slice into the tender beef patty, you will be greeted with a flow of cheesy goodness. Every main ordered entitles you to enjoy their free-flowing salad and egg bar within the restaurant.
Check out our full review of Hamburg Steak Keisuke!
Address: 72 Peck Seah Street, Singapore 079329
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6908 4348
Website
Image credit: @brendietan
Another concept by Chef Keisuke, Ramen Keisuke Tori King offers unlimited hard-boiled eggs and seasoned beansprouts with every bowl of ramen ordered. Try out their Tori King Ramen ($11.90++), which offers a variety of toppings in their menu such as Japanese seaweed and flavoured egg. Besides chicken broth, customers can choose black spicy instead for a fiery kick.
Address: 100 Tras Street, #03-15, 100AM, Singapore 079027
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 10pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6604 6861
Website
Image credit: @bike_n_wine
Another customisable food spot on this list is Ikkousha Hakata Ramen. A must-try is the God Fire Ramen ($13.50++), which promises to set your tongue on fire. The ramen comes with cha shu and seaweed, with four different levels of spiciness to suit your palette. Hit this place up if you think you are ready for a spicy food challenge!
Address: 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #01-104B, Singapore 081007
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6538 1880
Website
Image credit: @wynnliaolor
Tendon Ginza Itsuki is Singapore’s first Japanese tendon-focused restaurant. This place serves up affordable tendon rice sets, which comes with a bowl of miso soup and chawanmushi for less than $15! Both the Special Tendon ($13.90++) and Vegetable Tendon ($12.90++) come in huge portions, with a mountain of crispy tempura stacked above a bed of Japanese white rice, and will definitely leave you feeling extremely satisfied.
Address: 101 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088522
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6221 6678
Website
Bami Express specialises in Vietnamese sandwiches – banh mi! Highly-recommended is the Bami Saigon ($5), which is stuffed with radish, carrot, pork floss, pork belly, cucumbers, parsley, and Vietnamese sausage. All these ingredients complement one another well, and bring out an umami flavour.
Check out our full review of Bami Express!
Address: 1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-53, Singapore 088540
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 6pm
Tel: 6443 3079
Image credit: @sa_rs1316
Chocolat N’ Spice has always been my go-to stall for my muffin fix. Whenever I am a stone’s throw away from this stall, the fragrant aroma from these soft and fluffy muffins ( $1.30 to $1.60) just entices me to buy a box of six back home. Some of the flavours they have are chocolate chip and mocha. They even have unique flavours such as orange peel & raisin and carrot walnut.
Address: 1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, Singapore 082001
Opening hours: Mon 8:30am to 4:30pm, Tue-Fri 8:30am to 5:30pm, Sat 8:30am to 2:30pm
Tel: 9276 2110
Website
Image credit: @pristyq
Cake Spade is a patisserie cafe known for their cakes, some of which are the Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cake, and Spiced Carrot Cake, all priced at $6.20 each. However, instead of their cakes, I felt that it is their IG worthy Cake Shakes ($14.90 to $16.90) that sets them apart from other cafes. A variety of sweet treats are stuck to the side of the mason jar that contains a refreshing ice cream shake, followed by the addition of other toppings and sauces to complete the entire milkshake.
Address: 83 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088504
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 12pm to 9:30pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6444 3868
Website
If you’re bored of the same ol’ Korean BBQ at Tanjong Pagar, then check out Yakiniku-Oh Goen! This value-for-money Yakiniku Joint features a Genghis Khan grill that’s commonly found in Hokkaido. Get their Iron Plate Seafood ($24.80+), which comes with prawns, squid rings, salmon slices and vegetables, for a hearty seafood feast. Meat eaters will enjoy the juiciness of the Special Fresh Beef & Cattle ($19.80+) that has the same melt-in-your-mouth texture as wagyu.
Read our full review of Yakiniku-Oh Goen!
Address: 83 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088504
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 12pm to 9:30pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6444 3868
Website
Travel to Tanjong Pagar for a meal with family or friends! From cafes to hawker stalls, Korean and Japanese eateries, Tanjong Pagar will never disappoint you. For cheaper options in the area, check out our Tanjong Pagar eats priced at $5 or less!
Haidilao VivoCity has a $3++ DIY bubble tea buffet bar! Get unlimited servings of milk…
Tomahawk King Steakhouse & Grill has Singapore's first Raising Cane's-inspired chicken and XL Wagyu steak…
The Commune Life Style Mall is a new shopping centre in Johor Bahru with a…
Check out these best Japanese restaurants in Singapore for a variety of different Japanese food,…
Restoran Kak Kak is a restaurant in Johor Bahru selling cheap dim sum from just…
Coriander coffee might sound like an abomination of culinary expressions, but don't knock it until…