The king of fruits like you’re never seen him before
Durians have rightfully earned their status as king of fruits. After all, There are few things one would willingly subject themselves to olfactory torture for – and yet all durian lovers will know the pain of travelling to Geylang only to be greeted with half empty durian racks come durian season.
Thankfully, our own cafes and restaurants have also created lip-smacking dishes featuring our national fruit such as durian bingsu and even durian chee cheong fun – yes, you read that right. Here are 14 must-try durian dishes that might even convert all those durian haters out there.
1. Durian Bingsu
Source: @iceboxcafe.sg
To all my Muslim friends, rejoice! This drool-worthy durian bingsu can be found in Singapore’s first halal bingsu cafe, Icebox Cafe. Being only a 3-minute walk away from Farrer Park MRT, this can be your new stop for a quick bingsu fix if you’re on the North-East Line.
Address: 89 Rangoon Road #01-02, Singapore 218375
Contact: 9155 4720
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 2 pm – 11 pm, Sat to Sun: 12 pm – 11 pm
2. Durian Lava Cake
Source: @ryllyx
I’ve heard of salted caramel lava cake, and chocolate lava cake, but never Mao Shan Wang Molten Lava Cake until the glorious day I found out about Ice Edge Cafe.
Topped with icing powder, the cake holds the magical molten durian within which spills out after you cut it open. It’s also served with gelato of your choice, and any durian lover will know that there’s no such thing as durian overdose! Pair your lava cake with Ice Edge Cafe’s famous Mao Shan Wang gelato, and prepare for an intense durian explosion!
Address: 2 Kovan Rise, Singapore 548008
Contact: 6858 5729
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30 am – 11.30 pm
3. Durian Sticky Rice
Source: @glennlim.shootsfood
If mango sticky rice already tastes so good, I can only imagine durian sticky rice to be ten times better. And boy, I was right. Sawadee Thai Cuisine, located in the middle of Bugis’ steamboat stretch, offers this bold twist to a Thai favourite.
Aromatic durian and coconut milk work together to accentuate the unique flavours of each element, and warm sticky rice helps cut any richness!
Address: 9 Tan Quee Lan St, Singapore 188098
Contact: 6238 6833
Opening Hours: Daily 11 am – 2.30 pm, 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm
4. Durian Rainbow Ice Cream Cake
Source: @cassakating
With layers of rainbow coloured sponge cake wrapped around the frosty and flavourful durian ice cream, this dessert tastes as good as it looks. Plus, the ice cream is made from D24 durian! Due to the overwhelming positive response when these adorable cakes were introduced in 2015, Goodwood Park Hotel now offers the rainbow durian cake in 10.5 inches on top of their miniature versions.
These vibrant cakes will steal the limelight at any party for sure!
Durian Rainbow Ice Cream Cake is only available for Goodwood Park Hotel’s Durian Fiesta season, which takes place between March and July every year!
Address: 22 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228221
Contact: 6737 7411
5. Durian Chee Cheong Fun
Taking an adventurous spin on our all time favourite Hong Kong dim sum, House of Rice Roll & Porridge has introduced a dish you’ll never guess – Durian Chee Cheong Fun. Sounds odd and looks kinda odd, this dish will be the test of your love for durian.
Served cold generously stuffed with durian paste, the silky skin of Chee Cheong Fun complements the chewiness of the filling, and the sprinkle of peanuts give the dish an addictive crunch.
Address: 89 Killiney Rd, Singapore 239529
Contact: 6736 1355
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 10.30 am – 10 pm, Sat to Sun: 7 am – 10 pm
6. Durian Creme Brulee
Here’s durian in it’s classiest form ever – say hello to durian creme brulee, available at The Quarters Bistro Cafe. Taking advantage of durians’ natural creaminess, the dessert is soft and rich in flavour, giving you a taste of durian without the mess.
The layer of burnt caramelised sugar on top looks extremely inviting, with the yummy custard underneath.
Address: 16 Enggor St #01-09, 079717
Contact: 6834 4174
Opening Hours: Mon to Thur: 8 am – 10 pm, Fri: 8 am – 11 pm, Sat: 10 am – 11 pm, Sun: 10 am – 10 pm
7. Durian Pancake
Source: @lxnspx
Here’s a unique dish from Hong Kong chain Honeymoon Dessert: the Durian Pancake. However, this is no ordinary pancake served with maple syrup.
Stuffed inside a soft, green skin is a flavourful combination of D24 durian and fresh cream. More of a crepe than pancake, this durian dessert is unlike any other!
Address: 200 Victoria Street, #01-70, Singapore 188021. Full list of outlets here.
Contact: 6837 0027
Opening Hours: Daily 12 pm – 10.30 pm
8. Durian Mousse
Located near the famous Chomp Chomp Food Centre, Dessert Bowl is another food spot people would travel to Serangoon for. Selling possibly the best Durian Mousse in Singapore, there’s no surprise that the Dessert Bowl is packed especially on weekends.
Thick, creamy durian mousse topped with a chunk of durian pulp – this is the treat every durian lover must try. With a consistent, smooth texture and strong durian flavour, this durian mousse could beat even the ones you find at hotel buffets.
Address: 80 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555976
Contact: 6285 1278
Opening Hours: Tue to Thur: 1 pm – 10.30 pm, Fri to Sun: 1 pm – 12 am, Closed on Mon
9. Durian Mango Ice
Source: @raycheeryeoh
Jin Jin Hot/Cold Dessert at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre is famous for their ‘Gangster’ Durian Mango Ice. Mango cubes are piled on top of the shaved ice, then topped with a generous scoop of durian puree and drizzled with condensed milk.
The tanginess from the mango and rich durian flavour harmonises well together, and is a refreshing change from the usual syrup-laden desserts. Besides the Durian Mango ice, Jin Jin Hot/Cold Dessert also boasts Singapore’s best Chendol, which was picked as one of Singapore’s Favourite Food Choices 2013.
Address: Blk 6 Jln Bukit Merah #01-20, ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Contact: 9093 2018
Opening Hours: 12.30 pm – 10 pm, closed on Wednesdays and public holidays
10. Durian Milkshake
Source: @redstrawbeanry
It’s said that the Durian Milkshake from Penang A1 is so good, people would travel all the way to Tampines just to get it. For $2.90, you can get a cup of freshly blended D24 Durian smoothie with durian chunks at the bottom.
Winning the hearts of many with their humble smoothies and desserts, Penang A1 has earned themselves thousands of supporters on their Facebook Page. They also introduce new concoctions regularly to stay up to date, such as the Red Velvet Oreo Smoothie.
Address: Blk 822, Tampines St 81 #01-186, Singapore 520822
Contact: 9851 9477
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 11.30 am – 8 pm | Sat, Sun & PH 11.30 am – 5 pm
11. Durian Strudel
Source: @thestriket
If you didn’t know about the existence of durian strudel, you’re really missing out! Ritz Strudel specialises in making quality fruit strudels such as their famous Apple Strudel, but their Durian Strudel is also out of this world.
Thick layers of smooth durian and cream sandwiched between flaky pastry crusts of the strudel glazed with sugar – this dessert is sweet and light, while retaining the flavourful durian. You’d think half a loaf is enough but let me just correct you – it’s not.
Address: 833 Bukit Timah Road #01-10 Royal Ville, Singapore 279887. Full list of outlets here.
Contact: 6469 3470
Opening Hours: Daily 10 am – 9.30 pm
12. Durian Macarons
Just when I thought durians couldn’t come in any better form, the team at Macarons.sg created Mao Shan Wang macarons which are just so. Damn. Cute! Don’t be fooled by its appearance – these dainty little gems are filled with Mao Shan Wang paste, which will waken your taste buds.
Hidden in the obscure Sultan Plaza, you can find them on Level 4, as part of a store called Bakerz Lab. They offer a large variety of macaron flavours, and also have customisable macaron printing services perfect for company events or birthdays.
Give them a call before heading down to ensure that they are in!
Address: 100 Jalan Sultan, Sultan Plaza, #04-40/41, Singapore 199001
Contact: 9855 1531
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 10 am – 7 pm, Closed on Sat, Sun, and Public Holidays
13. Deep Fried Durian Ice Cream
If you’re feeling fancy with some cash to spare, head down to Restaurant Majestic at Outram Park to try their Fried Durian Ice Cream.
Enclosed within the deep fried and crispy crust, the frozen Mao Shan Wang sits on a layer of mango sauce which complements the strong durian taste. Pulling off the contrasts in temperature, taste and textures well, this fried durian ice cream has garnered many positive reviews.
Address: 31 – 37 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089845
Contact: 6511 4718
Opening Hours: 11.45 am – 2.30 pm, 6 pm – 10 pm | Closed on Mondays.
14. Goreng Durian
Chi Shuang Shuang at Old Airport Road offers Goreng Durian which is hard to find elsewhere, along with other unusual gorengs, such as Jackfruit. Breaking open the crunchy exterior, you’ll be greeted by the warm and fragrant smell of durian.
If you’re a fan of goreng pisang, you’ll love this rendition as well! Located in the famous Old Airport Road food centre, this is often an overlooked gem many do not know about.
Address: Old Airport Road Food Centre & Shopping Mall, 51 Old Airport Road, #01-51, Singapore 390051
Opening Hours: Daily 10 am – 10 pm
One fruit, infinite possibilities
We’ve got Goreng Durian, Durian Chee Cheong Fun and Durian Bingsu… What’s next? Maybe Durian Liu Sha Bao or Durian Eggs Benedict. Yum! There are so many ways to enjoy the king of fruits – you don’t need to get your hands dirty to have a taste of glorious durians. Although the fruit tearing and finger licking is part of the whole durian experience.
The richness of durian varies from dish to dish, and there might be something you’d like even if you aren’t a fan of durians. As our national fruit, we can only expect more odd durian creations as time goes by. But for now, I can’t wait for durian chicken hotpot to reach the shores of Singapore!