In a country where there’s a building in the shape of a durian, it’s unlikely that there’s any shortage of the actual fruit anywhere in this Little Red Dot. We’ve rounded up a list of roadside durian stalls with great service all around Singapore, so you can enjoy the delectable fruit.
Durian season in Singapore typically lasts from late June to August. Most durians are imported from Malaysia, specifically Johor and Pahang. The costs of durian varies depending on the quality and demand of the fruit. You can expect to pay between $15-$30 for 1kg.
There are over 30 types of durians you can find in Singapore. This includes the popular ones like mao shan wang, D24, XO, Red Prawn, and Golden Phoenix that are commonly found at durian stalls. There are also rarer kinds of durian such as Black Pearl, D17, and D13.
For the uninitiated, these durian varieties have different sweetness levels. There are some, like the XO and Golden Phoenix, that have a bitter aftertaste. However, if you prefer a sweeter option, then the Red Prawn will be right up your alley.
It’s hard to tell the condition of the durian flesh without cracking open the shell. But some vendors do not condone the opening of durians before you make payment. There are several methods you can use to estimate the quality of the durian.
To tell the ripeness of the durian, sniff along the lines near the stem. The more intense the smell, the more ripe the fruit is. Another way is by tapping the durian and listening to the sound it produces. You often see durian sellers doing this – if it sounds hollow, it probably means the fruit is ripe.
You can check the freshness of the durian by scratching the stem. Scratch the stem gently; if it’s leafy-green and fleshy on the inside, it means the fruit is on the fresher side. Another thing to look out for is the shape of the durian. It doesn’t always have to be perfectly round. For example, if a durian has sides that jut out, it might mean that the seeds are fleshier.
Location | Address | Durian varieties available | Price/kg | |
99 Old Trees | Outram Park | 1 Teo Hong Road, Singapore 088321 | MSW, Red Prawn, Black Pearl, D24 | From $52/750g for D24 |
House of Durian | Toa Payoh | 211 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310211 | MSW, Golden Phoenix | $99/kg for Black Gold |
Sindy Durian | Whampoa Drive | Block 89 Whampoa Drive, #01-835, Singapore 320089 | MSW | From $32/kg for MSW |
Durian Mpire by 717 Trading | Serangoon Road | 22 Yio Chu Kang Road, Highland Centre #01-01, Singapore 545535 | MSW | From $45/kg for MSW durian meat |
Ah Seng Durian | Ghim Moh & Alexandra | Full list of Ah Seng Durian locations. | MSW, XO, D24, Golden Phoenix, Red Prawn | From $45 for MSW |
Lele Durian Singapore | Ghim Moh | 20 Ghim Moh Road, #01-125 Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre, Singapore 270020 | MSW, D13, Golden Phoenix, D28 | From $22/kg for MSW |
The Durian Tree | Bukit Batok | 277 Bukit Batok East Avenue 3, #01-371, Singapore 650277 | MSW, D13 , D88, Golden Phoenix | From $22/kg for Old Tree MSW |
Ah Hung D24 Sultan Durian | Sims Avenue | 107/9 Sims Avenue, Singapore 387431 | MSW, D24 | From $10/kg for D24 |
227 Katong Durian | East Coast Road | 227 East Coast Road, Singapore 428924 | MSW, Red Prawn, D13, D1, Hu Lu Wang | From $28/kg for MSW |
Durian Kaki | Yishun | Yishun Street 22, Block 293 #01-259, Singapore 760293 | MSW, Red Prawn, D13 | From $115/3 boxes of 400g of MSW |
Fruit Monkeys | Ang Mo Kio | 7 Ang Mo Kio Street 66, #01-03 FloraVista, Singapore 567708 | Frozen Old Tree MSW, MSW Puree | $138/1.8kg of frozen Old Tree MSW |
Table of Contents
Image adapted from: @99oldtrees via Instagram
Experts will argue that the best tasting durians are those that have naturally fallen from the trees, and not picked before fully ripen. 99 Old Trees is one of the stalls that sell such durians, so it’s no surprise that the shop comes with stellar reviews from past customers – one of them being Jack Neo.
Even if you aren’t a self-proclaimed durian specialist, you can join the durian workshop by 99 Old Trees and learn how to pick the best out of the bunch. Tickets go from $99/pax and the masterclass also includes a tasting session – think unlimited samplings of mao shan wang.
Price: From $52/750g for D24
Address: 1 Teo Hong Road, Singapore 088321
Opening hours: 12pm-9pm, Daily
Contact: 9822 2495 | 99 Old Trees website
Tucked away under a HDB block at Toa Payoh, House of Durian contains so much more than just durians alone. In here resides a variety of other fruits as well as durian creations – and by that, I mean mao shan wang ice cream, cake, and smoothies made with actual durian in front of your eyes.
Price: $99/kg for Black Gold
Address: 211 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310211
Contact: 6258 2054 | 9108 3710 | House of Durian website
No language barriers here as the staff are fluent in English.
Image credit: @msmartinique via Instagram
Night owls, Sindy Durian is the place to get your late night durian fix. Conveniently located at Whampoa Drive, the shop is open 24 hours from Monday to Saturday, so your 3am durian cravings will no longer go unanswered.
Although the mao shan wangs are on the pricier end, Sindy Durian regularly receives positive reviews so you can expect quality durians here. The shop also offers free delivery with every $150 spent. Or, you can head down to the stall to get the goods – just remember to call and reserve your preferred durian type before travelling over.
Price: From $32/kg for MSW
Address: Block 89 Whampoa Drive, #01-835, Singapore 320089
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 24 hours, Sun 12pm-12am
Contact: 9710 2427 | Sindy Durian Facebook
717 Trading is the kind of place you’d go to for a lepak night out with good ol’ friends and some quality durian. The whole roadside experience is simplistic and peaceful. It helps that the staff are rather friendly as well.
The mao shan wang available strikes a perfect balance of bitter and sweet and maintained its shape even though it was super creamy. Perfect for those who like something substantial to bite into.
Price: From $45/kg for MSW durian meat
Address: 22 Yio Chu Kang Road, Highland Centre #01-01, Singapore 545535
Opening hours: 12pm-8pm
Contact: 6487 2777 | Durian Mpire website
Image credit: Ah Seng Durian via Facebook
Ah Seng Durian has been around for a couple of years, never failing to win the hearts of Singaporeans in search of good quality durians, especially mao shan wang. Having a reputation for his honesty, Ah Seng is a friendly and bubbly store owner who’s almost always present, providing customers personal service.
Pro tip: You should reserve your durians 1-2 days ahead because of high demand. It can also get very crowded so don’t come expecting a guaranteed seat.
List of Ah Seng Durian locations.
Image credit: Lele Durian Singapore via Facebook
Lele Durian is known for its top-grade mao shan wang from Batu Pahat that rarely disappoints its customers. Their MSW is known to be super bittersweet and addictively creamy in texture. With fluctuating prices throughout the year, catch them during the durian season and dig in.
Price: From $22/kg for MSW
Address: 20 Ghim Moh Road, #01-125 Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre, Singapore 270020
Opening hours: 1pm-9pm, Daily
Contact: 9694 8584 | Lele Durian website
Image credit: The Durian Tree via Facebook
There’s more to the West for durian-lovers than just Ghim Moh. The Durian Tree is a humble durian stall at Bukit Batok selling a great variety of durians, including fleshy mao shan wang at a very reasonable price. Service is noted to be extremely good by many customers who claim that they replace bad durians within reasonable requests.
Price: From $22/kg for Old Tree MSW
Address: 277 Bukit Batok East Avenue 3, #01-371, Singapore 650277
Opening hours: 1pm–11pm, Daily
Contact: 8777 1388 | The Durian Tree website
Ah Hung D24 Sultan Durian has D24 in its name for a reason – they’re best known for the D24 variety that has hints of alcoholic notes. But that’s not all that Ah Hung offers. They also sell the bittersweet and creamy mao shan wang variety as well. You’ll find Ah Hung along other durian sellers at Sims Avenue, but this stall has a credible reputation for fair pricing and quality.
Price: From $10/kg for D24
Address: 107/9 Sims Avenue, Singapore 387431
Contact: 6743 3509 | Ah Hung D24 Sultan Durian website
Image credit: @howardhoch via Instagram
Katong is not only the place to take Instagram-worthy hipster cafe shots but also to savour drool-worthy mao shan wang. At 227 Katong, feast on bright yellow fleshy pieces of durian at a relatively reasonable price with a bonus of great service. For those who wish to skip the disappointment of “sold out” durians for walk-in orders, you can also order online on their website.
Price: From $28/kg for MSW
Address: 227 East Coast Road Singapore
Opening hours: 10.30am-10.30pm, Daily
Contact: 8318 9924 | 227 Katong Durian website
Image credit: @duriankakisg via Instagram
If there’s one thing Yishun is known for other than rabak crimes, it’s durian. Be brave and tread those dangerous grounds, ‘cause it’s definitely worth it if you’re going to get mao shan wang at Durian Kaki.
Apart from excellent reviews of the creamy bittersweet king of fruits, their service has received a noteworthy amount of praise as well. A clean modern spin on the classic roadside durian stalls, with indoor seating to accommodate haters of our humid weather.
Price: From $115/3 boxes of 400g of MSW
Address: Yishun Street 22, Block 293 #01-259, Singapore 760293
Opening hours: 2pm-10pm, Daily
Contact: 8405 8509 | Durian Kaki website
Durians are “heaty” enough, and we don’t need things to get even more heated with the weather. A great respite from Singapore’s heat and humidity, Fruit Monkeys allows you to sit down under aircon and enjoy your durian without sweating.
Formerly located at Farrer Park, this indoor durian eatery left both our tummies and hearts full with the fleshy mao shan wang and heartwarming service. Complimentary gloves, water and tissue made for an amazingly convenient experience. NETs payment is accepted too.
Price: $138/1.8kg of frozen Old Tree MSW
Address: 7 Ang Mo Kio Street 66, #01-03 FloraVista, Singapore 567708
Opening hours: 12pm-10.30pm, Daily
Contact: 6291 2383 | 9145 2860 | Fruit Monkeys website
No matter where you live in Singapore, durian season doesn’t discriminate. Mao shan wang lovers can take advantage of the upcoming peak period and lower prices to feast on the custardy fruit. Just be sure to drink lots of water while you’re at it.
More durian content:
Cover image adapted from: @duriankakisg via Instagram
Originally published on 5th May 2017. Last updated by Joycelyn Yeow on 11th June 2024.
Unique SkillsFuture courses you should take this year.
You spin my head right round, right round.
Countdown to 2025 in Singapore Another year has flown by, and as we bid farewell…
Let's get dem gainz.
No need to head to Japan or Korea, China has pretty blooms too 🌸
It's every Sanrio fan's dream come true.