New food places in Singapore
Image adapted from: @_zhihui.lim
We’re nearing the end of the year, so let’s just wait for the new year to start any dieting plans. After all, plenty of new food joints have opened their doors this November for us to feast on. From massive American burgers to freshly made pasta, here are 20 new cafes and restaurants for us to gorge ourselves silly:
– Cafes –
1. Waterbath Chef – DIY protein bowls with over 24 sides
Image credit: @wishuponatart
The healthy eating fad appears to be here to stay, but cafe Waterbath Chef offers a more creative take on grain bowls and superfoods. They’re clearly Asian-inspired with proteins like Real Crab Meat in Chili Crab Sauce and sides like Honey Mustard Soya Chips.
Image credit: @yeahyeahright
While our main gripe with other healthy cafes is the limited number of ingredients, Waterbath Chef has a staggeringly long list of add-ons – there’re at least 7 carbs, 6 proteins, and 24 sides to choose from. We’re also pleased to see that their range of sauces – they term them as ‘Flavor Bombs’, includes classics like Roasted Sesame but also novelty dressings like Spicy Tom Yum.
A Regular Size starts from $8.90 while a Starving Size starts from $12.90.
Those who can’t make it all the way to West Coast for lunch can order via their online delivery site.
Address: 154 West Coast Road, #B1-57 West Coast Plaza, Singapore 127371
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 9:30AM-3PM, 5:30PM-8:30PM
Telephone: 9107 1076
2. Apartment Coffee – minimalist coffee joint
Image credit: @jalanmedha
Think of the most minimalistic cafe you’ve seen, and Apartment Coffee is sure to top that. Simply put, it’s all white paint and wooden furniture with very little else. Their coffee menu’s just as concise, with filter roasts changing on a weekly basis.
Image credit: @lilychonglily
Try their Colombia El Mirador ($4.50) that comes with a splash of milk and subtle biscuity notes. Those who don’t like coffee can choose from non-coffee options like Java Silver Buds, a green tea flavoured with rose, or Madagascar Mava, a hot chocolate flavoured with orange.
Address: 161 Lavender Street, #01-12, Singapore 338750
Opening hours: Mon to Tue, Thu to Sun: 9AM-6PM (Closed on Wednesdays)
3. The 1872 Clipper Tea – Tea bar with iced tea mocktails & tea puffs
As tea fanatics, we recently tried 1872 Clipper Tea’s new tea bar in ION. They’ve got standard teas like Classic English Breakfast ($4.20) and Timeless Earl Grey ($4.20) but also a range of Iced Tea Mocktails.
Our favourite was the Singapore Sling ($4.70) which mixed a full-bodied Classic English Breakfast with subtle notes of hibiscus, coconut, lychee, and pineapple.
Other interesting concoctions include their Iced Tea Lattes ($5.80), with flavours like Matcha, Oolong, and Hojicha.
The tea bar also offers a variety of sweet treats, such as Tea Puffs ($3.20 each, 4 for $12), Chiffon Cakes ($6.80), and Scones (2 for $6) – served with fresh clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #B4-07 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10AM-10PM
Telephone: 6509 8745
4. Hello Baby – Vegan fast food & desserts
Image credit: @that_dex
When you’ve got dietary constraints, boy, is it hard to find good food in Singapore. But with the recent launch of Hello Baby, backed by the folks from HRVST, vegans now have their own reliable fast food kiosk to fulfil any burger cravings.
Their Beets & “Egg” Burger ($10) is made from crunchy beetroot chips, egg-free frittata, and cheddar, all tucked in between a vegan burger bun that’s onion and garlic free.
Image credit: @hllo.bb
They also have a range of desserts, with treats like Nut Butter Chocolate Cake ($6) and Waffle Crisps Mylkshake ($8), an ice blended shake with almond milk and berries.
Address: 10 Trengganu Street, F&B Stall No. 10 Chinatown Street Food Market, Singapore 058464
Opening hours: Mon, Wed to Sun: 11:30AM-9PM (Closed on Tuesdays)
5. Duxton 41 – Sugar-free desserts with protein powder
Image credit: @duxton41
After a long week, there’s nothing like treating ourselves to a fancy array of desserts. Boutique dessert cafe Duxton 41 lets you do just that, and thankfully, you’ll be tucking into their cakes and pastries guilt-free since all are free of sugar and rich in protein – some of their desserts are even made with whey protein!
Image credit: @alliedsingapore
They offer guilt-free desserts like Galaxy Stone ($8), a rich fudge cake layered with fresh fruits and a brown rice sponge, and Muscle Profiterole ($4.25), a cream puff that’s filled with isolate whey cream filling.
Other treats worth trying include the Ultimate Fudge Cake ($8), Tropical Rainbow Eclair ($4.50) and Sugar Free Soft Serve Ice Cream ($3.75).
Address: 41 Duxton Road, Singapore 089505
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10AM-10PM
Telephone: 6224 1941
6. Birdy’s – brunch fare with wine list
Image credit: @birdysallday
There’s no shortage of trendy cafes in Upper Thomson area these days, but Birdy’s nailed it a hole in one with their floor-to-ceiling windows and light-filled space. That said, nothing here is particularly Instagrammable – it’s the delish brunch plates that’ve caught our eye.
Image credit: @anjdrinkstothat
The menu is surprisingly extensive for a cafe, since it’s divided into Day and Night. Till 4PM, they dole out light choices like Cheese & Pickles Toastie ($13) and Truffle Mushroom Pasta ($18). When night falls, the menu offers heartier mains like Pan Fried Barramundi ($25) and Wagyu Cheese Burger ($24).
Those after a glass of wine will be pleased: they offer both new and old world wines from countries as far-flung as Austria and Argentina.
Address: 215F Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574349
Opening hours: Mon: 10AM-11PM, Wed-Thu: 10AM-11PM, Fri: 10AM-12AM, Sat: 8AM-12AM, Sun: 8AM-4PM (Closed on Tue)
7. Fatburger – 4-patty beef burgers from LA
Image credit: @michelleishigh
The name Fatburger is an iconic one in hamburger history, with a record number of Hollywood actors and A-list celebs claiming it as their absolute favourite burger joint. Their brioche buns are reportedly pillowy soft, which offered a tasty contrast to the crunchiness of the complimentary onions, pickles, and lettuce.
Image credit: Eatbook
Their Quad Burger ($15.90) is a massive beast. 4 beef patties with all the toppings you’d like – cheese, egg, beef bacon, onion rings, and chilli for an additional $1 each. No doubt that you’ll be eating up your daily intake of calories in one seating, but it’s worth sacrificing your diet for the juicy patties and buttery-soft buns.
It isn’t easy for those with regular apetities though: anyone who finishes their Quad Burger gets framed on their Wall of Fame and a certificate too.
But if you’re staying true to your diet, this Skinny Burger is a good choice – it has no carbs whatsoever since there are no buns
Image credit: @carbiedaphie
KINEX
Address: 11 Tanjong Katong Road, #01-70/71/72 KINEX, Singapore 437147
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10AM-10PM
Telephone: 6245 5563
Velocity @ Novena Square
Address: 238 Thomson Road, #01-08/09 Velocity @ Novena Square, Singapore 307683
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10AM-10PM
8. The Living Room Eating House – cafe with local food and hawker prices
Image credit: @thelivingroomeatinghouse
Over at Leng Kee Community Club, The Living Room Eating House is a tranquil cafe that serves up local fare. With the likes of favourites like Mee Siam ($3.50), Prawn Noodles (from $4), and Nasi Lemak (from $3), there’s every reason to head down especially since the prices are similar to what you’d find at the coffee shop downstairs.
Image credit: @thelivingroomeatinghouse
And with a name like that? A meal here promises to be every bit as cosy as eating at a friend’s home.
Address: 400 Lengkok Bahru, #01-01 Leng Kee Community Club, Singapore 159049
Opening hours: Tue to Sun: 7:30AM-5:30PM
9. Halcyon & Crane – Sichuan-inspired brunch
Image credit: @katielewww
Those who’ve visited Birds Of A Feather along Amoy Street will notice that Halcyon & Crane has parallel similarities. No surprises here, since they’re both ran by the same team: they’re both fusion joints with a Sichuan-influenced menu, and housed in beautiful airy spaces.
What’s more, Halcyon & Crane is in Paragon so it’s an ideal space to take a pit stop from the ever-crowded shopping malls of Orchard Road.
Image credit: @halcyoncrane
Those after a light brunch will enjoy fusion flavours like King’s Chicken Hash Benedict ($21), a classic brunch dish that comes topped with Sichuan gong bao chicken or their Clams & Yam Noodle ($22), an interpretation of vongole pasta.
Address: 290 Orchard Road, #03-9 Paragon, Singapore 238859
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 9AM-10PM
Telephone: 9721 5121
10. Bread Createur – freshly baked French pastries
Image credit: @breadcreateur
Bread Createur has the wafting scent of freshly baked bread, but it’s unlike any neighbourhood bakery you’ve ever seen. It’s a rather snug space – nothing fancy in terms of decor – but that doesn’t matter when you’re eyeing the glorious display of French pastries.
Image credit: @mrsjackiechan
Amidst flaky croissants ($3.20) and caramelised kouign amanns ($3.50), they also serve up savoury breads like Charcoal Bacon & Cheese ($5.50) and Croque Monsieur ($5.90). If a delicate pastry doesn’t quite satisfy, they also offer heartier mains like a Club Sandwich ($12.90).
Address: 182 Jalan Jurong Kechil, #01-51 The Hillford, Singapore 596152
Opening hours: Tue to Sat: 8AM-8:30PM, Sun: 8AM-8PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: 9179 5804
– Restaurants –
11. LINO – wood-fired pizza & homemade pasta
Image credit: @linorestaurant
There might be an influx of Italian restaurants in Singapore, but we sure love our Italian cuisine. Over at LINO, we can look forward to wood-fired pizzas and homemade pastas. Their Burrata Pizza ($28), for instance, comes with slow roasted cherry tomatoes and generous slabs of burrata cheese. It goes without saying that there’s a thin-crust base with a delightfully tasty char. .
Image credit: @linorestaurant
All pasta choices are solid, but their standout dishes would be the Pappardelle with Crab Meat ($32) and Fettuccine with Short Rib Ragu ($22). If you opt to share, they also have plates like Grilled Octopus ($22) and Hummus ($14).
Address: 7 Binjal Park, Singapore 589821
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 4PM-12AM, Sat to Sun: 11AM-12AM
Telephone: 6463 7800
12. Butter – affordable fine-dining in the CBD
Image credit: @oo_foodielicious
At first glance at Butter’s menu, everything is deceivingly simple. Mains like Trio of Prawn Pasta ($28) and Chicken 2-way ($28)? Starters that are described as Forest ($14) and Tomatoes ($12)? Don’t be fooled: all dishes are backed with thoughtful consideration.
Take the seemingly straightforward Tomatoes – it’s served as a salad with confit, sun-dried, brulee, grilled, and foam tomatoes. Similarly, the Trio of Prawn Pasta comes with plump tiger prawns, dried shrimps, and kawa ebi ( deep fried shrimp) over capellini.
The Chocolate Cloud will be set on fire to reveal a delish mix of chocolate ice cream and cotton candy.
Image credit: @wishuponatart
As for desserts? The unassumingly-named Chocolate Cloud ($16) comes with fluffy cotton candy, white chocolate bits, and chocolate ice cream.
Address: 35 North Canal Road, #01-01, Singapore 049291
Opening hours: Mon to Sat: 5PM-12AM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 6535 0332
13. The Sampan – Asian fusion cuisine along the Singapore river
Image credit: @thesampansg
If you’re craving Southeast Asian food but need to choose just one, then it’s The Sampan where you should head directly to. As a new joint along Boat Quay, they offer dishes influenced by Indonesian and Vietnamese cuisines. Try their Blue Swimmer Crab & Pomelo Salad ($14) for a generous heap of crab meat, pomelo, avocado, and green mango.
Image credit: @thesampansg
A must-try dish is their Pork and Chicken Choi Bao (vegetable wrap, $4/each) that comes with a generous amount of minced meat wrapped in lettuce leaves. And on the plus side, there’s no carbs whatsoever.
Image credit: @deeniseglitz
Address: 63 Boat Quay, Singapore 049851
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 11:30AM-12AM, Sat: 4:30PM-12AM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 6732 1698
14. Udon Komadori – udon with salad & soup buffet
Image credit: @love_mt.fuji_miyuki
Over at Udon Komadori, it’s their udon that’s the star of the show. They often have fresh premium ingredients like truffle, ikura, and uni, but one standout regular on their menu is their Uni Roast Beef Udon ($17) – each strand comes drenched in uni cream, with roast beef slices and a fresh piece of uni on top.
Image credit: @singinfo_girl
Other notable dishes include the Pesto Genovese Scallop Mushroom Gen Udon ($15) and Mayo Cheese Mentai Udon ($15). You can also pay an additional $7 to load up on free-flow servings of their salad bar and soup counter.
Address: 47 Bencoolen Street, Hotel Bencoolen, Singapore 189626
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 11AM-3PM, 5PM-10PM, Sat to Sun: 11AM-10PM
Telephone: 6208 8028
15. Nonya Nonya – Modern Peranakan food
Image credit: @julovessashimi
Peranakan restaurants are often thought of as old school favourites that bring back nostalgic memories of your grandma’s cooking. At Nonya Nonya, look forward to traditional dishes like Ayam Buah Keluak ($16) and Ngoh Hiang ($10) but also modern dishes like Scallop Lemak ($28). This comes with 7 pan-seared scallops swimming in a rich coconut-based gravy.
Image credit: @nonyanonyasg
As a no-frills diner, Nonya Nonya’s an ideal space for a catch up with friends or simple family dinner.
Address: 12 Maju Avenue, Singapore 556690
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30PM-9:30PM
Telephone: 6282 4021
16. Menya Kokoro – Japan’s most popular dry ramen
Image credit: @_zhihui.lim
We’re easily swept away by anything Japanese, and the same applies to mazesoba. Mazesoba is essentially dry ramen that’s mixed with minced meat, char siew, spring onions, and nori but at Menya Kokoro, they offer up a range of different flavours.
Image credit: @chocolatetbasil
The original is the Tokyo Maze Soba ($10.80) but they also offer Spicy Maze-Soba ($11.80), Melting Cheese Maze-Soba ($12.80). For our local tastebuds, there’s Maze-Don and Curry Maze-Don ($13.80) on the menu.
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #03-313 Suntec City Mall Tower, Singapore 038983
Opening hours: Mon to Thu: 11AM-3PM, 5:30PM-10PM, Fri to Sat: 11AM-10PM, Sun: 11AM-9:30PM
Telephone: 6235 3386
17. Bar Cicheti – pasta and wine pairings
Image credit: @barcicheti
Bar Cicheti’s an Italian classic. As much as we enjoy the likes of pizzas and truffle fries, this Italian joint brings us back to an era that’s all about al dente pasta and matching wines. When here, try the Fusilli Nero ($15/ $28), a delish plate of squid ink pasta that’s loaded with uni, crab, and anchovy.
All pasta dishes are offered in entree and main size – the former is appropriately sized so you can try various dishes.
Image credit: @barcicheti
If the extensive wine list is too much of an information overload, simply ask for recommended wine pairings – bottles start from $69.
Address: 10 Jiak Chuan Road, Singapore 089264
Opening hours: Tue to Fri: 12PM-2:30PM, 6PM-10PM, Sat: 11AM-3PM, 6PM-10PM, Sun: 11AM-3PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: 6789 9801
18. Basque Kitchen by Aitor – Spanish cuisine
Image credit: @teddyfoodievoyage
The head chef at Basque Kitchen by Aitor comes from the one-Michelin star Iggy’s, so you can be sure that the food here is fine dining at its best. Take the Prime Ribs for instance, it’s a solid chunk of Australian 200 days grain-fed beef, and pairs beautifully with the silky-smooth mash on the side.
Image credit: @unlistedc
Other savoury highlights include Marmitako (Classic Basque fish stew), Oxtail Risotto with Truffle and Foie Gras, and Black Grouper. Set lunches start from $45 and are available on weekdays, while you can choose from three, five, or seven-course tasting menus for dinner – starting from $115.
Address: 97 Amoy Street, Singapore 069917
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 11AM-2:30PM, 6PM-11PM, Sat: 6:30PM-11:30PM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 6224 2232
19. Gake – Japanese tapas & sake bar
Image credit: @gakesg
Gake might be a Japanese-European restaurant but unlike various fusion eateries, it doesn’t try to cram too many flavours into one dish. In fact, the chef – originally from sake bar Boruto – has a key personal mantra of keeping things simple.
Image credit: @gakesg
The menu comes with a range of savoury bites, like Grilled Prawns, Foie Gras with Citrus Sauce, and Yuzu Infused Tomatoes. All are relatively small, so feel free to order up and share with a group of friends.
Address: 36 Carpenter Street, Singapore 059915
Opening hours: Mon to Sat: 5PM-12AM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 6781 3603
20. Zen – with a 3-Michelin-starred Swedish chef
Image credit: @brennwald
Quite possibly the most luxe choice in this entire list, Zen is a restaurant that’s headed by Bjorn Frantzen, a 3-Michelin-starred Swedish chef. It sure doesn’t come cheap: dining here means picking from tasting menus that start from $450/person.
From what we’ve sourced, the food looks utterly delectable with offerings like Uni Chawanmushi and Lightly Grilled Botan Ebi (Shrimp). Zen is scheduled to open 21 November 2018, and reservations are already open for the months of November and December.
Address: 41 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089855
Telephone: 9236 6368
New restaurants in November 2018
With October done and dusted, there’s a bunch of new restaurants and cafes for you to try in Singapore this month. From wood-fired pizzas to authentic Peranakan food, you’ll be feasting non-stop in November.
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