My Favourites List
This is a section of short write-ups about some of my favourite places in Singapore, that I feel everyone should know. And perhaps also a good litmus test for you to gauge if my tastes align with yours!
Hawker Food
- Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee — Masterfully fried texture with perfectly balanced flavours. This Michelin Bib Gourmand stall also has the best Hokkien Mee sambal chilli, hands down.
- Global Mat Soul Kitchen — Exclusive homecooked briyani that's immensely flavourful, every grain perfect, every morsel flavourful and every drop of gravy intoxicating.
- Swee Guan Fried Hokkien Mee — The very epitome of wok hei. This ties with Tiong Bahru Yi Sheng for me for vastly different reasons. As far as wok hei goes, this hokkien mee effortlessly crushes all other competitors.
- Old World Bak Kut Teh — This stall in Yishun serves up one of the most unique dishes in Singapore, fried porridge. Opulently rich in flavour from the offals and drowning in wok hei, this is more addictive than crack.
- YY Kafei Dian — Possibly my favourite kaya toast in Singapore. It's a beautiful cloud-like bun with a generous slather of rich kaya that's shoulders above some other popular places. A heart-warming Singapore classic.
- King of Fried Rice — The same standard as, or better than, Din Tai Fung for half the price? Smoky, eggy and flavourful, adorned with that crazy juicy pork chop, long live the king.
Casual Dining
- 25 Degrees — Perhaps not inch perfect, but 25 Degrees makes up for it in personality. The immensely juicy patty is married to Gorgonzola and Thousand Island Sauce for a very unique but mouthgasmic experience.
- Bari Uma — Tonkotsu ramen is dime a dozen in Singapore, but forget the trite ones like Keisuke and Ippudo. Bari Uma's amazingly creamy broth will cause a flavour explosion in your mouth.
- Enishi —The Michelin Bib Gourmand from Kobe is the definition of hidden gem. A quaint nine seater, this homely ramen joint serves up both supremely delicate dashi broth ramen and this tan tan men that's a tidal wave of umami.
- Park Bench Deli — Undisputed king of sandwiches in Singapore. Their selection of sandwiches is wide but all filled with quality. This peanut butter & jelly sandwich is perhaps the most decadent sandwich in existence.
- Merci Marcel — Besides the great aesthetics at the different Merci Marcel outlets, the food is pretty good too. In particular, the Raviole du Rayon has me smitten with its elegant but rich cheese profile.
- Two Men Bagel House — Talking about bagels in Singapore, Two Men Bagel House will always be mentioned. There’s little mystery to their popularity after you bite into their handmade bagels.
Cafes
- Tarte by Cheryl Koh — Helmed by the Les Amis pastry chef, Tarte is understated French excellence. Nothing too glitzy but just great craftsmanship with an elegant use of simple ingredients for great flavours.
- Apartment Coffee — As a coffee snob, no cafe has won my heart like this beautiful minimalistic outfit. Their ever-changing selection of coffee always satisfies; one of my best cuppas ever was one from them with champagne grape notes.
- Micro Bakery — Artisan sourdough is a thriving niche sector of the local cafe scene, and Micro is on top of it. Their loaves are already great, but it's their flawless creations like this grilled cheese that make them stand out.
- Antea Social — Teahouse that's quite unlike any other, from their gorgeous new age aesthetics to their impeccable selection. No tea lover should go without trying their amazing flavour infused oolong tea line.
- Alchemist — My favourite white coffee in Singapore. Not like your average cuppa, it's bold and inexplicably chocolatey. Not to mention great canned brews and relaxing vibes at all their outlets.
- Baker's Bench — A cute little bakery at Bukit Pasoh Road, this place makes my favourite croissants in Singapore. The sourdough babies sing with a melodious crunch to expose tjeor dense but fluffy innards.
- GelatoLabo — A gelato place that captured my heart rather quickly. Their eye for unique flavour combinations are acute, and textural layering quirky. With options like carribean rum & charred pineapple and sakura smoke artichoke, expect the craziest ideas.
Restaurants
- Cloudstreet — Michelin-Starred Chef-Owner's Rishi Naleendra's exciting take on Australian flavours, with plenty of innovation and genre-bending. Not to mention they serve possibly the best bread course, a life-changing Stout and Licorice Bread, in Singapore.
- Candlenut — The first Michelin Star Peranakan restaurant in Singapore. It is a modern take on the homely cuisine of the Nyonyas, with perhaps one of the best buah keluak fried rice and kueh salat around.
- Ryo Sushi — Everybody loves Japanese sushi. But if you're ready to move to the next level and try an omakase, there's no other place I'd recommend than Ryo. With a cheap price tag of $38 for lunch, their quality can compete with many pricier places.
- RVLT — Their shtick is predominantly that of a natural wines bar, but they are more than that. Their food selection is crazy good. Unhinged fusion flavours, from uni butter pastas to tartares with dragonfruit. This Patty Melt is also perhaps still the best beef sandwich I've had to date.
- Salted & Hung — You can expect fresh and good quality produce prepared meticulously here. They're evidently experts at handling meat as they do a mean wagyu pastrami sandwich, though you can also find gems on their course menu like the great crayfish risotto.
Bars
- The Elephant Room —One of the most meticulously executed concepts that's unapologetically Indian culture centred in every inch of the bar. You can expect exciting flavours like this complex kamasutra that's made from a medley of aphrodisiacs and spirits.
- WINE RVLT — RVLT serves up natural wine that's sometimes quirky and fun, sometimes just traditionally good. But they do it in a refreshingly unpretentious manner, quite unlike the ostentatious air of fine dining.
- Izakaya Ninigashi — Izakayas are Japanese drinking dens that serve up great food while having wide-ranging selection of Sakes. Ninigashi is one of the best Izakayas, and they have free flow alcohol for just $35++!
- Junior the Pocket Bar — If you dislike monotony, oh boy do we have a bar for you. The crazy crew at Junior rotates their entire bar concept and decor every 3 months.