The Keisuke ramen chain strikes again, this time with a joint specialising in crab broth ramen. Located in Cathay Cineleisure, the restaurant closes at 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, making it the ideal stop for a post-movie supper. Choose from five ramen styles: Crab Broth Ramen with Clear Soup ($12.90), Crab Broth Ramen with Rich Soup ($13.90), Spicy Crab Broth Ramen ($14.90), Crab Dipping Noodles ($13.90) and the unique Crab Broth with Mixed Fried Omelet Ramen ($13.90). Reminiscent of egg hot plate tofu, the latter is a winning combination of springy noodles, a super flavourful broth and a blanket of soft, fluffy omelette. Yum.
The brainchild of DP Architects and Grub, redpan serves Western grub with a local twist, making this the perfect place for a family meal after a day's worth of shopping. Located in Marina Square, come with the whole jin gang and start with the Truffle Floss Fries ($8). Order the Prawn and 'Hae Bi Hiam' Pasta ($15) for Dad — tagliatelle tossed with sakura ebi, sauteed prawns and the housemade hae bi hiam that packs a spicy punch while mum can opt for the Vegetable Lasagna ($13) that comes with grilled eggplant, mushrooms and pumpkin. End the meal on a sweet note with the Coconut Panna Cotta ($7) or the Gooey Banana Donuts "Milo Dinosaur" ($7).
Get your hands on the handcrafted ice pops from this popular Hong Kong brand, which recently debuted as a takeaway kiosk in 313@Somerset. The tasty popsicles come in a range of both milk and fruit-based flavours. Try the Refreshing Kiwi ($5.90) on a hot day, and go for the milk-based flavours like Strawberry Hokkaido Milk and Earl Grey Pistachio ($6.90 each) if you're in a mood for a post-dinner sweet!
Joining the Japanese hotspots in Tanjong Pagar's Orchid Hotel is Kajiken, Singapore's first maze soba (dry ramen) specialist. Go for the Mazesoba Nagoya Style ($12.80), al dente noodles topped with spicy minced pork, strips of seaweed, plenty of chopped spring onions and a perfectly cooked soft boiled egg. Add lashings of vinegar and chilli oil if you like your noodles punchy. Pro tip: On hungry days, upsize your portion of noodles (1.5 or 2 times) for no extra charge!
This iconic Russian-Hainanese eatery has reopened, and while the interiors may be refreshed with a new colour scheme, the signature Shashlik experience of classic tableside service is still intact thanks to many former waitstaff returning to work, bow tie and all. Take your parents out for a nostalgic meal and enjoy the Shashlik Beef Skewers ($32) which come on a hotplate, along with a portion of slurp-worthy Escargots ($32/dozen). If you're here on a weekend, go for the Oxtail Stew ($32) — braised for a whole day till meltingly tender. Finish off with the flaming Baked Alaska ($24, serves two) for dessert.
Located in the heart of Dempsey, come to Portico Prime with your girlfriends to bond over tea, pretty cakes and all things girly. For just $48 per pax, the Portico Favourites High Tea Set comes with a generous spread of 15 savouries and sweets. Look forward to chilled truffle-scented angel hair pasta topped with avruga caviar and crispy kawa ebi shrimps for that extra crunch. Slather homemade honey kaya on the freshly baked raisin and citrus peel scones, before having the unexpectedly good Singapore-style chili crab meat eclair. For a light ending, don't miss the bandung rose cream, strawberry and lychee tart! Pro tip: Follow @porticosg on Instagram or Like them on Facebook to enjoy the high tea set at $38 per pax, valid till 14th April.
This modest shop located near Sengkang serves ice cream flavours inspired by well-known dishes. With 22 ice cream flavours on rotation every day, you'll be spoilt for choice at Mingle Mangle. The usual chocolate, vanilla, strawberry are available, but what you should be going for are the premium ones. Daring eaters simply must try the Chili Crab flavour ($4.80 one scoop) — just spicy enough to pack a punch. On a balmy night, go for the alcohol-infused Watermelon Soju ($4.80), a refreshing flavour inspired by the popular Korean drink!
With two sister outlets in Katong and Geylang, Mongkok Dim Sum has opened a third outlet just a minute's walk from Beauty World station on the Downtown line — the perfect venue for a fuss-free late night supper. Come with a big group of friends and start with their silky smooth Steamed Rice Roll with Shrimp ($4). Apart from the usual dim sum fare, heartier zi char dishes like Salted Egg and Butter Pork Ribs ($14) and Beef Horfun (from $6) are filling, tasty options to share.
Conveniently located on the first floor of Marina Bay Financial Centre, Workspace Espresso is the answer for busy workers in that area who want a hearty but healthy meal. Lunch service starts promptly at 11.30am, where you can either choose one of their five pre-selected grain bowls or build your own from scratch. Go for the Stamina Bowl ($16.30) — goji brown rice base topped with sea bass, miso chili eggplant and reliably good wakame wood-ear salad. Wash it all down with a cup of coffee (from $4), take it away if you're in a rush!
At Chot Nun, there is no need to gather a troop to satisfy your bingsu craving. This Korean dessert store at Far East Plaza serves the soft-as-snow icy dessert in a takeaway cup — great if you want to continue your window shopping in town! Every cup also comes with a dry ice holder, so it allows the Bingsu to last longer in this heat. Choose from 12 different flavours, including the familiar Injeolmi Bingsu ($7.50) served with soy powder and chewy mochi, or the unexpectedly good Breakfast Bingsu ($7.50) — milky ice topped with honey corn flakes for that extra crunch.
Previously located in Macpherson, Royal J's Seafood now brings its signature Fried Porridge (from $6 for small, enough for two modest appetites) to its new digs in the Jalan Besar neighbourhood. Plain porridge is fried with an abundance of ingredients including tau kwa, fried dried shrimp, cuttlefish and shredded meat, resulting in a wok hei laden pot of pure umami comfort. The texture of the porridge is thicker and starchier than most, so pace yourself! Be discerning about what you order from the zi char menu. While it looked promising, the Royal J's Cheesy Prawns (from $28) underwhelmed with its cloying sweetness. Go for the Tasty Fried Pork (from $12) and You Mai Cai (from $8) instead.
At Creamier's second outlet, 10 out of their 18 signature flavours are now permanently on the menu (the rest are on rotational basis) — that is reason enough to travel down to Gillman Barracks for dessert! The bigger and better Creamier also boasts more indoor seating than its Toa Payoh outlet and two new ice cream flavours — Macadamia Tropicana ($4.20) and Pomegranate Yoghurt ($4.20). First time here? Go for their signature ice cream flavour Sea Salt Gula Melaka ($3.30). If it's available, add on a scoop of the Peanut Butter and Jelly ($4.20) — it's a winning combination of savoury and sweet. Don't miss out on their fluffy waffles too ($6 for waffles alone, $8.80 with one scoop of ice cream)!
Just across from Novena Church is Masterpiece Bistro and Bar, a cosy restaurant that dishes out Italian fare at affordable prices. Bring a date and start the night by sharing the Char-grilled Octopus Carpaccio ($16) and the creamy Lobster Bisque ($14), which comes topped with caviar. For mains, order the Mushroom Risotto with Grilled Hokkaido Scallop ($22) — infused with a generous amount of truffle oil, mushroom lovers will love tucking into this! There are wine pairings for every dish. Refer to the menu for recommendations.
Whether you're vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free or just looking for a nutritious meal, this new CBD cafe has something to cater to your food preferences. Have your lunch meeting while tucking into the elegant Poached Seabass with Mushroom Risotto ($14), or go for the Piri Piri Chicken with Sweet Corn Succotash ($13), served with roasted vegetables, for a protein fix. Save space for a slice of their homemade Summer Berries Tart ($3.50) and wash it all down with a Long Black ($4). Tired? Add the Bulletproof option ($1.50), which sees your coffee topped with a shot of coconut oil, grass fed butter and vanilla. It's believed to keep you energised for much longer than regular coffee.
Experience shabu shabu at its best at this Greenwood joint, helmed by the same chef as Shelter in the Woods. Choose from the pork, beef, seafood shabu shabu set or sukiyaki set (from $48 per person). Try the Beef Set ($64 per person). It comes with 300g of melt-in-the-mouth striploin and ribeye Aomori Japanese rice-fed beef, vegetables and one soup base. You must opt for the robust Fish Bouillabaisse broth and get the creamy Pork Bone Tonkotsu broth (a la carte, $8) to swish your meat in. While there are little European touches like cooking Risotto (a la carte, $12) in the leftover soup here, the main concept here remains largely traditional Japanese, like ending the meal with an iconic shaved ice dessert called Kakigori (from $12).
By the folks behind The Refinery comes Miss Lok, a cheeky Asian hotpot and noodle bar located near Clark Quay. While the hotpots and sexy cocktails they serve in the night are tempting, it is more value for money to come on a weekday afternoon for their lunch bowls. The lunch menu offers five types of soup-based noodles (from $8.90), of which the blackened squid ink soup Black Laksa and wickedly spicy Ma La Mee Tai Mak are the clear standouts. Add $5 to complete your meal with a drink and a side dish — be sure to order the One Mouth Crab! These bite-sized soft shell crabs are fried to a perfect crisp — you won't be able to stop popping them into your mouth!
Toa Payoh's newest kid on the block serves up Western fare in a comfortable cafe setting. Its menu of familiar crowd pleasers like Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict ($16) and Duck Confit ($18) makes it an ideal place for a family brunch or class gathering. The Dowager's Fingers ($10) — long sticks of crispy fried wanton shaped like Empress Dowager Cixi's famed nail protectors — is unique (and Instagrammable) but a tad too gimmicky. Save your calories for a slice of the Royal Choco Truffle ($8) instead. It's rich, velvety and just the right amount of sweet.
Hokkaido's famed produce takes centrestage at this casual izakaya in Tanjong Pagar. Come by for dinner if you'd like to taste their full repertoire of dishes. Top picks include the Grilled Scallop ($10), Milk Hotpot with Salmon ($18) and Sea Urchin Wrapped With Wagyu Beef ($35). For dessert, try the Steamed Potato with Vanilla Ice Cream ($7) — the unconventional pairing works because of the natural sweetness of the Hokkaido potatoes. If you are in the area for lunch, expect a compact menu of soba dishes like the Kakiage Tempura Soba ($12), noodles in hot broth served with a large, crisp piece of vegetable and seafood tempura.
In town but not sure where to eat? Head over to GoroGoro, an affordable Korean steamboat buffet concept at Orchard Gateway. The lunch buffet ($14.90 daily) gives you 90 minutes to eat and catch up with your lunch kakis — perfect for students as well as office workers treating themselves to a long lunch. There are 50 ingredients to choose from at weekday lunches, and up to 70 choices for dinners and on weekends. Opt for the Vegetarian and the Beauty Collagen broth — the latter is a light but flavourful soup base that is lovingly boiled for at least 12 hours. Don’t forget to try the fried chicken wings!