Located on the second floor of Destination Hotel, Folklore serves what executive chef Damian D'Silva calls "Singapore heritage food", essentially the food he grew up with. Having learnt both Eurasian and Peranakan cooking styles from his grandparents, he dishes out spot on flavours that really pack a punch. Portions are generous, so be sure to gather a group of spice-loving friends for this meal. Start with the refreshing 4 Angled Bean Salad ($12) tossed with tiny cubes of mango, red and green chillies, ginger flower and kaffir lime leaves, before moving on to the Singgang ($20), a lesser seen Eurasian dish of smashed wolf herring meat cooked in a flavourful, non-spicy paste. The highlight at Folklore has to be the well-executed, very addictive Sambal Buah Keluak Fried Rice ($22) that Burppler Veronica Phua describes as the "real black magic". Don't miss out on the hunky chunks of Beef Cheek Rendang ($32) that are braised till unbelievably tender. End your meal on a sweet note with their house made Kueh Kosui ($6) — it's one of the best we've had.
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Colin Tan
Spice up your cocktail routine at this new bar along Boat Quay, which doles out Peranakan-inspired bites and cocktails in a fun, laid-back setting — great for tipples with the girls. The people from the popular Five Ten restaurant are the same guys behind Bee Bee's, so expect the same punchy plates. The food selection is very compact, with only three items of the menu, but it changes every one to two months, so there's reason to return. For now, consider the Babi Braised ($8) topped with achar and an oozy egg, or one of two bruschetta options — the fiery Tuna Tartare Bruschetta ($7) comes spiced with basil, ginger flower and a host of other Peranakan flavours, while Auntie Mary's Bruschetta ($6) is topped with tomatoes and burrata. Pair these with beers from the tap ($8/half pint) or go for their cheeky and fun cocktails, all uplifted with the same Peranakan flavours. Try the Flora Nangka ($15) that shines with jackfruit, or the tropical-esque Sorry Not Sorry ($15), which sees a blend of bright, fruity ingredients including red dragon fruit, soursop, lime and galangal.
Avg Price: $25 with a drink
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh
This new joint at Amoy Street Food Centre has only one dish on its menu — Wagyu Roast Beef Donburi ($10), so we are assured that all the effort has been put into making it amazing. In Burpple Tastemaker Russell Leong's words, "the beef is lightly salted and roasted to a majestic medium rare, each slice of bovine was a delight to devour". And how generous are they with the slices! Burpple Tastemaker Fiona Ting counted at least six to seven large slices, topped with creamy yoghurt sauce and a sous-vide egg, and sitting atop a bed of white rice. For this standard of cooking, the price is most definitely right.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Russell Leong
Taking over the grounds of long defunct Oriole Coffee Roasters on Jiak Chuan Road, .elia has joined the Keong Saik neighbourhood to dish out comforting bistro plates in a chic yet very welcoming and soothing setting. On the menu currently are freshly made pastas and hearty sandwiches. Come by for lunch and tuck into their Pulled Pork Sandwich ($17.50), which sees flavourful and moist pork slicked in Russian dressing, sandwiched with purple slaw between sourdough toast, or go for one of the pastas — the Scampi ($18.50) with grilled prawns, pink peppercorns and tomatoes sounds fresh and lovely. Add on $1 for the sandwich set, which includes a hot coffee or tea, or $2 for the pasta set, which includes a mini bowl of salad and hot coffee or tea. The Burpple community is also raving about their simply named Potatoes ($16), a brunch only dish of grilled potatoes on mashed potatoes, peppered with bacon and caramelised onions, and a fried egg on top. The brunch menu is available on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua
If difficult gathering makan kakis have left you with too many unsatisfied Korean stew cravings, this new spot at Raffles Xchange may just be the answer to your jjigae woes. Over here, Korean stews are served in considerably smaller portions good for one or for sharing with a friend — there's no longer a need to gather an army for the communal feast! What's more, Jjigae Jjigae specialises in collagen hot pots that are purportedly great for the skin and metabolism. There are three collagen bases to choose from — yuzu salt, doenjang (non spicy) and kimchi gochujang. All of them are flavourful, but here's our advice. Get the latter if you fancy some traditional flavour, but we'd have you know that the light and zesty yuzu salt is the favourite among our Burpple Tastemakers. Prices start from $12.90 (for one pax, $19.90 for two) for a pork jjigae and go up to $16.90 (for one, $28.90 for two) for the seafood jjigae.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Acamas Teo
To find out just what kind of magic can happen when Japanese yakitori meets Szechuan shao kao (barbecue), pop by CHIKIN on Bukit Pasoh — hint: it's delicious. The skewers here are marinated in Szechuan peppercorn sauce and then grilled over Binchotan flames for smoky tastiness. There are various chicken parts ranging from the familiar like Thigh ($3) and Chicken Meatballs ($4.50) to the slightly offbeat like Windpipe ($4) to keep diners happy and interested, along with a small selection of beef and pork skewers ($6 each), a good variety of vegetables including Shishito Pepper ($3.50) and Shiitake Mushrooms ($3.50), and some izakaya-style plates like the Asahi Clams in Spicy Garlic Butter Dashi ($14). The smoky skewers pair well with their cocktails made with infused spirits (gin, sake, whisky) and Japanese flair — try the fruity and refreshing Sake Sangria ($19). There are also beers (from $8), wines (from $18 a glass) and a lot more in between. Let loose, but be prepared for the morning hangover. Pro tip: Ask them to taper down the skewers' spiciness if you can't take the heat.
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Justin Teo
Add this new joint at PoMo onto your list of places to cool down when temperatures rise. Taking over defunct Hasu Confection's premises, Shots & Scoops (as its name suggests) serves coffee as well as housemade gelato. It's a great place for students in the area to gather and chat, as well as for weekend shoppers to drop by for a bit of a treat while escaping the Orchard Road crowd. Go for the Waffle Cone (from $1) — there are several flavours, including red velvet and charcoal, and top that with a scoop or two of Ice Cream (from $3.80). Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua feels that flavours are on the conventional side, but he did single out a few inventive creations like the Lavender Stracciatella, which combines the floral notes of lavender with bittersweet chocolate chunks. Wash that down with one of the aromatic espresso-based coffees (from $4), brewed using a blend of Brazilian and Sumatran beans.
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua
The one-Michelin-starred restaurant from Osaka has found its first international outpost on our sunny shores. The intimate 40-seater in Odeon Towers specialises in kushikatsu, an Osakan specialty of deep-fried battered meat, seafood and vegetable skewers. As with Japanese cooking, the skill employed elevates deep-fried fare to crisp golden sticks of deliciousness, encased in light as air batter. Yum! The concept also sees a twist on the traditional — here, skewers are served with freshly baked bread, and the food is paired with a curated selection of wines from around the world. There are only two menu options here and both are pricey, so save this for occasions when you want to impress. The Omakase set ($134) allows you to eat up till 20 skewers, and comes with a veggie bowl, homemade pickles, fruit jelly and bread, while the Kushiage x Selected Wines Marriage Menu ($288) gets you 15 skewers and the same sides, along with wine and champagne pairing. Pro tip: Don't fret if you're a small eater. You can request to stop eating at any time, and the bill will be calculated based on the number of skewers you consumed.
Avg Price: $150 per person
Photo by Burppler Joe Yang
The second venture by chef-owner Andrew Walsh of Cure, Butcher Boy is an Asian-inspired grill set in Keong Saik. Expect a host of grilled meat mains, Asian-centric buns, moreish snacks and luscious sundaes. What's more, the ambience is laid-back and there's a DJ booth, making it a great space to wind down in after a long day at the office. Dishes worth trying include the Iberico Pork Belly ($32), the Duck Banh Mi with Liver Pate and Sriracha ($18) and the foolproof Butcher Boy Bacon & Cheese Burger with Fries ($28). Their two-page beverage menu is compact but sufficient. Kick back with a Japanese craft beer or knock back a cocktail — the rum-based Smoking Carriage ($22) with salted caramel syrup and orange will take any edge off. Save space for dessert as the sundaes are truly decadent. The Peanut Butter Ice Cream and Plum Jelly Sandwich ($10) is a spin on a classic that'll still hit the spot. Butcher Boy opens for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays. Come Sundays, they serve up a Sunday Roast menu of slow-roasted meats that'll have you well fed before the end of the weekend.
Avg Price: $50 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh
As its colloquial name suggests, this Alexandra establishment is chock-full of local pride, and that shows in its food. The zi char inspired space is helmed by executive chef Nixon Low, previously from Portico, so despite the restaurant's cheeky branding, expect the kitchen team to be real serious about the food. The space is very near Mapletree Business City, which makes it a great lunch spot for Burpplers working in the area. Pop by for their rice or salad bowls — the Signature Sesame Soy Sauce Chicken ($6.90) comes with wood ear mushrooms and pomegranate for crunch and flavour, the Nonya Assam Salmon ($8.90) comes slicked in a tangy and delicious gravy, and the Kimchi Chicken Salad ($7.90) keeps it light but tasty with soft-centered eggs and a soy sesame dressing. At dinner, the menu is filled with zi char style dishes like Har Cheong Chicken ($13) served roulade style and Ang Ji Kao Stout Braised Beef Cheek ($17), a spin on Guinness beef stew that comes served on a genius crunchy peanut butter mash. Take note that they close on weekends.
Avg Price: $10 for lunch, $25 for dinner
Photo by Burppler Kevin Marling
Set in Cavan Suites, a short walk from The Refinery in Lavender, this brand new dinner-only outfit will have you fed very well. Pop by for their excellent Bara Chirashi Don ($38), a generous heap of cubed raw fish and seafood. This is topped with house-pickled radish and freshly grated wasabi — the latter really elevates the dish to refined heights. If you're in the mood to indulge, consider going for their Sushi Omakase dinner (available at $68, $98 and $138). Expect to be treated to really fresh sashimi, sushi and a lot of delicious fun. Leading chef Kenny Khoo has more than 17 years of experience in Japanese cooking under his belt, and the service staff are also personal and knowledgeable, so rest assured you'll be in very good hands. The owner of Southpaw is a bit of a whisky connoisseur, and they offer whisky pairing with their food (there's also sake for the purists) — this is an experience whisky enthusiasts shouldn't miss out on!
Avg Price: $90 per person
Photo by Burppler Veronica Phua
Yes, you read that right — the famed cheese tart chain with over 39 stores in Japan is finally in Singapore! The permanent cafe sits 78 customers and is located on the first floor of Wisma Atria, serving its signature Cheese Tarts alongside other cheese-infused items. These include the Pablo Smoothie ($7.80), Pablo Mini Cheese Tarts ($3.50 each) and the Pablo Cheese Soft Serve Ice Cream ($3.50). If it's your first time trying this iconic Japanese dessert, dining in allows you to have a slice of the Pablo Freshly Baked Cheese Tart ($9.50 per slice with a coffee or tea) instead of the whole 15cm tart ($15). Note that only medium rare cheese tarts are available in Singapore, unlike the oozy rare ones that are only available in Japan. As for the other two flavours, Matcha Cheese Tart with Shiratama and Azuki ($18, whole) and Chocolate Cheese Tart ($18, whole), only takeaways are allowed. It's said that the cafe will introduce an exclusive local flavour cheese tart in the near future, so keep a look out for that!
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Muriel A
By the same guys behind Standing Sushi Bar and Tanuki Raw comes this ramen and tachinomi (Japanese for 'drinking while standing') sake bar, which brings life to otherwise sleepy Waterloo Centre (a short stroll from Bras Basah MRT station). The ambience is casual with bar and table seats, so ask along a few of your favourite friends to hang out. Some tasty tries from the menu include the US Prime Beef Tartare ($13) served with a truffled egg yolk; the Loco Moco Don ($18) that sees housemade luncheon meat (you read that right!), foie gras and a sunny side up quail’s egg on rice; and the Char Siew Taiyaki Sliders ($14), a savoury twist on the fish-shaped pancakes with tender Nagano pork char siew. These are great paired with their curated selection of sake. Served in single cups that you get to bring home, try the Nyan Cup Junmai Ginjo ($28) for its lovely pear and musk melon aromas, or the Fujieda Junmai Ginjo ($29) for melon notes and a crisp finish. When you get peckish again, slurp down a bowl of their signature Sumo Ramen ($23) which sees slow-roast oxtail, braised beef tendon, sliced beef and a boneless short rib swimming in a tonkotsu based broth. All ramen orders come with free flow ajitama (flavoured, soft-boiled eggs)!
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Wei Zhi Chiang
Magnum fans, rejoice! After many successful pop-ups in the last few years, Magnum Pleasure Store has now found a new and permanent home in town. Located in the basement of ION Orchard, the Magnum Pleasure Bar is where you can create your very own Magnum Stick ($8). Choose from 18 toppings like popping candy, Speculoos and even chilli flakes, before selecting your chocolate choice of dip and drizzle (white, milk or dark Belgian chocolate). In addition to ice cream, the Singapore store is also the first in Asia to carry Magnum Coffee, which features cocoa nibs-infused coffee. For those who want the best of both worlds, consider getting the Affogato ($8) that sees a vanilla Magnum bar dunked headfirst into two shots of espresso, topped with a sprinkle of cocoa nibs. The Affogato comes with melted chocolate drizzled on both sides of the rim of the cup and can get quite messy to drink, so consider requesting for it to be drizzled on the inside of the cup only.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Vanessa Kou
Located at the far end of the second floor of Orchard Central, The Tapas Club is the place to go with friends for authentic Spanish dishes at wallet friendly prices. Tapas, or sharing plates, start from $9.90 and nothing on the menu is over $25. Order their homemade Bread with Olive Oil and Vinegar ($5) to start, before moving on to their tapas. Of all that we tried, we liked the tender Beef Cheeks with Idiazabal Cheese ($12.90), the comforting Egg, Potatoes and Ham ($12.90) and the Baby Squid with Fried Egg ($12.90). Be sure to order the Squid Ink Noodles Paella ($25) that is great for sharing in a small group. The unassuming looking dish is surprisingly flavourful and the little charred noodle bits on the base of the pan fondly reminds us of claypot rice. Mix well for maximum satisfaction. End your meal on a sweet note with their Churros with Chocolate Sauce ($8) — it's one of the better churros we've had in a while.
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See
Situated next to The Salad Stop at The Cathay, Kori King dishes out bowls of Kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) — great for days when the weather gets unbearably hot. Priced at $5.90 per bowl, the light-as-air mountain of shaved ice comes with four mochi balls and is drizzled with their premium Hokkaido milk sauce and a flavoured sauce of your choice. There are eight options to choose from including sour plum, black sesame and gula Melaka. If it's your first time having Kakigori, play it safe and go for the crowd favourite, Matcha Haven. It is said that all the sauces are made using seasonal fruits and without additives. If you want to get creative, customise your Kakigori by going to town with their assortment of Toppings ($1) like azuki red beans, coconut flesh and tapioca pearls.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Wei Zhi Chiang
This new joint along Tanjong Katong Road (a few doors down from Punggol Nasi Lemak) is set to satisfy eastsiders with hearty Penang fare and for dessert, an unusual choice of Korean bingsu (the two co-owners are each from Penang and Korea). You wouldn't go wrong with the Assam Laksa ($6) featuring Penang-imported noodles that absorbs the full-bodied gravy so well. The gravy is on the sour side, but is really appetising thanks to its tanginess. Another classic to try is the Penang Char Kway Teow ($6), which has lots of 'wok hei' and just the right amount of spice for a nice kick. For dessert, try the Chendol Bingsu ($6.90), which sees frozen coconut milk delicately-shaven, bingsu style. This is then topped with green rice jelly, red beans and gula Melaka syrup made from scratch. At under $7 for a bowl of artisanal deliciousness, this is definitely a steal. Pro tip: Look out for daily specials like Coconut Iced Coffee ($5) and Penang Nutmeg Juice ($3), and a soon to be introduced Lor Bak (price to be disclosed)!
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Veronica Phua
The good folks from Ho-jiak have opened a takeaway stand in the basement of One Raffles Place. Pick up a cup of Coffee (from $4.50) from Common Man Coffee Roasters, whom they share a space with, while you dig into a bowl of Acai (from $8.90) to start off your day. Acai berries, a superfood, is said to be high in antioxidants, and believed to help with weight loss and detoxification. They claim that their acai has neither any preservatives nor added sugars. There are two sizes, Regular ($8.90) and Large ($12.90) and three variations to choose from. Each comes with a blended acai base topped with a variety of fresh fruits and seeds. There's even an option to add on a dollop of Nut Butter ($1) like almond, cashew or pistachio. First time having acai? Go for the Superstar Bowl, a chilled acai base topped with banana slices, blueberries, granola and a spoonful of sunflower and chia seeds.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua
Donya Japanese Cuisine may be set in a Toa Payoh coffeeshop (it's a stroll away from Creamier, so save space for waffles and ice-cream!) but according to Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua, the food here is "near restaurant quality". Expect some interesting rice bowls and maki rice rolls. The signature Donya Maki ($5.80) is a California roll inspired creation topped with salmon, drizzled with egg miso sauce and then flame-torched for smokiness. For something more substantial, try their rice bowls, priced very affordably between $5.80 and $8.80. This includes the tasty Salmon Mentai Don ($8.80), which comes with a substantial portion of the fish, topped generously with mentaiko. Classic and yummy!
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Pamela Ng
Sister outlet to vegan joint Brownice, this new addition to the Jurong East neighbourhood is set to change minds about veganism, thanks to their plant-based sweet offerings. Expect ice-cream, waffles and coffee (from $4.50, only soy or almond milk available), all free from eggs and dairy! Did we mention that the ice-cream averages between 100 to 150 calories per serving? Perfect for guilt-free cheat treats! Consider the Pistachio Ice-Cream ($3.50 a scoop), which Burppler Cafehoppingkids describes to be rich and nutty tasting, with added crunch from crushed pistachios. Other recommendations from the Burpple community include the refreshing Loco Coco (coconut) and potent Dancing King, a durian flavour bound to be a hit with lovers of the fruit. Their eggless waffles didn't fare too well with Burpplers who have visited the place, so perhaps stick to the ice-cream for now.
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Buppler ZC Ong