The relentless Singapore sun doesn’t always make for the best climate to enjoy hot nasi lemak or steamy Hokkien prawn mee unless you’re prepared to sweat buckets. Or maybe you want to impress overseas clients and the good old hawker centres just won’t cut it. We understand, so here are our top choices to feast on your local favourites in cool comfort!
This spot once harboured one of the city’s original bustling ports of call for maritime trade where seamen would be greeted with local specialties dished out by floating hawkers. The Clifford Pier honours this charming piece of history by offering up some jazzed up local classics. With gorgeous waterfront views and a luxurious, airy space you can have your hawker food and eat it too!
Dishes We Love: Soup Kambing, The Clifford Pier Laksa, Heritage Bites, Popiah Tod & Cha-Gio Rolls, The Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings, The Lobster Roll, Bak Kut Teh, Korean Vegetarian Stone Bowl Rice
Book a table at The Clifford Pier.
10 at Claymore [Closed]
Rated as one of the top restaurants on TripAdvisor, 10 at Claymore has become one of the most popular dining destinations for tourists and locals alike. With hearty local delights cooked with the freshest ingredients, a scrumptious variety of dishes, and perfectly curated creations such as the original Penang hometown creations like the Penang Char Kway Teow and the Assam Laksa with Barramundi Fillet, it’s not hard to see why!
Dishes We Love: Seasonal ‘Plates of Pleasure’, Famous Peddler’s Char Kway Teow
Why settle for humble hawker fare when Spice Brasserie is here to amp it up? While you’ll be spoilt for choice with the multitudes of Asian dishes to choose from, the real star is the buffet featuring crabs prepared 12 different ways. From your Singapore Chili Crab, Salted Egg Yolk & Butter Crab, to eclectic options like the Stewed Kimchi Crab and the signature Slow-Braised Pumpkin Crab in Claypot, this buffet, aptly named “Battle of the Crabs” is definitely something worth fighting for. And you won’t have to worry about bringing your own tissue packs!
Dishes We Love: Authentic Singapore Chilli Crab, Singapore Satay, Crispy Fried Noodle, Indonesian Nasi Goreng, Singapore Chicken Curry, Crab Jambalaya, Steamed Marinated Spicy Crab with Light Sauce, Ikan Bakar
Book a table at Spice Brasserie.
If you’re looking for a place that covers Singapore’s expansive culinary heritage but offers a more sophisticated environment than a traditional hawker joint, you won’t be disappointed by Colony’s wide selection of local delights and plush seating. From their signature Laksa with Homemade Lobster Ball, rojak to freshly wrapped popiah, there’s something for everyone.
Dishes We Love: Fresh Oysters & Sashimi, Foie Gras, Colony Laksa with Homemade Lobster Ball, Hainanese Chicken Rice, The Upper Crust
Chatterbox is a household name when it comes to their signature Mandarin Chicken Rice, but that’s not the only (award-winning) dish you should be raving about at this laid-back hangout. Serving up undeniably local dishes as well as Western dishes with a local twist, here’s a place for the whole family that won’t have you mopping your brow every few minutes.
Dishes We Love: Mandarin Chicken Rice, Chatterbox Lobster Laksa, Seafood Hor Fun, Vegetarian Bee Hoon, Wafu Salad, Wagyu Beef Burger, Nasi Lemak
Variety is more than just a buzzword at J65. While their all-day dining buffet is locally-inspired, the folks at J65 have specially designed a different theme for dinner every day of the week. So whether its chasing those Monday blues away with the Crab! It’s Monday… buffet, embracing the midweek madness with some Lobster Rock ‘n’ Roll Wednesdays, or Celebrating the Weekend with the Hooked! Seafood Mania on Friday and Saturdays, it’s always a good day to dine at J65.
Town has an illustrious a la carte selection that boasts Singapore’s most beloved heritage dishes, so whether you’re tucking into their signatures such as the Town Laksa and Fullerton’s Hainanese Chicken Rice, or whetting your appetite with the likes of Hokkien Mee and the Singapore Satays, you’ll be in for a treat! What’s more, the nostalgic and classy locale is a true treat for any foodie.
Dishes We Love: Hainanese Chicken Rice, Town Laksa, Fish Curry
At Kopi Tiam, authentic and unpretentious local hawker food is the name of the game. They make no pretenses about fancy interpretation or conjuring up fusion cuisine, instead choosing to serve up reliably delicious local food. This is the perfect place to introduce out-of-towners to local cuisine or when you crave local dishes but prefer a little more ambience (and a little less sweat).
Dishes We Love: Crispy Bean Curd, Rojak, Fried Carrot Cake, Crispy Soon Hock Fish, Fish Head Curry, Signature Salted Egg Yolk Crab, Seafood Mee Goreng
