Preserved to reflect the Peranakan culture in Singapore, the gorgeous shophouses and bungalows that line the streets of Joo Chiat are only one of the many reasons to visit this underrated area in Singapore.
Instagrammable pastel-coloured shophouses aside, Joo Chiat Road is home to many cafés, restaurants and eateries that offer a wide variety of scrumptious grub ranging from traditional Teochew steamboat to artisanal bakery and reinvented nasi lemak.
Here are 20 food places in Joo Chiat that will make you wish you stayed there.
BERGS GOURMET BURGERS
For those who value good quality burgers, BERGS is the place to go. Conveniently nestled just across the street from 112 Katong Mall, BERGS remains as one of the most popular spots amongst those who reside in the area for any burger craving fix.
The burger patties, sauces, and marinades are handcrafted from secret recipes designed to deliver the freshest, most intense mix of sensations and flavours.
45 East Coast Road
Singapore 428765
Tel: +65 6348 8466
Mon to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 10pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dakota
When it comes to artisanal bread and pastries baked fresh, very few do it better than the good folks over at Enjoué Bakery. Specialising in a vast array of quality European-style artisanal bread, pastries and cakes, each and every one of this humble Joo Chiat bakery’s authentic bakes come with sturdy crusts imbued with the natural flavours of fermentation and a robust mouthfeel that is quite unlike any other.
All their products are hand-made, freshly-baked daily and free from any preservatives and other unnatural ingredients. In essence, what you are likely to get is real-deal, healthy loaves that boast spectacular flavour profiles and textures—something you probably will not be able to find at commercial bread shops
174 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427445
Tel: +65 6440 3028
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Sat: 8.30am – 5pm
Sun: 8.30am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar
GUAN HOE SOON RESTAURANT
Guan Hoe Soon is possibly Singapore’s oldest Nyonya restaurant that has been dishing out authentic Peranakan fare since 1953.
Now run by the founder’s granddaughter and her husband, you can count on Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant to bring you a scrumptious Peranakan feast as they pride themselves in using only the freshest ingredients and a selective choice of spices without skimping on the quality of their food.
40 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427764
Tel: +65 6344 2761
Daily: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar
JINJI TEOCHEW TRADITIONAL STEAMBOAT RESTAURANT
Jinji Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant is a no-frills and utterly unpretentious steamboat restaurant along Joo Chiat Road which local stars have been frequenting this traditional restaurant over the past decade.
The owner has travelled to various countries to pick up the skills needed to execute each dish to an utmost perfection, so you can definitely count on Jinji to indulge in an authentic Teochew meal.
From now until 31 Oct 2018, quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy these promotions (for customers who dine in only) upon making reservations:
- 30% off all steamboat orders (excluding seafood and beef) during lunch daily (not available on Mondays and public holidays).
- Free-flow live drunken prawns for every steamboat order during dinner from Mondays to Fridays (not available during weekends and public holidays). Do note that this is available while stocks last for the day.
176-178 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427447
Tel: +65 6348 8924
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar
LONG PHUNG
Located just across the street from Jinji Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant and Enjoué Bakery, Long Phung is a restaurant whose menu focuses primarily on Vietnamese cuisine.
Once a hidden gem in Joo Chiat, Long Phung is now a place where many flock to for authentic Vietnamese fare without breaking the bank.
159 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427436
Tel: +65 6440 6959
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar
MR & MRS MOHGAN’S SUPER CRISPY ROTI PRATA
Remarked as one of the best roti prata stalls in Singapore, Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata is located within a shabby, old-world-looking coffee shop named ‘Poh Ho Restaurant’ along Crane Road.
Here they serve real-deal, crispy prata flipped to perfection to give the right amount of crispiness on the edges and a fairly fluffy interior. Their curries—not that you need it—are extremely fragrant and pair well with their doughy goodness.
7 Crane Road
Singapore 429356
Tel: +65 9794 3124
(Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays)
Thu to Sun: 6.30am – 1pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar
NINETHIRTY BY AWFULLY CHOCOLATE
Joo Chiat is where you can find Awfully Chocolate’s flagship store, Ninethirty, which offers a decadent selection of well-loved comfort food and of course, the famed chocolatier’s desserts.
Besides their toothsome chocolate-centric confectionery and desserts, you can expect a tantalising array of hearty mains in the likes of pasta dishes and palatable brunch fare.
131 East Coast Road
Singapore 428816
Tel: +65 6345 2190
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 9.30am – 1am
Sun: 9.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar
Sinpopo Brand is an extremely charming retro café that sits amongst the many shophouses in Joo Chiat. Boasting an extensive menu of traditional local favourites that have been reinvented to form creative dishes, what you can expect is a unique dining experience unlike any other.
From quirky mains that bring out nostalgia, an interior decked with minimalist furnishings and an innovative drink and dessert menu, what’s there to not love about Sinpopo Brand?
458 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Dakota
WALAKU
Whipping up traditional Malay fare with modern interpretations is Walaku, a humble bistro nestled along the streets of Joo Chiat. Some of their innovative dishes include the Seafood Mee Goreng (S$8) and the Lemak Chilli Api Soft Shell Crab Pasta (S$15.90).
For a more comforting and traditional meal that will nonetheless leave your tummy satisfied, opt for the Ayam Goreng Rempah Nasi Lemak (S$7.80).
110 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427402
Tel: +65 6284 2420
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos
WERNER’S OVEN
Werner’s Oven is a traditional German restaurant and bakery that prides itself in serving authentic and handmade bread and wursts.
Over the years, they have up kept the conventions of the Germanic culinary and baking methods while introducing innovative alterations to suit the taste buds of both Asian and Western guests.
49 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427773
Tel: +65 6442 3897
Tue to Sun: 8.30am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Eunos
That’s 10, not 20 (sorry!). If you go to Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s, be prepared to wait and request your food multiple times. The prata is great, but their ordering system is chaos, and last time I went they forgot about me twice!