They say that old is gold and that cannot be any more true with restaurants such as Roland Seafood—the birthplace of chilli crab—, Guan Hoe Soon and Shashlik Restaurant in Singapore have distinguished themselves as some of the most iconic restaurants in the country.

They’ve withstood the test of time, some having been around for almost a century—which says a lot about their cooking—and some going down as legends in Singapore’s culinary history. For a blast to the oh-so-delicious past, here is our list of 14 heritage restaurants in Singapore you need to visit before they’re gone forever.

BAN HENG

Since 1972, Ban Heng Group of Restaurants has become a veteran of the culinary industry boasting over fifty years of experience in traditional Teochew and Cantonese cuisine. Their food has always remained impeccable with their various crab dishes, roast meat dishes and the ever popular Braised Slice Goose Meat in Teochew Style being some of our top favourites.

1 Maritime Square
#04-01, HarbourFront Centre
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6278 0288 / +65 6278 1354
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

COLBAR

Offering a full-on menu of both Asian and Western fare, Colbar is one of the few gems in Singapore that we can safely say, has truly stood the test of time. Opened in 1953, the establishment formerly served as a canteen for the British army. It, therefore, gave rise to its name, Colbar, otherwise referred to as ‘Colonial Bar’.

Granted that it’s a little out of the way, especially for those who do not drive, it is still a charming spot that’s worth the trip. It is a retreat from civilisation and it is also a great place to catch a glimpse of the old days over some good Western food and a wide array of imported craft beers.

9A Whitchurch Road
Singapore 138839
Tues to Sun: 9.30am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: One North

FATTY WENG

An icon in our culinary landscape and one that has contributed to the roaring success of Cantonese cuisine here in Singapore, Fatty Weng boasts more than 200 items to choose from hearty soups to substantial main dishes and while their offerings may look modern, they do well to preserve traditional cooking and preparation methods of old, ensuring that their food is kept one hundred per cent legit.

39 Smith Street,
Singapore 058952
Tel: +65 6221 3822
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

MOI LUM

It is uncertain when exactly in the 1920s that Moi Lum was founded. Regardless, the restaurant is still going strong more than 80 years on. They recently announced their official closure come 15 March 2019, which shocked foodies all over.

They are most widely known for their signature Crispy Fried Chicken and Golden Coin Beancurd—both unmatched in its taste, texture and the culinary mastery required to prepare them.

38 Maxwell Road,
Singapore 069116
Tel: +65 6226 2283
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

ROLAND SEAFOOD

From sea-front stall to an icon that’s steeped deep into Singapore’s restaurant history, Roland Seafood boasts some of the best seafood dishes in the country and, lo and behold, is where the beloved chilli crab was first invented.

89 Marine Parade Central, #06-750,
Singapore 440089
Tel: +65 6440 8205
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

Photo Credit: Good Chance Popiah

GOOD CHANCE POPIAH

Founded in 1977, Good Chance Popiah is the birthplace of DIY popiah and is by far, one of the best places to get your hands on one of the best in Singapore. We absolutely love their popiah but we also make it a point to order their Special Tofu and Braised Pork Trotter Beehoon—both are brilliantly done.

1 Jln Berseh, #01-15
New World Centre,
Singapore 209037
Tel: +65 9622 9445
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Jalan Besar

GUAN HOE SOON

Guan Hoe Soon is one of the last few standing institutions of authentic Peranakan dining in the historically Peranakan neighbourhood of Joo Chiat. They have been operating there since 1953 and continues to pride itself on making everything from scratch in-house from their sauces, soups marinate and sambal chilli.

The menu includes standard Peranakan dishes such as ayam buah keluak and babi pong tay. And their achar (served as an appetiser) even comprises chicken livers and gizzards—a long lost practice that only those of true Peranakan descent will know.

40 Joo Chiat Place,
Singapore 427764
Tel: +65 6344 2761
Mon to Fri: 9am – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos / Paya Lebar

ISLAMIC RESTAURANT

Fast approaching a century of operations, Islamic Restaurant has served the likes of dignitaries such as Singapore’s late President Yusof Ishak and Malaysia’s ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak. Until today, the restaurant specialises in Malay and Indian food offering lip-smacking delights such as dum biryani and tandoori chicken.

745 North Bridge Road,
Singapore 198713
Tel: +65 6298 7563
Mon to Sun: 10am – 10pm
Fri: 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

PRIMA TOWER REVOLVING RESTAURANT

Established in 1977, the revolving restaurant is widely lauded for its signature Emperor’s Chicken, Shredded Scallops with Fish & White Egg and various dim sum offerings. The food standard has been kept consistently good all these years yet the food itself isn’t the restaurant’s only draw. As it’s name suggests, it revolves, giving diners a beautiful panoramic view of the Keppel Bay area.

201 Keppel Road,
Singapore 099419
Tel: +65 6272 8822
Mon to Sat: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

RED STAR RESTAURANT

Standing tall as one of Singapore’s last bastions of authentic traditional dim sum, Red Star restaurant is a must-visit for dim sum fanatics. Dining here is truly as real as it can get to the old days, food carts loaded with steaming hot goodness and screaming old ladies included.

Chin Swee Road, #07-23 Block 54,
Singapore 160054
Tel: +65 6532 5266
Mon to Sat: 8am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 7am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

SHASHLIK RESTAURANT

The story of the Hainanese-run Russian steakhouse, Shashlik, goes all the way back to the 1960s and news of their closure back in 2015 shocked the nation. Thankfully, they re-opened under a younger generation of owners who seek to keep the old world charm intact. Must-try dishes include their Eggs Millionaire—a dish of chopped eggs, bacon bits and parmesan gratin—, Shashlik of Beef, Borshch Soup and Baked Alaska.

545 Orchard Road, #06-19
Far East Shopping Centre
Singapore 238882
Tel: +65 6732 6401
(Closed on Mondays)
Sun to Sat: 12pm – 2.15pm, 6pm – 9.15pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

SINGAPORE ZAM ZAM

Renowned for their chicken, mutton and sardine murtabak, Singapore Zam Zam first started selling its famed Indian-Muslim cuisine back in 1908. This landmark eatery situated right across the Sultan Mosque also serves roti prata, nasi briyani and plenty of other dishes.

697-699 North Bridge Road,
Singapore 198675
Tel: +65 6298 6320
Daily: 7am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

SPRING COURT

Crowned Singapore’s oldest family-run restaurant, Spring Court is where lovers of fine Cantonese cuisine flock to. For those who don’t know, perhaps you’ll be fascinated to know that it was these folks who first introduced what has now become popular Chinese dishes such as suckling pig and popiah.

52-56 Upper Cross Street,
Singapore 058348
Tel: +65 6449 5030
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

YET CON RESTAURANT

Having been around for over 70 years now, Yet Con Restaurant remains one of Singapore’s last bastions for authentic Hainanese food. Their signature Hainanese chicken rice is a must and they even have an option for hot pot—worth trying if your group is fairly big.

25 Purvis Street,
Singapore 188602
Tel: +65 6337 6819
Daily: 10am – 7pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Ban Heng has a dim sum buffet with more than 30 dim sum items at just S$17.60++ per pax.

There is no doubt that Singaporeans take their dim sum seriously—we would source high and low for the best dim sum places in Singapore. What we love even more though, is a great deal that is easy on our pockets without compromising on the quality of the dim sum.

Originally at S$22.80++ per pax (inclusive of S$2 charge for Chinese tea, pickles & towels), Ban Heng has a current promotion of one dines free with every three paying adults. This works out to be only S$17.60++ per person! Yes, you can go for this awesome deal when you visit any of the five Ban Heng restaurants in Singapore during weekday lunch hours.

Here is why you should not miss out on this incredible dim sum deal at Ban Heng.

BAN HENG DIM SUM LUNCH BUFFET

At Ban Heng, there are more than 15 deep-fried dim sum items for you to chose from. We had a hard time deciding what we want from the myriad of choices but we sure aren’t complaining!

Our favourite of the lot goes to the Deep-Fried Shrimp Dumplings. The plump shrimp encased in a crispy shell was so addictive that one plate was not enough for us to share. If you are a fan of shrimps, be sure to get more of this because it is THE BOMB.

Another dim sum dish not to be missed at Ban Heng is the Barbecued Char Siew Pastry with Sesame. This is a timeless classic and we enjoyed the flaky pastry puff roll filled with juicy and tender barbecued pork.

Some other deep-fried dim sum you must try include the Deep-Fried Beancurd Skin, Paper Wrapped Chicken Wings and Baked Mini Egg Tarts. Do note that Egg Tarts are limited to one serving for weekdays only.

Those who prefer steamed dim sum can look forward to a wide selection which will not disappoint your taste buds. These freshly steamed dim sum are little parcels of happiness and were all served piping hot to us.

No dim sum buffet is complete without Steamed Shanghai Meat Dumplings, or more commonly referred to as ‘Xiao Long Bao’. Slurp up the warm broth that bursts out from thin dumpling skins before indulging in the delicious meat!

The Steamed Pork Ribs With Minced Meat may look unassuming, but trust us when we say that it was one of the best dim sum dishes. It was the fragrant black bean sauce which really hit all the right spots for us and gave the steamed pork ribs an extra oomph.

Yes, we know that you are waiting for us to talk about the Steamed Salted Egg Yolk “Liu Sha” Bun. And yes, it definitely lived up to our expectations when the custard lava exploded out upon giving the bun a slight tear. Remember to whip out your phones for that Boomerang video!

If you are looking for alternatives, try the Steamed Siew Mai With Crab Roes, Shrimp Chang Fun, Steamed Shrimp & Water Chestnut Wanton… and the list goes on.

BAN HENG SEAFOOD BUFFET (LUNCH AND DINNER)

Beyond the dim sum buffet, Ban Heng also offers an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet which features Singaporeans’ favourite Chilli Crab, Cold Crab, Steamed Soon Hock and more.

Similar to the dim sum buffet deal, one adult dines free with every three paying adults! With that promotion, Ban Heng’s Seafood Buffet is only S$25.10++ per person instead of the regular price of S$32.80++ per pax (inclusive of S$2 charge for Chinese tea, pickles & towels).

Under the Chef’s Recommendation category, diners will find the best recipes Ban Heng has to offer. These premium items are limited to one serving per dish.

Crabs come in three different flavours—Chilli, Cold and Black Pepper. Ban Heng’s rendition of Chilli Crab is one that will delight all spicy food lovers. While other chilli crab recipes outside tend to be sweeter, this one is considerably spicier and it should impress you.

Ban Heng has also introduced the popular Teochew-style Cold Crabs to its seafood buffet menu since 01 Aug 2017. Nothing fanciful about these crabs, but that is precisely the essence of Teochew Cold Crabs—chilled, fresh crabs that is so sweet with every bite. And oh, that roe. Look at those roe. Every piece comes with an insane amount of rich and creamy roe—the prized part of Teochew Cold Crabs. Who cares about cholesterol?

Ban Heng’s seafood buffet also includes the classic Steamed Soon Hock Fish with Soya Sauce. Served piping hot from the kitchen, the steamed fish was extremely moist and fresh and the flavours were elevated with premium soya sauce.

Of course, we must give special mention to the Barbecued Crispy Duck under the Roasted Meat category too. Kudos to the chefs for roasting the duck so well that the crispy skin was in a glorious dark brown shade. The duck meat had a good layer of fats which added extra flavours to the succulent duck meat.

Diners can also expect other dishes including Shark’s Fin Soup with Crabmeat, Wok Fried Prawns with Cereal, Braised Slice Goose Meat in Teochew Style, Barbecued Pork with Honey and Chilled Prawn with Special Thai Sauce.

Dim Sum Buffet Lunch (A La Carte Prices)
Mon to Fri: Adult S$20.80++*, Child S$13.80++
Sat, Sun & Eve of PH: Adult S$23.80++, Child S$13.80++
PH: Adult S$25.80++, Child S$13.80++

*One dines free with every three paying adults.

Seafood Buffet Lunch & Dinner (A La Carte Prices)
Mon to Fri: Adult S$30.80++*, Child S$13.80++
Sat, Sun & Eve of PH: Adult S$33.80++, Child S$13.80++
PH: Adult S$35.80++, Child S$13.80++

*One dines free with every three paying adults.

Chinese tea, pickles and towels are chargeable at S$2 per pax.

Ban Heng @ HarbourFront Centre
1 Maritime Square
#04-01, HarbourFront Centre
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6278 0288 / +65 6278 1354
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Ban Heng @ The Cathay
2 Handy Road
#02-01 The Cathay
Singapore 229233
Tel: +65 6732 7888 / +65 6732 6623
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station : Dhoby Ghaut

Ban Heng @ Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#11-01/02 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6238 1516 /  +656238 7816
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

Ban Heng @ Pasir Ris
60 Pasir Ris Drive 3
Singapore 519497
Tel: +65 6585 1770 / +65 6585 1093
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Pasir Ris

Ban Heng @ Boon Keng
Blk 22 Boon Keng Road #01-21
Singapore 330022
Tel: +65 6291 0407 / +65 6298 5285
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station : Boon Keng

This post is brought to you by Ban Heng Group.