Joo Chiat is undeniably the most charming neighbourhood in Singapore. With an eclectic mix of new and old, it exudes a charm like no other.

Take a walk down those lines of heritage buildings and shophouses in Joo Chiat and you’ll be greeted by a juxtapose of old-school merchants and new-age cafes. It’s like a mystery and a discovery with every step you take.

Needless to say, this is every food lover’s haven. The sheer number of options is exhilarating, and if you don’t know where to start, here’s our Joo Chiat food guide featuring 22 restaurants, cafes & eateries in the neighbourhood.

AWFULLY CHOCOLATE BAKERY & CAFE

Formerly known as Ninethirty by Awfully Chocolate, this is the famous local chocolate brand’s flagship store which offers a decadent selection of well-loved comfort food and of course, the famed chocolatier’s desserts.

131 East Coast Road
Singapore 428816
Tel: +65 6345 2190

BRITISH HAINAN

British Hainan is a quaint family-run restaurant tucked away along Carpmael Road in the estates of Joo Chiat. They serve a myriad of classic British dishes with a Hainanese twist, but the dishes to die for include their signature oxtail stew and their braised lamb shank.

75 Carpmael Road
Tel: +65 6336 8122

BURGER FRITES

It’s not like we would complain about having another burger joint. Burger Frites may look like your typical American burger house, but its burgers are pretty awesome. We love the flame-grilled burger patties and how you can customize your burgers with the numerous add-ons.

340 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427592
Tel: +65 8894 7709

CAFÉ NATSU

Opened by Ebb & Flow Group which is the same group behind other popular dining concepts such as Sommer, Tigerlily Patisserie, & Chin Mee Chin, Café Natsu is the braindchild of Chef Lewis Barker of One Michelin Star-restaurant Sommer and it serves Western brunch classics with a Japanese twist. Highlights include Wagyu Hamburg, as well as their signature Sandos.

283 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427537
Tel: +65 8886 4497

COMMON MAN COFFEE ROASTERS

Established in 2013 by the Spa Esprit Group (the same folks behind other popular concepts such as Tiong Bahru Bakery & Open Farm Community), Common Man Coffee Roasters has long known to be one of the best places to have a cup of aromatic coffee and brunch. There are currently four Common Man Coffee Roasters outlets, including the one along Joo Chiat Road.

185 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427456
Tel: +65 6877 4863

DA DONG PRAWN NOODLES

Da Dong Prawn Noodles is quite arguably one of the most popular Prawn Noodles Stalls in Singapore. Located at Joo Chiat, a heritage-rich part of Singapore, Da Dong Prawn Noodles may seem like any other stall in a coffee shop, but it sees long queues daily.

Its popularity has seen people from all over Singapore flocking over for a comforting bowl of prawn noodles, and even though parking is scarce in the area, it does not deter diners.

354 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427600

DICKSON NASI LEMAK

Opened by the same people behind the extremely popular Champion Bolo Buns, Dickson Nasi Lemak specialises in Malaysian-style Nasi Lemak and long queues are often formed here. Do note that this is just a takeaway kiosk; there is no dine-in area!

320 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427571

GUAN HOE SOON RESTAURANT

Quite possibly Singapore’s oldest Nyonya restaurant, Guan Hoe Soon has been serving authentic Peranakan fare to its loyal customers 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

HELLO ARRIGATO

Hello Arigato is a lifestyle cafe which is known for its Japanese-style Sando, and it first gained popularity with its first outlet at Upper Thomson. We prefer the one at Joo Chiat, because Joo Chiat.

Step into Hello Arigato Joo Chiat and be greeted by a minimalistic white space. The cafe isn’t big – probably 30-seater – and you can see from front to end. Whilst it can get a tad cramped, it is still a cosy space for a meal and a drink.

314 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427565
Tel: +65 8889 5657

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 star and centrepiece of this restaurant is definitely their steamboat. Every table should order a steamboat for sharing, on top of all the a la carte dishes that you may wish to add on.

From their fragrant steamboat broth to the fish paste noodles and bouncy fish balls, the folks behind the restaurant pride themselves on having almost everything handmade, bringing you only the freshest and nothing less.

176-178 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427447
Tel: +65 6348 8924

JOO CHIAT CAPHE

Craving for Vietnamese Bánh Mì? Joo Chiat Caphe is a Muslim-friendly eatery which offers Vietnamese Bánh Mì, Vietnamese coffee as well as Mackerel Otah and Kuning Nasi Lemak. Prices start from S$5.80 for a classic Chicken Bánh Mì.

263 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427517
Tel: +65 6988 1900

KOHI ROASTERY & COFFEE BAR

Speciality coffee shop from Bangkok, Kohi Roastery & Coffee Bar has opened a coffee takeaway kiosk in Joo Chiat. It shares the space with Crane Joo Chiat and you can grab a cup of coffee while exploring the beautiful Joo Chiat neighbourhood.

283 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427535

KINGS CART COFFEE FACTORY

Opened by local wholesaler Kings Cart Coffee, this is a popular coffee shop in Joo Chiat which serves solid coffee using beans that are roasted by their own coffee roaster. They have a small and concise food menu offering brunch, pasta and salad items. End off your meal with their beautiful soufflé pancakes.

328 Joo Chiat Rd, #01-05
Singapore 427585
Tel: +65 8814 8445

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 in Singapore without breaking the bank.

159 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427436
Tel: +65 6440 6959

LUNA PATISSERIE

Popular local patisserie, LUNA Patisserie has opened a second outlet in the Joo Chiat Enclave in end 2022. Highlights include Oolong Almond Florentine, Lychee Rose as well as their signature Orh Nee Cake.

121 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427410

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 has relocated to another old-school coffee shop at 300 Joo Chiat 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.

300 Joo Chiat Rd
Tin Yeang restaurant, Singapore 427551

OLSEN BAKE HOUSE

Probably one of the prettiest bakeries in Joo Chiat, Olsen Bake House first gained popularity on Instagram with their rustic, wholesome bakes in an array of interesting flavours – from the classics to the ones with a local twist, nothing is mainstream here. Be it cakes or loaves or kombucha, Olsen Bake House got you covered for your home parties.

301 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427552
Tel: +65 8891 5819

PETIT PAIN

Established in August 2019, Petit Pain specialises in bread and pastries such as croissants, danishes and escargot rolls. Stepping into the space, the immediate smell of butter and bread tantalized our tastebuds, enticing us toward the golden-brown goodies.

There is a long queue outside the shop every day and it is, without a doubt, one of the most popular bakeries for croissants in Singapore.

Petit Pain
315 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427566

TIGERLILY PATISSERIE

Helmed by Executive Pastry Chef Maxine Ngooi who used to work at Les Amis Restaurant, Joël Robuchon Restaurant and the now-defunct Vianney Massot Restaurant. Tigerlily Patisserie has pretty intricate bakes in exciting flavours and it has amassed quite a following with their pretty desserts. Do pop by and give it a try!

350 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427598

Photo credit: TBB

TIONG BAHRU BAKERY

Established in May 2012 on Eng Hoon Street in the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood, Tiong Bahru Bakery has just opened a new outlet in the charming Joo Chiat enclave along Crane Road.

The new cafe has a seating capacity of 58 seats and it will surely be a welcome addition to the Joo Chiat neighbourhood. It is located at 7 Crane Road, just around the corner from British Hainan.

Tiong Bahru Bakery Crane Road
7 Crane Road, Singapore 429356
Daily from 7.30am to 8pm

WINDOWSILL PIE

Popular pie shop, Windowsill Pie needs no introduction. From bright fruity delights to intense chocolatey decadence, they have a selection of pies that will impress all pie lovers. Windowsill Pie currently has three takeaway outlets in Singapore including Great World City, Jem and Joo Chiat.

290d Joo Chiat Rd
Tel: +65 9772 5629
Singapore 427542

WUNDERFOLKS

We always love a good tart and Wunderfolks nailed it with their menu. We were wowed by their tarts for its solid tart base and stellar fillings. You’d be spoilt for choice with the different flavours and we particularly loved the Lemon Meringue Tart and Dark Chocolate Tart.

201 Joo Chiat Rd, #01-03
Singapore 427472
Tel: +65 9749 7940

Opened by the same team behind Atlas Coffeehouse, Supernova is a new restaurant & cafe which has joined the ever-growing list of cafes in the east in Singapore. It is located at 266 Tanjong Katong Road along the same stretch of eateries including Ponggol Nasi Lemak, Trattoria L’Operetta, Kazo Cafe and Eng’s Wantan Noodle.

Supernova officially opened its doors to the public today (20 April 2022).

Supernova is the group’s 6th outlet in Singapore and they operate other popular cafes and coffee shops in Singapore including Apollo Coffee Bar, The Neptune, Lunar Coffee Brewers, and Columbus Coffee Co.

Unlike their other cafes, Supernova is a slightly upmarket concept. Think of it as your neighbourhood restaurant where you can have brunch fare and excellent coffee in the day and a refined space which serves hearty mains and natural wines in the evening.

Supernova has several tables in the outdoor area and it is a pet-friendly cafe where you can bring your dogs along for a good meal.

Fans of Neptune will recognise the Chorizo, Eggs & Avo (S$20.9), while regulars to Columbus Coffee Co will definitely be happy to see The Super Nutty Açaí bowl (S$16.4) on the menu. Other than that, the menu includes many exciting new dishes that we cannot wait to try.

The Steak Hash (S$26.90) came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. It came with 180g of tender sirloin steak cubes, crispy potatoes, two organic sunny-side up eggs, kale and red onions.

Supernova opens from 8am and you can find a selection of brunch items including Fried Chicken French Toast (S$24.5), Baked Eggs (S$24.5) with bacon, portobello, focaccia, Grilled Cheese & Pumpkin Soup (S$18.5), and Buttermilk Waffle (S$12.5).

We also tried the excellent Eggs in Meurette (S$24) from the lunch menu and it featured two poached eggs, mushrooms, and pickled shallots on a fried sourdough with a delicious bacon red wine stew.

From the lunch and dinner menu, you get other choices such as Wagyu Cheeseburger (S$22.9), Rigatoni (S$21), Fisherman’s Stew (S$27.5) and Vegan Grain Bowl (S$21.9).

It is interesting to see that Supernova is offering Okonomiyaki on its dinner menu.

Supernova
266 Tanjong Katong Road Singapore 437053
Tel: +65 6518 9600
Tue – Sat: 8am – 10pm
Sun: 8am – 7pm

For the love of all things, breaded, fried and golden, few come close to the taste and textural satisfaction we get from Japanese tonkatsu. What’s to hate? It’s everything you could ever want on a plate from the crispiness of its breaded exterior to the moist, meaty flavour that hides within.

While East Coast Road may seem a tad far off for tonkatsu—given that you can easily find it everywhere nowadays—Katsuya is one tonkatsu-focused restaurant worth making a trip down for.

The restaurant—helmed by Chef Kervin who has several years of experience cooking Japanese cuisine and even a Japan-issued chef license to boot—ensures that everything is done properly. They do not use MSG and lard in their cooking and the sheer deliciousness of their food is solely dependant on the technique and freshness of each individual ingredient.

On their menu, diners can expect to find a wide range of katsu offerings spanning the classic pork katsu, beef katsu and even lamb katsu. Sashimi, sake and other small plates are also available for those looking for a quick snack and tipple after work.

As far as pork is concerned, having a good amount of fat almost always guarantees exceptional flavour, which is why we did not hesitate to opt for the Rosu (pork with fat) Tonkatsu (S$23++).

The layer of fat was moist, full of porky flavour and provided a somewhat buttery element to the dish. Having gotten the set, we were also treated to refillable cabbage and rice!

While there was nothing wrong with the Chicken Katsu Curry (S$23++), we felt that it lacked a certain flair to it. The chicken was succulent and deep-fried to golden perfection, however, the curry sauce—as flavourful as it was—seemed like any other Japanese curry sauce.

The dish was well balanced from the pickles and the shredded cabbage that do well to cut through the intense richness of the curry and is, without a doubt, a good option to consider if you ever find yourself craving Japanese curry—our only gripe was that it seemed a tad too ordinary considering its price point.

Katsuya
85 East Coast Road,
Singapore 428787
Tel: +65 6344 8183
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Fri: 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos