Perfectly cooked elbow pasta—or macaroni as most would know it as—tossed in simple béchamel sauce that gets loaded with cheese before being baked till golden, crusty and delicious, some might proclaim the iconic mac & cheese to be the epitome of comfort food.

There is just something so decadent and so heartwarming about a perfectly cooked macaroni and cheese dish that we find it hard to fathom, yet struggle to resist. From its luscious, cheesy sauce that binds the macaroni together to the buttery crust that just seals the deal, this simple dish can be had for brunch side item, a whole meal on its own or even a snack to accompany you as you binge on Netflix dramas.

If you’re hankering for comfort in the form of flour, cheese, milk, and macaroni, here are 12 places in Singapore to get your hands on some fantastic mac & cheese.

BEDROCK BAR & GRILL

Served as an accompaniment to their mains, Bedrock Bar & Grill’s Mac & Cheese (S$20) is a glorious dish that is extremely rich and cheesy. Longer strands of macaroni are used instead of the typical, smaller version. And yes, they make a decent pairing with your steak.

96 Somerset Road
#01-05 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 0054
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

CHIR CHIR

You may be surprised to see a Korean fried chicken restaurant on this list but Chir Chir’s Mac & Cheese is something you need to try. The soft macaroni was covered with an insane mix of soft cream sauce cheddar cheese and other cheeses.

313 Orchard Road
#B3-04/05/06 313 Somerset
Singapore 238895
Tel: +65 6509 8364
Mon to Thu, Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

KENNY ROGERS ROASTERS

Kenny Rogers hold a special place in our hearts because we have been visiting them since we were kids. While they are synonymous with their signature grilled dishes, their Mac & Cheese—served as a side—is something we can’t do without either. You can get a small serving of this at S$4.40, on its own at S$8 in a large bowl.

Great World City
1 Kim Seng Promenade
#01-06/20
Singapore 237994
Tel: +65 6734 9492
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

LITTLE DINER

Mac & Cheese doesn’t have to be plain and boring—and Little Diner knows that well. Their menu features three different types of Mac & Cheese dishes, ranging from Old School Baked Mac & Cheese (S$16.50) to Smokey’s Mac & Cheese (S$19.50) and our all-time favourite Version 2.0 Baked Mac & Cheese Royale (S$20.50), which comes with enoki and shimeiji mushrooms and black truffles.

789 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 269763
Tel: +65 6466 4088
Tue to Fri: 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 9pm
Sat :11am – 5pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Sun: 11am – 5pm, 6pm – 9pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Holland Village/Botanic Gardens

NINETHIRTY BY AWFULLY CHOCOLATE

Using Rigatoni pasta instead of the typical elbow macaroni, the Mac & Cheese (S$18) at Ninethirty feels more substantial with every bite. Baked with melty, creamy cheese and thick cut bacon, you can be assured that this is one Mac & Cheese that will do more than just satisfy your cheese cravings

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: Dakota

NY NIGHT MARKET

What’s a cheese-forward menu without a section dedicated to the comfort food classic, Mac & Cheese? At NY Night Market, they have 3 varieties for you to choose from but we opted for the M.A.C feat Bacon (S$11.90++).

Enhanced with lashings of potato and bacon bits, the dish had a nice, smooth texture underscored by a rich, smoky and savoury flavour. Cheesy and all in all satisfying, this is one dish we wouldn’t mind stuffing ourselves with as we binge on Netflix.

313 Orchard Road #01-29,
313@Somerset,
Singapore 238895
Tel: +65 6957 4620
Sun to Thu: 8am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 1am
Nearest Station: Somerset

OPUS BAR & GRILL

Opus Bar & Grill is an intimate and modern grill restaurant which happens to serve some of the best steaks in Singapore but they have more up their sleeves than just excellent steaks.

We always enjoy having their Mac & Cheese (S$6) as a side to go along with the meats. An excellent idea indeed!

581 Orchard Road
Hilton Singapore
Singapore 238 883
Daily: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard Road

ORIOLE COFFEE + BAR

Imagine freshly baked macaroni & cheese and topped off with chunky pieces of crabmeat, crunchy corn and then rounding it all up with aromatic truffle oil; Oriole’s Mac & Cheese (S$24) is any cheese lover’s wildest dreams come true.

96 Somerset Road
#01-01, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard
Singapore 238163
Sun to Thu: 8am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 12am
Tel: +65 6238 8348
Nearest Station: Somerset

PARK @ HOLLAND VILLAGE

Park’s Truffle Mac & Cheese (S$13.50) is one of the most popular dishes here and is one that is most likely to leave a lasting impression among diners.

We were in awe of its beautifully crisp top layer which gave the dish extra textures and love how there is a slight cheese pull when you dig into the macaroni!

281 Holland Road
Singapore 278621
Tel: 9721 3815
Tue to Thu & Sun: 11am – 12am
Fri & Sat: 11am – 2am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Holland Village

THE GREEN OVEN

The Green Oven at Alley on 25 is where one can find family-sharing- styled roasts and comfort dishes such as braised lamb shank and claypot baked chicken. Cooked using their gigantic green beech oven, all of their stellar dishes pack on a warm and comforting appeal, with a delightfully charred note.

Their Lobster Mac & Cheese is a real treat. Copious amounts of cheese, chunky lobster meat and a lovely crust on the top for a nice crunch—absolutely divine.

5 Fraser Street, Level 25
Andaz Singapore
Singapore 189354
Daily: 6.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

THE WHITE RABBIT

We are not ashamed to say that we are die-hard fans of the restaurant’s Truffle Mac & Cheese with Mushrooms (S$14). With its fragrant truffle aroma that is not overpowering and the perfect balance of cheese and mushrooms, there is hardly anything to nitpick on when it comes to this delightful cheesy goodness.

39C Harding Road
Singapore 249541
Tel: +65 6473 9965
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

WHISK & PADDLE

It certainly doesn’t hurt that their Mac & Cheese (S$14.80) scores full marks when it comes to presentation but what makes it go above and beyond is how the savoury ham slices cut through the cheesiness of this dish to strike a perfect balance so you never get tired of eating it.

Kudos to the chef for a well-executed Mac & Cheese dish!

10 Tebing Lane
Singapore 828836
Tel: +65 6242 4617
Mon to Fri: 3.30pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 9.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Riveria (Punggol LRT)

“Always tasty, always homemade. With love.”

That’s Little Diner for you.

The humble eatery that sits amidst the lush greenery of Bukit Timah, away from the humdrum of city life and stress – cosy and unpretentious. It is a no-frills place; just earnest comfort food in generous portions. Lunch, dinner, weekend brunch… whenever you need to please that tummy of yours, Little Diner will take care of that.

Nothing here costs an arm and a leg – most of the dishes on the menu are reasonably priced below S$20 – and all that we’ve sampled and had were delightfully yummy to say the least. Some classics are as good as gold, some creations took us by surprise and left us lingering for more. Little Diner has also just launched its new 2-course weekday set lunch at S$22.50++.

Today, we share 10 Must-Try Dishes at Little Diner and we urge you to drop by for a meal that you will not have regrets for.

There are three various “feeding times”, and the menu differ for each.

Lunch hours on weekdays (11:30am to 3pm, Tuesdays to Fridays) call for value-for-money 2-course set lunches at S$22.50++, including one coffee or tea. Portions are of the original size no less, and there are several starters and main courses to pick from, of which we will be sharing some of our favourites in this list.

We’d love to think of the set lunches as casual affordable options when we want to avoid the lunch crowd in town and major restaurants. From now till 31 May 2015, quote “ladyironchef” and get a free dessert of the day with every set lunch ordered.

Then, there is a comprehensive menu when it comes to dinner. We promise you’ll be so spoilt for choice, but more than that, we’d love for you to spend your night with great comfort food and drinks. It is like dining at a home outside of your home.

Weekend brunches are not confined to cafes. A local eatery off the beaten track sounds lovely too, yes? Especially so when they’ve got some really impressive items. Trust us on this – you’ll be hooked to the first dish that we are going to share.

#1 STUFFED SUPER CEREAL-CRUSTED FRENCH TOAST (BRUNCH ONLY)

Nutella, Nutella and more Nutella in Little Diner‘s version of stuffed French Toast which is served during weekend brunch. At S$16.50, this is a notch above your usual French Toast. Thick brioche with a crunchy cereal crust, lavishly stuffed with everyone’s favourite hazelnut spread, topped with fried bananas and drenched with chocolate sauce. What’s a better word than ‘heavenly’?

Now, you’d be pretty darn sure you need this for your weekend.

#2 ROSARIO’S FRIED RISOTTO BALLS (LUNCH AND DINNER ONLY)

With a melty mozzarella center, tomato coulis, basil pesto and parmesan cheese, the Rosario’s Fried Risotto Balls (S$9.50) is a rustic appetiser that is good for sharing, but we’d prefer to have them to ourselves. It might sound foreign, but they are really just crispy balls with a warm filling of cheesy rice grains, tangy tomato and herbs. 

For weekday set lunches, this option is also included as a starter, and it is certainly our favourite thing to order.

#3 CROQUE MADAME (BRUNCH ONLY)

Pretty much like your ham and cheese sandwich, except that Little Diner’s Croque Madame (S$14.50) – only on weekend brunch hours – is like a gigantic deconstructed version.

What seemed like a messy pile actually turned out to be a delightful surprise of toasted brioche, a thick slice of ham and lots of melted cheese, with a copious amount of truffle scented bechamel sauce. Topped with a gorgeous fried egg and some greens, the Croque Madame was wolfed down by our party within minutes.

#4 VERSION 2.0 BAKED MAC & CHEESE ROYALE

Damn, this is one hell of a Mac & Cheese! We are always lamenting about the lack of a good mac & cheese in Singapore, but no more complaints – we’ve found the best. The Version 2.0 Baked Mac & Cheese Royale (S$20.50) is a divine portion that comes with wild enoki and shimeji mushrooms, complete with truffle oil. Let’s just say the fragrance is unparalleled, and unlike most overly cheesy and sick mac & cheese, this rendition is lighter and works as a main on its own.

Not a fan of truffle? Sure. Go for the Old School Baked Mac & Cheese (S$16.50).

#5 THE XXX BACONATOR

Every man needs a badass burger. It is food for the soul! The XXX Baconator (S$21.50) is a fascinating tower of thick and juicy beef patty, melted Swiss cheese, and, behold – crispy bacon strips, espresso bacon jam and bacon aioli. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, but… the more badass the burger, the more we love it.

And by the way, Little Diner has an Empire Burger Challenge. To begin, the Empire Burger (S$50) is a massive burger that is good for 3-4 persons, unless you are incredibly hungry. And if you are, then challenge yourself to finish the Empire Burger plus fries. Do that all in twenty minutes and your burger is free!

#6 PAN ROASTED FILET OF SEA BASS

Something lighter is the Pan Roasted Filet of Sea Bass (S$25). Simple white fish that is lightly pan roasted, and served with seasonal greens and whipped potatoes. The ladies will love this.

Also available as a main in the weekday 2-course lunch sets (S$18.50++), this dish is ideal for those who do not want something overly filling lest you snooze when you get back to the office.

#7 THE “KRUSTY KRAB” BENEDICT (BRUNCH ONLY)

Want to try something different from your usual egg Benedict? Then go for The “Krusty Krab” Benedict (S$19.50) that is available on Little Diner’s weekend brunch menu. Golden crab cake pillow sits atop toasted brioche, accompanied by crispy bacon, grilled asparagus, poached egg, and two sauces – Hollandaise and a hint of chipotle aioli. You know what this means? Explosion of flavours with every bite.

#8 THE BBQ PIGWICH

The BBQ Pigwich (S$18.50) features juicy spiced pulled pork cocooned in a thin wrap with smoky BBQ sauce and fresh pickled onions. Served with a side of homemade coleslaw, this option is also available as a main course in the weekday lunch sets, and the robust flavours of the dish sure work as a perk-me-up.

#9 SMOKED DUCK BREAST SALAD

The salad lovers will enjoy the Smoked Duck Breast Salad (S$13.50). With many slices of smoked duck breast, shaved poached pears, tangy dried cranberries and honey glazed walnuts atop mixed greens, this salad is tossed in a light citrus vinaigrette. Also available as a starter for the weekday lunch sets.

#10 ALL AMERICAN BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN (LUNCH AND DINNER ONLY)

We have nothing but praises for the All American Buttermilk Fried Chicken (S$18.50). It has a preparation time of 20 minutes, but thou shalt always wait patiently for indulgent fried chicken.

Little Diner’s golden fried perfection is indeed a perfect treat for dinner, and guess what? It comes drizzled with maple syrup for more oomph! Served with handcut fries and homemade coleslaw, this is an all-time favourite that we will return to Little Diner again and again for.

Besides the set lunches deals, Little Diner also has several ongoing weekday promotions. On Tuesday, it is burger day at Little Diner. Enjoy all burgers (except the Empire Burger) at S$15++ all day. On Wednesday, one dines for free with three paying diners. On Thursday, get a jug of beer at S$19.50++, a bottle of housepour wine at S$40++, or a bottle of premium wine at S$60++

For the latest updates, go to littlediner.sg and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Little Diner
789 Bukit Timah Road
Tel: +65 6466 4088
Tue to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village/Botanic Gardens

This post is brought to you by Little Diner.