Founded by Chong’s Yong Tau Foo and Pokpok Keh Pink Salt Chicken, Nanyang Culinary Club is a casual eatery in Little India near Rochor MRT Station which dishes out homely dishes including authentic Hakka Yong Tau Foo, tender baked herbal chicken, as well as old-school local beverages such as Kopi-cino, Milo-cino and Bandung-cino.

Located just a stone’s throw from Rochor MRT Station, Nanyang Culinary Club is a cosy eatery with a heritage decor where you can listen to Xinyao music and enjoy affordable local food.

We are huge fans of Pokpok Keh Pink Salt Chicken and they previously had a shop in Kovan for takeaways. You can now enjoy their famous baked herbal chicken in a comfortable setting.

We’ve always loved such simple & comforting baked herbal chicken and their renditions are extremely flavourful! Pokpok Keh Pink Salt Chicken uses top quality kampung chicken and they are prepared using Himalayan pink salt (lower in sodium content as compared to regular table salt) and premium herbs, and baked until fork-tender.

There are 4 flavours available, and our favourites are the Ginseng Pink Salt Chicken (S$29) and Bazhen Pink Salt Black Chicken (S$23)—both with their respective health benefits to boast. The other two flavours that you can also try are Original Pink Salt Chicken (S$29) and Bak Kut Teh Pink Salt Chicken (S$29).

You can order the whole chicken as a communal dish to share with your friends and family, or get their individual Chicken Bento (S$11.90) which comes with a pink salt whole chicken leg, lava egg, seasoned cucumbers, rice and a special chilli sauce which complements the pink salt chicken.

Moving on to Chong’s Yong Tau Foo’s Hakka Yong Tau Foo. The collagen-rich soup base has a strong taste of solefish and soy beans while the yong tau foo is generously stuffed with a mixture of water chestnuts, carrot, fresh minced pork, and fish paste. We love the extra crunch of the water chestnuts and the yong tau foo ingredients go really well with a homemade chilli sauce which is specially made for the yong tau foo.

The Hakka minced pork noodles also deserve a special mention. Topped with minced pork and mushroom, the noodles have a QQ texture and they are really good.

The Collagen Hakka Yong Tau Foo Noodle Set for 1 pax (S$8.90) comes with the Hakka minced pork noodles and 6 pieces of Yong Tau Foo in a bowl of collagen soup. Other than their classic Yong Tau Foo ingredients, you can add on Fried Hakka Pork Balls (S$7.90), and Fried Mini Ngoh Hiang (S$7.90) to complete your meal.

For those of you who are driving to Nanyang Culinary Club, there is ample parking at Tekka place carpark which is just a short 2-minute walk away.

If you are too lazy to head out, Nanyang Culinary Club offers free Islandwide deliveries for order above S$58, with fresh & frozen options to choose from. You can get their frozen herbal baked chicken to enjoy at the comfort of your home. All you have to do is to thaw and steam it for 20 minutes.

Nanyang Culinary Club
8 Perak Rd, Singapore 208129
Monday 11am – 4.30pm (last order 4pm)
Tuesday to Sunday : 11am – 9pm (last order 8:30pm)
https://www.nanyangculinary.com

This post was brought to you by Nanyang Culinary Club.

Any Singaporean who has not visited Mustafa—a glorious 24-hour megamall in Little India— is certainly losing out big time. With six different entrances, it takes a certain level of skill to navigate the madness within.

After a whole day of shopping at Mustafa Centre, head over to one of the many excellent Indian F&B joints around the area to fill your tummy up with rich Indian curry, crispy prata and hearty murtabak.

If you have no idea which Indian joint to pick, refer to our list of 12 Superb Indian Joints In Little India To Refuel After Your Mustafa Shopping Spree.

Photo Credit: A B Mohamed Restaurant

#1 A B MOHAMED RESTAURANT

This casual air-conditioned eatery is just a stone’s throw away from Mustafa Centre. With an exhaustive menu spanning both south and north Indian cuisine, this restaurant is a cut above the rest.

The speciality here is the ABM Malabar Murtabak which is filled with onions, eggs, chicken and mutton all sandwiched in crisp layers of pan-fried wheat dough. Pair this with a warm cup of teh tarik for the ultimate combo.

278 Serangoon Rd
Singapore 218106
Tel: +65 6298 1010
Daily: 9am – 12.30am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: HungryAngMo

#2 ANANDA BHAVAN VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

For a no-frills vegetarian fix, head to Ananda Bhavan. This restaurant has been in operation since 1924 and holds bragging rights as Singapore’s oldest Indian vegetarian restaurant.

A popular eating haunt, Ananda Bhavan is known for its low-calorie options that scrap the use of additives, preservatives and MSG. Indulge in a tempting array of Rava Thosai, Chappati, Aloo Prata and Onion Uthappam.

95 Syed Alwi Road
Singapore 207671
Tel: +65 6398 0837
Daily: 24 hours
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Cookloveeat

#3 BALAJI BHAWAN

Adding another vegetarian restaurant to the list, Balaji Bhawan is located directly opposite Gate 2 of Mustafa Centre.

Renowned for their varieties of Chat (fried dough with fillings), North Indian Thali (an assortment of dishes on a platter) as well as the Gulab Jamun (spongy, milky balls), you can enjoy quite a feast here.

103 Syed Alwi Road
Singapore 207679
Tel: +65 9126 7797
Daily: 10am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Dan F.

#4 C.M.K. 2001 RESTAURANT

Even if you go shopping at Mustafa at ungodly hours and want some food after this halal-certified restaurant has got you covered for your late-night hunger pangs. From Mee Goreng Mamak, Masala Thosai, Chicken Biryani and prata of all varieties, you can recharge and chow down on decent Indian food before heading home.

2 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207668
Tel: +65 6294 9013
Daily: 24 hours
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Copper Chimney

#5 COPPER CHIMNEY

The unique selling point of this restaurant opposite Mustafa Centre is the presence of Chinese-Indian fusion cuisine that features Hakka noodles and fried rice incorporating Szechuan peppers.

If you are having a tough time deciding from the elaborate menu line up, go for the all-time favourite Butter Chicken and Tandoori Naan. Alternatively, challenge your palate to the Kung Pao Chicken or perhaps the American Chopsuey.

100 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207676
Tel: +65 6294 8891
Daily: 11am – 12.30am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Nekyouto-Food

#6 KEBABS N CURRIES

If you have explored Mustafa Centre thoroughly, you would have chanced upon this fine Indian dining place on the top floor. Boasting a rooftop alfresco style dining with glass-panelled domed roofs, the place is pretty magical and romantic.

Even though the prices here are not as pocket-friendly as the ones along the streets, you are guaranteed top-notch Indian food here. There are Pakistani dishes too if you would like to switch things up a little.

171 Syed Alwi Rd, #07-00 Mustafa Centre
Singapore 207704
Tel: +65 6419 0749
Daily: 11am – 12.45am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Komala Vilas

#7 KOMALA VILAS

Sticking to time-honoured traditions, this vegetarian restaurant is no stranger to Singaporeans with its massive loyal following. Since its opening back in 1947, Komala Vilas is famous for Thosai, delectable Thali sets and aromatic chai.

Served with lashings of sambar and chutney, dig into your meal and allow the exotic flavours of Indian cuisine to pamper your taste buds.

76 – 78 Serangoon Road
Singapore 217981
Tel: +65 6293 6980
Daily: 7am – 10.30am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Madura’s Restaurant

#8 MADURA’S RESTAURANT

This halal-certified food joint’s menu is incredibly vast with choices ranging from Chinese Sizzlers, Tandoori & Kebab, Aromatic Biryani & Pilao and Seafood Specialties.

Chef recommendations include Mutton Rogan Josh, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Dum Biryani as well as the scrumptious Kebab Platter. Satisfied diners have sung praises for these dishes that are on point with their robust flavours.

115 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207683
Tel: +65 6294 1268
Daily: 12pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

#9 MURUGAN IDLI SHOP

In a bid to broaden the reach of exquisite South Indian tiffin cuisine, Murugan Idli Shop opened its first stall beyond India, right here in Singapore. As its moniker suggests, the signature here is none other than the mouth-watering Idli (steamed rice cakes) that is served with generous side dishes and a plethora of chutneys.

This vegetarian joint also promises authentic Thosai, Sambar rice and a slew of other full-flavoured savouries.

81 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207660
Tel: +65 6298 0858
Daily: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Sakunthala’s Restaurant

#10 SAKUNTHALA’S RESTAURANT

From its inception in 1997, halal-certified Sakunthala’s Restaurant is a popular eatery that is more often than not teeming with people who casually devour lip-smacking biryani meals here.

The mind-boggling array of classic Naan, Thosai and Prata will also leave you in a tough spot to decide. To stave off the food coma thereafter, be sure to order the Masala Tea or the Ginger Tea.

88 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207667
Tel: +65 6293 6649
Daily: 11am – 3am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Sankranti Restaurant

#11 SANKRANTI RESTAURANT

The expertly cooked Dum Biryani here hits all the right spots and the spiciness of the accompanying curries adds a lovely zing! Aside from their signature biryani, the restaurant’s forte revolves primarily around the spicy Andhra cuisine.

Savour delicious appetisers, juicy tandoor kebabs, soft Indian bread and perfectly seasoned curries amongst others.

79 Syed Alwi Rd
Singapore 207658
Tel: +65 6292 7655
Daily: 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 12.30am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Cindy K

#12 USMAN’S RESTAURANT

Despite being situated slightly further from Mustafa Centre, this special place rounds up the list for its highly affordable Pakistani and North Indian fare. The fluffy Naan here boasts incredible texture and is traditionally made using a claypot oven known as a “tandoor”.

Their menu features everything from tandoori specialities to paneer and even briyani.

238 Serangoon Rd
Singapore 218085
Tel: +65 6296 8949
Daily: 12pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Looking for a new spot to bring your Muslim amigos for dinner? The Great Mischief is a new Halal Catalan-inspired Tapas concept in Little India that you need to know about it!

Look no further for this new concept by The Black Hole Group offers a menu of savoury Spanish cuisine and house blend coffee. An overdue catch up with your compañero is calling!

From the folks that brought you Working Title, Afterwit, The Mad Sailors and Santap, The Great Mischief is a new halal-certified Spanish tapas bar and the fifth installation from The Black Hole Group.

Sprawled across the lobby of The Great Madras hotel, The Great Mischief adds a vibrant and playful Catalonian twist to the vintage setting of the hotel and rich heritage of Little India.

Photos Credit: The Great Mischief

Besides a humble range of delectable and affordable Catalan-inspired savoury tapas such as Coca Pizza, Croquetas and Calamares Sliders, the restaurant also offers a selection of Spanish-style desserts such as Churros and Torrijas alongside mocktails, speciality coffee and tea.

Inspired by the gastronomical culture of Catalonia, this place makes the perfect spot for sharing good food and spending quality time with family and friends.

If Spanish cuisine isn’t up your alley, you can check out these other Instagram-worthy Halal-certified cafés in Singapore for that caffeine fix or some late night sweet treats.

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The Great Mischief
28 Madras Street
Singapore 208422
Tel: +65 9392 2762
Sun to Thurs: 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri and Sat: 6pm – 2am
Closed on Tuesdays
Nearest Station: Rochor MRT

The Wired Monkey is a new speciality coffee shop nestled just off Little India along Dunlop Street. Besides serving up amazing coffee, they also have some interesting food offerings that delve away from your typical cafe fare.

Their Falafel Burger comes highly recommended and their banana cake is the perfect accompaniment for your freshly brewed coffee. The Wired Monkey uses a blend of coffee from Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, a veteran in Singapore’s coffee scene.

If you’re tired, The Wired Monkey is, without a doubt, an excellent place to get wired.

If you happen to be a fan of Middle Eastern cuisine, then the Falafel Burger (S$12) should be right up your alley.

This unconventional cafe item consists of a deep-fried patty made primarily from chickpeas and is stacked with kale, a refreshing tomato compote and tzatziki (a common Greek sauce made with yoghurt, cucumber, garlic and sometimes mint).The dish comes served with thick, crispy wedges of sweet potato fries.

For coffee aficionados who adore the robust, medium-bodied blends that come from Tiong Hoe Speciality Coffee, you will be happy to know that The Wired Monkey sources their blends from them. So you can expect to always have a solid brew to go along with their tantalising array of dishes.

The Wired Monkey
5 Dunlop Street, #01-00
Singapore 209335
Tel: +65 9022 0194
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 9am – 7pm
Sat: 12pm – 8pm
Nearest Station: Little India

All photos are credited to The Wired Monkey SG.

Santap is a new muslim-owned cafe in Little India by the good folks from The Black Hole Group—who is behind Working Title and The Mad Sailors.

Santap, which means to eat luxuriously in Malay, offers a menu of healthy eats from sandwiches to stellar rice bowls. All of which are plated so beautifully that it would be a crime not to snap a shot of it for the ‘gram’.

Nestled within the newly opened boutique hotel, The Daulat—just a 5-minute walk from Rochor MRT station—this Muslim-owned cafe exudes a charming ambience and a cosy vibe that is just perfect for lounging about in the afternoon.

With both an indoor and al fresco space that is cool and cosy, Santap is a great spot for lounging or dining at any time of the day. Where space is concerned, the indoor space features only one communal dining table and although beautifully decorated, may not be ideal for big groups.

The al fresco area, on the other hand, is considerably more spacious and the breeze coupled with the easy listening tunes make it a great spot to chill at.

Featuring ingredients such as avocado, black beans, pineapple, red and white daikon and of course, a generous serving of fresh prawns, The Shrimp Rice Bowl (S$15) is sure to intrigue health nuts everywhere. It also comes served with aromatic brown rice that is spiced with things like cardamom and cumin.

The prawns were cooked simply with a garlic-infused butter which added a nice umami touch and played off nicely with the prawn’s natural sweetness.

For a more protein-packed meal, you can also opt for the Beef Rice Bowl (S$15) that comes with a whole range of wholesome ingredients, such as a poached egg, cherry tomatoes, corn, red onions, brown rice and alfalfa just to name a few. But the main star is the tender strips of lean beef.

The beef had a mild hickory smoke flavour to it, which went surprisingly well with their housemade Tonkatsu sauce, and the various veggie elements provided many different tastes and textures to brighten the entire dish up.

All in all, this dish makes for a pretty substantial (and healthy) meal that will have you feeling full yet incredibly pleased with yourself.

Every lunch set comes with a complimentary cold brew tea, and boy oh boy is it the perfect thing to have on a scorching afternoon.

We were really impressed that the baristas here use better quality tea and actually take the time and effort to garnish the drink properly, especially for something that’s complimentary.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 3 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Santap
16 Madras Street
The Daulat
Singapore 208413
Tel: +65 8245 6284
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Rochor

For more recmmendations, read our guides on the best halal cafes in Singapore.

Tucked away in the stretch of shophouses on Dunlop Street, Rouse can be easy to miss because of their simple shop front. But if you spot it and step into the cafe, the intimate setting will instantly make you feel at home. Rouse has a quaint industrial-style interior with beautiful low-hanging bulbs and art murals on the walls.

Looking for a cosy space with free wifi to get some work done? Rouse is a lovely Muslim-owned cafe with great fresh coffee, and the food served here are pretty wholesome too.

We like how the fusion dishes served here are nothing too far-fetched and still very easy on the palates.

Small bites such as the addictive Sweet Potato Fries (S$7.90) and Orange-Glazed Chicken Wings (S$12.90) are great options for a bigger group to share, but of course, we won’t judge you even if you order a serving for yourself.

If you are thinking basic cafe fare such as Eggs Benedict and Carbonara, Rouse took a step further and will delight with their fusion creations such as the Tandoori Chicken Linguine. Effort was definitely put in in this dish and we love the traditional rub and marinate to the chicken thighs to give it full flavour. The linguine was tossed in a lot of garlic and parmesan, for a bonus flavour-enhancer.

Rouse
36 Dunlop St
Singapore 209364
Tel: +65 6292 2642
Mon, Wed & Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 7pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Little India

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.

Being one of the new members to the cafe-hopping family in Singapore, OMB at Dunlop Street will be the dream come true of all bacon lovers. You probably already got that from its name – Oh My Bacon, geddit?

Let’s cut the chase and go straight to the point – bacon is used as much as possible in every dish in the menu at OMB – Singapore’s first bacon-inspired cafe. Even the simplest of dish will have its flavours elevated with bacon. You see, anything bacon is always good.

That said, OMB does a pretty fine job in whipping up both savoury and sweet treats. You can find many uncommon variations of bacon-infused desserts here such as Bacon Macarons, Bacon Brownies, Bacon Scones, and even Bacon Ice-Cream. Go crazy right about now.

Once you step into the cafe, you will be greeted with quotes and illustrations in relation to all things bacon. For the shopaholics, you can also grab your favorite bacon-inspired merchandises such as pillows, tote bags, and plushies decked out at the cafe.

Savoury bacon lovers should totally give the Bacon Bomb (S$28) a shot. Listen – pork, bacon, beef and cheese all wrapped nicely in a roll; how enticing does that sound? The original bacon roll is around 4 times the size of the samplers shown. Take a bite into it and you will find yourself sinking into a mass of deliciously grilled meat. We say get a fellow badass friend to get this badass job done.

Another crowd favourite is notably the Bacon Brownie (S$4.50). The chocolate fudge sitting on the brownie was generously topped with bacon slices; this dessert was a joy to savour. You can also opt for additional toppings of Vanilla or Bacon Ice Cream.

OMB (Oh My Bacon)
7 Dunlop Street
Singapore 209337
Tel: +65 6635 2633
Tues to Fri: 12pm – 10pm
Sat to Sun: 10am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest MRT: Little India

About the writer:
Cassandra is a staff writer for ladyironchef. During her free time, she fuels her passion for fashion through shopping and indulges in all things food. She loves anything egg related and is always ready for a cafe-hopping adventure.

Cafes are aplenty at Jalan Besar and many of these F&B establishments are notable and rank as one of the best in Singapore. What’s especially popular in this neighbourhood are the cafes who have reconstructed old shophouses into a spanking new cafe space, while still retaining a big part of the vintage and rustic interior and nature.

Besides cafes, Jalan Besar also offers a variety of restaurants, pastry shops and dessert places. This is your Guide to Jalan Besar’s Cafes & Restaurants.

Antoinette

French-inspired patisserie, Antoinette, is known most commonly by their beautiful and decadent desserts. The stylish and regal interior of their Penhas outlet beckons as a perfect afternoon tea or Sunday brunch spot.

30 Penhas Road
Tel: +65 6293 3121
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

Butter Studio

Butter Studio is every cupcake lover’s dream. Handcrafted fresh in store daily, it’s always a treat to look forward to Butter Studio’s new creations. Some notable ones include the Salted Egg Yolk Cupcake and Salted Gula Melaka Cupcake (S$3.50 each)

Butter Studio’s Salted Nutella Tart is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best desserts.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

147 Jalan Besar
Tel: +65 6294 7115
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Little India

Chye Seng Huat Hardware

Keeping the name of the hardware store that they took over, Chye Seng Huat Hardware possesses a modern-industrial style interior, specialising in unique blends of coffee and an exciting all-day-breakfast menu. Cold brew coffees are also available here.

150 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 207563
Tel: +65 6396 0609
Tue to Fri: 9am – 7pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lavender/Farrer Park

The Refinery

The Refinery is a triple concept space that consists of a Yakitori kitchen, a bespoke cocktail bar and a designer workspace area. Munch on delicious a la minute grilled yakitori items while sipping on a pint of beer or a cocktail of choice.

115 King George’s Avenue
Tel: +65 6293 0461
Tue to Sun: 6pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Lavender

The Bravery

Pancake lovers rejoice because The Bravery serves possibly the tastiest and fluffiest pancakes around. The Pancakes Stack (S$15) features a triple stack of fluffy pancakes, caramelized bananas, a dollop of ricotta cheese and drizzled with golden syrup. Be sure to get their signature Lavender Latte (S$5.50) too!

66 Horne Road
Tel: +65 9452 4785
Daily: 8am – 8pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Lavender

The Tiramisu Hero

Aptly named so, The Tiramisu Hero serves one of the best Tiramisu-in-a-jar in Singapore. Other dishes offered here includes savoury pasta dishes and a range of other sweet desserts, but we suggest going right for their signature Mommahero (S$7.50) tiramisu as it can do no wrong.

The Tiramisu Hero’s Tiramisu is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best tiramisu.

121 Tyrwhitt Road
Tel: +65 6292 5271
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

Two Bakers

Opened late last year, Two Bakers is one of the newer faces in Jalan Besar’s cafe scene. The two chefs here are Le Cordon Bleu Paris-trained so you can be sure that their food here is of standard. The YTB or Tau Yu Bak (S$13.80) pull pork sandwich topped with fried egg, is a popular choice there.

88 Horne Road
Tel: +65 6293 0329
Mon to Thu, Sun: 11am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

It’s really nice to see so many new cafes sprouting up around Singapore. I’ve been going on a cafe-hopping adventure, and one of the places that I went to is L’etoile Cafe at Owen Road.

The French-themed Japanese cafe is a real hidden gem, so if you are looking for a place to hangout with your friends this weekend, you can consider coming here.

Getting to L’etoile is not that difficult. Take the North-East line, alight at Farrer Park and find exit D which leads to Owen Road.

The ground floor is pretty much like a regular cafe with simple furnishings. It is the second floor (the first picture of this post) that makes the cafe stand out.

They did a good job mixing and matching old furniture. The result: a quirky and whimsical look that you can’t find elsewhere. I particularly loved the birdcage painting on the wall.

The current brunch menu is simple and affordable. They have several items like big breakfast ($9.5), eggs benedict ($5.9), banana nutella toast ($5.9), French toast ($5.9), and French crepes ($5).

From what I understand, they will be introducing a new all day brunch menu in the coming weeks. For now, their food menu is available till 3-4pm.

L’etoile cafe is a place where you can have a cup of coffee, read a book, and watch the world goes by. It’s also a place where you can hangout with a group of friends and play card games all day long. I like that it is not too crowded, and the off-the-track location makes it feel as though you are going on a quest to find a hidden treasure.

L’etoile Cafe
160 Owen Road
Tel: +65 6298 2872
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

For more recommendations, please read my list of best cafes in Singapore

Since Cocotte opened its doors at Wanderlust boutique hotel, I’ve heard both good and bad things about the French Restaurant. Some of my friends spoke at length about its signature Poulet Roti, and Roast Pork Collar. There are others who told me to forget about it as they felt that food was overpriced, and most of the dishes were mediocre.

Even though I wanted to try their food, I decided to wait a while. It turned out to be a pretty long wait as it took me until recently to visit them. My good friend Jolene told me that she had a splendid lunch at Cocotte. I trust her tastebuds so I reckoned it’s time to drop by.

After having lunch there, I have to agree. Cocotte serves pretty good French Food, and the 3 course executive set lunch at $29++ is definitely worth a try.

The set lunch (only available on weekdays) allows you to choose from five appetisers, four main courses, and four desserts. It also includes coffee/tea.

The five appetisers include starter of the day, Chicken Liver Mousse, Rosette, Pear Salad, and Pork Rillettes. We didn’t take very long to decide on the Salad and Pork Rillettes. Both dishes were decent, but nothing to write home about.

The selection of the main courses was challenging. Three dishes – Pan Seared Chicken, Duck Confit, and Pan Seared Seabass – called out to us. We already knew that we wanted the Duck Confit, so it was down to choosing between the chicken and the fish.

Jolene told me that the Pan Seared Chicken that she had was very good. But my dining companion and I did not feel like having chicken that day, so we decided to give it a miss, and ordered the Seabass instead.

Luckily, the Pan Seared Seabass which came on a bed of summer vegetables in a seafood nage, was good. I particularly enjoyed the seafood broth; it was light, fresh, and very comforting. The Seabass was also nicely seared.

Cocotte’s Duck Confit (top up $9) was easily one of the best that I’ve had. Crispy, flavourful, and very delicious. I’d return just for this.

For desserts, we had Tarte Au Citron and Creme Brulee. The Tarte Au Citron was a tad too sweet for my liking. The Creme Brulee, on the other hand, was nicely done, and we ended our lunch on a nice note.

If you are looking for a nice place to have lunch, I’d recommend Cocotte Restaurant. Besides the 3 course executive set lunch, they also have a communal set lunch for 3-4 pax at $156, and it includes dishes like Fried Tripe, Roast Pork Collar, Braised Beef Cheek, and Sole Meuniere.

I am planning to come back with a few friends to try the communal set lunch. But if you beat me to it, do leave a comment and let me know if they are worth the trip.

Cocotte
2 Dickson Road
Ground Level Wanderlust Hotel
Tel: +65 6298 1188
Mon to Sat: 12pm –2.30pm
Mon to Thu: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 6.30pm – 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

For more recommendations, read my list of Best French Restaurants in Singapore

The Little India area is a mini paradise for French food. Besides The French Stall along Serangoon Road, you also have Cocotte French Restaurant in Wanderlust hotel. And of course, The Black Sheep Cafe at Mayo Street.

The small French cafe can probably seat around 30 guests, a nice cosy place for a quiet dinner. The menu is relatively small, with only 4 appetisers, 6 mains, and 3 desserts.

My friends are terrific to eat with, mainly because they are gamed for anything. Six of us went to The Black Sheep Cafe for dinner, and we tried the entire menu.

For starters, we had the Pan Seared Foie Gras ($22), Caesar Salad with Garlic Prawns ($12.50), Baked Brie Cheese ($12.50), and Daily Soup of Prawn Bisque ($6.50). The clear favourite was the Baked Brie Cheese, I’d skip the run-of-the-mill Caesar Salad and Prawn Bisque if I ever come back again.

Besides that, I also enjoyed the Pan Seared Foie Gras. But then again, I am biased towards anything-foie-gras.

The small portions reminded me of La Petite Cuisine. For those of you with big appetite, you would probably need to order an extra starter/main to share.

We continued with the six main courses: Crispy Pork Cheeks ($24), The Black Sheep Shank ($22.50), Duck Confit with Apple Rosti ($22.50), Beef Special – Tenderloin ($32-38), Meat Special – Lamb Chops ($32-38), Fish & Seafood Special – Snapper ($22.50-32).

The Black Sheep Cafe’s Duck Confit is by far one of the best I’ve had. It was lean and crispy, and very delicious. Unlike most French Restaurants in Singapore that charge $30 upwards for this dish, the one here is reasonably priced at $22.5. Definitely worth a try.

Another dish that I’d order again is the Crispy Pork Cheeks. The tangy sauce complimented the tender pork perfectly. The other dishes were decent, nothing spectacular. If pork and duck are not your favourite meat, I’d choose the lamb chop over the lamb shank.

To end off the French dinner, we had the Souffle, Tiramisu and Flourless Chocolate Cake. The souffle was the highlight out of the three. Orange Martini Souffle may take a long time to come, but when they reach your table and you dig in with a spoon – it’s instant happiness.

Given that I’ve tried the entire menu at The Black Sheep Cafe, I probably won’t be rushing to come back any time soon. But I’d recommend the place if you are looking for a restaurant that offers affordable French Food in Singapore. Try the Baked Brie Cheese, Duck Leg Confit, Crispy Pork Cheek, and Souffle.

For more recommendations, read my list of the Best French Restaurants in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
The Black Sheep Cafe
35 Mayo Street
Tel: +65 9272 1842

Operating Hours
Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

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I am in love with tomatoes. It may sounds crazy, but I’m head over heels in love, and addicted to them. Who the hell eats tomato as snack while watching TV? Me. The irony is, I remember my mother used to force me to eat tomatoes when I was young and back then, I gave all sorts of excuses not to eat them. I only started to like them after the beauty blogger told me about the benefits of having tomatoes. Okay I digress, but there’s a reason why I’m talking about tomatoes — Spanish cuisine makes heavy use of ingredients like potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, beans and mushrooms. Honey, we are having Spanish food today!

Zsofi Tapas Bar is a quirky and fun Spanish restaurant located in the heart of Little India, Singapore. I know it’s a rather strange place to go for Spanish food, but hey, there’s French food in Little India too!

Look at that beauty up there. Tell me, who can resist not eating the Spanish Paella?

I think the Spanish Paella is an amazing creation. It may seem simple enough to throw in a variety of ingredients like prawn, mussel, tomatoes, chorizo, saffron into a pan, but preparing a good paella is never easy.

I like the Paella Valecia ($35) from Zsofi Tapas Bar. Tasty isn’t exactly an appropriate word to describe it since there are so many flavors within. I’m not too sure if this is the best Spanish paella in Singapore since I haven’t tried that many before, but it is definitely one of the better paella.

Be it with a group of friends, or in the company of loved ones – I love the idea of having Sangria with a few Spanish tapas and Paella after a long day of work.

One day, I’m going to fly to Spain and take lots of photos to make all of you jealous. But until then, I can only visit the Spanish restaurants in Singapore to satisfy my cravings for paella, chorizo, churros and Spanish Tapas.

Sometimes, it’s good to step out of our comfort zone and explore new places and experience new cuisine. If you have never tried Spanish Cuisine before, it’s time to read my list of Spanish restaurants in Singapore. Zsofi Tapas Bar serves a free tapas with the purchase of every alcoholic drink.

Restaurant Review
Zsofi Tapas Bar
68 Dunlop Street Singapore
Tel: +65 6297 5875

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