Nowadays you’ve probably heard a lot about ModSin cuisine, though more often than not the novelty of fusion food is pretty much a thin disguise for more gimmicky quirks than actual delights. Fortunately, Uncle Kiisu in Novena Square 2 offers up an affordable yet impressive plethora of dishes that seeks to please all sorts of foodies.

This relatively new establishment serves up fusion food where West meets modern Asian cuisine. Aiming to challenge culinary norms, Uncle Kiisu displays its unique interpretations of food where diners are constantly wowed with creative combinations of Peranakan, Japanese and other local flavours.

First to arrive was their Mentaiko Cheese Bruschetta (S$3.80), two pieces of crispy dough fritters that were mercilessly doused with mentaiko and cheese and topped with ikura. Freshly torched before serving, the breath of char made this umami bomb all the more smoky and creamier.

Next was a plate of KiiWings (S$7.80), which was the furthest thing from your regular fried chicken. The wings are tossed in a mixture of soy and sambal and sprinkled with Japanese seasoning and fried garlic shards.

It’s really hard not to suck the meat off the bones because of how well seasoned the wings were. Crispy, juicy and succulent, the flavours oozed out with every single crunch of the fried exterior.

We also ordered their BellyRollMee (S$12.80) which was their take on a classic Porchetta, stuffed with mee siam instead of the usual meat based filling. This was, hands down, the single best bite we’ve taken, and perhaps in ever too. From the beautiful crackling skin to the fragrant fat and the soft tender meat, everything was melty and oozy and just absolutely divine.

Touted as their number one signature dish, we definitely understand why.

Last but not least, we also had their SobaSoGood (S$8.80). A simple and classic pun for a dish name, it was also the dish that we were most looking forward to. With cold matcha noodles served in truffle soba sauce alongside hotate and ikura, what more could we have asked for?

When it arrived, the smell of truffle wafted through the air and was definitely not hiding. We took a couple of generous slurps and fully enjoyed the way the delicate flavours played off one another.

Uncle Kiisu
10 Sinaran Drive
#02-65 Square2
Singapore 307506
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Novena

When it comes to popular food enclaves in Singapore, Novena may not particularly stand out from the crowd—especially not with the likes of so many up and coming food havens such as Bedok or even Toa Payoh.

But little do you know that Novena packs many great local eateries and restaurants. To give you more purpose in visiting Novena, other than sending your children for tuition or shopping for sports apparel, here are 18 eateries, cafes and restaurants in Novena that you have to try!

328 KATONG LAKSA

If travelling to Katong is a little too much of a stretch, then you find comfort in knowing that an outlet exists just a few minutes away from Novena. Serving up hearty bowls of intensely rich laksa, these bowls of soul-enriching goodness will definitely put you in a good spot whenever you find yourself hankering for something warm and comforting.

101 Thomson Road #01-K1,
United Square Shopping Mall
Singapore 307591
Daily: 9am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Novena

BAAN YING

One of the latest restaurants to take up residence over at Royal Square at Novena, Baan Ying Singapore serves up a wide range of Thai fare stemming from other, more underrated parts of Thailand, and while the usual Thai staples such as tom yum and green curry are available, they most certainly aren’t the main stars of the show.

Their menu boasts a pretty extensive array of Northern Thai-inspired curries, salads and rice dishes and most dishes fall below S$10.

103 Irrawaddy Road
#02-07, Royal Square At Novena
Singapore 329566
Tel: +65 9111 7852
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

CHYE KEE CHICKEN RICE

Over at Chye Kee Goldhill Roasted Chicken Rice, be mesmerised by the display counter that comprises rows and rows of gorgeously roasted chicken, char siew, pork belly and duck. This is one meat lover’s heaven that often sees a long line leading outside even before lunchtime.

As much as we love their roasted chicken rice, their rice tends to be a tad dry so instead, we recommend going for their Dry Macaroni with Roasted Chicken.

No. 151, Thomson Road, #01-151,
Goldhill Shopping Centre,
Singapore 307606
Tel: +65 9143 4147

Mon to Sat: 8am – 7pm
Sun: 8am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Novena

CRAFTSMEN SPECIALTY COFFEE

A popular coffee stop for office workers or even students in the search for a quiet place to study, Craftsmen Specialty Coffee is your answer to delicious coffee and all-day-breakfast items. Inspired by flavours from abroad, most if not all their nosh are designed with the intention to complement their freshly roasted and brewed coffee.

The Craftsmen Full Breakfast comes close to a traditional English breakfast while the Pulled Pork Burrito is divine on so many levels.

173 Thomson Road
Goldhill Centre
Singapore 307623
Tel: +65 96580769
Mon to Thu: 8.30am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 10.30pm
Sun: 8.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Novena

DA LUCA RESTAURANT

Serving up real-deal Italian food Da Luca Italian Restaurant is one spot that never fails to leave an impression. Owned by chef-owner Luca Pucciani along with his wife, this cosy Italian restaurant in Goldhill Plaza dishes out an arsenal of stellar antipasti, pasta and hearty mains.

Fresh ingredients, masterful preparations, friendly owners and good vibes all rolled out into one, this is without a doubt a place that promises a sensational dining experience.

1 Goldhill Plaza Novena #01-19/21,
Singapore 308899
Tel: +65 6258 4846
(Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Wed to Sun: 11.45am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

HAIDILAO

Singapore’s hottest hotpot restaurant at the moment, Haidilao is one that needs no introduction.

Having opened yet another outlet at Royal Square at Novena, what Novena residents can expect is the same top-notch service, delicious soup broths and a sensational dining experience right in your very neighbourhood—all the way to 6 in the morning.

Royal Square @Novena,
103 Irrawaddy Road, #06-01/02,
Singapore 329566
Tel: +65 6565 7767
Daily: 10.30am – 6am
Nearest Station: Novena

JOE & DOUGH

Homegrown chain, Joe & Dough, is known for their high-ceilinged lounge cafes which rivals the likes of Starbucks. From sourcing the best Arabica beans to roasting the coffee beans locally, this popular coffee chain ensures that every cup of coffee they serve is a cup packed-full of warmth and unbeatable flavour.

10 Sinaran Dr, 01-156,
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6397 2669
Daily: 8am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Novena

KYUSHU PANCAKE

A notch above than your average pancake, what you can expect from this pancake joint from Japan, are incredibly thick yet light pancakes that come in a variety of mouthwatering flavours. The secret to it and what makes it unique is that unlike most, it is made using 7 different grains grown in Kyushu.

Must-try’s include the Kyushu Butter Milk Classic Pancake, Salted Caramel French Toast and Egg Benedict Pancake.

275 Thomson Road, #01-08,
Novena Regency
Singapore 307645
Tel: +65 6352 6265
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Sun: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Novena

LA RISTRETTOS

If you’re looking to hide from the hustle and bustle of the city, then allow La Ristrettos to be your safe haven. Hidden in the most obscure area in Novena, within a maze of private clinics, this humble cafe serves up hearty Melbourne-style brunch items as well as top-notch coffee.

10 Sinaran Drive #08-37
Novena Medical Centre,
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6397 7165
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat: 8am – 1pm
Nearest Station: Novena

LAO BEIJING

Capturing authenticity in both its appearance and cuisine, Lao Beijing in Velocity@Novena Square is where you’ll more than likely find well-executed Northern Chinese fare in the form of exquisite fish dishes, noodle dishes as well as an array of juicy dumplings. Famed for their xiao long bao and famous customisable popiah, the restaurant has bagged numerous awards over the years and sees a constant flood of loyal patrons daily.

238 Thomson road
Velocity@Novena Square, #02-11/12
Singapore 307683
Tel: +65 6358 4466
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11am – 3pm, 3pm – 5pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

LINGZHI VEGETARIAN

Vegetarian dining is very seldom on the top of anyone’s lists, but LingZhi Vegetarian is one of the rare few that proves to be an exception. Offering a straightforward yet dazzling new menu, diners can expect to fall head over heels for their vegetarian renditions of Lasagna, Peking Duck and even Satay.

The lack of meat may be hard to stomach, but judge all you want because the food really speaks for itself.

238 Thomson Road, #03-09/10,
Velocity@Novena Square
Singapore 307683
Tel: +65 6538 2992
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

MARMALADE PANTRY

Have yourself an indulgent afternoon at one of the city’s best bistros. Beyond tea, scones and gorgeous little pastries, the outlet at Novena boasts a pretty good selection of mains. Bask in the luxury that is modern comfort food in the form of their Truffle Beef Burger and Miso Lobster Burger that will have you submerged in pure, sensorial bliss.

8 Sinaran Drive, #01-02/04
Oasia Hotel Novena
Singapore 307470
Tel: +65 6664 0348
Daily: 6.30am – 10.30am, 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Novena

NARA

Offering quality Japanese food, service that’s hard to fault and an overall intimate dining experience without breaking the bank, Nara is one spot that will take your taste buds on a sensorial journey.

If you’re ballsy, you should definitely opt for the shirako ponzu (fish sperm served in ponzu) when it’s in season.

167 Thomson Road,
Singapore 307619
Tel: +65 6256 6568
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Novena

SSIKKEK KOREAN GRILL BBQ BUFFET

There are a few Ssikkek outlets in Singapore, and the popularity of each outlet leaves one little to wonder. It is really a simple and fuss-free place for some casual feasting.

While Ssikkek doesn’t have the best quality meat such as Wagyu, it makes up for it with its competitive pricing and lively atmosphere.

101 Thomson Road, #B1-14/15/16
United Square Shopping Mall,
Singapore 307591
Tel: +65 6254 8123
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Novena

SKY 22

Sky22 sits on the 22nd level of Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena, boasting an unbeatable view of the surrounding city area.

The restaurant focuses on a small plates-style buffet where the different dishes are prepared in small batches to ensure quality and freshness. Dishes to look forward to are the ‘Nasi Ulam’ Wild Rice Salad with charred octopus, Pan-seared Red Grouper with Sambal Oelek and Tiger Prawn Laksa Lemak.

99 Irrawaddy Road
Singapore 329568
Tel: +65 6378 2040
Daily: 6.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

SUSHI MATSUO

Featuring a pretty extensive lineup of sushi, sashimi and donburi options made using fresh seasonal produce, Sushi Matsuo is one spot we would recommend to satisfy your craving for raw seafood without the fine dining price tag.

Set in a small yet homely space, the restaurant dishes out anything from uni to tuna served several ways and will have you feeling as if you were dining in a restaurant in the suburbs of Tokyo.

1, Goldhill Plaza, #01-17,
Singapore 308899
Tel: +65 6356 2603
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

TUNGLOK TEAHOUSE

We are such big fans of TungLok Group’s arsenal of restaurants and one of the places we frequent most is TungLok Teahouse for their delectable, handcrafted dim sum. Their signature Steamed Siew Mai with Quail Egg and Truffle is a huge hit and don’t even get us started on their Boxer Chicken.

10 Sinaran Drive
#01-73 Square 2
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6893 1123
Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sun: 9am – 4.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

WEE NAM KEE

Anyone who’s truly a fan of chicken rice would definitely have tried Wee Nam Kee at least once or several times. Having moved to United Square, the interior does feature a brand-new look but where taste and quality are concerned, the standard of their food remains pretty much unchanged.

Their rice is fragrant, their homemade chilli sauce is superb and their chicken, well, is simply put, one of the best we have ever tasted from its outrageously succulent meat to the delicious sauce that does well to enhance every bite with its savoury and subtly sweet qualities.

101 Thomson Road, #01-08
United Square Shopping Mall
Singapore 307591
Tel: +65 6255 6396
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Novena

We are such big fans of TungLok Group’s arsenal of restaurants and one of the places we frequent is TungLok Teahouse for their delectable, handcrafted dim sum. This casual dining restaurant has extremely competitive prices—which means you can always pop by to satisfy your dim sum cravings even if you are on a budget!

TungLok Teahouse at Square Two recently underwent a transformation: From a retro old-school Chinese Teahouse, to a place which revolutionizes the way dim sum is served. Hint: there is automation and interaction involved here.

After all these years, it remains as one of our all-time favourite places for reliable dim sum.

At first look, the new TungLok Teahouse at Square 2 resembles a classic American Diner with its green and red booths. It is indeed refreshing for a dim sum restaurant.

The restaurant has implemented a new dining concept with its tray delivery system. Choose to sit where the action is at, the booths, which cater to group of four or six; or the round tables at the side of the restaurant which seat bigger groups.

The chefs will prepare the orders upon receiving the electronic orders made via an iPad at every table—this is to ensure that every basket and plate of dim sum is steamed to order and served fresh and piping hot.

Then comes the interesting part—look out for your food which will be delivered to your table straight from the kitchen via the “tray”.

We felt like we were kids again, having so much fun exploring a new game that has just been launched. This new system also means that your waiting time is greatly reduced!

SIGNATURE DIM SUM

Cartoon dim sum will always capture our hearts, which is what the Mini Piglet BBQ Buns (S$5.30++ – 3 pieces) at TungLok Teahouse did. On top of being adorable, we gave this dish additional points for its taste too.

We tore apart the soft bun and were delighted to be greeted with a generous portion of barbequed pork and sweet sauce.

TungLok Teahouse’s signature Steamed Siew Mai with Quail Egg and Truffle (S$5.80++ – 4 pieces) completely blew our minds. Who would have thought the classic dim sum could be reinvented this way?!

We loved how we were surprised by the runny quail egg yolk when we bit into the pork and shrimp siew mai. And as if the sweetness from the egg wasn’t enough, black truffle is added for an overall elevation of the taste!

We are never looking at siew mai the same way again.

Steamed Cheong Fun (rice rolls) is a staple in most dim sum restaurants and you bet it is a must-order at TungLok Teahouse.

We liked the textural variety in the Steamed Prawn Rice Rolls ‘Cheong Fun’ (S$6.80++). Imagine fresh plump prawns, vegetables and crispy vermicelli wrap, combined together in delicate rice noodle rolls before it is drenched with light soya sauce.

Many of you will agree with us that good baked pork buns should come with flaky tops and are soft to bite. Besides that, it is also crucial that the sweet and savoury bits from the bun and juicy pork have to go well together.

That is what you would get with the Baked BBQ Pork Buns (S$4.80++ – 3 pieces) at TungLok Teahouse. Since our first trip, we had concluded that this is a must-try at TungLok Teahouse and our stand remains today.

Other dim sum choices you get are Steamed Shrimp Dumplings ‘Har Gao’ (S$5.30++ – 4 pieces), Baked Mini Egg Tarts (S$4.30++ – 3 pieces), Deep-fried Yam Puffs with Truffle (S$4.30++ – 3 pieces) and Steamed Juicy Meat Buns ‘Xiao Long Bao’ (S$5.30++ – 4 pieces).

SIDES

Boxer Chicken (S$8++) is so sinfully good that it is worth every damn calorie. Although the limelight at TungLok Teahouse is the dim sum, it would be a shame to miss out on this crispy delight.

Deep fried to perfection, you can enjoy the chicken with the chilli dip for a spicy kick.

BECAUSE ROAST MEATS

The Duo BBQ Meat Combination Platter (S$20++) is a plate of roasted goodness that comes with ‘Char Siew’ and Roast Irish Duck. Roasted to a glorious shade of deep red, the best part of the roast duck has got to be its crispy skin.

Well, we don’t think you need another reason to be convinced, right? Good roast meats are worth the while.

THIS UNFORGETTABLE POT OF NOODLES

This pot of Braised Prawns with Vermicelli in X.O. Sauce (S$18++) comes with prawns and tanghoon. It was flavourful with a distinct wok hei, and as simple as it may look, it was an unforgettable item from our lunch that afternoon.

TungLok Teahouse
10 Sinaran Drive
#01-73 Square 2
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6893 1123
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 3pm, 3pm – 5pm (high tea), 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.