The famous fire ramen from Kyoto, Menbaka Fire Ramen is opening its first-ever overseas outlet outside of Kyoto at Cineleisure Orchard, Singapore on 24 November 2020.

You’ve probably seen footage of Menbaka’s legendary fire ramen all over the internet. And now, you will get the chance to savour the fire ramen in Singapore without having to fly to Kyoto.

Menbaka Fire Ramen soon became a hotspot for Japanese diners and tourists from around the world. Menbaka’s fire ramen is the first in the world to pour flaming negi oil on top of its green onion broth to create towering flames and an exquisitely smokey broth.

Photos credit: Menbaka Fire Ramen

Other than Menbaka’s signature Shoyu Fire Ramen, which consists of chicken, mackerel, seaweed and bonito brewed for over five hours to achieve a complex and flavourful aroma; you can also look forward to the Vegetarian Fire Ramen as well as the Singapore-exclusive Tonkotsu Fire Ramen.

Menbaka Fire Ramen Singapore
8 Grange Road
Cineleisure Orchard #05-03
Singapore 239695

Fish & Chicks — a no-frills eatery which shot to fame with its signature Salted Egg Fish & Chips — has opened a second outlet at Cineleisure Orchard.

The humble Fish & Chicks brand is a concept by Justin – a young passionate entrepreneur — who has painstakingly gone through many rounds of research before he joined the competitive food and beverage industry. It debuted in the heartlands of Ang Mo Kio neighbourhood and the frenzy has led to the kopitiam stall seeing queues every single day; the waiting time is at least 30 minutes to an hour.

The overwhelming popularity has led the owners to open up a new outlet in town. Sitting in the basement of Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, Fish & Chicks now has an outlet within the food court, Koufu.

From their bestselling Salted Egg Fish & Chips (S$10.90) to Crispy Fish Burger (S$7.90), here’s what you can expect from Fish & Chicks at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard.

CHEESE YOUR CHICKEN

Ready for some #cheeseporn? The Cheese Your Chicken (S$13.90) is a new item on the menu that you must totally check out. Cheese is heated over high heat till it has a gooey texture for that beautiful pull, and you just have to dip your chicken chunks in for the final satisfaction.

FISH & CHICKS SHAKER FRIES

Salted egg yolk all day every day. When we learned about a Salted Egg Yolk Shaker Fries on the menu, we were ecstatic, to say the least.

The salted egg yolk seasoning and the fresh, hot fries made a beautiful pairing. And because it is a shaker, you can decide whether you want to add more or less of the seasoning, but we went all out.

SALTED EGG AND CHILLI “CRAB” FISH & CHIPS

Needless to say, Fish & Chicks specialises in the good ol’ Western classic – Fish & Chips.

Each Fish & Chips portion includes a choice of two side dishes or their signature garlic fried rice. And it is the iconic Salted Egg Fish & Chips (S$10.90) that everyone comes to Fish & Chicks for.The fork-tender fresh fish fillet is coated with a light and fluffy savoury batter before it is deep-fried till golden and crisp. The battered fish is then drenched in glorious salted egg yolk sauce. Kudos to Fish & Chicks for revamping a British classic into a fusion delicacy. We love it!

The fork-tender fresh fish fillet is coated with a light and fluffy savoury batter before it is deep-fried till golden and crisp. The battered fish is then drenched in glorious salted egg yolk sauce. Kudos to Fish & Chicks for revamping a British classic into a fusion delicacy.

The guys have also successfully integrated the Singapore chilli crab sauce into their dishes. The Chilli “Crab” Fish & Chips (S$10.90) is a battered fish fillet topped with aromatic semi-spicy gravy. Note that the tangy sauce does not contain any crustacean but is made lovingly from scratch and complements the white fish fillet really well. This is indeed a Singapore-style Fish & Chips!

Sure, you can’t decide between the Salted Egg Fish & Chips and Chilli “Crab” Fish & Chips; we understand that dilemma. Who said you can’t have the Best Of Both Worlds? For S$13.90, you can get a duo set that comes complete with a portion of fries and a choice of side.

Choose your sides from fries, onion rings, coleslaw, cheese potato, mashed potato and bbq baked beans. Each additional side costs S$2.

THE CHICKS

The seafood speciality vendor sells poultry too, which explains the word ‘Chicks’ in their stall name.

You can find familiar classics such as Chicken Cutlet (S$7.90) and Black Pepper Chicken (S$7.90). The Spring Chicken (half – S$7.90, whole – S$10.90) comes in a big portion and will fill you up in no time. Prices of chicken mains include a choice of two side dishes or garlic fried rice.

But it is The Hawaiian Chicken (S$8.90) that stole our hearts. The grilled succulent chicken is covered with melted cheese, tomato sauce and pineapples. Yes, it is pretty much akin to having a Hawaiian pizza on a chicken.

FISH & CHICKS’ SIGNATURE COMBO 

Still cannot decide between fish or chicken? Go for Fish & Chicks’ Signature Combos! You can either get the Signature Fish & Chicks (S$14.90, serves 2) which comes with your choice of fish and chicken together with 3 sides; or the Fish & Whole Spring Chicken (S$17.90, serves 2) – choice of fish with 5 sides.

BURGERS FOR YOU?

Now, let’s move on to the next exciting segment of Fish & Chicks’ menu.There are three burgers available, namely Chargrilled Chicken Burger, Crispy Chicken Burger and Crispy Fish Burger. Each burger is affordably priced at S$7.90 and includes a choice of one side.

There are three burgers available, namely Chargrilled Chicken Burger, Crispy Chicken Burger and Crispy Fish Burger. Of course, the Crispy Fish Burger has to be your choice! The fish is fried in the same, classic batter as with the other fish & chips, which means it offers the same tantalising crunch.

Every burger also comes with a choice of a single side, all for just S$7.90. That’s what we call a deal.

SIDES & DIPS

More chicken for you? We loved the deep-fried chicken wings (S$3.90 for two pieces). A serving of the crowd pleaser Truffle Fries  goes for S$7.90, while Mexican Cheese Fries is S$4.90 per portion.

But when at Fish & Chicks, stick to the ordinary French Fries (S$3.90) because they will be ordinary no more with the in-house artisanal dips. Garlic aioli, tartar, spicy tartar, truffle mayonnaise and wasabi mayonnaise; they are all freshly made in-house.

Fish & Chicks
8 Grange Road
Cathay Cineleisure Orchard
Basement 1 (Koufu)
Singapore 239693
Tel: +65 9828 3490
Daily: 11am – 10pm (Last order 9.30pm)
Nearest Station: Somerset

Blk 531 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10
Happy Hawkers
Singapore 560531

This post is brought to you by Fish & Chicks.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that blogging could give me so many fantastic opportunities. I mean, look at me. My job is literally just to eat and make you hungry.

I guess I am really lucky because I never wanted to be “famous.” I met many wonderful people who helped me along the way, and everything just fell in place. If you have always wanted to be the next online sensation, here’s your chance.

Cineleisure’s Next Online Sensation is a social media competition organised by Cathay Cineleisure Orchard from 1 March – 21 April 2012. Together with QiuQiu and Zoe, I am one of the three judges and we will be judging on three different challenges – Lifestyle, Fashion, and of course, Food & Beverage.

So for those of you, who are taking part in the contest and want to know how I will be judging the second challenge on F&B, read on and find out!

Challenge #2 of Cineleisure’s Next Online Sensation:

Head down to Cathay Cineleisure Orchard from 28 Mar – 1 Apr and review any F&B (Food & Beverage) outlet(s). Be as creative as possible in showcasing the F&B at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard.

The winning blog post will entice the reader, incite their taste buds, and invigorate their stomachs! All blog entries are to be submitted by 1 April, 11.59pm, and will be judged by me.

“Where can I find affordable restaurants and cafes in Singapore?”

I get this question all the time, and it’s always a challenge to come up with new suggestions because dining out is becoming more and more expensive.

Luckily for us, there are plenty of F&B outlets in Cathay Cineleisure Orchard – like Javier’s Rotisserie, Shokudo Japanese Pasta, Xin Wang, Best Fries Forever, Wa Japanese Shabu Shabu, and A.venue Bistro – that are very reasonably priced.

I was having lunch at A.Venue Bistro (8 Grange Road, #03-06A/B Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, Tel: +65 6733 2270), a nice and cosy little cafe on the third level of the shopping mall.

Most of the items on their menu are priced between $5.9 to $14.9, and they have a set lunch that comes with starter (soup/salad), and main course (linguine seafood/fish & chips/sandwich) for just $13.9+.

The food was decent, and I love the ambience of the place. I’d definitely go there to have a cup of coffee (Cafe Mocha retails for $4.8, and Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow is $4.9) and hang out with my friends, before catching a movie at the Cathay Cineplexes upstairs.

I always go to Cathay Cineplexes to watch the latest blockbuster movies because I love that everyone can do some shopping before and after the movie. Level 3 of the shopping mall has many unique overseas and homegrown brands such as Becky Berry, JSHOES, Rockstar by Soon Lee, The Editor’s Market, Pescados, Frederic Sai, FEMMEX, and DEPRESSION. I was very happy to know that JSHOES has a branch in Cathay Cineleisure Orchard as they have really nice shoes for guys.

Anyway, back to the judging part of the contest. I’m sure all of you are wondering how I am going to judge for the F&B challenge, so let me give you some tips.

Find your niche.

What are you good at? What are you interested in? I always believe that as long as you are doing what you like, you will be able to do a good job. Similarly for Cineleisure’s Next Online Sensation, you should take some time to think about what you are good at.

There are so many blogs out there, what makes you different from them? Are you good at writing? Can you take nice photos? Or do you have a strong personality to shine in the social media scene?

Good photographs.

Some people may argue that a good food review is not just about photos because the style of writing is very important. True, but you have to remember that a photo tells a thousand words. I’m a very superficial guy, so good photos are very important for me. I will definitely be looking out for that. But of course, if you are able to write well enough to memorise the readers, you will get a good result too.

Hard work.

Being talented is not enough; you need to put in effort too. Trust me, we can tell when you work hard and put in effort in your posts.

Use your creativity and have fun.

There are so many restaurants in Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, so use your creativity and have fun with your food review. I think it’s pointless to do something if you are not having fun, so guys, please have fun and use this as an excuse to eat more.

Okay, some suggestions. Maybe you can do a post on your top five favourite things to eat in Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, or a guide to restaurants in Cathay Cineleisure Orchard. Tell your readers what is good to eat there.

Be positive and embrace this with an open mind.

And like what QiuQiu has mentioned, be positive and embrace the contest with an open mind. Whether you win or not is not the key, the most important thing is to have fun, and enjoy yourself doing the challenges at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard.

Additional tips for a good F&B blog post:

1) Most people want to know roughly it is to eat at a particular restaurant, so make sure you mention the prices. 2) Include basic information like address, contact details, and opening hours. 3) Tell us what you like, and dislike about the restaurant; give constructive feedback.

Just a reminder on the scoring system:

- Judges’ score per challenge [50%]
- The total level of social media influence of the participants based on entries submitted per challenge [25%]
- The total number of votes from fans on this Microsite [25%]
- PLUS any extra tweets/facebook posts and instagram links put up while doing the challenge will be awarded with bonus points!

The winning team will be awarded with a year-long supply of free Cathay Cineplexes movie vouchers, an OLYMPUS PEN mini E-PM1 camera each, as well as get featured in a larger-than-life-size advertisement in Cathay Cineleisure Orchard for 3 months! Oh my god, a year-long supply of free movie vouchers!! I’m so tempted to take part in the contest. Okay damn it, I am above the age-limit. You guys are so lucky!

Head over Cineleisure’s website to find out more about the contest. And do like Cathay Cineleisure Orchard on Facebook and follow them on twitter to know the latest happenings in the shopping mall.

Blog not just because you want to be famous, blog because you have something to share with the world, and Cineleisure’s Next Online Sensation is a platform to make your dreams come true. I attended The Hunger Games gala premier at Cathay last week, so let me end off with this: May the odds be ever in your favour, good luck!

Orchard Road is one of the most well-known streets in Singapore. Apart from being a major tourist attraction and the most popular shopping area, it is also where locals go to when they are meeting friends. Here are a list of restaurants in Orchard Road that you can check out when you are in town.

Aoki

One of the must-order dishes at Aoki Japanese Restaurant is the Chirashi – a bowl of sushi rice topped with sashimi. If you’ve had Aoki’s Chirashi ($35) before, I am sure you will agree with me that it is happiness in a bowl. I’d come back again and again just for this.

1 Scotts Road
Shaw Centre #02-17
Singapore 228208
Tel: +65 6333 8015
Mon to Sat: 12noon – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Sun: 6.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Arteastiq Tea Lounge by Marxx

Located on level 4 of Mandarin Gallery, Arteastiq Tea Lounge has a terrific view overlooking Orchard road. The cafe is hidden behind Marxx, a boutique that sells uniquely-designed furniture, and it is known for its wide selection of tea.

333A Orchard Road
#04-14/15 Mandarin Gallery Singapore
Tel: +65 6235 8705

Akanoya Robatayaki

Akanoya specialises in robatayaki. For the uninitiated, robatayaki is a technique in Japanese cuisine; customers sit around an open counter where fresh ingredients are displayed, and they can just point to order. The chefs will then grill the ingredients like seafood, meat, and vegetables over charcoal, and serve it to the customers using a long wooden paddle.

If you are looking to splurge on a nice Japanese meal, Akanoya at Orchard Parade Hotel is the place to go.

1 Tanglin Road
#01-01 Orchard Parade Hotel
Tel: +65 6732 1866
Daily: 6pm – 2am

Akashi

Akashi Japanese Restauran has reliable and good Japanese food. The sets are very decently-priced and it works out to be an enjoyable experience that is not too gruelling on the pocket.

290 Orchard Road
#B1-01 Paragon
Tel: +65 6735 8887
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset

Basilico Restaurant

Away from the main shopping Belt, you have Basilico Restaurant – a beautiful restaurant that serves a very good Italian buffet – at The Regent Singapore.

Though the buffet spread is slightly limited, the restaurant more than makes up for it with the quality of the food. The antipasto counter, in particular, has fantastic choices.

1 Cuscaden Road
Level 2 The Regent Singapore
Tel: +65 6725 3232
Weekday Lunch Buffet $42++
Saturday Lunch Buffet $46++
Sunday Brunch Buffet $69++
Daily Semi Buffet Dinner $69++

Bedrock Bar & Grill

Bedrock Bar & Grill at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites is a modern New York style steakhouse. The restaurant boosts a dark, sexy, and classy interior; making it the ideal place to bring your client for a business luncheon, or your date for a romantic dinner.

The menu is small and concise. There are three US beef – 300g Dry Aged Ribeye ($96), 220g Tenderloin ($89), and 400g USDA Prime Black Angus Ribeye ($96); and three Australian beef – 400g Ribeye ($79), 350g Bone in Striploin ($69) and 500g Porterhouse ($89). For those in a big group, get the massive Tomahwak Steak for the table share.

Bedrock Bar & Grill is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best steak restaurants.

96 Somerset Road
#01-05 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
Tel: +65 6238 0054
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Somerset

Bistro du vin

Bistro du vin dishes authentic and honest classical French food. The brasserie has a quality and value for money 3-course set lunch at $30++. Highlights of the menu include Duck Leg Confit, Bouillabaise of fish and seafood, and Char-grilled Australian Ribeye.

1 Scotts Road
#02-12 Shaw Centre
Tel: +65 6733 7763
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm

Crystal Jade Golden Palace

Crystal Jade Golden Palace at Paragon is a modern restaurant, with a sexy and dark tone. Most Chinese restaurants are quite boring when it comes to the interior decor. Not Crystal Jade Golden Palace. It is definitely one of the most gorgeous Chinese restaurants that I’ve been to.

I can see myself coming back for dim sum during lunch because it has a nice ambience, and the central location makes it an ideal place for meet-ups. On weekends, it’s almost impossible to get a table without reservations, so make sure you call early in advance.

290 Orchard Road
#05-22 The Paragon
Tel: +65 6734 6866
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 11.00pm
Sat: 11.00am – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 11.00pm
Sun & Public Holiday: 10.30am – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 11.00pm

East Ocean Teochew Restaurant

East Ocean Teochew Restaurant at Shaw Centre has always been known as one of the top restaurants in Singapore serving Hong Kong style Teochew cuisine. Besides serving traditional Teochew favourites, they are also very popular for their dim sum. If you like old-school dim sum, drop by East Ocean for a visit.

391 Orchard Road
#05-08/09 Ngee Ann City
Tel: +65 6235 9088
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Everything with Fries

Even though I am not a big fan of Everything with Fries, they are affordable and you can get pretty decent Western food. The outlet at Orchard Central is more like a fast food restaurant where you can get a quick fix before catching a show in town.

181 Orchard Road #01-24/25
Orchard Central Singapore
Tel: +65 6634 8358
Daily: 11am – 10pm

Feedlot Steakhouse

From striploin, to ribeye and milk-fed veal, premium meats are the highlight at this steakhouse opened by the folks behind Swiss Butchery.

#B1-01, 56 Tanglin Road
Tel: +65 6463 8080
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 10am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Fukuichi Japanese Dining

Nestled in the quiet Triple One Somerset, Fukuichi Japanese Dining serves decent Japanese food at pocket-friendly prices. If I am meeting my friends in Orchard Road, I will definitely go to Fukuichi, it is my newest go-to place when craving for Japanese food.

111 Somerset Road
TripleOne Somerset
Tel: +65 6271 5586
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 12am

Il Cielo

Il Cielo is located on the 24th floor of Hilton Singapore, right beside the pool. It is a small, cosy and intimate restaurant where you can get exceptional food and service.

581 Orchard Road
Level 24 Hilton Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6730 3395
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 7pm – 10.30pm

Ippudo Ramen

For me, there is no doubt that Ippudo at Mandarin Gallery is one of the best ramen restaurants in Singapore. If I am craving for a bowl of ramen, this is the place that I will go.

333A Orchard Road
#04-02/03/04 Mandarin Gallery
Tel: +65 6235 2797
Mon to Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 10pm

Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant

From the outside, Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant at Forum the Shopping Mall does not look like much. In fact, you will probably miss it unless you are familiar with the restaurant. However, this restaurant is a popular spot because the food here is always consistent and delicious. The claypot rice, in particular, is one of the best around, and you must try it when you are dining there.

#B1-12, Forum The Shopping Mall
583 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6732 6628
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Jiang-Nan Chun

For classic Cantonese cuisine in a luxurious setting, Jiang-Nan Chun at Four Seasons is the place to go. Their weekend Oriental brunch, available on Saturdays and Sundays, is a feast of the restaurant’s 100 most popular dishes and dim sum creations.

190 Orchard Boulevard
Four Seasons Hotel
Tel: +65 6831 7220
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun (Dim Sum Brunch): 11am – 1pm, 1.30pm – 3pm

Kith Cafe Park Mall

I like the new Kith Cafe at Park Mall. Since its opening last month, I’ve been there a few times, and it has quickly become my favourite hangout place in town

Kith Cafe is a nice cafe to dine at when you are in Orchard, especially if your friends are on a budget, as most of their items are reasonably-priced under $20.

9 Penang Road
#01-01E Park Mall
Tel: +65 6338 8611
Daily: 8am – 10pm

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar is a small eatery nestled a corner of Wisma’s Food Republic which serves quality Japanese food at affordable prices. And the one dish that makes me go back again and again is their Shiok Maki. It is an maki made up of avocado, unagi and aburi salmon, drenched with the most amazing cheesy sauce that is seemingly a legit mixture of mayo and mentai, and completed with a generous topping of tobiko. The Shiok Maki is hands down one of the best things I’ve ever had in life. Trust me, I am not exaggerating.

435 Orchard Road #04-21
Wisma Atria Singapore
Tel: +65 9180 3805
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Marmalade Pantry

Marmalade Pantry needs no introduction. It is one of the See and Be Seen Places in town – perfect for lunch, afternoon tea, dinner or drinks. We love their signature Crabmeat Linguine. And they have really good desserts too! Go for the Toffee Date Pudding, Salted Caramel Cheesecake, and Lemon Cupcake.

2 Orchard Turn
#03-22 to #03-34
ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6734 2700

Marmalade Toast

One of my favourite places in Orchard Road, Marmalade Toast by the Marmalade Pantry group, is a hidden gem. Even though it has been around for very long, surprisingly, not many people know about them. It is the place to go for a quick bite (they offer sandwiches and salads), or for a coffee break (with a slice of cake).

Unit 02-11 Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6733 8489

Weekday: 8am – 7pm
Sat: 9am – 7pm
Sun: 10am – 6pm

Menya Musashi

Menya Musashi offers three different types of ramen – ‘White’, ‘Red’ and ‘Black. The classic is the ‘White’ Ramen, a hearty bowl of springy noodles in a thick and rich tonkatsu broth. Our favourite – and what we would go back to enjoy time and time again – is the ’Red’ Ramen which comes with a spicy and intense broth.

Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn, #B3-25
Tel: +65 6509 9394
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Noodle Stories by Tunglok

Where do you go to when you are craving an honest Chinese meal that is unpretentious, satisfying and affordable? Our recent lunch at Noodles Stories by TungLok Group gave us an answer. The use of fresh ingredients in every dish made it such a stupendous meal, and we left with very happy tummies.

Highlights include Wanton with Black Vinegar and Chilli Oil (S$6 for 6 pcs), Pork and Cabbage Pan-fried ‘Jiaozi’ (S$6 for 4 pcs), ‘Zhajiang’ Noodles (S$8) and their signature ‘Biang Biang’ Noodles (S$10.80).

181 Orchard Road
#07-14/15 Orchard Central
Tel: +65 6509 1878
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

One-Ninety Restaurant

The best thing you can do for yourself on a slow and lazy Sunday afternoon, is to have a lovely brunch buffet at One-Ninety, Four Seasons Singapore.

190 Orchard Boulevard
GF Four Seasons Hotel
Tel: +65 6734 1110
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat Hi Tea Buffet: 2pm – 5pm
Sun Brunch: 11.30am – 1.30pm, 2pm – 4 pm

Oriole Cafe

Whenever someone ask me to recommend a place in Orchard road, Oriole Cafe always comes to mind. Good coffee, nice chill out ambiance, reasonable prices, and good food.

96 Somerset road
#01-01 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
Tel: +65 6238 8348

Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse, the largest steakhouse chain in the world, is a household name and its flagship store at Millenia Walk has been in Singapore since 2000. It recently opened a second outlet at orchardgateway.

The menu is much more comprehensive than we thought, and even if you are not a fan of steaks, you will be spoilt for choice with its array of mains.

#04-01 orchardgateway
277 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6702 6842
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

Paradise Dynasty

For a fuss-free meal, I usually go to Paradise Dynasty at Ion Orchard for their colourful xiaolongbao and lamian.

2 Orchard Turn, #04-12A
ION Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6509 9118
Weekdays 11am to 10pm
Weekends 10am to 10pm

Paul Bakery

Paul Bakery has opened in Singapore with much fanfare, and it’s not difficult to understand why the French boulangerie/patisserie is packed with customers everyday.

For those who have been to Europe, Paul Boulangerie is the place for them to relive those wonderful memories of having a warm croissant and a cup of coffee during winter. For others who have heard much about Paul from their friends, the new restaurant in Singapore gives you the chance to have a taste of Europe.

391A Orchard Road
#03-16/16A/17
Ngee Ann City Tower A
Tel: +65 6836 5932
Sun to Thu: 8.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 11pm

Pete’s Place

One of the oldest Italian restaurants in Singapore, Pete’s Place at Grand Hyatt Singapore is an off-the-radar place that not many people know about.

Checkered table cloth, brick walls, wine cellars, and friendly staff greeting us as we stepped in, it did not take us long to fall in love with this hidden gem in town that radiates an undeniable rustic enchantment.

Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6416 7322
Daily: 12pm – 4.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sunday: 11.30am – 2.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Pique Nique

It is difficult to find a nice cafe in Orchard road that serves decent food at a reasonable price, and Pique Nique does just that.

The food — mac & cheese ($12-16), hot dogs ($8.5-11), burgers ($10-13), all day breakfast ($7.5-13.5), and desserts ($4-8) — is not life-changing, but most of them are reasonably priced and I will definitely go there when I want a light snack in between meal times.

#B1-01 Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Ngee Ann City Tower A
391A Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6238 6705
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm

PS Cafe

PS Cafe is a European-style glasshouse nestled in Dempsey Hill. We’d like to think of it as the perfect place for a lazy weekend breakfast, a quaint afternoon tea, an unforgettable romantic dinner with your date, and for a girls’ night out – it is the place to go when you want to dine at a trusty restaurant with your favourite people.

390 Orchard Road
#02-09A Palais Renaissance Singapore
Tel: +65 6887 2207

Salt Grill & Sky Bar

Among the Celebrity Chef Restaurants in Singapore, Salt Grill & Sky Bar stood out with its magnificent view, classy setting, impeccable service and fair cuisine. It has the complete dining experience.

2 Orchard Turn Level 55 & 56
ION Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6592 5118
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm

Suanthai Restaurant

I like to go to the Killiney area for food as it is within town, yet slightly off-the-track. Most of the restaurants there are usually not very crowded; you can easily walk in and get a table without making any reservation.

However, if you are thinking of going to Suanthai Restaurant after reading this review, make sure you call to reserve a table – the $19.9++ Thai Buffet is one of the most popular options in town, and they are always packed during mealtimes.

101 Killiney Road
Tel: +65 6235 4126
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm

Takashimaya Basement Japanese Food Court

Takashimaya at Ngee Ann City had revamped their basement Japanese food court. The current space is bigger and it has more Japanese eateries – like Baikohken, Nakajima Suisan, Romankan Yokohama, Tsuru Koshi Udon, and Yonehachi – which serve cheap and good Japanese food.

If you haven’t been there for a while, maybe it’s time to check it out when you are looking for a place to eat in Orchard.

391A Orchard Road Basement
Takashimaya Food Hall Ngee Ann City

Taste Paradise

Taste Paradise at ION Orchard is one of my favourite dim sum restaurants in Singapore. The food is always consistently good, try the char siew sou and custard bun when you are there.

2 Orchard Turn
#04-07 ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6509 9660

Tatsuya Japanese Restaurant

A stalwart of the local dining scene, Tatsuya is where in-the-know locals go for top quality Japanese food. It comes with a price, of course. Omakase – where the chefs decide the menu for dinners based on the guests’ preferences and the freshest ingredients available – here is S$280++/pax for 8-10 course dinner. We would suggest going for their set lunches. The Sashimi Bento (S$45), Sushi Bento (S$45) and Bara Chirashi (S$35.90) sets offer excellent value.

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6887 4598
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

The Sushi Bar

The Sushi Bar at Far East Plaza serves the standard dishes like sushi, sahimi, Japanese-style pastas and donburis, but if you only have room for one dish, you must try the much-lauded Salmon Aburi Sushi (S$14.50). I am happy to report that it lives up to its hype, and it is very addictive satisfying. As it is, The Sushi Bar is already very popular, so try to go there during off peak hours, or be prepared to wait in line.

#03-89 Far East Plaza
14 Scotts Road
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Tim Ho Wan

Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest 1 Michelin Star dim sum restaurant from Hong Kong, is now available at The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura today. Opened by Chef Mak Kwai Pui (previously from Lung King Heen at Four Seasons Hong Kong), Tim Ho Wan has gained a strong following over the years and long queues are a common sight at his restaurants. Fans of the legendary baked char siew buns must make a trip there.

#01-29 Plaza Singapura
The Atrium @ Orchard
68 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6251 2000

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison

I will cut to the chase: Tonkatsu by Ma Maison at Mandarin Gallery has the best tonkatsu in Singapore. Go before 7pm, otherwise, be prepared to queue for at least 45 minutes.

333A Orchard Road
#02-35/36 Mandarin Gallery
Tel: +65 6733 4541
Mon to Fri: 11am–3pm, 5pm–10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11am–10pm

Tonkichi Restaurant

Another place to go for Tonkatsu is Tonkichi Restaurant which has three outlets in Orchard – Orchard Central, Isetan Scotts, and Ngee Ann City.

For those of you who have not been to Tonkichi before, it has a menu that focuses on sinful but oh-so-good deep-fried food. Most people would probably go for the signature Kurobuta Kata Rosu Set ($32.9), Rosu Katsu Set ($22.9) or Hire Katsu Set ($20.9). For seafood lovers, they have options like the Mixed Seafood Katsu Set ($25.9), and Oyster with Rosu Katsu Set ($26.9).

181 Orchard Road
#07-06 Orchard Central
Tel: +65 6238 7976
Daily: 11am – 11pm

391 Orchard Road
#04-24 Ngee Ann City
Tel: +65 6735 7522
Daily: 10.30am – 10pm

350 Orchard Road
4F Shaw House
Tel: +65 6835 4648
Daily: 11am – 10pm

TungLok XiHe Peking Duck

Where do you go to when you are beat from a whole day of shopping, laden with shopping bags and famished from all the walking? And you are just beat from the whole day of hubbub that you want nothing but familiar and hearty food to soothe the senses?

Well, if your craving is leaning towards Chinese food, then your answer is TungLok XiHe Peking Duck, an outlet that offers a classic menu of modern Beijing cuisine.

There are many Chinese establishments that impressed us and left us good memories, but TungLok XiHe is one that is timeless. We love its concise menu and how it does not differ too much from its origins – nothing but the comforting familiarity of Chinese food at competitive prices. It is the kind of place that you can host your business associates, throw a celebration or to simply gather with your close ones.

Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road, #07-07/09
Tel: +65 6736 0006
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

Wild Honey

In a city that has seen almost every restaurant and café serving brunch on weekends, Wild Honey has done remarkably well. It is one of the first few places that offers all-day brunch. It seems to have the right formula: brunch food made from produce that is sourced from the best in-season markets over the world – with very familiar flavours that would appeal to diners of all age. There is no wonder both Wild Honey branches at Mandarin Gallery and Scotts Square are always packed.

333A Orchard Road #03-02
Mandarin Gallery Singapore
Tel: +65 6235 3900
Daily: 9am – 10.30pm

6 Scotts Road
#03-01 Scotts Square
Tel: +65 6636 1816
Mon to Fri: 9am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10.30pm

Yakitori Emmau

Yakitori Emmau at level four of ION Orchard is the second franchise of the Japan’s No. 1 Izakaya restaurant. The interior is East Village-esque, the very feeling of dining in a Japanese restaurant in NYC. I also like the fact that most of the service staff are Japanese. They have decent food at acceptable prices. I will definitely drop by if I want a quick meal in town.

2 Orchard Turn
#04-11 ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6636 7282
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm

Yan Ting Restaurant

Yan Ting at The St Regis Singapore serves refined Cantonese fare in a classy and elegant Chinese restaurant. We love coming here for dim sum – the char siew sou, custard bun, and egg tarts are our top picks.

29 Tanglin Road
The St Regis
Tel: +65 6506 6888
Daily: 11.45am – 3.30pm, 6.00pm – 11.00pm

& Made

Over at & Made, a burger joint at Pacific Plaza, you can expect good burgers, fries and milkshakes. Some of the burgers include The 3 Little Pigs (S$23), a burger with pork fillet, bacon and chorizo patty; The Chicken (S$17), a roasted chicken breast burger; The Honey Salmon (S$21), a pan-seared Atlantic salmon burger; The ‘B’ Burger (S$19), the classic burger with a dry aged beef patty top with caramelised onion, cheese and garlic mayonnaise. The burgers are served with really good fries and homemade BBQ sauce, and you can top up S$3 for an upgrade to irresistible truffle fries.

#01-04/05/06 Pacific Plaza
9 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6690 7566
Sun to Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

For more recommendations, read our guide to Top 10 Budget Restaurants in Orchard Road.

There was quite a stir in the Singapore food scene when Chef Willin Low of Wild Rocket and Relish Restaurant opened Burger Bench and Bar at Orchard Cineleisure.

Given that Relish Restaurant serves gourmet burger, it’s only natural that people are curious to see how Chef Willin Low’s latest offering fares among the other burger places in Singapore.

Burgers are always so irresistible.

I could almost imagine how the chef prepared the burger: giving the sesame-seed-freckles bun a toast; doing the beef patty to perfection, definitely not over-done, and not under-cooked; watching the layer of cheese melting slowly over the patty; deep-frying the golden crispy fries and throwing it together with the now-ready beef burger.

After the waitress brought it to the table, I checked out the Cheese burger with mayonnaise & sundried tomato relish ($7.80) from top to toe. Taking a glance to the left and right, I grabbed the burger with both hands and took a bite. The sweet-sour sundried tomato relish hit first. Mm.. Ensuing mouthful bought the two halves of the bun, cheese, and beef patty.

Om Nom Nom Nom..

There’s no turning back now. I chomped down the rest of my burger, and the same process repeated itself: bun, sundried tomato relish, cheese, beef patty, bun.

The taste of the sundried tomato vaguely reminded me of the McDonald’s cheeseburger. The sweet and sour element gave the burger a third dimension, but the bun was slightly over-toasted for my liking.

All the items on Burger Bench & Bar’s menu are priced between $7-8 (burger only). You can add on a side of hand-cooked russet potato crisps or fries for a dollar, or an additional beef patty for four dollars. The burgers from Burger Bench & Bar are probably not the biggest in terms of size, nor the cheapest when compared with fastfood restaurants.

But they are actually pretty decent and a meal consisting of burger, fries and drinks will cost around $11. Once Upon A Milkshake is just around the corner, so there’s always room for desserts after having burgers for dinner.

// Burger Bench & Bar is included in my Guide to Restaurants in Orchard Singapore

Restaurant Review
Burger Bench & Bar
8 Grange Road #01-02
Cathay Cineleisure Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6737 9947

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