Ohayo Mama San is the newest and possibly most chic restaurant in Somerset. Very conveniently located on the first level, just right beside the entrance for 313@Somerset, Ohayo Mama San is a sexy and modern Japanese fusion restaurant & bar with an enthralling menu.

You will not miss this swanky space, for sure. Decked in vibrant-coloured furniture that are so tres chic, Ohayo Mama San is an extremely comfortable and inviting place to be for a meal, for a catch-up with friends, or just a spot to rest your aching feet after a day of shopping in town. Prices are extremely reasonable, too.

On its menu, you will find a spectrum of offerings from all-day brunch sets, Japanese tapas and sushi rolls, Jap-fusion mains and afternoon tea sets. We don’t deny that we were a bit mind-boggled by the extensive menu, but this also means more reasons to go back to Ohayo Mama San. Here’s everything we tried and loved so far, and we are sure there are more yummy dishes awaiting our discovery!

Ohayo Mama San is situated strategically beside the entrance and is right across the MRT station exit, making it the go-to spot when you are in town. Its inviting interior includes cosy booth seats, high tables, and small tables for smaller groups/ couples.

The menu is a comprehensive one and it definitely has something for everybody – from all-day brunch sets, afternoon tea sets, mini rice bowls and riceless sushi, Japanese Tapas and fusion light bites, Jap-Indo fusion mains, sashimi platters and sushi towers, and more.

To begin, there are sharing items such as canapes and Japanese Tapas. Choose from a range of Jap-style pizzas, wagyu bites, oysters, carpaccio and Jap-style tacos.

For the brunch lovers, Ohayo Mama San also has a brunch menu which runs from 11.30am to 2pm and 6pm to closing daily. Served on a classic Japanese wooden tray, with an assortment of light bites and mains, think of these as Japanese bentos in a light-hearted, Modern take. Prices start from S$18 per set – how attractive is this?

For the raw food lovers, Ohayo Mama San also has several sashimi platters, but we have to say there are two that really stood out – the Salmon Obsession Platter (S$58++) and Uni Garden (S$228++, available with pre-booking).

Now, can we look at this Salmon Obsession Platter? It is massive and will make any salmon lovers delirious. You have salmon done in many ways, and it is a good platter to share between 2-3pax. The price is unbelievable, to say the least.

The Uni Garden (S$228++, available with pre-booking) is for the ones who are willing to splurge a little. The uni is flown in multiple times a week to ensure its freshness, so no matter which way the uni is done, you get really good, plump and creamy fresh uni direct from Japan.

It features a variety of premium Uni and ingredients including Oyster Uni Ponzu Citrus Shot, Shiro Ebi Uni with Umami Sauce, Uni Shiro Ebi Wasabi Ebiko, Uni Chop Toro, Uni Shiro Ebi Dashi Jelly, Uni Chop Toro with Ikura and Nori Sauce, Uni Snow Crab Meat with Nori Sauce, Narabi Bafun Uni Toro, Botan Ebi, Aka Mutsu with Uni.

Fancy some sushi? Go for the Temari Sushi Kyuden Set – a cute tower of sushi that symbolizes good luck and happiness, usually enjoyed during celebrations in Japan. At S$48++ per set, these hand-crafted ball-shaped sushi feature exciting mish-mash of ingredients that are pleasantly surprising with every bite.

Otherwise, if you prefer something simpler, there are also basic sushi sets starting from S$18++ for 8 pieces of sushi. Told you their food is very affordable!

You should also try the Bocconcini di Buffala al Sashimi (S$28++) which features thick slices of Toro, Salmon, Salmon Belly, Hotate, Akami and Akamutsu on top of Bocconcini Cheese and sprinkled with a touch of Truffle Shoyu.

Onto the mains, you can choose from ramen, and donburi. And on top of that, Ohayo Mama San will be introducing several new Japanese fusion mains from 2 April 2022. You would never imagine Indonesian flavours to go so well with Japanese ingredients, but Ohayo Mama San did it, and boy, were we impressed.

The Onion Baked Rendang Wagyu with Garlic Rice (S$26++) was beyond imagination. Imagine buttery, tender A4 Mizayaki wagyu cubes pan-fried to perfection with a beautiful red center, complemented with homemade Indonesian rendang that is slightly spicy but still super palatable; the explosion of flavours was one so unexpected, it left us salivating for more.

Then, there is the Creamy Sambal Ljo (Green Chilli) Fish with Garlic Fried Rice (S$24++) that totally won our hearts and we would totally return to Ohayo Mama San for this. The star isn’t even the fish, but the freshly-made jalapeño with white wine sauce. The fiery kick and aromatic pepper taste is one so fragrant and so addictive that we would go back to Ohayo Mama just for this!

There is also the Sweet & Sour Balinese Sambal Matah Seafood Medley with Garlic Rice (S$24++) featuring housemade samabal matah. For the uninitiated, Indonesians love their sambal and there are hundreds of different sambal. Sambal matah is a raw chilli and on its own a broad category, but by and large, they are made with garlic, chillies, shallots, lemongrass and shrimp paste.

At Ohayo Mama San, they take pride in their sambal matah and make theirs from scratch. And with the local diners in mind, their sambal matah is given a slight sweet and sour twist so that the heat is not so overpowering. This comforting seafood dish is nothing but pure goodness and top-notch quality.

All of the three main courses above are served with a portion of garlic fried rice.

Ohayo Mama San offers a wide selection of Japanese sake and cocktails at very reasonable prices and the daily happy hour starts from 11am.

Tea Party Sets are for the afternoon tea lovers, and what is a shopping day out without stopping by for some sweet treats, right? Ohayo Mama San’s tea sets begin at S$38++ for two, and comes with a pot of tea too. Top it up to S$58++ for 2 pax and you get two glasses of Passion Mimosa; top it up to S$65++ for 2 pax and there will be house sake. Absolute deal, we must say.

Ohayo Mama San
313 Orchard Rd, #01-29, 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Tel: +65 8875 2777

This post was brought to you by Ohayo Mama San.

Japanese eateries are common in Singapore; there are a plethora of them scattered all over our sunny island and their prices can range from wallet-friendly to ‘I may have to eat soya sauce and rice for the next 2 weeks’.

Joining the ranks of the wallet-friendly list is Sora Boru, a brand-new Japanese dining concept in Somerset that dishes out a wide range of Japanese casual one-dish meals at incredibly affordable prices. Sora Boru is conveniently located in the heart of town at 313@Somerset and it is little wonder how it is already so well-received among executives who work in the area as well as students and shoppers.

Playfully named after the way the Japanese pronounce ‘bowl’, Sora Boru’s menu includes customisable chirashi-don, curry rice bowls, soba and their signature Volcano Beef Don and Snow Beef Don. All the mains here come in regular and mini sizes—great for different people with varying appetites.

And from 17 to 30 April 2019, quote “ladyironchef” or flash this advertorial when you order any Regular main and get any Mini of your choice at Sora Boru!

As of August 2019, Sora Boru is officially halal-certified. You can bring your Muslim friends to enjoy Sora Boru’s affordable Japanese meals.

VOLCANO BEEF DON

Aptly named after its appearance, Sora Boru’s Volcano Beef Don (S$11.90) is a glorified beef bowl of Japanese rice topped with your choice of stewed cabbage or seasoned bean sprouts and a massive pile of incredibly tender flame-grilled slices of beef.

The cherry on top is the rivulets of ‘lava’ that run down the sides of the volcano, which is essentially Sora Boru’s special in-house concocted spicy sauce. Coating the heap of beef evenly and generously, the sauce adds that much needed fiery kick that makes this dish deserving of its volcanic title.

SNOW BEEF DON 

On the other end of the spectrum is their Snow Beef Don (S$11.90) where instead of spicy gochujang sauce, the beef is doused in a unique homemade sweet and savoury sauce that is made from whipping cream. This is further enhanced by a generous sprinkling of grated parmesan which gives the dish its snow effect.

In comparison to its spicy counterpart, the Snow Beef Don has a creamier texture as well as a much sweeter flavour that stems from the whipping cream. The contrast of the sweetness from the sauce with the savouriness from the parmesan cheese created a medley of varying flavours that definitely got us hooked!

If we had to choose between the two, we admit that it won’t be an easy decision because we are equally obsessed with both of them. But if you really can’t make up your mind, then get both! We recommend getting the mini versions of both don (S$7.50 each) so that you can have the best of both worlds!

CUSTOMISABLE CHIRASHIBORU 

Fans of chirashi-don would know that a decent bowl of this goodness does not come cheap. Here at Sora Boru, fill your bowl to the brim with juicy cubes of sashimi. Mini bowls are super affordable and are priced at S$6.50, while regular bowls are at S$11.90 and large bowls at S$16.90.

What we also love about their chirashi-don is its customisability. Through a six-step process, diners can pick and choose their preferred bowl size, base, raw fish, add-ons, sauces and garnishes.

Examples of some of the raw fish that you can choose to add into your ChirashiBoru are salmon, scallop, tuna, octopus and swordfish.

BARA CHIRASHI EBIMAYO ABURI DON 

If you want to up your chirashi don game, you can opt for their Bara Chirashi Ebimayo Aburi Don (Mini S$9.50, Regular S$16.90) instead. This bowl of goodness features cubes of assorted half-grilled seafood such as salmon and baby scallops, tamagoyaki, tempura bits and cucumber that are blanketed in an incredibly aromatic blow-torched shrimp roe mayonnaise.

The savoury umami of the shrimp roe mayonnaise was reminiscent of the flavours of mentaiko. Blow-torching the decadent sauce also created a lovely char and an irresistible smoky flavour. Texture wise, the tempura bits added a lovely crunch to the entire dish and provided a nice contrast to the chewy sashimi cubes.

If chirashi and beef do aren’t your thing, you can always try the other dons available which include their Salmon Teriyaki Toji Don (Mini S$7.50, Regular S$13.90), Chicken Teriyaki Toji Don (Mini S$4.90, Regular S$8.50) and Ebi Vegetable Tendon (Mini S$4.90, Regular S$9.50).

CURRYBORU 

Japanese curry has always been regarded as one of Japan’s most well-loved comfort foods, which is why Sora Boru has an entire section of their menu dedicated to this perennial favourite.

Every bowl of CurryBoru here is drenched in a gratifyingly rich curry sauce that is cooked with a secret recipe that has been fine-tuned and perfected for months. Mildly spicy with subtle hints of fruity acidity, this robust concoction packs on a lot of flavours without being too cloying. Based on how much heat you can take, you can also choose between two levels of spiciness.

Each bowl of curry rice is paired with one type of deep-fried meat or seafood. Some options available are the Chicken Katsu CurryBoru (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90), Shabu Beef CurryBoru (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90) and Breaded Ebi CurryBoru (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90).

If you’re feeling more peckish than usual, you can opt for one of their curry combo sets which are the Breaded Ebi with Shabu Beef CurryBoru (Regular S$12.90) and the Breaded Salmon with Shabu Beef CurryBoru (Regular S$11.90).

CHA SOBA SETS 

Sora Boru also has a selection of noodle options for you to tuck into. The cha soba here is springy and cooked to a nice al dente which goes perfectly with the chilled, savoury dipping sauce or warm soup.

The cha soba can also be enjoyed with your choice of accompaniments such as Ebi Vegetable Tempura (Mini S$7.50, Regular S$12.90), Chicken Karaage (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90) and Chicken Katsu (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90).

SCRUMMY SIDES

If you’d like more food for sharing (or if you’re simply ravenous), get some sides to go along with your mains. The recommended picks are Chicken Gyoza (S$8.50 for 6 pieces), Chawanmushi (S$1.90) and Yasai Corn Tempura with Tartar Sauce (S$5.50).

Our favourite of the lot is the Crispy Salmon Skin with Egg Mayo Dip (S$8.50) which features insanely crispy slivers of fish skin fried to a lovely golden brown. The egg mayo dip adds an addictively sweet and savoury touch to the salmon skin and we couldn’t stop ourselves from slathering everything on sight with it.

From 17 to 30 April 2019, quote “ladyironchef” or flash this advertorial when you order any Regular main and get any Mini of your choice at Sora Boru!

Terms & Conditions
- Valid for dine-in only
- Orders and redemptions must be made at the cashier
- Promotion is valid for any Regular and any Mini ChirashiBoru / DonBoru / CurryBoru / Noodles
- This offer cannot be stacked with any other promotions or discounts
- Flash Ladyironchef’s corresponding Facebook / Instagram / blog post to redeem

Sora Boru
313@Somerset #B3-19/20
313 Orchard Road
Singapore 238895
Sun to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

This post is brought to you by Sora Boru. 

Singapore is home to many dessert monsters and this craze for desserts has led to a spike in dessert places in Singapore over the last decade. Ranging from the ever popular chocolate waffles to the trending Korean Bingsu, Somerset is one area in Orchard Road, Singapore that boasts a whole slew of dessert options.

Just in that area alone, we managed to suss out dessert places housed in both proper dessert cafes and/or served in food kiosks. No matter what kind of sweet indulgence or experience you are looking for, you should find it in this guide.

Here is A Sweet Tooth’s Guide To 24 Dessert Places In Somerset.

ANTOINETTE

Antoinette is one of Singapore’s favourite patisseries in Singapore and it has an impressive range of desserts such as Mont Blanc, Le Royale, Saint Honoré l’ Amour, Strawberry Shortcake, and their namesake creation, Antoinette – a milk chocolate mousse infused with earl grey tea.

333A Orchard Road
#02-33/34 Mandarin Gallery
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 6836 9527
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

ARTEASTIQ BOUTIQUE TEA HOUSE

Arteastiq Boutique Tea House at Mandarin Gallery exudes the kind of sexiness you would associate with a date night or a regal dining affair for the high society.

The Silk Thread (S$13) is an interesting rendition of crème brûlée. It is not your usual sweet custard; it is infused with osmanthus. Lightly creamy and significantly less sweet, this variation is served with fresh plump berries.

333A Orchard Road
#04-14/15 Mandarin Gallery
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 6235 8370
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat to Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

BEN & JERRY’S

Everyone knows Ben & Jerry’s for its interesting ice cream flavours. The popular ones at 313@Somerset include Chocolate Fudge Brownie, New York Super Fudge Chunk and The Tonight Dough.

Apart from that, the ice cream parlour also offers sundaes, smoothies and shakes.

313 Orchard Road
#01-25/25A 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Tel: +65 6884 9505
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

CHOCOLATE ORIGIN

Specialising in molten lava cakes, Chocolate Origin’s intense chocolate cake is paired with a scoop of cold vanilla ice-cream at the bottom. If that is not enough chocolate for you, get the speciality cakes that come in two flavours—original and dark chocolate.

313 Orchard Road
#B3-10A 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Tel: +65 6884 4019
Daily: 2pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

CHURRO 101

Our picks from this popular Korean churro are the Dark Chocolate-dipped Churros and the filled churros, best eaten warm for that satisfying crunch.

313 Orchard Road
#B3-49 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

COLD STONE CREAMERY

Dedicated to being a multi-sensory ice cream chain, Cold Stone Creamery is known for their top quality ice cream and energetic crew working behind the counters.

Do not be surprised if the friendly staff to put up a short but exciting performance where they expertly toss your ice cream in the air before it lands into the cup.

181 Orchard Road
#01-17 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6634 1015
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

DEAN & DELUCA

One of the top sellers at Dean & Deluca is its Rainbow Cake (S$7.50). The pastry chef uses six different fruit extracts – strawberry, orange, lemon, green apple, blueberry and grape – to give the cake its brilliant rainbow colours.

In fact, we liked it so much that Dean & Deluca’s cake is listed in our guide to Singapore’s best rainbow cakes.

181 Orchard Road
#01-09/10/15 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6509 7708
Sun to Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri to Sat: 10am – 12am
Nearest Station: Somerset

DOLCE TOKYO BY MOF

Aesthetically pleasing Japanese-Italian inspired desserts are the pride of Dolce Tokyo. Their Dessert Bento has five different types of desserts all neatly packed into a Japanese-style bento. You get to pick and choose a variety of options to personalise your own bento set.

GELÁRE CAFE

Geláre’s ice cream are all natural and do not contain any artificial ingredients, you can expect only the real deal. And everyone knows about Geláre Cafe’s half-priced promotion for their regular waffles on Tuesdays.

176 Orchard Road
#03-K01 The Centrepoint
Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 6659 6430
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

HONEY CREME

Known for its range of Korean-inspired soft-serve ice cream topped with different toppings such as honey comb (S$5.90), Organic Cotton Candy (S$5.50), and Popcorn (S$5.50) Honey Creme—a popular Taiwanese ice cream store has finally opened its first store in Singapore to much fanfare.

We will never say no to soft-serve ice cream on a hot day!

313 Orchard Road
#01-37 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Tel: +65 6884 8468
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

ICE LAB CAFE

Opened by Korean comedian Shin Jung-Hwan, this Korean Bingsu outlet makes you feel as though you are in Korea during the winter season. A polar bear structure right in the middle of the shop has captured the hearts of many visitors and it is apparently a snow making machine that will create artificial snow.

Choose between a range of Bingsu flavours such as Injeolmi, Milk, Oreo, Green tea and much more.

321 Orchard Road
#01-01/02 Orchard Shopping Centre
Singapore 238866
Tel: +65 9664 6885
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

LADY M CONFECTIONS

This well-known New York cake shop prides itself on creating the freshest and finest cakes. The signature cake Lady M Mille Crêpes consists no less than twenty paper-thin handmade crêpes layered with light and fresh cream.

181 Orchard Road
#01-27 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6509 3673
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

LLAO LLAO

With the array of toppings and sauces, Llaollao has revolutionised froyo, and they are no less pretty than ice cream sundaes.

Sanum is Llaollao’s signature – at S$6.95 per cup, it is really a froyo parfait that you can customise to your own preferences with three types of fruits, two crunches and one sauce.

313 Orchard Road
#B3-55 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Sun to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri to Sat: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

HONG KONG SHENG KEE DESSERT

Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert at The Centrepoint is where you will find authentic Hong Kong style desserts such as their Mango Combination Series, Rice Ball in Paste and Durian Sago.

176 Orchard Road
#B1-14 The Centrepoint
Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 6736 3688
Daily: 11am to 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

HVALA WAFFLE BAR

Hvala Waffle Bar, a food kiosk at the basement of 313@Somerset is popular for its Japanese soft serves and drinks. Try their Matcha and Houjicha Soft Serves.

Hvala Waffle Bar
313 Orchard Road
#B3-50 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

KISS THE TIRAMISU

Kiss The Tiramisu has been a hit in South Korea ever since its debut in Hongdae, fusing Tiramisu and soft serve ice cream served in a swanky gold-rimmed plastic “wine glass” for your perfect social media photo.

Each tiramisu soft serve is made pretty similarly to an actual classic tiramisu, with mascarpone cheese, ice cream, crushed cookies, coffee liqueur and cocoa powder.

277 Orchard Road
#01-15 Orchard Gateway
Singapore 238858
Daily: 12pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

MACCHA HOUSE

Matcha drinks are also really popular here and we can see why. Their matcha latte is one of our favourites and one that we always return for.

The Matcha Tiramisu (S$6) and Matcha Chocolate Parfait (S$10) were two desserts that we enjoyed on our trip there.

181 Orchard Road
#B1-40 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6636 5830
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

NUNSARAM KOREAN DESSERT

If you are heading to town, do swing by Nunsaram. Conveniently located at Orchard Central, it prides itself as the go-to cafe for desserts or simply a place where friends can hang out after a meal.

Most of the Bingsu in the cafe are presented with a scoop of ice cream sitting glamorously atop the pile of ice. We heard that they use fresh ingredients for every serving of Bingsu – such as the Sweet Potato Bingsu (S$12.90), where the purple paste is acquired from the sweet potato root itself.

181 Orchard Road
#05-51/52 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

O’MA SPOON

Having their Bingsu was akin to eating snowflakes with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that all of us approved. Their Patbingsu (S$12.80) did the phrase “less is more” justice. We were in awe of how a classic Bingsu that was served in just sweet azuki beans atop milk ice shavings could rock our worlds with its heavenly medley of textures and flavours.

313 Orchard Road
#04-20/32 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Sun to Thu: 11.15am – 10.45pm
Fri to Sat: 11.15am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

PONG HANDCRAFTED GELATO

Thai coconut ice cream is a dessert we will always love but not all of us have the time or money to fly over to Bangkok whenever that craving kicks in.

Pong Handcrafted Gelato in Scape is where you can go to satisfy your Thai coconut ice cream desire. The fresh gelato is placed in a coconut husk and you get to choose toppings that you fancy.

2 Orchard Link
#02-18C SCAPE
Singapore 237978
Daily: 12.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

SUGAR LIPS

Quirky and whimsical, we did more than just a double take when walking past this dessert shop. Colourful paint is splashed across the cafe’s concrete floors, walls and exposed pipes.

We went for the Red Velvet Fluffy Waffle and Chocolate Seduction Truffle Cake. The former comprises octagon-shaped delightfully crisp red velvet waffles that are pillowy inside, while the latter is a sinfully rich chocolate cake alternated with generous amounts of chocolatey mousse.

277 Orchard Road
#02-01 Orchard Gateway
Singapore 238858
Tel: +65 6386 6387
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

TSUJIRI TEA HOUSE

We highly recommend going for Tsujiri Tea House’s classic Matcha Latte (S$5.60) and matcha soft serve (S$4.80). The matcha flavours are crazy intense but so good at the same time. Die-hard matcha fans will definitely fall in love with it right away.

176 Orchard Road
#01 – 101 The Centrepoint
Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 6238 8824
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

TWELVE CUPCAKES

Best known for their photogenic cupcakes, Twelve Cupcakes started out in 2011 founded by local celebrity couple Daniel and Jaime Teo.

Their standard menu consist of flavours such as Red Velvet, Cookies And Cream and Salted Caramel. In addition, they also have seasonal menus that change frequently to offer more variety.

277 Orchard Road
B1-01A Orchard Gateway
Singapore 238858
Tel: +65 6509 1255
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

21 CUBE ARTISAN ICE CREAM

Fried ice cream rolls were all the rage on social media just awhile ago after it became popular in Thailand.

While the trend is dying down, you can still find ice cream rolls at 21 CUBE Artisan Ice Cream. They have a good variety of flavours and toppings for you to choose from.

For more recommendations, read The Ultimate Orchard Road Food Guide that features the best places to eat at in Orchard Road.

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Oh how we love the comeback of churros. Churro101 has arrived in Singapore just a couple of weeks back and its reception has been very successful. After an old wave of churros slowly disappeared in Singapore, some smart entrepreneurs decided to rekindle it, and this time, in a Korean style – because anything Korean seems to work, no?

Truth to be told, we are suckers for Korean food and food concepts, so Churro101 was a must-try on our list. They have a big range of different churros, but the ones that appealed to us the most on our first visit were their filled churros and churros coated with dark chocolate.

The churros are deep-fried fresh and served to us a la minute. We picked the Dark Chocolate Churro with Strawberry Crunch (S$5.90). The dark chocolate range is also available in two other coatings – almond and coconut.

The churro was served warm, and tasted no less exquisite with the dark chocolate surrounding it, melted very delightfully with every bite.

Churro101 also offers other options such as filled churros – think Cream Cheese-Filled Churro (S$4.70), Chocolate-Filled Churro (S$4.50) and even Milk Mustard-Filled Churro (S$4.50).

You can also go with the original taste for the classic Cinnamon Churro (SS$3.50), but can we say that the flavoured ones are more exciting?

As much as we love churros, we have to disagree with Churro101′s tagline of Korean “Better Than Boyfriend” Churros. Food always taste better when you have something to share it with. Make sure to bring along your loved ones here and share the churros (and calories). 

Churro101 first opened in Bugis+ and 313@Somerset is their second outlet. And we are guessing there will be more to come!

Churro101 Singapore
313 Orchard Road
B3-49 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

Hvala Waffle Bar, a food kiosk at the basement of 313@Somerset, has just launched a new dessert that all of us in Singapore have been waiting for – the Hong Kong-style Egg Waffle with Soft Serve.

It is every bit photogenic, but is it anywhere near the original Oddies Foodies of Hong Kong?

Haven’t heard of this waffle bar? Business started back in May this year for Hvala, serving thin waffle on a stick. Sure, it is pretty, but ‘gai dan zai’ soft serve is still sexier and we definitely gravitate towards that more.

Hvala Waffle Bar’s rendition comes with vanilla soft serve in a cup, egglet (or what we all know as ‘gai dan zai’), and two toppings of your choice – koko crunch, muesli, fruits and fruity pebbles are a few to name. An Egg Waffle Soft serve with two toppings is S$6.90.

Admittedly, this is a direct copy of the famous Oddies Foodies in Hong Kong. Oddies Foodies’ version is much more sophisticated and well-balanced with a good mix of contrasting ingredients – think panna cotta, brownie and fruits – whereas Hvala Waffle Bar has kept theirs a lot simpler, and free for you to customize and ‘play up’.

We love how Hvala has so many different types of sauces to pick from; maple, chocolate and speculoos are a few to boast. But when it comes to the soft serve, it still has a lot more to catch up with Oddies’.

We have to wait and see if Hvala Waffle Bar can emulate the success of Oddies Foodies to start a new wave of egg waffle soft serve trend here in Singapore.

For now – trend or fad? You decide.

Hvala Waffle Bar
313 Orchard Road
#B3-50 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

It has been four years since we wrote our guide on restaurants in Orchard Road and though we update them from time to time, we thought it is high time to re-curate and to introduce a new guide, featuring even more dining places in Singapore’s most famous shopping street.

Options are aplenty and no doubt we are all spoilt for choice, but are they really worth their queues/ price tags/ waiting time? We have friends from overseas who visit Singapore and have limited time on our sunny island, and then we have our locals who do not want to waste their calories unnecessarily.

The next time you head to Orchard Road, you need not face the risk of stepping in to a random diner and not knowing what to expect.

Here is the Ultimate Orchard Road Food Guide—Top Places to dine at Orchard Road, Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut:

ANTOINETTE PATISSERIE

Undoubtedly one of the prettiest tea salons in Singapore, Antoinette is a perennial favourite for elegant French pastries and sweets. Nothing quite like your usual cakes and tarts, Antoinette promises nothing but surprises.

Antoinette Patisserie is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s 58 must-try desserts.

333A Orchard Road
Mandarin Gallery #02-33/34
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

AKASHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Among the many mid-tier Japanese outlets in Singapore, we love Akashi for its consistency. The menu is neatly categorised, and whether you are looking for sushi, sashimi or teishoku, there will be something to please. Or you can sit by the sushi counter and do an omakase meal while interacting with the chefs to understand more about what goes on your plate.

Akashi is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best Japanese restaurants.

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

AKANOYA ROBATAYAKI

A meal here would be exceptional, and despite its hefty price tag, it is still worth saving up for and splurging on. Robatayaki is a fun experience; pick from the array of fresh ingredients, point to order, and the chefs will grill them over charcoal, and serve it to the customers using a long wooden paddle.

1 Tanglin Road
#01-01 Orchard Parade Hotel
Tel: +65 6732 1866
Daily: 6pm – 1.30am
Nearest Station: Orchard

AOKI

Les Amis fans would stand united when we talk about Aoki, a Japanese outlet that has always been well-received over so many years. Its Bara-Chirashi don is listed as one of the Best Chirashi Dons in Singapore.

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

ARTEASTIQ TEA LOUNGE

A stunning tea lounge Arteastiq is, this gem in Mandarin Gallery sees us returning regularly for its collection of superior teas. The Iced Lychee Tea is a clear winner among the crowd, but we also love the range of hot ginger teas. Arteastiq also has an art jamming studio, so it is a post-lunch alternative away from the crowd in Orchard Road.

333A Orchard Road
#04-14/15 Mandarin Gallery
Tel: +65 6235 8370
Daily: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

ARTISAN BOULANGERIE CO

Towards the Killiney side, we have Artisan Boulangerie Co – or better known as ABC. Any time is a good time for ABC’s Vanilla Eclair. We love the minimalistic vibes at ABC, and how we can enjoy a cuppa while reading our magazine on a lovely weekend.

118 Killiney Road
Tel: +65 6444 8130
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

ASTONS SPECIALITIES

They are no strangers to locals now. But if you do not already know, Astons’ shot to fame when they introduced very affordable steaks and casual Western food in a quick dining setting. They may not have the sexiest facade, but the food is nowhere near lacklustre. Choose from a huge menu of steaks, seafood, poultries and burgers, that all come with two side dishes.

2 Orchard Link
*Scape #03-04
Tel: +65 6509 4806
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

BEANSTRO

Offering a wide variety of mains, desserts and drinks, Beanstro is a lovely bistro that boasts a casual and laid-back vibe for shoppers. Let us not forget that Beanstro offers The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s signature drinks like coffee and ice blended drinks; perfect pair-ups with your hearty mains.

Unit B1-37, Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238873
Tel: +65 6235 1610
Daily: 8.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset

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 Tomahawk 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 has been seeing a steady following since its opening in 2009. Classic French food that offers fair value, head down for a French affair when you need some Duck Leg Confit or Braised Oxtail.

1 Scotts Road
#02-12 Shaw Centre
Tel: +65 6733 7763
Daily: 12am – 2pm, 6.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

BROTZEIT GERMAN BIER BAR & RESTAURANT

An outlet for the discerning meat and beer lovers, Brotzeit is always packed with regulars and expats. Toast to a great meal with a pint of beer and lots of meat and sausages, Brotzeit offers a sexy and laidback environment for you to loosen your tie for some after-work fun.

313@Somerset
313 Orchard Road #01-27
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 1am
Sun: 12pm – 12am
Tel: +65 6834 4038
Nearest Station: Somerset

CAFÉ & MEAL MUJI

Fans of MUJI, the popular Japanese concept store, rejoice as they bring you something even bigger and better. Café & Meal MUJI – the first MUJI cafe in Singapore is now open at The Paragon. The Japanese cafe is adjacent to their current merchandise store in the mall, and we were most certainly thrilled by their arrival.

Paragon Shopping Centre
290 Orchard Road, #04-36
Singapore 238859
Tel: +65 6735 0123
Daily: 10am – 9:30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard or Somerset

CAFFE BEVIAMO

Caffe Beviamo has firmly established itself as a popular haunt for locals and expats alike. It is not difficult to understand why it is always packed. It offers affordable and well-prepared Australian-inspired food. A simple Scrambled Eggs with Toast is only S$8. If you want something more substantial, go for Pasta (S$12 – S$18) or Pizza (S$12 – S$14). It also has a range of tempting desserts (S$3.50 – S$7.50), including cupcakes, carrot cake, and sticky date pudding.

Caffee Beviamo is also listed in our guide on Singapore’s Top 20 Inexpensive Restaurants.

163 Tanglin Road
#02-K1 Tanglin Mall
Tel: +65 6738 7906
Daily: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

CAJUN ON WHEELS

Located on Level 3 at the new extension of Plaza Singapura, Cajun On Wheels is a Halal-certified seafood diner serving unadulterated and fresh seafood in true American fashion. This is their second outlet—after their first food truck at Pasarbella Suntec City—and you would be delighted to know that their menu at Plaza Singapura is exclusive to that outlet too.

68 Orchard Road, #03-92 Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

CHOCOLATE ORIGIN

Look out for a little kiosk at the basement food hall of 313 @ Somerset, and you will be in for a decadent chocolate treat. Primarily serving chocolate lava cake, Chocolate Origin makes a good pit stop in between shopping.

#B3-10A, 313@Somerset
313 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 68844019
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

CHURRO101

A popular churro chain in Korea, Churro101 has a big range of different churros, but the ones that appealed to us the most on our first visit were their filled churros and churros coated with dark chocolate.

The churros are deep-fried fresh and served to us a la minute. We picked the Dark Chocolate Churro with Strawberry Crunch (S$5.90). The dark chocolate range is also available in two other coatings – almond and coconut.

313 Orchard Road
B3-49 313@Somerset
Singapore 238895
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

CRYSTAL JADE LA MIAN XIAO LONG BAO

The Crystal Jade brand is renowned being one of the leading Singapore-based restaurant groups to preserve the rich traditions of Chinese cuisine.

As far as comfort food is concerned, one of our all-time favourite places to dine at is Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao. We grew up enjoying their classic and contemporary interpretations of the much-loved xiao long bao and la mian which finds its roots from the Jiangnan region in China!

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao has officially opened its latest outlet at Basement 2 of Ngee Ann City which was previously occupied by Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng Chicken and BBQ. Paying homage to its opening on 01 Dec 2017, the restaurant will be bringing back their limited-edition local-inspired Hainanese Chicken Rice Xiao Long Bao.

391 Orchard Road, #B2-36A,
Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Singapore 238873
Tel: +65 6733 3229
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

CRYSTAL JADE GOLDEN PALACE RESTAURANT

One of the grandest outlets by the Crystal Jade empire, Golden Palace Restaurant is a longstanding favourite among locals and its constant crowd is a testament to its superb food quality. We always covet the idea of a Sunday dim sum brunch with our family here, what about you?

Crystal Jade Golden Palace is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s top 30 Chinese restaurants.

290 Orchard Road, Paragon Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6734 6866
Daily: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

DANCING CRAB AT ORCHARD CENTRAL

After the resounding success of their first outlet at Grandstand, Dancing Crab has since opened a brand new outlet at Orchard Central, replacing the space where Noodle Stories used to be.

Of the many Louisiana seafood restaurants in town, Dancing Crab has the most competitive prices without compromising on the quality of their ingredients and seafood. And with the introduction of new lunch options, burning a hole in your pocket is the least of your worries now.

Orchard Central #07-14/15
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6509 1878
Fax: +65 6509 1879
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30 – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

DEAN AND DELUCA

There is absolutely nothing to not love about this New York brand. Dean And Deluca continues to wow the local crowd with its spacious Orchard Central outlet, spanning across Level 4 with takeaways, retail merchandise and a huge dine-in area. Weekend brunch is our favourite.

Dean & Deluca’s Rainbow Cake is also listed in our list of Best Rainbow Cakes in Singapore.

181 Orchard Rd, 04 – 23/24, Orchard Central
Tel: +65 6509 7708
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

DIN TAI FUNG

Din Tai Fung – a household name in Singapore since 2003 – is a popular favourite among locals and visitors alike. Talk about xiao long bao and we all think of Din Tai Fung’s legacy. Among the 18 locations Paragon’s outlet is the flagship restaurant and it showcases three VIP rooms that can be expanded to accommodate up to 30 diners.

#B1-03/06, Paragon Shopping Centre
290 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6836 8336
Mon to Fri: 11am – 9.30pm
Sun & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Paragon

FOOD EXCHANGE

If you love luxuriating in weekend brunches, then you need to check out the all-new Food Exchange at Novotel Singapore on Stevens for your next weekend indulgence.

Comfortably nestled in the spanking new Novotel Singapore on Stevens, this sleek restaurant spins up a plethora of international cuisine, allowing you to tuck into delectable food while overlooking the view of the hotel’s infinity pool.

As far as lavish Sunday brunches are concerned, freshness, quality and variety are some of the factors that we value most. Helmed by award-winning Finnish Head Chef Janne Ollikainen, the extensive buffet line at Food Exchange encompasses everything from fresh sashimi and seafood to hot cooking stations that serve up eggs, pasta and risotto à la minute, a myriad of roasted meats and more. They even have their very own DIY Bloody Mary bar so you can concoct your own brunch-time cocktail!

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 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.

Novotel Singapore on Stevens
28 Stevens Road,
#01-01, Singapore 257878
Tel: +65 6491 6100
Email: h9543@accor.com
www.novotel-singapore-stevens.com/restaurants-bars/food-exchange/

GOOD MORNING NANYANG CAFE

When we need our comfort food in the form of kaya toast and eggs, our go-to place in town is Good Morning Nanyang Cafe. Sitting on level 2 of Far East Plaza, this old-school outlet stands the test of time and has been lathering fragrant kaya on their crispy toast for we-lost-count-how-many years. Some traditional kopi for you too?

#02-23, Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 9650 3256
Daily: 8.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

HOSHINO COFFEE

Known for its hand-dripped coffee, Hoshino Coffee is located in the newer wing of Plaza Singapura. And we really love this popular Japanese coffee chain’s soufflés – Vanilla Soufflé (S$9.80) and Matcha Soufflé (S$9.80).

68 Orchard Road
#03-84 Plaza Singapura
Tel: +65 6338 3277
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

HUA TING RESTAURANT

One of the most reliable tables in town, Hua Ting at Orchard Hotel has been serving Cantonese delicacies for years and you can always be assured of a good meal here. The interior is not fancy, nor is the food particularly sophisticated. What it is, however, is simple and well-executed Chinese food.

Level 2, Orchard Hotel, 442 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6739 6666
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

IMPERIAL TREASURE SUPER PEKING DUCK RESTAURANT

Because the Peking Duck is really super, and it is our guilty pleasure when we crave some good Chinese meat. Its fatty goodness is a sin, but that extra few rounds of jogging will be worth it for Imperial Treasure’s Peking Duck. But of course, if you are already there, go for some dim sum too.

290 Orchard Road
#05-42/45, Paragon Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6732 7838
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.45pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat: 11am – 2.45pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.45pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

IPPUDO RAMEN

Ippudo’s ramen empire is showing no signs of slowing down as it opens more and more outlets across the globe, including New York City, Seoul, Shanghai and Sydney. Its first outlet in Singapore – Mandarin Gallery – continues to see queues for their world-famous Japanese noodles, and if you haven’t tried, what are you waiting for?

Ippudo Ramen is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best ramen shops.

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

ISHINOMAKI GRILL & SAKE BAR

This Japanese restaurant at Palais Renaissance truly an undiscovered gem. Opening its door to public since December 2014, Ishinomaki Grill & Sake Bar is a welcoming diner helmed by Chef Chi – a well-experienced chef who has been in the industry for 25 years.

His keen passion for Japanese food has seen him travelling to different parts of Japan and building relationships with the best suppliers, so expect nothing less than the freshest catches when you dine at Ishinomaki.

390 Orchard Road
#B1-02/02A/03 Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 67371065
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

ITACHO SUSHI

Salmon skin sushi for S$0.40 – everyone will know Itacho Sushi because of this. And more than that, they are a favourite because of the wide variety of sushi creations at very friendly prices. When dining at Itacho, treat yourself to a selection of makis, rolls and nigiris made with fresh ingredients. They have very value-for-money lunch sets, too.

Itacho Sushi is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s affordable sushi places.

Ion Orchard, #B3-20 ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6509 8911
Sun to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

IZAKAYA NIJUMARU

Izakaya Nijumaru is one hidden gem (literally) in Cuppage Plaza.

It is tucked at a corner on the second level of Cuppage Plaza and you wouldn’t otherwise walk past it unless you were particularly looking out for it. The nondescript outlet has been around for three decades. We actually only discovered it about seven years ago but it has since remained as a favourite of ours whenever we want a simple, affordable Japanese meal in Orchard Road.

5 Koek Rd, #02- 228796, 10 Cuppage Rd
Tel: +65 6235 6693
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

J65 AT HOTEL JEN TANGLIN SINGAPORE

Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore’s gorgeous all-day dining restaurant J65 is an ultimate gourmet paradise if you are keen on mainly local fare.

Now, you can get excited every day of the week with the themed buffet nights through the week! There are 6 different buffet themes including Crab, Beef, Lobster, Prawn, Seafood and local food.

Lobby Level, 1A Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249176
Reservations: hoteljen.com/bookJ65
Tel: +65 6831 4374 / J65@hoteljen.com
Daily: 6.30am to 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Dinner Buffet
Sun to Thu: 6pm – 9.30pm / S$55++ per pax
Fri and Sat: 6pm – 10pm / S$60++ per pax

JADE PALACE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

It is pretty inconspicuous, and you might miss it unless you are familiar with its location. However, Jade Palace is a popular spot for those in-the-know, and the claypot rice, in particular, is one of the more memorable ones around. Jade Palace also has one of the most impressive selectionss of wines among the Chinese restaurants in town.

#B1-12, Forum The Shopping Mall
583 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6732 6628
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

JANE THAI

Orchard Towers is definitely not the best place to step in to, but if any, we would go there for Jane Thai. Sleazy as the building may be, any time is a good time for Thai food at Jane’s. They open till 4am, so it is perfect supper option. And the other good news is, they have an outlet at Simpang Bedok, too!

Jane Thai is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s top 10 affordable Thai restaurants.

400 Orchard Road
#04-30 Orchard Towers
Tel: +65 6887 5677
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

JIANG-NAN CHUN

The showpiece of the luxurious Four Seasons Singapore, Jiang-Nan Chun presents well-executed Cantonese fare – using traditional cooking techniques, with a slightly modern twist - in a refined setting.

Jiang-Nan Chun is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s top 30 Chinese restaurants.

190 Orchard Boulevard
Four Seasons Hotel
Tel: +65 6831 7220
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

KAIHO SUSHI

Kaiho Sushi, a hole-in-the-wall sushi joint, is one of those nondescript Japanese restaurants in Cuppage Plaza. It has been around for years and it is where food lovers in-the-know head to for some authentic Japanese cuisine indulgence. During lunch, it serves nine sets (at S$30) – pick from Anago Don Set, to Sushi Set and Ebi Tendon Set.

Kaiho Sushi is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best chirashi-don.

5 Koek Road, Cuppage Plaza, #03-01/02
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Tel: +65 9734 9822
Nearest Station: Somerset

KITH CAFE

One of our all-time favourite cafes in town has got to be Kith Cafe. They serve honest food and good brew, and the al fresco seating area is a lovely spot to catch up on some me-time or to simply people watch. Most of the items on their menu are reasonably-priced under $20.

163 Penang Road, #01-01
Winsland House II, Singapore 238463
Tel: +65 6235 0582
Daily: 7.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

K COOK KOREAN BBQ RESTAURANT

K. Cook Korean BBQ Buffet has just opened at Orchard Central for a few months, but it has already earned the loyalty of many customers for a simple reason. It is one of the most affordable Korean BBQ buffet restaurants in Singapore. On weekdays, the Korean BBQ buffet is S$14.90++ /pax for lunch, and S$24.90++/pax for dinner.

#07-01, Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6884 7282
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

KOH GRILL & SUSHI BAR

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar is a small eatery that sits within Wisma’s Food Republic, and the one dish that everyone queues up for is the very famous Shiok Maki. It is a maki made up of avocado, unagi and aburi salmon, drenched with a supremely addictive sauce that is seemingly a legit mixture of mayo and mentai, then topped with a copious amount of tobiko. Sounds tempting already?

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s affordable sushi places.

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

LOKKEE

Located on the 3rd storey of Plaza Singapura is American-Chinese establishment Lokkee that is not just your ordinary Chinese restaurant. It is worth mentioning that the up-and-coming gourmet eatery is successfully pushing the boundaries of traditional Chinese cuisine – without compromising on key oriental ingredients – and introducing a tantalising variety of revamped Asian classics that will impress even the most discerning diners. Expect unique renditions of steamed baos, spicy Sichuan diced chicken and whatnot.

Plaza Singapura
#03-01, 68 Orchard Road
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6884 4566
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

LUKE’S CHOPHOUSE & OYSTER BAR

Luke’s is a classy and upmarket chophouse, the sort of restaurant that you will find in New York. Known for its seafood cocktails, steaks and oysters, Luke’s Chophouse also does an impressive rendition of the classic lobster roll too.

Luke’s Chophouse & Oyster Bar is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best steak restaurants.

260 Orchard Road
#03-02 The Heeren
Daily: 12pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

MAISON KAYSER

We love the eclairs at Maison Kayser! They do not have the best coffees, but the outlet at Scotts Square makes a decent pitstop in between shopping. And we love their spread of breads, too!

#B1-09, Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6636 3672
Daily: 8am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

MAK’S NOODLE

Hong Kong’s famous Mak’s Noodle has just opened its very first overseas outpost, and it is in Singapore no less! Sitting on the ground level of The Centrepoint, Mak’s Noodle in Singapore brings you the familiar authentic taste of Hong Kong with its concise menu of noodles and beef brisket.

176 Orchard Road
The Centrepoint, #01-63/64
Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 6235 5778
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

MANHATTAN BAR

This sleek, dark and sexy bar is exactly the kind of place where you’ll refuse to call it a night, which would be for the best, since your refusal will be met with a number of discreetly potent cocktails. Or you could give them a wild-card route (layman’s term: bespoke)—tell them your poison of choice, serving style and whatever preferences pop into your head, and watch them do their magic.

1 Cuscaden Road
Regent Singapore
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 6725 3377
Mon to Sun: 5pm to 1am
Nearest Station: Orchard

MAKAN @ JEN

This all-day dining restaurant at the new Hotel Jen orchardgateway that offers both a la carte and buffet-style options. Weekday Semi Buffet Lunch is affordably priced at S$19.90, while its Weekend Singapore Brunch is only S$30 – quite possibly the most affordable weekend brunch buffet in Singapore.

277 Orchard Road
Hotel Jen orchardgateway
Tel: +65 6708 8899
Daily: 6.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

MARRIOTT CAFE

One of the best buffet restaurants in town where you can indulge yourself, Marriott Cafe at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel is best known for its local high tea buffet which comes with an amazing lineup of more than 50 treats including Nasi Lemak, Chicken Rice, Laksa, Hokkien Mee, as well as Western desserts like Scones, Crepes and Toffee Date Pudding.

During the dinner buffet, you can find the freshest selection of oysters, snow crabs, crayfish and prawns at the Seafood Station. Seafood aside, you can look forward to local favourite such as Singapore Chilli Crab, Chicken Rice and succulent roasts.

320 Orchard Road
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Tel: +65 6831 4605
Daily: 6am – 11am, 12pm – 2.30pm, 3pm – 5.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

MARUTAMA

The popular ramen shop is now in town! Away from the crowd and sitting unassumingly along the stretch of eateries at Killiney, Marutama serves their famous chicken-based ramen all day. We usually prefer tonkotsu soup base for ramen, but nobody says no to Marutama’s spicy chicken soup. Period.

Marutama is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best ramen shops.

75 Killiney Road
Tel: +65 6352 6369
Nearest Station: Somerset

MENYA MUSASHI

Menya Musashi commanded long queues in the first few months, but the hype has died down since then which is unfortunate, as they’ve opened a few more branches around and out of town.

The broth is boiled for more than nine hours, and the chef has to stir it every half an hour to prevent the bottom from being burned. Menya offers three different types of ramen – ‘White’, ‘Red’ and ‘Black, each featuring different combinations of noodles and broth.

Menya Musashi is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best ramen shops.

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

MEZZA9

Dining at mezza9 is always a comforting familiarity akin to dining at home. They offer superb value for their weekday set lunches. Else, indulge in a Sunday Champagne Brunch. “The ultimate champagne brunch,”- that was the only thought we had on our minds while enjoying our feast. Read more here.

Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6416 7322
Sun Brunch: 11.30am – 3pm
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

MITZO

We will go out on a limb and say that Mitzo at Grand Park Orchard is the sexiest Chinese restaurant in Singapore. It combines a contemporary and intimate design with modern Cantonese cuisine. Quite unlike your usual Chinese restaurants, Mitzo actually has a lounge-like feel, and they have song curator for the daily loops.

270 Orchard Road
Grand Park Orchard
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm to 12midnight
Nearest Station: Somerset

NAKAJIMA SUISAN GRILLED FISH

Nakajima Suisan Grilled Fish at Takashimaya’s Japanese food court is gold. The prices of the set meals — choose from Salmon Teriyaki ($12.50), Gindara Teriyaki ($14.50), and Shio Saba ($7.50) — are so pocket-friendly. We’ve had their grilled fish for a decade, and still falling in love with it with every visit.

Nakajima Suisan is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s top 10 budget restaurants in Orchard Road.

391A Orchard Road Basement 2
Takashimaya Food Hall Ngee Ann City
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset

NAMNAM NOODLE BAR

The pho and banh mi at NamNam Noodle Bar are not only delicious, but also very value-for-money. A bowl of pho is less than S$10, while the Banh Mi is only S$5.90. They also have extremely value-for-money lunch sets.

501 Orchard Road #B2-02
Wheelock Place
Tel: +65 6735 1488
Nearest Station: Orchard

NANA’S GREEN TEA

A modern Japanese tea house that offers a selection of Japanese food like  as well as matcha drinks and desserts. From matcha parfait, to matcha latte, and matcha Anmitsu, fans of matcha will enjoy every item here.

68 Orchard Road
#03-80/81/82, Plaza Singapura
Tel: +65 6684 4312
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

NARA THAI

We used to go to Bangkok for Nara Thai, for its fine Thai cuisine is truly deserving of all its credits and accolades. The well-known name is now in Singapore, and has an outlet at Ion Orchard.

2 Orchard Turn
#B3-21 ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6634 5787
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

NASSIM HILL BAKERY & BISTRO BAR

Tucked at the end of the Orchard Road, Nassim Hill Bakery & Bistro Bar sits beside Singapore Post at Tanglin, and is a quaint outlet when you need a break from the crowd. Its menu is comprehensive and we dare say almost every dish is enticing. Oh, it is a family-friendly spot too!

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56 Tanglin Road
Tanglin Post Office #01-03
Tel: +65 6835 1128
Tue to Sun: 8am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

NIKU KAPPO

A brand new dining concept by WATAMI originating from Tsukiji, Japan, Niku Kappo offers diners authentic Japanese Kappo-style delights through its colorful menu filled with a diverse selection of food options.

As the word “Niku” suggests, Niku Kappo’s menu has a strong focus on meat. From Meat Sushi to Meat Hot Pot, Niku Kappo only seeks to present Japanese cuisine at reasonable prices.

NOODLE PLACE

If you find yourself stranded in Orchard Road with nothing “budget” to eat, well we’d say to head straight to Noodles Place @ 313 Somerset for a bowl of hearty dumpling noodles. Or more affectionately known as wanton mee.

The restaurant prides themselves on Hong Kong-style food, mostly simple one-dish meals that you would typically expect from a regular cha chaan teng, and at S$10.80, you will be served a bowl of noodles with prawn dumplings in soup. Fuss-free, but so good.

Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Road #01-17
Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 6733 3171
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

OMAKASE BURGER

Quite arguable the best cheeseburger in Singapore is Omakase Burger’s rendition. The Omakase Cheeseburger oozes with flavours – delicious hand-ground beef patty with melted cheese, iceberg lettuce, sweet tomato slices and sauce in a nicely toasted bun.

#01-02/38 Wisma Atria Shopping Centre
435 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6737 3218
Mon to Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

ORIOLE CAFE & BAR

Oriole Cafe & bar has been making headlines in the Singapore National Barista Championships 2010. Coffee lovers can always get a good cup of coffee here, and it is conveniently located just right beside 313@Somerset.

96 Somerset road
#01-01 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
Tel: +65 6238 8348
Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 10am – 12midnight
Sun: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

OPUS BAR & GRILL

What used to be Checkers Brasserie at Hilton Singapore is now revamped and known as Opus Bar & Grill. The culinary team is helmed by Aussie chef Nick Philip, and the menu is contemporary with Australian influence. The charcoal grill and dry-age cabinet are what Opus Bar & Grill are building their success on, and they are on a mission to spoil you with only the best meals.

581 Orchard Road
Hilton Singapore
Tel: 65 6730 3390
Daily: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard Road

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE

Outback Steakhouse, the largest steakhouse chain in the world, is known to serve reasonably-priced steaks and mains in a casual ambience with friendly service. Even if you are not a fan of steaks, you will be spoilt for choice with its array of mains. They have a fantastic range of cocktails as well.

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

PARADISE DYNASTY

Known for its colourful xiaolongbao (steamed pork dumplings) that are available in eight different flavours – original, garlic, ginseng, Szechuan, crab roe, cheese, foie gras, and black truffle – Paradise Dynasty is where we like to head to for a simple and fuss-free meal.

2 Orchard Turn, #04-12A
ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6509 9118
Mon to Fri: 11am to 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am to 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

PARADISE TEOCHEW

Singaporeans should be familiar with Paradise Group – the Singapore-based restaurant group with an impressive portfolio of mainly Chinese restaurants under their belt. Think Taste Paradise, Paradise Dynasty and Beauty In The Pot.

The reputable empire has recently launched an entirely new concept – Paradise Teochew Restaurant, where its speciality lies in authentic Teochew-style offerings to preserve and glorify the Teochew culture that many Singaporeans are more than familiar with.

6 Scotts Road, #03-04 Scotts Square
Singapore 228209
Tel: +65 6538 0644
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

PARIS BAGUETTE

This famous Korean bakery cafe serves a pretty lineup of pastries, cakes and breads, sandwiches and salads. Drop by its branch at Wisma Atria for a pitstop in between shopping.

#02-48/53 Wisma Atria Shopping Centre
435 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6836 2010
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

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 restaurant in Singapore gives you the chance to taste a piece 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
Nearest Station: Orchard

PETE’S PLACE

Pete’s Place is one of the most established Italian restaurants in town, specialising in authentic Italian homemade pasta and wood-fired oven pizzas. Tiramisu is always a good way to measure the standard of an Italian restaurant, so you have to try the rendition at Pete’s Place – it always tugs our heartstrings.

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

POOL GRILL RESTAURANT

Pool Grill at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel has gone through a little makeover and is now a stunner with a show-stopping menu to beat.

Drop by at night for a dinner with your loved one or friends, and the restaurant will not only captivate your heart with its mouthwatering food and innovative cocktails. You will also be swept off your feet with the romantic candle-lit ambience, complemented by the starry night sky and enchanting music.

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
310 Orchard Road
Singapore 238865
Mon to Thu, Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

PS.CAFE

Everyone knows PS.Cafe, and it is almost synonymous with Palais Renaissance. This outlet is ever popular, and you can always count on these folks to whip up scrumptious dishes to put on the table. It also makes a perfect pit stop in between shopping, and a quaint afternoon with the girlfriends over some cakes and coffee sounds like a splendid idea, yes?

390 Orchard Road
Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 6887 2207
Mon to Thu: 9.30am – 12 midnight
Fri & Sat: 9.30am – 1am
Sun: 9.30am – 12 midnight
Nearest Station: Orchard

RAMEN SANTOUKA

Here is a worthy contender for the best all-rounded ramen. A robust broth, chewy noodles and one of the most tender chashu we have had (it is the prized pork cheek after all), it is one easy ramen to love.

Ramen Santouka is also listed in our Best Ramen in Singapore here.

21 Cuppage Road
Cuppage Terrace
Tel: +65 6235 1059
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 12midnight
Sat: 12pm – 12midnight
Sun: 12am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

SABOTEN

Many consider Saboten to be one of the best tonkatsu restaurants in town, but I cannot really agree with that. Don’t get me wrong, though. Saboten definitely has one of the better breaded meats. Try the signature loin katsu ($23), katsudon ($20), and katsu Curry ($19.50).

Saboten is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best tonkatsu restaurants.

#B2-02/03, 313 @ Somerset
313 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6333 3432
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

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
Tel: +65 6592 5118
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

SHANGRI-LA SINGAPORE LOBBY COURT

If you are looking for somewhere to spend a quiet afternoon with a group of friends, we cannot think of a better place than Lobby Court at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. Treat yourself to a traditional English Afternoon Tea with finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and tea.

22 Orange Grove Road
Mezzanine Level Shangri-La Hotel
Tel:+65 6213 4486
Nearest Station: Orchard

SHINJUKU

Another haunt at Cuppage Plaza that we go to for a simple Japaanese meal is Shinjuku. It may not have the most attractive facade, but if you give them a chance, you might just fall in love with their S$10 lunch sets.

#01-01 Cuppage Plaza, 5 Koek Road
Tel: +65 6734 8436
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 1am
Sun & PH: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

STEEPLE’S DELI

Steeple’s Deli is a bit of a hidden gem, tucked away at Tanglin Shopping Centre that makes you feel transported into a different space. They have been around for years, and what keep regulars coming back again and again are the Reuben Sandwich (S$13.90), Beef Burger (S$12.90), and the super thick and rich Milkshakes (S$5.90).

Steeple’s Deli is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s top 10 budget restaurants in Orchard Road.

#02-24/25 Tanglin Shopping Centre
19 Tanglin Road
Tel: +65 6737 0701
Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

SUPPLY & DEMAND

Since its inaugural outlet at Esplanade, we’ve always enjoyed the fusion spread at Supply & Demand. And they are now at Orchard Gateway too. Of pastas and pizzas and even Asian dishes, its variety is comprehensive and you can always count on the joint for a good dinner with family and friends.

#02-13/14, Orchard Gateway
277 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6702 6218
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

SU SUPERSTAR KOREAN CUISINE

Su Superstar Korean Cuisine is a casual Korean eatery in *SCAPE that is popular among students and youngsters who hang around the area.

With 12 varieties of Korean ramyeon that are priced below S$10, it is no wonder why the Korean eatery is mostly packed during lunch and dinner hours. If you are looking for a quick Korean fix without burning a hole in your pocket, give Su Superstar Korean Cuisine a try.

2 Orchard Link
#02-18/18A/28 *SCAPE
Singapore 237978
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

STRAITSKITCHEN

Renowned for its uniquely Singaporean buffet, StraitsKitchen is one of the most popular buffet restaurants for two reasons. It is the place where you bring overseas guests to savour the best of our local hawker food in a stylish and comfortable setting. And it is a showcase of and opportunity to sample all the popular local dishes in one seating. And, it has a Halal-certified kitchen.

10 Scotts Road, Lobby Level
Grand Hyatt Singapore
Tel: +65 6732 1234
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

TAMPOPO RESTAURANT

Tampopo is one of those top-of-mind restaurant when we need a fuss-free Japanese meal. Their Tonkatsu Ramen is always good – a bowl of springy ramen accompanied by Tampopo’s signature tonkatsu in a spicy broth. We also love their range of chiffon cakes!

391 Orchard Road
#B2-33 Ngee Ann City
Tel: +65 6235 2318
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

TASTE PARADISE

Taste Paradise at ION Orchard is one of our favourite dim sum restaurants in Singapore. The food is always consistently good, and we can never get sick of its spread of classic dim sum. Try the char siew sou and custard bun when you are there; we promise you won’t be disappointed.

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

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.

Tatsuya Japanese Restaurant is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best Japanese restaurants.

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

TENSHO JAPANESE SPECIALITY TENDON

Found in the basement of the recently revamped Centrepoint, Tensho Japanese Speciality Tendon is a recent venture by the Ministry Of Food, which officially opened late September last year.

If you are searching for a reason to visit, the Mixed Tendon (S$14.90++) at Tensho Japanese Speciality Tendon might be your answer.

176 Orchard Road, #B1-20 The Centrepoint, Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 6733 0449
Mon to Thu, Sun: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

THE BETTERSHIP

The Bettership, a sashimi-centric eatery, has recently opened up on the ground floor of The Cathay. This humble Japanese eatery serves up boats—yes, boats—of fresh restaurant-standard sashimi as well as show-stopping donburi.

Priced decently at no more than S$20 for a sizeable donburi, this makes it a rather affordable option as opposed to many restaurants.

2 Handy Road #01-03,
The Cathay
Singapore 229233
Tel: +65 6835 9006
Daily: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

THE HUNGRY CAVEMAN

Bringing the very best of China’s skewer cuisine to Singapore, a colossally popular barbecue skewer restaurant chain, called The Hungry Caveman. Located on the 6th floor of Orchard Central, this new barbecue skewer restaurant aims to blaze the trail in Singapore’s meat skewer scene by being the first to adopt automated barbecue skewers. Just how cool is that?!

181 Orchard Road, #06-25
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

TIM HO WAN

Opened by Chef Mak Kwai Pui, Tim Ho Wan is the cheapest 1 Michelin Star dim sum restaurant from Hong Kong. The star on the menu and what you must order at Tim Ho Wan is the legendary Baked Buns with BBQ Pork ($4.50 for 3). we can say with confidence after trying, that the buns are as good as the ones in Hong Kong.

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

THAIEXPRESS

Quite contrary to “popular beliefs”, ThaiExpress is not a fast food chain. It is a restaurant chain, yes, but its casual dining style is what makes the household brand so popular and affordable.

The chefs here take their Thai food very seriously, and the kitchen is kept busy all day through because every item that is served on the table is prepared in-house with fresh ingredients and homemade sauces – cooked to order in each kitchen daily.

ThaiExpress has launched 3 brand new Sanook Sets which are priced not more than S$10.90++. Our favourite is the Sweet Chilli Fish Set (S$9.90++) which comes with Jasmine rice, Tom Kha Mushroom Soup, and Sweet Potato with Ginger Slice Dessert.

ThaiExpress is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s top 10 affordable Thai restaurants.

68 Orchard Road
#03-24 Plaza Singapura
Tel: +65 6339 5442
Daily: 11am to 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

THE COFFEE ACADEMICS

The Coffee Academics has opened its first outlet in Singapore at Scotts Square. If you have been to Hong Kong, chances are that you have either seen or heard of The Coffee Academics, voted one of the best coffee shops in the world by international publications such as Vogue, CNNGo and Buzzfeed.

Lvl 2 Scotts Square
6 Scotts Road
Singapore 228209
Daily: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

THAI TANTRIC

Another Thai eatery that is worth checking out at Orchard Towers is Thai Tantric. Prices range from S$6 to S$10, and some of the items that you should try – other than the usual classic Thai dishes – include Thai Fried Rice (S$6), Deep-fried Pork with Garlic & Pepper (S$10), and Deep-fried Chicken Wings with Honey (S$10).

Thai Tantric is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s top 10 affordable Thai restaurants.

400 Orchard Road
#03-23 Orchard Towers
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Orchard

THE ASSEMBLY GROUND

This relatively new addition to the cafe scene is a pleasant one. Spacious, dimly-lit and sexy, very good green tea latte and more. On the food menu, they’ve got you covered with appetizers, sandwiches and burgers, salads and soup, pastas and pizzas and brunch food. Of course, their regular brews are aromatic too. Cappuccinos and Flat Whites are at S$5.50 each for single shot.

#01-21 The Cathay
2 Handy Road
Tel: +65 67333375
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

THE DRAGON CHAMBER

The Dragon Chamber is the first speakeasy restaurant in Singapore. A new dining concept by TungLok Group, The Dragon Chamber is hidden within Lokkee at Plaza Singapura.

For the uninitiated, a speakeasy usually refers to a bar which is hidden from plain sight; with that, part of the fun is in digging out its whereabouts. Go through a secret entrance in Lokkee and enter a different world. The Dragon Chamber is effortlessly hip and cool without trying too hard.

68 Orchard Road
#03-02 Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6884 4566
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

THE LINE

The highly popular The Line at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore is one of the best buffets in town. Everyone loves a good buffet treat, and at The Line, be lost in the wondrous world of international and continental spread. You can eat a bit of everything and before you even reach the end, you might already be completely stuffed.

Yes, the spread is that extensive. Sixteen live stations for your ala minute dishes too, and a special drinks station where you can order the very satisfying Teh Tarik.

22 Orange Grove Road
Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
Lower Lobby, Tower Wing
Tel: +65 6213 4275
Daily: 5am – 1am
Nearest Station: Orchard

THE PROVIDORE

A nice brunch spot at Mandarin Gallery is The Providore. It is a cosy European-styled cafe, with a retail corner where you can take home colourful tea pots and tea cups, English tea, house jams and homemade chocolates.

#02-05, Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6732 1565
Daily: 09:00 – 23:00
Nearest Station: Somerset

THE SUSHI BAR

The Sushi Bar at level three of 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). It is really good, and the main reason why this hole-in-the-wall sushi bar is always packed with regulars.

The Sushi Bar is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s affordable sushi places.

#04-28 Far East Plaza
14 Scotts Road
Mon to Fri: 12.30pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 9pm
Sat: 12.30pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

TONKATSU BY MA MAISON

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison at Mandarin Gallery is as close to authenticity you can get – easily the best tonkatsu in Singapore. The Kurobuta Rosu Katsu (S$31.80) is excellent, but the highlight is the to-die-for Hungarian Mangalica Rosu Katsu (S$31.80) that will melt in your mouth.

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best tonkatsu restaurants.

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

TONKICHI RESTAURANT

Another Tonkatsu restaurant that retains its popularity among loyal customers for so many years is Tonkichi. Weekends would have the Ngee Ann City’s outlet see long queues of waiting time up to an hour, and it is little wonder because they do their breaded pork so well. Servings are huge, too.

Tonkichi Restaurant is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best tonkatsu restaurants.

391 Orchard Road
Ngee Ann City #04-24
Tel: +65 6735 7522
Daily: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

TOSS & TURN

The worship ground for health nuts, Toss & Turn is like an institution for salads. You mix and match and create your desired salads, and a regular plate is only S$9.90. Very affordable, very healthy and very (surpringly) filling. The dine-in area is really small, but that does not stop us from popping by when we need to do a VS Angel’s diet.

#B4-55 Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn
Tel: +65 6636 5835
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

TSUKADA NOJO

Love a good pot of Japanese collagen soup? Then Tsukada Nojo will not disappoint. Trust us on this – because its premium jidori chicken soup is so out of the world that every night for dinner, people queue up for 1-2 hours for a table. And we can assure you that it would be so very worth the wait. Priced at S$26.90 per pax, it is also pleasantly affordable!

#03-81, Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6336 5003
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

TSUKIJI FISH MARKET RESTAURANT

Japanese food lovers, you need to know about this secret Japanese restaurant on the rooftop of Orchard Central—Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant! It houses 5 different restaurant concepts in one, serving up flavourful Japanese fare in generous portions at fairly affordable prices.

Dishing out a vast variety of Japanese food options spanning from sushi and sashimi, ramen, tempura and an assortment of chicken dishes and wagyu dishes, to say diners will be spoilt for choice is an understatement. And the best part is being able to order from any of the 5 menus and having them served and billed together!

Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant takes pride in providing diners with a variety of fresh seasonal fish and sashimi and you’d be happy to know that most of their seafood products are all air-flown from Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market twice a week.

181 Orchard Road, #12-02
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6634 2803
Mon to Thu, Sat & Sun: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

TSURU KOSHI UDON

The udons on the menu here range from the basic Kake Udon (S$6.5) to the popular Curry Udon (S$9). We had the Ebi Tempura Udon (S$9) and Niku Udon (S$9) and they were fairly decent. Add S$5 to get a set meal with Mini Soboro Don or Mini Kakiage Don.

Tsuru Koshi Udon is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s top 10 budget restaurants in Orchard Road.

391 Orchard Road
Takashimaya Shopping Centre Food Hall
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset

TUNGLOK SEAFOOD

Seafood restaurants are aplenty in Singapore, but it is considerably harder to find one that serves consistently good seafood at affordable prices. Tung Lok Seafood specialises in the best of Singapore-style seafood prepared with the quality and standards synonymous with the Tung Lok brand.

181 Orchard Road
Orchard Central
Tel: +65 6834 4888
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Sun & PH: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

TUNGLOK SIGNATURES

TungLok Signatures has been around for a long time and has since branded itself as one of Singapore’s most established and well-loved Chinese restaurants for impeccable service and high quality food. The restaurant serves modern interpretations of traditional Chinese food, while still keeping traditional flavours intact, hence, appealing to both the older and younger generations.

TungLok Signatures’ cuisine concept is centred upon offering a menu which is planned and executed by Hong Kong-born Senior Executive Chef Li Man.

It features a unique combination of traditional Chinese cuisine, such as Cantonese Shanghainese and Sichuan dishes with a dash of Modern creations – authentic in tastes but with TungLok’s distinctive touch.

Orchard Parade Hotel #02-18
1 Tanglin Road
Singapore 247905
Tel: +65 6834 0660
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

TUNGLOK XIHE PEKING DUCK RESTAURANT

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

TWG TEA SALON

TWG Tea Salon is a homegrown brand that has won over the taste buds of many tea and dessert lovers. Its growing reputation as a tea institution that offers a variety of exclusive and interesting tea blends and tea-infused delicacies has cemented its popularity in the local food scene.

TWG Tea Salon’s macarons are also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best macarons.

2 Orchard Turn
#02-21 Ion Orchard
Tel: +65 6735 1837
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

WAN HAO CHINESE RESTAURANT

A stalwart in the local dining scene, Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel has been serving its loyal regulars since its opening in 1995. What makes Wan Hao a place where you can return to again and again is its familiarity and consistency; standards are always very high and you will never be disappointed by the food.

320 Orchard Road
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Tel: +65 6831 4605
Mon to Fri: 12pm to 3pm, 6.30pm to 10.30pm
Sat, Sun and PH: 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

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.

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

WINDOW ON THE PARK AT HOLIDAY INN SINGAPORE ORCHARD CITY CENTRE – THE BOSTON LOBSTER WEEKEND

While many other buffet restaurants out there pride themselves on having the largest and most extensive range of food and cuisines, Window on the Park adopts the ‘less is more’ approach by dishing out a substantially sized spread of only the good stuff, allowing diners to be able to savour each and every item before their bellies beg them to stop.

11 Cavenagh Rd, #02-00
Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre,
Singapore 229616
Tel: +65 6730 0170
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset / Dhoby Ghaut

YA KUN KAYA TOAST

Sometimes, all we need is a cup of kopi, two half boiled eggs, and Singapore’s well-loved kaya butter toast. And that is when we need to make a trip to Ya Kun Kaya Toast. Totally unpretentious but extremely comforting, this is one joint that will tug every Singaporean’s heartstrings with their traditional offerings.

313 Orchard Road
#01-32/33/34 313@Somerset
Tel: +65 6238 1872
Daily: 7am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

YAYOIKEN

We are always on the hunt for inexpensive and decent Japanese food, and it ended at Yayoiken. Of course, it does not have the most incredible tastes, but it is casual and fuss-free and satisfying enough, and the prices won’t have your wallet take a beating. Set lunches are mostly around S$10, too.

313 Orchard Road
313@somerset #B3-33/34
Tel: +65 6884 7550
Sun to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

YAN TING

The luxurious St Regis Singapore has no lack of good restaurants. Our favourite, however, is Yan Ting. The restaurant is classy and exudes an air of understated elegance. You’d be delighted to know that the average check per person for dim sum is actually S$30. Exquisite bites crafted from scratch and using the most premium ingredients, the dim sum at Yan Ting has always been a favourite all these years.

Yan Ting is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s top 30 Chinese restaurants.

29 Tanglin Road
The St Regis Singapore
Tel: +65 6506 6888
Nearest Station: Orchard

49 SEATS

Gone are the days where you can indulge in a mouthwatering western meal without burning a hole in the pocket. Fortunately, 49 Seats at Orchard Central exists and has made it a point to keep its fusion gourmet very affordable and accessible amidst the rising costs in this competitive industry. Most of the dishes are priced below S$16.90 and there is no GST and service charge.

Orchard Central #08-08
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat to Sun: 11am – 10pm
Tel: +65 6509 5895
Nearest Station: Somerset

5 ON EMERALD HILL

Possibly the oldest cocktail bar in Singapore, 5 on Emerald Hill has been taking residence in an old Peranakan-styled shop house near the outskirts of town since the early 1990s. The two-level bar exudes an air of nostalgia that envelops you into thinking you’re in the 1990s—think oak wood paneling, worn out furniture and walls covered in black and white pictures of customers and celebrities from that era.

5 Emerald Hill
Singapore 229289
Tel: +65 6732 0818
Mon to Thu: 12pm to 2am
Fri to Sat: 12pm to 3am
Sun: 5pm to 2am
Nearest Station: Somerset

10 SCOTTS

10 SCOTTS at Grand Hyatt Singapore is more than just a hotel’s tea lounge. Impeccably designed with a collection of rooms, it makes you feel right at home. On days when you feel like taking a break and giving yourself a little treat, the afternoon tea at 10 SCOTTS at Grand Hyatt Singapore is just the thing you need.

Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6732 1234
Afternoon tea: Daily 12pm – 2.30pm, 3pm – 5pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

10 AT CLAYMORE

10 at Claymore at Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore is an a la carte buffet concept you can enjoy unlimited servings of premium meats, seafood and other seasonal specialities, served in petite portions and prepared à la minute for the best experience.

Look out for its much anticipated and highly raved Oyster Occasions buffet where you can indulge in premium oysters sourced from five different parts of the world as well as an array of the freshest seafood.

Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
10 Claymore Road, Singapore 229540
Tel: +65 6831 6686
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard