Inspired by their Melbourne travels, owners Januver and Chomel started Scissors Paper Stove to celebrate the diversity of Asian culinary techniques and our communal dining culture.

Their menu focuses on a neat range of tapas that are great for sharing among friends and family, as well as other homemade recipes and a small selection of desserts. The cheerful space is perfect for any occasion—whether you are in the mood for a morning pick-me-up or some booze to unwind after a long day.

While some may say that Asian fusion tapas served in colourful tingkats and Asian-inspired cocktails—think vodka with amaretto, milo and condensed milk—sound too much like a marketing gimmick, we applaud the team’s creativity in using familiar Asian flavours to create something new.

Scissors Paper Stove impresses at first sight with its funky outlook; the cafe has pastel chairs, a rainbow zig zag wall and neon lights that spell out the cafe’s name.

Since tapas (2 for S$20, 4 for S$36, 6 for S$48) is what the cafe is known for, we decided to pick two that caught our immediate attention—the Pork Belly and Beef Burger.

The cafe’s Pork Belly tapas dish is indeed unusual; what you get is chilled slow roasted pork belly that is paired with coriander, ginger sauce and caramelised shallots.

The Beef Burger is made up of a savoury beef patty, melted cheddar cheese and fresh vegetables which are sandwiched in between two hot buttered buns. The mini beef burgers came in perfect tapas sizes that make it easy for consumption and the patties had a great bite to them.

Other Asian fusion tapas include Beef Skewers, Chorizo Sausage, Pineapple Chicken, Baby Portobello Mushroom and Bruschetta.

If you happen to drop by in the afternoon, their affordable lunch sets are worth every penny. For S$12, you get the soup of the day, a main of your choice and a hot drink. We opted for the Baby Pork Rib which came with sweet and sticky barbecue sauce and coriander on the top for that umami explosion in your mouth.

Scissors Paper Stove is more selective when it comes to their array of desserts, with only four options on the menu. The Pandan Churros (S$5) had a crispy exterior that is coated with a thin layer of sugar for a nice crunch. The only downside was that the insides of the pandan-infused pastry was too soft for our liking. Dip it into gula melaka syrup for added sweetness and flavour.

Scissors Paper Stove
9 Teck Chye Terrace
Singapore 545720
Tel: +65 6242 0021
Daily: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Ding Dong! Who’s there?

The quirky brand is actually the brainchild of celebrity chef Ryan Clift. Ding Dong’s contemporary tapas menu features an eclectic mix of Asian-inspired cocktails, Peranakan-style desserts and East-meets-West gourmet dishes. These fusion delicacies are set to impress – at a hefty price of course.

Located in Ann Siang, the fusion eatery is a favourite haunt among epicureans, expatriates and working professionals. Make a special trip there and get ready for a fascinating dining experience.

Everything that was previously unthinkable is now made possible; expect never-seen-before items such as Pi Pa Gao Cocktail (S$22++) and Crispy Pig Ears (S$17++) at Ding Dong.

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Ding Dong’s main entrance is shockingly grimy, where an unexpected pink ‘Ding Dong’ signboard greets visitors at the front door to indicate that they have arrived at the right place.

Electric blue bar chairs and Chinese red-coloured paper cutout murals further illuminate the restaurant’s eccentricity – perhaps a preview of what diners can anticipate for their food?

Patrons are going to either love or hate the unconventional menu. Depending on one’s personal preferences, some may be enraged by the ‘unnecessary’ revamps of classics, while others will find these reinterpretations a sheer stroke of genius.

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We say, go with an open mind and you might just be pleasantly surprised. Quality of food is superb, but a la carte prices are rather unjustifiable.

Thankfully, there is still an affordable way to sample Ding Dong’s delicious creations! Drop by during lunchtime and dig into a reasonably priced 3-course set lunch at only S$25++.

If budget is not an issue for the lucky ones, do order the amazingly tender Wagyu Beef Char Siew (S$29++), where beef short ribs have been sous vide for two days in char siew sauce. So divine!

Ding Dong
23 Ann Siang Road
Singapore 069703
Tel: +65 6557 0189
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm – 12am
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.