Singaporeans seem to have an unfathomable appetite for waffles. Over the years, many cafes and dessert joints have boasted the iconic dish in numerous innovative ways to satisfy our cravings (and Instagram feeds), but it is a shame that in the midst of all the hype, many people have neglected one of Singapore’s oldest fried chicken and waffle joint.

Waffletown at Balmoral Plaza is a family-owned retro fast food restaurant that has been serving American food such as burgers, fried chicken and Belgian waffles for the last thirty odd years in Singapore.

At Waffletown, expect no gimmicks, just great food and possibly the best (and simplest) waffles around.

The first thing that greeted us at Waffletown was the strong whiff of fried chicken goodness coupled with the sweet, doughy smell from freshly made waffles—we had officially arrived in Heaven.

To cool ourselves down, we started off with one of their signature Belgium waffles topped with ice cream (S$2.90). At first glance, you may assume this dish to be immensely basic—well it is—but it was so good.

Raspberry ripple flavoured ice cream atop a toasty and crunchy waffle. Perfect for a hot day—or any day for that matter.

The two-piece fried chicken (S$8.50) was beyond amazing. Marinated and deep-fried to perfection, the chicken was super crispy on the outside but moist and succulent on the inside. An added bonus is that it was not the slightest bit oily.

The sides that came along with it were decent but nothing much to shout about.

We also got the Super Value Meal (S$6.80) which consisted of a deep-fried boneless chicken thigh, white rice and a fried egg with a runny yolk. For what it’s worth, we think that it is a pretty good deal considering the large portion size.

The chicken was deep fried to perfection and the egg was cooked just right. However, we wish the rice could have been more aromatic and flavourful to better complement the other two components.

Waffletown was truly a breath of fresh air. A cosy eatery devoid of the hustle and bustle and pretentious aesthetics, serving comfort food at reasonable prices. We will definitely be back.

Waffletown Singapore
271 Bukit Timah Road #01-08
Balmoral Plaza
Tel: +65 6836 6536
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Newton

Black is sexy, and always will be. And more restaurants turn to squid ink and charcoal to enhance the appearance of their dishes; well, we are not even complaining. Some might argue they are gimmicky, but looking at a sleek and seductive black dish on your table is an excitement that is quite second to none – this, no one can deny.

That old-fashioned curiosity then kicks in, and if the taste of the dish turns out better than it looks, it puts us on a high. Bring on those gimmicks; the best ones will prove you wrong.

We handpicked some of our favourites to curate this list of the 10 Black Dishes in Singapore, and if you have more to suggest, pray tell because black will always be the new black – even for food.

#1 BLACKBIRD BISTRO & BAR – SOUTHERN BURGER

Blackbird’s Southern Burger has been one of our favourite affordable burgers because for a friendly price tag of S$16.80, you will be treated to a juicy fried chicken patty in a gorgeous charcoal bun. It definitely tastes as alluring as it looks.

6 Handy Road
Singapore 229234
Tel: +65 6337 3448
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 11pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dhoby Gaut

#2 DOLCETTO BY BASILLICO – SQUID INK PANINI

Dolcetto has some of the best looking and tasting desserts in Singapore. However, what most people overlook is their menu of delicious deli bites that are great for a quick and light meal, or to take away.

The Squid Ink Panini (S$14) justifies its price tag with generous amount of prawns and crab meat tucked in between squid ink panini, with a crisp outer layer from being warmed on the griddle.

1 Cuscaden Road
Lobby Regent Hotel Singapore
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 6720 8000
Daily: 7.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#3 MIN JIANG – CHARCOAL CUSTARD BUN

This custard bun took a spin around the sleek block and got itself a cool new look. Of course, the charcoal does not add much to the bun’s taste, but we can all agree that it looks better than before. Breaking open this bun is just like opening a treasure chest of liquid gold.

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6730 1704
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#4 QUAYSIDE FISH BAR & BISTRO – SQUID INK LOBSTER SPAGHETTI

Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro has always been a frontrunner in offering the freshest seafood dishes and you should know by now how much we love dining there.

Their Squid Ink Lobster Spaghetti is a definite must-try. With squid ink that greatly enhances the taste of the pasta, this sexy dish is perfectly cooked with lobster, and it never disappoints.

31 Ocean Way #01-11
Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Singapore 098375
Tel: +65 6268 8633
Mon: 5.30pm – 12 midnight
Tue to Thu: 12pm – 12 midnight
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 10am – 1am
Sun: 10am – 12 midnight
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

#5 SPATHE PUBLIC HOUSE – SQUID INK WAFFLES WITH PRAWNS

While we were on the search for Singapore’s most unique waffles, we chanced upon Spathe’s cool cat – Squid Ink Waffles. The squid ink waffle itself was a tad bit overwhelmingly black, but the overall taste of this dish was pretty darn good. We also liked how they took the risky path of using prawns to top off this savoury waffle dish – because nobody knew it would work and it did.

8 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-01
Singapore 238958
Tel: +65 6735 1035
Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#6 STATELAND CAFE – TAN CHARCOAL THICK TOAST

As one of our go-to Shibuya toast places to head to, Stateland always has unique takes on trending cafe fare and they certainly did well with this black beauty. The toast itself was buttery, crisp on the outside and served warm.

32 Bali Lane
Singapore 189868
Tel: +65 8715 5475
Mon, Wed, Thu & Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Bugis

#7 SUN RAY CAFE – CHARCOAL PORTOBELLO BURGER

A great option for vegetarians or vegans, the owner of Sun Ray Cafe (who is a vegetarian himself) decided to create a veggie burger that actually tastes so good that meat-lovers will approve. The addition of juicy portobello in between the charcoal buns is a genius move because all the flavours came together so perfectly.

79 Brighton Crescent
Serangoon Gardens
Singapore 559218
Tel: +65 6283 8700
Mon-Tue: 6pm -11pm
Wed-Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri: 11am – 12am
Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#8 THE COLD PANTRY – CHARCOAL ROOT BEER WAFFLE

You should be familiar with The Cold Pantry’s Charcoal Root Beer Waffle (S$12.50) by now because it looks and tastes so good that got so many of us heading down to the cafe just for this specific dish.

Listed in our unique waffles piece, we were definitely unanimous on how good-looking (and tasting) this dessert waffle is. Do note that the waffle is very dense and is more cakey than it is waffle-y. But try it anyway; it is really good.

131 Rangoon Road
Singapore 218409
Tel: +65 9179 7266
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 9pm
Fri to Sun: 12pm – 10pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

#9 TIONG BAHRU BAKERY – SQUID INK BUN

Loaded with salmon, ham and pesto sauce, Tiong Bahru Bakery’s Squid Ink Bun (S$8.50) is a treat for both the eyes and the taste buds. For just S$8.50, it is a great option for a simple, yet satisfying takeaway lunch. Enjoy this with a cup of coffee while you unwind with a magazine; we like our afternoons casual like that.

56 Eng Hoon Street
#01-70
Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6220 3430
Daily: 8am – 8pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

#10 TWENTY GRAMMES – CHARCOAL SALTED EGG WAFFLES

Our eyes were glued to this beauty on a plate when our orders arrived at our table.

Enhanced with a rich salted egg sauce, we could not resist gobbling up this waffle completely. Choose between Twenty Grammes’ wide range of ice cream flavours to top your waffle off. Find out how you can get 50% off waffles here, until the end of October 2015.

753 North Bridge Road
#01-01
Singapore 198721
Tel: +65 6717 1733
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Bugis

Waffles are a glorious thing. Savour it as a dessert, brunch item or with your breakfast staples. If you are tired of having the usual fare of ice cream on waffles, venture into unique and one-of-a-kind options that you can easily find in Singapore.

More and more restaurants and cafes have created interesting sweet and savoury waffles for your dining pleasure. From butter prawns on squid ink waffles to truffle mac and cheese waffles, get creative with our list of the Most Unique Waffles in Singapore.

#1 23 JUMPIN

People flock to 23 Jumpin for the affordable and unique cafe menu items at nett prices. Our favourite item on the menu is their ingenious Mushroom Waffle Pizza (S$14), a truly great representation of the best of both worlds. The waffle is topped off generously with sliced button mushrooms and then baked with cheese for an added crunch and taste.

The Commerce @ Irving
1 Irving Place #01-25
Tel: +65 9137 5697
Tue to Sun: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Tai Seng

#2 BUTTERSCOTCH

Ondeh Ondeh is a traditional Malaysian coconut kueh filled with Gula Melaka (palm sugar). Over at Butterscotch Cafe – a muslim-owned cafe in Bukit Merah – you can find an Ondeh Ondeh Waffles (S$12) made of pandan waffles topped with Gula Melaka sauce and coconut flakes.

Block 164 Bukit Merah Central #01-3625
Tue to Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Redhill

#3 COMMUNE CAFE

Located inside Millenia Walk, one might miss out on a gem of a cafe, Commune Cafe, which serves a hearty plate of Churro Waffles (S$8). The waffles come with a side of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce that is a perfect accompaniment to the waffles.

9 Raffles Boulevard
Millenia Walk #02-50
Tel: +65 6337 1038
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 8pm
Sat to Sun: 12pm – 8pm
Nearest Station: Promenade

#4 DAZZLING CAFE

Dazzling Cafe has officially opened its doors to their fans in Singapore. We were impressed particularly by this beautifully plated Strawberry Ice Cream Waffle with Mochi (S$16.90). Mochi bits are mixed in with the waffle batter to create a texture like no other.

15 Stamford Road
Capitol Piazza #01-85
Tel: +65 6384 3310
Daily: 12pm – 8pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

#5 FATCAT ICE CREAM BAR

FATCAT Ice Cream Bar isn’t just known for their perfect mojito spheres and range of artisanal ice cream, they also serve a mean plate of Charcoal Waffles with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce and salted caramel sauce (S$11.50 with a scoop of premium ice cream). Amazingly, the waffles do not get soggy even after adding on the accompanying sauces.

Bedok North Avenue 2
#01-25 Block 416
Tel: +65 8201 1201
Mon, Wed to Thu, Sun: 1pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 1pm -11pm
(Closed on Tue)
Nearest Station: Bedok

#6 HYDE & CO.

White walls and white furniture fill up the simple yet classy interior. Hyde & Co. has a range of waffles on their menu but we suggest going right for the Butterscotch Popcorn (S$14). If the photo is not already tempting enough, each waffle is served on a huge plate with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream – more than enough for two to share.

785 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198573
Tel: +65 6635 5785
Sun & Mon: 11am – 6pm
Wed to Sat: 11am – 10.30pm
(Closed on Tue)
Nearest MRT: Bugis

#7 MONTANA BREW BAR

Truffle Mac & Cheese Waffle (S$12.50) sounds like a heavenly combination you can only get in your wildest dreams. Thankfully, Montana Brew Bar has aced this with their own rendition that tastes even better than it looks. Our tip is to skip the salsa on the side and just dive right into the waffle.

1 Selegie Road
POMO #01-04
Tel: +65 9833 1790
Daily: 8am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Gaut

#8 OLD HEN COFFEE BAR

If you are here for their popular cold brewed coffee, why not savour that with their inexpensive and delicious Waffles (S$10) served with a side of stewed apples, greek yogurt and crushed pistachio? What impressed us the most was the generous amount of stewed apples which were incredibly delicious.

88 Rangoon Road #01-03
Singapore 218374
Tel: +65 6341 5458
Mon: 12pm – 10pm
Wed to Fri: 12pm – 10pm
Sat: 10am – 6.30pm
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

#9 SPATHE PUBLIC HOUSE

While Spathe Public House is known for their Chicken and Waffles, we’ve decided to venture out of the norm to savour the latest waffle on their menu, Tiger Prawn Waffle ($21).

Cooked in garlic butter and white wine then de-shelled for easy consumption, the tiger prawns were fresh and juicy, a perfect partner to the savoury squid ink waffle base.

8 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-01
Tel: +65 6735 1035
Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#10 STATELAND CAFE

Stateland Cafe’s Red Velvet Waffles (S$14.90) has been touted as the best red velvet waffle in Singapore by many and we couldn’t agree more. Slathered generously with cream cheese, the whole dish is a delight to the tastebuds.

30 Bali Lane
Tel: +65 9296 4997
Mon, Wed to Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Sun: 11am – 6pm
(Closed on Tue)
Nearest Station: Bugis

#11 THE BEAST

Chicken and waffles are a common Southern cuisine and The Beast, inspired by Southern food culture, serves probably the best one (S$20) in Singapore. Don’t be fooled by the mini serving of bourbon maple syrup on the side because it’s so delicious that you might end up licking it clean.

17 Jalan Klapa
Singapore 199329
Tel: +65 6295 0017
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 1am
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

#12 THE COLD PANTRY

The Chocolate Root Beer Waffle (S$12.50) is out of this world. Although chocolate in the batter made the waffle slightly cake-ier in texture, we liked that the waffle still stayed crisp throughout and the added chocolate chip cookie, charcoal vanilla soft-serve and the homemade root beer sauce all came together perfectly.

131 Rangoon Road
Tel: +65 9179 7266
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 9pm
Fri to Sun: 12pm – 10pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

For more recommendations, read our guide to 15 extraordinary waffles you must try in Singapore.

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