The Salted Plum is closing both outlets at Circular Road and Suntec City on 13 Dec 2020.

Known for its affordable Taiwanese-style meals and Taiwanese “tapas” that are priced at S$5, S$10 and S$15, The Salted Plum is one of our go-to places for Taiwanese food in Singapore and we are sad to share this announcement.

The modern Taiwanese concept specialises in Taiwanese street food—from favourites such as Braised Pork Belly, Braised Pig Intestines and Taiwanese Sausage Patties to other interesting options including the likes of Salted Pork and Oyster Steamed Egg.

The Salted Plum has been around for 4 years and it suddenly announced the closure of both outlets on Facebook on 10 Dec 2020.

Fans of The Salted Plum have three more days to enjoy their Lu Rou Fan and other Taiwanese street food before their last day of operations on 13 Dec 2020.

Ever looked at a menu and wished that you could get just a small portion of each dish, simply because every option sounds so inviting? For us, that’s a problem we face whenever we open up a menu anywhere.

The next best choice is to pick a few of your favourites and split them with your dining partner so you can get a taste of both, yet sometimes, it just isn’t enough to satisfy. And that’s exactly why we absolutely adore the idea of having tapas—otherwise referred to small plates.

Not only does that mean that you get to sample numerous dishes in a single sitting, but portions are also kept small to reduce wastage. Here are 13 tapas bars in Singapore, including Taiwanese and Cantonese ones to hit up with your pals on your next gathering!

BOCHINCHE

Fueled by chef Diego Jacquet’s knack for putting together bold flavours with the use of quality ingredients, you can expect to find an array of classic Argentine dishes that has been spun with creative twists on their menu.

Their House Pork Chorizo Sausage (S$21) and Grilled Octopus (S$28) are amongst the most popular items and for good reason!

115 Amoy St, #01-02
Singapore 069935
Tel: +65 6235 4990
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

DON QUIJOTE

A true-blue Spanish restaurant known for their critically and traditionally made Spanish fare, Don Quijote is a must to go if authentic Spanish nosh is what you’re after. Here they offer a variety of both cold and hot tapas, on top of a range of savoury soups, pasta dishes and meats.

Dempsey Road
Block 7 #01-02
Singapore 249671
Tel: +65  6476 2811
Mon to Thu: 4pm – 10.30pm
Fri: 4pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

ESQUINA

If you’re a die-hard tapas lover, then you’re likely no stranger to Esquina, a hole-in-a-wall restaurant that specialises in tapas. The tapas here are utterly delicious and authentic, albeit a tad pricey but if exorbitant spendings aren’t too much a concern for you, then this is one restaurant you definitely cannot miss.

16 Jiak Chuan Road
Singapore 089267
Tel: +65 6222 1616
Tue to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

FIVE TAPAS BAR

A local brand, Five Bar is best known for its value-for-money deals and is undoubtedly one of the most popular spots in town to hang out and chill over a pint of beer.

Under this brand, one of the concepts is Five Tapas Bar where they offer a stunning variety of small plates meant for sharing. From chicken wings to cold cut platters and even mini pasta, we reckon that there’s no way you’d be leaving this bar without feeling stuffed (and tipsy).

25 Cuppage Road, Cuppage Terrace
Singapore 229454
Tel: +65 8121 9304
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am
Sun: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Somerset

FRAPASBAR

A new venture by Saveur Group, FrapasBar combines French dining and tapas into a single concept. Their menu has plenty of tantalizing options that diners can choose from, including tapas that are meant for sharing and hearty mains such as Duck Confit.

Can’t decide on what’s tempting you the most? Get multiple plates and share them with your friends so you can sample every dish!

2 Tampines Central 5, #01-35
Singapore 529509
Tel: +65 6789 1121
Daily: 11.30am – 12pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

Photo Credit: La Taperia

LA TAPERIA

Renown for the authentic Spanish food that they push out, La Taperia will be a safe bet when it comes to unwinding over some wine and tapas with your squad, all without having to break the bank. Pair their Spanish signatures with one of their many wines in their impressive collection and you won’t regret!

1 Scotts Road
Shaw Centre #02-10/11
Singapore 228208
Tel: +65 6737 8336
Daily: 12.30pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

MY LITTLE SPANISH PLACE

Said to be one of Singapore’s first Spanish restaurants, My Little Spanish Place serves a myriad of Spanish cuisine that is set to impress. On their menu, you can find Spanish cheeses, cured meats, soups and a variety of wines as accompaniments to your tapas!

54 Boat Quay
Singapore 049843
Tel: +65 6532 0665
Mon to Fri: 12.30pm – 3pm, 5pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

SABIO BY THE SEA

Paying homage to the vibrant, group-friendly delicacies of Spain, Sabio by the Sea, Tapas Bar & Grill serves up an impeccable array of both hot and cold tapas with an elaborate cocktail list to match.

Coupled with a serene ambience and a view of the boat docks, their delectable grub won’t be the only thing impressing you!

31 Ocean Way, #01-02
Quayside Isle,
Singapore 098373
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri:12pm – 11pm
Sat: 11.30am – 11pm
Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Photo Credit: Sum Yi Tai

SUM YI TAI

For good ol’ Chinese food served tapas-style, Sum Yi Tai would be it. Decked out in quirky paintings and neon lights, Sum Yi Tai serves delectable Cantonese food in generous portions alongside wines and other alcoholic beverages.

What’s more, the restaurant also has a DJ who plays in-house on some nights so you can imagine how fun the atmosphere is!

25 Boon Tat Street
Singapore 069622
Tel: +65 6221 3665
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 1am
Sat: 5pm – 1am
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Photo Credit: Tapas Club

TAPAS CLUB

As its name suggests, this restaurant situated in Orchard Central dishes out tapas that makes dining in a group convenient and fuss-free.

Helmed by Executive Chef Jose Angel Alonso and one-star Michelin Chef Manuel Berganza, the grub here is authentic and scrumptious but rest assured that you wouldn’t get a shock upon receiving your bill as prices are kept economical for the masses.

181 Orchard Road
#02-13 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 12am
Sat: 12pm – 12am
Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

THE GREAT MISCHIEF

From the folks that brought you Working Title, Afterwit, The Mad Sailors and STACK, The Great Mischief is a new halal-certified Spanish tapas bar and the fifth installation from The Black Hole Group.

Besides a humble range of delectable and affordable Catalan-inspired savoury tapas such as Coca Pizza, Croquetas and Calamares Sliders, the restaurant also offers a selection of Spanish-style desserts such as Churros and Torrijas alongside mocktails, speciality coffee and tea.

30 Madras Street
Singapore 208423
Tel: +65 8768 0460
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Jalan Besar

THE SALTED PLUM

Previously known as Five Ten, The Salted Plum is a casual restaurant which serves a medley of Taiwanese street food—from favourites such as Braised Pork Belly, Braised Pig Intestines and Taiwanese Sausage Patties to other interesting options including the likes of Salted Pork and Oyster Steamed Egg.

Priced affordably at mostly S$5, S$10 and S$15, what better way is there to enjoy Taiwanese tapas than at The Salted Plum?

10 Circular Road
Singapore 049366
Tel: +65  6260 0155
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

XIAO YA TOU

Xiao Ya Tou, or better known as XYT,  is a modern Asian restaurant bar on Duxton Hill that serves up a plethora of playful and somewhat cheeky food and drink offerings—all of which find their inspirations stemming from cuisines from all across Southeast Asia.

6 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089592
Tel: +65 6226 1965
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

The Salted Plum pays tribute to hearty, comforting Taiwanese street food that is the hallmark of Taiwan’s ever-popular night markets.

Managed by the same people behind the former FIVE-TEN, The Salted Plum—located in Boat Quay—came to fruition after many months of intensive research while Chef Shawn Koh was travelling through Taiwan in hopes of replicating the same flavours but with an innovative twist back in Singapore.

The casual restaurant serves a medley of Taiwanese street food—from favourites such as Braised Pork Belly, Braised Pig Intestines and Taiwanese Sausage Patties to other interesting options including the likes of Salted Pork and Oyster Steamed Egg.

And just like what you would expect from the street food stalls at Taiwanese night markets, prices at The Salted Plum are kept affordable so you can indulge in Taiwanese-style meals, “tapas” and alcohol all day (and night) long without feeling the pinch.

THE SALTED PLUM CONCEPT

The humble establishment’s concept is one that is easy to grasp; prices are mostly set at S$5, S$10 and S$15 for most items and S$25 for the premium choices. Their S$10 lunch bowls are the top picks, with incredible options such as the Lu Rou Fan and Steak Rice.

As much as their lunch deals are insanely attractive, it is really the a la carte dishes you should be keeping a lookout for. Known as ‘xiao chi’, the small plates featured at the Salted Plum are essentially similar to those substantial snacks you will find at any traditional eatery in Taiwan.

Complement the delicious “tapas” with their selective range of drinks, from red tea to beers and wines.

S$5 DISHES

LU ROU

Even those who have not been to Taiwan would have heard about Lu Rou (braised pork belly) because it is THAT iconic.

But there is no need to get on a plane just to have taste of this street delicacy if you are short on cash/time; the recipe has been perfected by The Salted Plum and what you get at the humble establishment is two gorgeous slices of pork belly that are braised in savoury and sweet sauce. Have the melt-in-your-mouth pork belly with their Shiny Rice in one bite—you will be blown away by the sheer umami flavours.

BAMBOO SHOOTS

While bamboo shoots is hardly anyone’s idea of a signature dish at a restaurant, The Salted Plum seeks to prove that notion wrong. Fresh chunks of bamboo shoots are simmered in aromatic pork broth to allow the decadent porky flavours to penetrate into the crunchy vegetables.

By the way, this is a great snack if you are drinking beer. The Taiwanese could call that ‘xia jiu cai’.

SMASHED BABY POTATOES

One of the most memorable dishes on the menu during our previous trip was the Smashed Baby Potatoes with salted plum powder—and is still, by far, a dish we would highly recommend to diners.

Think smashed potatoes deep-fried to perfection so you get that crispy texture with every bite. It was so good, it may very well be the only way we want to have potatoes for finger food from now on!

S$10 DISHES

TAIWANESE SAUSAGE PATTIES

Inspired by his experience with Taiwanese sausages and Taiwanese-style cured bacon during his travels, Chef Koh’s version of Taiwanese Sausage Patties has been modified to suit our local palates, using less rice wine and sugar but throwing in more five spice powder.

Made in their kitchen daily, fresh ground pork belly is first marinated with fragrant spices before they are moulded into small patties and stir-fried in a pan. We thoroughly enjoyed the layer of char on the outside for that smoky flavour while the meat remains tender and juicy.

BRAISED PIG INTESTINES

Those who do not take innards won’t be inclined to try this dish but trust us when we say, this is the place that will change your perception of pig offal.

The fresh large intestines are braised in a piquant dark sauce that strikes out any pungent smell you would usually taste in poorly done pork innards dishes.

OYSTER STEAMED EGG

To be honest, the Oyster Steamed Egg did not look like much when we first saw it. You really have to dig into it to find the treasure hidden within the steamed egg—a generous serving of baby oysters so plump and they provided great textures when eaten with the silky smooth steamed egg.

MUSSELS

Steamed mussels with wine is not a new recipe but the one at The Salted Plum stays true to traditional Chinese culinary techniques by using only Shaoxing wine, a type of yellow wine that is commonly used for Chinese cooking to elevate flavours.

This mouthwatering bowl of mussels is then topped off with sliced ginger for that additional kick.

STEAMED PRAWNS

Enjoy a piping hot bowl of prawns that follows the classic, healthy Chinese method of steaming and is served with garlic, chilli, fish sauce and soy sauce.

The freshness of these juicy prawns is complemented with a hint of heat from the chilli padi and garlic—just the way Asians love their spicy food.

MORE TAIWANESE-INSPIRED FOOD ON THE MENU

The list doesn’t end here. Apart from our favourites, The Salted Plum also has other choices that make for great tapas or filling meals when you have them with rice. Some other options to consider are the Haus Bacon (S$10) which are made in-house, Brussels Sprouts (S$10) and Corn (S$5).

For something even fancier, the Hamachi Collar (S$15) and Slipper Lobster (S$25) will do the trick.

FREE-FLOW DRINKS FOR S$5 AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Complete your meals with iced teas at S$5 for groups of four. Served in a decanter, the iced teas are free-flow so you can have as much as you desire for just a one time charge. What a steal, we know!

Beyond that, The Salted Plum is also the perfect place for after-work drinks with your friends and colleagues because of the chill ambience and selection of reasonably-priced alcoholic beverages which include Taiwan Beer (S$10/ bottle) and wines.

STAY TUNED FOR A NEW SUPPER SPOT AT BOAT QUAY

For night owls who are looking for a supper spot in Boat Quay, you will be delighted to know that The Salted Plum will be opened till late on Fridays and Saturdays, offering Taiwanese porridge from 11pm to 3pm on these two nights. Imagine having a bowl of warm porridge with sweet potatoes after a night of drinks—how comforting!

Diners can also have their porridge with other sides such as Fried Frog Legs with Haus Chilli Mayo, Dough Fritters with Minced Pork and Haus Sauce, Crispy Duck Leg and Golden King Mushroom and Plum Powder. Signature items from their main menu including Braised Intestines, Burnt Chilli Chicken and House-made Taiwanese Sausage Patties can also be enjoyed.

The Salted Plum
10 Circular Road
Singapore 049366
Tel: +65 9181 6265
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

This post is brought to you by The Salted Plum.