Last updated on: 20 February 2018
Bearded Bella
New Melbourne inspired cafe, Bearded Bella, brings the Australian city’s blend of great coffee, good food and personal service to the Tanjong Pagar ‘hood. Pop by for brunch, or on your mid-day coffee run.
Read the full rundown on Bearded Bella here.
Huoyanshaiziniu
This new stall in the basement of Plaza Singapura serves up Taiwanese flame Angus rib-eye beef cubes (like those sold at night markets in Taiwan). Choose between seaweed or the more popular garlic seasoning for flavour, or take Burppler Muriel A’s cue and get the Beef-Up Set ($10), which combines a beef rice box with a Danish-style lager. It also unlocks the option of getting a third seasoning option: yakiniku sauce!
Hokkaido Marche
At the basement of Orchard Central, a stone’s throw from uber popular Don Don Donki, this food court features seven stalls, each specialising in Japanese fare from Sapporo, Hakodate and Asahikawa. There’s crowd-pleasing ramen, fresh kaisen don and more, at wallet-friendly prices. Tell us what you think!
SHAO
This new eatery along Frankel Avenue serves up some pretty tasty zi char dishes, but according to Burppler Dex Neo, the signature crab and seafood dishes didn’t quite live up to expectations and were also on the pricier side. Our advice? Skip the seafood and come here for wok-fried plates like the Vegetarian Hor Fun and Stir-fried Luffa.
I-Bing
As the weather heats up, we’re cooling down with the fruity popsicles from I-Bing, which has outlets within April’s Bakery in Chinatown Point and One Raffles Place. The handcrafted popsicles are made using fresh fruit from Thailand, with tropical flavours like mangosteen, coconut and even durian. Slurp!
GASTRONOMAD
Tucked away in Thomson V Two, this new Muslim-owned restaurant serves smart plates inspired by modern European, Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines, and are committed to using only fresh produce. In short, the food is eclectic, but delicious! They officially open next Thursday (22 Feb), so mark that down on your calendar.
Read the full rundown on GASTRONOMAD here.
BAOBAO
We’re loving the tasty takeaway options from this new kiosk in Bugis Junction. We tried and loved the Baos, with fillings like pulled pork and stellar beef bulgogi, alongside a Chicken Masala Rice Bowl with flavours that pack a punch!
Yi Zun
For a value-for-money noodle meal, we’re turning to this Muslim-owned stall in Little India (a short stroll from City Square Mall). The noodles are made from scratch and, according to Burppler Dex Neo, super springy and tasty. He highly recommends the Hand Pulled Noodles with Minced Meat, and the ridiculously affordable side dish of Sliced Cold Chicken ($2.80!).
Boyle’s Coffee & Cold Brew Bar
For a java hit, consider this new joint in Suntec City Mall. These coffee specialists take their craft very seriously, so you’ll be in very good hands. Burppler Lewis Tan describes their Nitro Cold Brew to be “smooth and refreshing” with a “lingering fruity aftertaste”, while Burppler iami21 <3 loves both their Dutch Caramel Latte and Nitro Vanilla Latte. Let us know which is your favourite!
The Great Mischief
Set in the lobby of the Great Madras Hotel, this cafe-restaurant serves up Catalan-inspired tapas with a side of chilled out vibes. Burppler Xing Wei Chua enjoyed the Churros and Bikini Party (essentially a toasted sandwich made with black truffle paste, cheese and turkey ham). Burppler Minty Devine appreciates that prices are kept affordable (plates range between $3 to $12); come with a group of friends so you can order a good variety to try (and then write a review on Burpple)!
Meating Place
Recently opened at DUO Galleria, Meating Place serves a compact menu of meat-forward plates in a hip, industrial-chic setting. Diners who have classic palates and appreciate produce-centric plates will find this a mainstay for honest to goodness cooking.
Read the full rundown on Meating Place here.
alittle tashi
A new addition to the trendy Jalan Besar ‘hood, this laidback 60-seater joint dishes out comfort fare inspired by global flavours, but very much steeped in Asian roots. It’s the perfect place to hang loose with your colleagues or best pals over sharing plates, drinks and laughs.
Read the full rundown on alittle tashi here.
Kyodai
This hole-in-the-wall Japanese joint dishes up rice bowls — the Wasabi Butter Beef, in particular is a favourite amongst the Burpple community — alongside Gyocos. Expect sushi in taco form, with shells made from fried gyoza skins. In Burppler Kenneth Lee’s words, these are “damn good with a bottle of beer”. Kanpai!
Takayama
When in the mood to splurge on fine Japanese, consider Takayama in Downtown Gallery. According to Burppler Veronica Phua, chef Taro Takayama served as the chef for the Japanese ambassador to Singapore for three years, so expectations are high. This CBD restaurant serves up gorgeous bento box set lunches and fancier (and pricier) options at dinner. Save this for special occasions, or for show-stopping business meals.
High Steaks
For quality steaks in Sembawang, look to this new joint, which Burppler Dokmakqueen likes for its value-for-money dishes; she’s already planning a return visit! As a gauge, chicken chop goes for $12, while an Aussie grain-fed ribeye goes for $28. She pre-ordered the 1kg Tomahawk, which she describes to come served with six sides and four sauces. Talk about decadent!
Signs a Taste Vietnamese
Run by a hearing impaired couple, this nondescript Vietnamese joint in the basement of Midpoint Orchard serves up tasty pho prepared with plenty of heart. The sight of encouraging messages scrawled on Post-its and plastered over their walls is truly heartwarming. We really enjoyed the Beef Feast Combo, which sees slippery rice noodles served with tender sliced ribeye, shin and tasty beef balls, bathed in a delicate tasting broth. Prepare to smell like food exhaust, as is characteristic of all basement dining joints in Midpoint Orchard.
Nasi Coco
Taking over healthy food cafe Thrive Kitchen in NeWest, Nasi Coco serves up Japanese-inspired nasi lemak — think traditional nasi lemak, paired with not so traditional freshly fried tempura.
Read the full rundown on Nasi Coco here.
Eggs n’ Things
This cafe chain from Hawaii brings some aloha vibes to Plaza Singapura. We tried and love the fluffy, decadent pancakes, but aren’t too crazy about the eggs!
Read the full rundown on Eggs n’ Things here.
Atap Bar
This halal-friendly rooftop bar on Arab Street serves locally inspired mocktails (all named after and inspired by Singapore’s history!), along with a good dose of traditional Malay charm. Bar snacks are limited and nothing to shout about, but would keep the peckish sufficiently satisfied.
Wolf
Here’s another lunch option for you CBD folks. Located Chevron House, WOLF serves up rice bowls and coffee, and is actually opened by the same team behind Local Coffee People. The salmon mentai bowl seems to be capturing the Burpple community’s attention so far, but it’s early days yet. Leave a review if you’ve dined here and let us know what you think!
Old Seng Choong
This Clarke Quay Central shop is Old Seng Choon’s first retail outlet. The brand was founded by local baker Daniel Tay (also behind Bakerzin and Cat and the Fiddle), and is known for its old school bakes. Burppler Cassie Ong had great things to say about the locally inspired cookies. With Lunar New Year around the corner, expect seasonal festive bakes like spicy Nonya pineapple tarts too.
TNC Gelato
This new entry to the Hougang neighbourhood serves up a classic combination of waffles and ice cream, and Burpplers are loving it so far! Burppler Eugene Loh tried the pistachio and Thai milk tea gelato, and likes that the home churned ice cream is really rich and flavourful. We’ve yet to hear the verdict on the waffles, so leave a review if you’ve tried it!
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