After a two month hiatus, the now-defunct Five and Dime Eatery along River Valley Road has rebranded and opened its doors, this time as Fat Lulu's. With Raven's ex-head chef Sam Chablani helming the kitchen, the restaurant now serves modern Asian barbecues and an incredibly affordable dessert set menu. Come with foodie friends to try new, innovative dishes and get comfy in the cosy atmosphere. Whet your appetite with the signature Nori Crusted Salmon ($17), raw salmon sashimi wrapped with nori seaweed and generously topped with ponzu sago. There are only four mains on the menu, of which you must go for the Duh Meat Board ($28) — a trio of skirt steak, smoked kailan and the irresistibly yummy sambal pork chop. Don't leave without having Fat Lulu's three-course Dessert Tasting ($35) — the sweets, which see the likes of Chai Tea Creme Brulee and "Atas" Kinder Bueno are both picture perfect and tasty!
Avg price: $40 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Irene Arieputri
Located a few doors down from Joo Bar along Tan Quee Lan Street is Ah Bong's Italian second outlet. Unlike its original digs in Tiong Bahru which only serves lunch, this location opens for both lunch and dinner! Chef-owner Chris is experimenting more in here, so show your support by trying new items and giving him your feedback. Note that the menu changes daily (the day's offerings are uploaded on their Instagram every morning). If you're in luck, order the Caramel Corn ($10), a surprisingly delicious salty-sweet concoction of black pig bacon, sweet caramelised corn and chili flakes. The signature Birthday Pasta ($9), a winning combination of cream, bacon and broccoli, always satisfies. If you're coming in a group, try the Comfort Eggs ($8) to start— two wobbly eggs served with truffle oil and sausages. Should it be available, have the Thai Tea Creme Brulee ($5). Don't be deceived by its petite serving — it packs a punch of flavour!
Avg price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Raine Liu
An abundance of seating space, tasty yet customisable grain bowls, and good specialty coffee — these three qualities are what make Senate Coffee such a hit in the CBD. Located within the spacious FIVE Square, it is the brainchild of the folks behind The Populus Coffee & Food Co and Two Degrees North Coffee Co. Choose from six curated bowls, the most popular being the Pulled Pork Senate Bowl ($15) that comes with three healthy grains (quinoa, pearl barley and bulgur wheat), mixed mushrooms, carrot and herb salad, baby spinach and eight-hour braised pulled pork. You can also try your hand at crafting your own grain bowl (from $15.50 for one base, one protein and five add ons). Noteworthy items include the teriyaki roasted cod (add $4.50), braised beef cheek and furikake charred baby corn. Don't forget to complete your meal with a Coffee ($2.50) for every grain bowl ordered — the beans are roasted by Two Degrees North Coffee Co so you know your java is in good hands!
Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Michelle Kayla Tey
This vibrant, modern Mexican beer garden on the first floor of 313@Somerset is filled with edgy graphics and colours, putting you right in the mood to relax and enjoy a meal with friends. This is the newest venture of the folks behind Mex Out in Far East Square. Come by for a relaxed lunch or unwind after work with a drink, and start by sharing the Burnt Nachos ($13.60), fried tortilla chips topped with smoky chilli con carne, jalapenos and guacamole. You must order the Barbacoa Quesidillas ($13.40) — a generous portion of chargrilled flank steak and melted cheese stuffed in crispy quesidillas, served with a side of homemade chilli jam. Also share the Fish Taco ($16.50 for three), which sees chunky beer battered seabass served with pickled red cabbage, spicy mayo and salsa. Burppler Sam Chua recommends a squeeze of lime juice on the tacos before tucking into "quite literally the best fish tacos in town"!
Avg price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Sam Chua
Despite its less than prominent entrance and lack of signboard (it's next to Thian Hock Keng Temple along Telok Ayer Street), this cafe is proving to be really popular, especially among the lunch crowd. Named after one of Singapore's earliest schools, this cafe infuses Peranakan culture into this homely cafe setting, and shares its space with a store selling vintage Peranakan tiles. Start your day right with their Signature Nyonya Otah Loti ($4.80) which comes with tomatoes, cheese and romaine lettuce. During lunch, swing by with your colleagues for the Nyonya Laksa ($8.80) — the noodles come topped with two large deshelled tiger prawns, clams and a generous portion of fish cake, all soaked in a luscious, punchy laksa gravy. At tea-time, try the Nyonya Tea Set ($10), which comes with two drinks and five handmade kuehs. Prices are nett.
Avg price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Julius Lim
With a sweeping view of Marina Bay Sands, this might be the coolest new restaurant in town. UsQuBa is derived from the Gaelic word Usquebaugh, which means Water of Life, or simply put, whisky. This 160-seater restaurant aims to bring the best of Scotland to our shores and comes (very fittingly) with a well-stocked bar of curated whiskies, craft gins and beers. Head chef Guven Uyanik showcases Scottish produce beautifully, and his dishes highlight the freshness and flavors of every ingredient. Come for their weekday executive set lunch ($38 two-course /$48 three-course) and get one of our favourites — Lobster Ravioli Soup. Trying to impress your dinner date? You won't go wrong with the Seared Foie Gras ($21), which sees a generous portion of foie gras pan seared to perfection, or the Duet of Aberdeen Angus Beef ($56) — one half succulent tenderloin, the other, short ribs braised for 26 hours till fork tender.
Avg price: $80 per person without drinks
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Fiona Ting
Feel like having Vietnamese for lunch? Head to this Hitachi Tower joint (it's taken over the space vacated by Baguette) for a banh mi or pho fix. There are only five sandwiches and two pho options to pick from, so choosing should be pretty easy. Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei recommends the BMB Pork Meat Ball ($6.80) — the crusty bread sandwiches tender and peppery pork balls that go really well with the zesty pickled vegetables. Wash it all down with the Viet Ice Coffee ($3.60), or for something different, go for the Saigon Salty Ice Lemonade ($3.90), which is salty, tangy and so refreshing!
Avg price: $10 including a drink
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua
Tame your next sweet craving at this quaint new cafe in Serangoon (it's down the road from Cafe Plain Jane). KOOKS Creamery specialises in molten lava cookies ($5.50 each) — soft-centred cookies holding luscious, oozy centre. Their hand-crafted ice cream (from $3.60 a scoop) is pretty good too! For best value, get the Lava Cookie Set ($8.50), which sees either a chocolate or matcha lava cookie topped with a scoop of ice cream. Get creative with pairing ice cream flavours, or be inspired by Burpplers who seem to love pairing the cookies with nougat, Ferroro Rocher and lemon curd ice cream. Yum!
Avg price: $10 or less
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Felicia Sim
Set beside the more upscale Nosh within the grounds of idyllic Rochester Park, this casual eatery is a lovely choice for a relaxed and affordable weekend brunch date. It's cooler to sit indoors, and you get to check out their cheery tropical print wall paper. You won't go wrong with the Crab Benedict ($20). The dish features perfectly poached eggs on top of two crisp crab patties (made solely with crab meat), topped with curry hollandaise — for Burpple Tastemaker Nobelle Liew, the "so crisp, so fluffy, so fragrant" buttered and toasted English muffins were what sealed the deal for her. Another crowd favourite is the Yakitori Salmon ($24). The salmon is glazed in yakitori sauce, cooked till perfection and served on a bed of coconut rice.
Avg price: $30 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Nobelle Liew
Nestled in a quiet Geylang neighborhood, Builders at Sims is an unpretentious cafe that serves good coffee and food at value-for-money prices. Bonus points for the enthusiastic staff too! Bring your family for a cozy meal or to get some work done during the day (there’s free Wifi). The simply named Beef ($14.90) is one of their most popular items – 24 hour sous-vide beef cheeks atop a bed of mashed potatoes and various vegetables. For something creamy and comforting, the Carbonara ($10.90) was delightfully smooth without being too cloying.
Avg price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Lee Jia Hui
If you enjoy hot pot, you'll like this twist — steam pot. Instead of using fire, Steam Box uses high speed steam to cook your food, and in the process seals in all the natural sweetness of the ingredients. It also prevents food from being overcooked. Each item on the menu has its own colored plate, which indicates how long it should be steamed. We recommend starting with Porridge A ($15) — century egg, pork ribs and cooked rice that is placed at the base of the pot. A porous metal lid is then placed over the top of the pot, on which you can place the ingredients. Eat the porridge after cooking everything else — this ensures all the flavours have seeped in. Noteworthy orders include Chef's Marinated Minced Pork with Salted Fish ($4.50 for small, $9 for large), Chef's Marinated Bamboo Clam ($18 for two) and the Chunky Premium Pumpkin ($5). Pair that with delicious dipping sauces like the housemade sambal sauce and black pepper meat sauce.
Avg price: $30 per person
Photo by Burppler SG Food On Foot
From the fine folks behind Kilo and Grain Traders comes this barbeque joint with chilled out backyard vibes. Located on the ground floor of the Ture Building (beneath Kilo), it is perfect for groups to hang out on a cool night while catching up over good food. While the meats like the Chipotle BBQ Ribs ($15 for half rack) or Whole Roasted Pig ($12 per 100g) were tender and enjoyable — we were hoping for something a little more messy and luscious, and to want to lick our fingers clean. The vegetables, however, stood out tremendously. Take the Burnt Carrots ($14) for example, which come grilled with ripe plums and topped with crumbled cottage cheese, fried garlic and an addictive peanut sauce. Also consider the Brussels Sprouts ($14) that are tangy with tamarind and crisp on the edges.
Avg price: $35 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Veronica Phua
Situated across from Novena Church, this famous pancake chain from Japan is known for its healthier pancakes. These are made using their signature Kyushu Pancake flour base — a combination of seven different Kyushu-grown grains. Bring your girlfriends to share the Sample Platter ($15), which comes with pancakes, waffles and French toast — perfect for trying a bit of everything. For something heartier, go for the American Big Breakfast ($22) — the full works with their famed pancakes is bound to fill you up. End with something sweet like the Matcha MontBlanc ($18) — a stack of pancakes served with yummy matcha chestnut sauce, matcha mousse and vanilla ice cream! Pro tip: Make reservations if you're coming on a weekend.
Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler ohappydaes W
Located at the corner of Bugis Junction, this non-air conditioned shop is a great alternative to Toast Box for a light bite. The brainchild of Chef Benny and sister outlet to Eighteen Chefs, Seng Kee The Black Seed serves local breakfast fare all day. Swing by in the morning or after lunch to grab a Kopi (from $2.60) or for an extra boost, try the Kopi Guyu (from $3) — black coffee with a shot of butter. Feeling hungry? Wolf down a plate of Chee Cheong Fun with Sambal Belacan ($3.20) or have a Kaya Butter Set ($6) — expect generously slathered, velvety smooth kaya and a slice of butter between two lightly toasted pieces of crusty Ciabatta or Focaccia bread. It is served with two perfectly wobbly 63°C sous vide eggs.
Avg price: $5 per person
Photo by Burppler Jayne Tan
In collaboration with Everything With Fries, the highly anticipated Pokémon Cafe has finally arrived on our shores. With the animated series' mascot Pikachu and other iconic characters featured widely in all their food and decor, every corner of the cafe at Bugis Junction screams cute! For take-home memorabilia, order the Pikachu Smiling Rice Omelette ($25) or the Pikachu's Sweeeeeet Pancake ($20) — you get to keep the mug afterwards! Try the oozetastic Pokéball Cream Puff ($5.90 each or four for $20, available for takeaway) while you're there. Be prepared for a long wait among fellow fans though.
Avg price: $30 per person without drinks
Photo by Burppler Wee Guan Fish
Go cheeky on your next night out at Xiao Ya Tou, an upmarket fusion zi char restaurant and bar on Duxton Hill. Borrowing inspiration from Duxton's sordid past of brothels and opium houses, the dining room is bathed in the glow of red lanterns, and pictures of vintage Chinese pin-up girls adorn the walls. The food, too, is no boring matter. The kitchen turns out creative interpretations of familiar Asian and other zi char dishes — think Lu Rou Fan ($9) topped with braised wagyu beef instead of minced pork, and Oil Fried Soon Hock ($42) with tamarind gochujang. There are also tapas-style choices like Kurobuta Pork Cheek Sliders ($6 each) and Crispy Otak Otak Rolls ($12) — perfect for munching on as you sip on the Suntory Highball ($15), which combines Suntory whisky with soda, ginger, lemon juice and sugar. Pro tip: We can't wait for their brunch menu, which launches mid June — expect Minced Beef with Fried Potato Biscuit ($21) and Coconut Tau Huay ($6).
Avg price: $35 per person for tapas and a drink
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh
If you're old enough to remember eating Mini Melts in your childhood, then you're in for a nostalgic treat. Claimed to be the smallest nitrogen ice cream in the world, the tiny, frozen beads come in ten flavours, from classic Double Chocolate to tropical Pineapple Orange. As its name suggests, these tiny ice cream balls melt in the mouth. The Regular cup ($5.50) only gets you one flavour, so we highly recommend going for the Combo Cap ($7.90), which allows you to pair two flavours.
Avg price: $6 per person
Photo by Burppler Hwans Lim
In place of Char's old Guillemard digs is this British gastropub, which serves up good ol' English pub grub and beer. The space is cosy, with cushioned booth seats and wooden chairs, and an alfresco seating area for cool evenings. You won't go wrong with the classic Steak & Ale Pie ($19), which will comfort on rainy nights with its golden puff pastry and ale-scented filling of hearty beef chunks and vegetables. Fish lovers can go for the Fish & Chips ($22), which sees Hobgoblin ale-battered cod served with triple-cooked fries and mashed peas on the side. Wash that all down with a draft beer — we recommend the refreshing Hobgoblin Gold ($8 for half, $14 for whole pint).
Avg price: $20 per person without drinks
Photo by Burppler Raine Liu