Best Peranakan Food In Singapore
Residents around Binjai Park will be no stranger to Ivins, the spacious restaurant decorated in the style of a bygone era. Burppler Gwen Cheng was wary of the long queue, but "when we visited, we finally understood why! The dishes are just so affordably priced and pretty good too." Burppler Cherie Heng says the "Honey Pork dish is a must order and it's just exploding with flavours, coated in the rich secret IVINS black sauce. We had to order two servings because there's simply not enough to go around."
Photo by Burppler MichelleLIN T
Folklore, situated at the lobby level of Destination Hotel along Beach Road, is a great place to introduce family and friends to Peranakan fare, as Burppler Blueskies Cottonclouds did. "So happy my family enjoyed the keluak fried rice, opor ayam, brinjals and singgang. Of course, we had the kosui and sago pudding to end on a sweet note." Another highlight among Burpplers is the Buah Keluah Fried Rice ($28), seeing as the restaurant "was very generous with the buah keluak.
Photo by Burppler Blueskies Cottonclouds
Old Bibik's Peranakan Kitchen is one of the few Halal-certified Nonya restaurants in Singapore, ever since they started out in 2012 as a food stall at the former Lavender Food Square. Their new location now packages traditional Peranakan dishes in a simple eatery at very wallet friendly prices, with set meals as low as $6.90. Burppler jankliciouz "Was happy to have tried this tender Signature Beef Rendang by which has been slow-cooked in various spices for hours." Treat yourself to their Goreng Pisang with vanilla ice cream for dessert - it's worth the calories!
Photo by Burppler Jacq Ong
The newest restaurant on this list, Godmama doesn't skimp when it comes to providing top-notch Peranakan. Burppler Mushy Munching loved "how the dishes tasted just like home cooked food, and indeed, the stewed / braised meats were so tender that it felt like they were slow cooked for one entire day." If you're looking for something unique, try the Egg Skin Popiah ($6.50), balancing soft, crunchy, and sweet altogether in a silky thin egg crepe skin.
Photo by Burppler LoveFood_LiveLife
Popo & Nana’s Delights, tucked away inside Maxwell Food Centre, is one of those places to showcase a different menu each day, so check their Facebook page before heading down. In fact, they're only open for four hours each day - which tells you how fast they sell out. If you like challenging yourself with spicy food, Burppler Khaw Han Chung recommends going for their Eurasian Chicken Devil’s Curry ($6). Other dishes on rotation include Pork Rib Buah Keluak ($8), Ayam Masak Merah ($8), and Nyonya Chap Chye ($6).
Photo by Burppler Khaw Han Chung
The Blue Ginger is a narrow house of three floors along Chinatown, where the aroma of simmering spices hits you the moment you step in. The portions are as delicious and generous as the prices, which is probably what won them a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award. Burppler Zhihui Lim's "Unanimous favourite would be the Ayam Panggang. The grilled chicken was tender, smoky and the sauce was fragrant! We also enjoyed the addictively earthy Sotong keluak."
Photo by Burppler Felicia Sim
HarriAnns Nonya Table is part cafe and part dessert shop. They stock a large variety of handmade Nonya kuehs (from $1.10) such as the two-layered Gula Melaka Kueh and Kueh Rainbow Lapis, along with simple Peranakan-style dishes for a quick lunch. Their Mee Siam stood out the most for Burppler Yvonne Lo. "It was on point in terms of sourness and also the spicy kick. Everything on the plate came together really well for the flavours and texture."
Photo by Burppler Yvonne Lo
The Peranakan is tucked away inside Orchard's Claymore Connect, and is both a restaurant and a museum. You can expect to learn a lot about Peranakan cuisine from the staff here, or even feel like a Nonya Tai Tai with their Weekend High Tea Set ($28) - a combination of traditional sweet and savoury bites. A highlight is no doubt their famous Tok Panjang, a smorgasboard of classic Peranakan dishes like Itek Tim, Sambal Petai Prawn, and Ngoh Hiang served on a massive bamboo tray.
Photo by Burppler Vanessa Kou
The National Kitchen is a beautiful venue inside National Gallery Singapore. Catch up over a high tea session or go for crowd favourites like the umami-packed Pong Tauhu, tender Beef Rendang, and fusion dishes such as Buah Keluak Spaghetti - marked by a strong and subtly sweet nutty flavour. Don't forget desserts too. Burppler Felicia Sim loves the Kueh Beng Kah ($9) with its puddling-like texture. The softness of the tapioca cake was very alluring, what's more accompanied by that rich gula melaka syrup and coconut milk."
Photo by Burppler M *
The top picks, popular finds and newly opened places in Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines, curated by Burpple editors!