Singapore Restaurants: A Local’s Favorite

Elizabath Lian has launched a blog on KM in Education. After doing some significant work in knowledge management for corporations, she left consulting to get a degree at INSEAD. Now Elizabeth brings her strong background in corporate consulting to the field of public education in the San Francisco area. She lived in Singapore for a number of months and provides her picks with comments.

Banana Leaf Apolo (Race Course Road)- casual, yummy fish curry served on banana leafs. For the authentic experience, eat with your hands. Don’t be deceived by crowds outside, seating is self-service – just find a table and make yourself at home. The Economist also recommends it and says, “Fish-head curry, a national favourite looks daunting: a huge fish head floats in a clay pot of curry, with eyes staring up at you. But at this exotic Indian restaurant, it is an experience not to be missed… If you can't stomach the sight, there are other choices: try the giant prawns, chicken masala, fush cutlets or crab curry. The restaurant also serves nice dhum biryani (spiced rice and meat cooked and served in a copper pot).” It is located at 54-58 Race Course Rd Singapore 218565 Tel: +65 6293-8682.

Hua Yu Wee Seafood Restaurant is off the beaten track. It has fantastic chili crab – could be described as finger lickin’ good. Save your rice to mix with some sauce (no baguettes, unfortunately), so you can drain the plate. Really, it’s that good. It is located at 462 Upper East Coast Road Tel : 6241 1709 after 11.00am 6442 9313 after 4.00pm.

Indochine Waterfront – You should start with a drink at the adjoining trendy Opium Bar and then enjoy delicious Asian flavors with French accents along the waterfront. This is one of the few dinner spots where the prices match the blend of great ambience, excellent service and tasty cuisine. After we signed the bill and were about to leave, the waiter returned to our table to apologize for having charged us for a bottle of wine that we had not ordered! The menu includes a wide range of Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian dishes and the tables have fine waterfront views. It is located at the Asian Civilisations Museum 1 Empress Place tel: (65) 6339 1720, fax: (65) 6339 0420

Original Sin is delightful, innovative and intimate vegetarian restaurant across the road from Holland Village. They know how to fill you up with delicious vegetarian concoctions here – that you forget it’s vegetarian. Its sight adds, “Original Sin was created to be Singapore’s first “western” vegetarian restaurant with the goal being to present Singaporean vegetarians an alternative to their respective cultural cuisine’s. The menu is inspired by adaptations of some famous Greek, Italian, Spanish and Mediterranean dishes.” It is located at 43 #01-62 Jalan Mera Saga Chip Bee Gardens Tel: 6475 5605

Thanying (Clark Quay and Amara Hotel) – for what they claim is royal Thai food. Go to the one in Clark Quay, it’s bigger, the other one actually ran out of curry on us (is that possible in a Thai restaurant?) Everything was very tasty – especially the pomelo salad. Definitely try the dessert bar. The New York Times suggests to “try the gai kor bai toey (marinated chicken in pandanus leaves), an exquisite Thai salad like yam sam oh (shredded pomelo tossed with chicken and prawns in a lime sauce) or pla khao sam rod (grouper deep-fried until it's so crispy you can eat the bones).” It is located at Level 2, 165 Tanjong Pagar Rd., Singapore, Singapore Phone: 6227-7856.

Boon Tong Kee – (River Valley Road branch) casual, for good chicken rice, one of the national dishes. The Economist agress that this is the place for chicken rice and describes the dish: “The basic constituents—steamed or roasted chicken, rice cooked in a flavoursome stock, accompanied by fresh cucumber and a garlicky chilli sauce.” Also try the fried tofu. It is located at 425 River Valley Rd Singapore, 248324 Tel: +65 6736-3213

Other Venues

Smith Street – a recently renovated quaint street in Chinatown with its own charm. Outdoor seating in the street (no cars allowed) with great people-watching. Theoretically, the ‘best’ hawker stalls in Singapore were invited to set up in the special stalls here. Try the dessert stall specializing in tang yuan, sweet dessert balls with sesame, lotus, or peanut fillings in a soup.

Takashimaya food court – go to the basement level and gaze or graze; it’s a great introduction to the wide variety of food available in Singapore all in one place in an air-conditioned, clean environment.

Hawker Centres

Newton Circus – most famous and most developed, so be prepared for many sales pitches and offers to bring you food. Do try the great popiah at #68 – it lives up to its reputation. It is located at Scotts Road and Bukit Timah Road.

Maxwell Road – recently renovated, by Chinatown, so more Chinese fare

Comments

[Asuthosh]

Reading a Singapore restaurant guide in your blog was most surprising! I am a colleague of Anol (of SoulSoup fame), and the official office foodie. An avid restaurant goer as you appear to be, I too love to talk about the places I haunt. If you intend to visit Singapore, do email me and let's hook up for a culinary expedition. What say!

[Bill Ives]

Thanks for your comment. I clicked on your signature and it took me to an interesting blog on film that I am going to look at more closer. Meanwhile, I would be pleased to provide a post script on your additional picks on Singapore or you thoguhts on another city in the area. Please email me at [email protected] as I did not find your email. Bill