30 Eateries that are open during Chinese New Year 2017
January 26, 2017
For this Chinese New Year, we have hunted down a number of restaurants/eateries that are open to satisfy those growling tummies. We know that most shopping malls and restaurants will be closed, especially on day one and day two of Chinese New Year. However, you don’t have to worry about that, because we’ve got your back! If you are planning on heading out, please read on to find out where you can go.
Badoque Cafe
Badoque (Malay slang for eat) has developed a loyal following because of the café’s cozy vibe and good food. The cafe features an internationally inspired menu – Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian Fusion. The bestseller is the Badoque Ribs ($36). Each rib is 5cm thick and almost as long as our arm. The meat is grilled well and served hot to your table with potatoes and greens. Do note that the portions are very generous.
Badoque Cafe
Address: 246 Upper Thomson Road, Thomson Garden Estate, Singapore 574370
Phone: 6446 6928
Opening Hours: 12pm to 10pm daily.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/badoquecafeSG
Brothers in Fine Food
We applaud BFF for their creativity in coming up with beverages such as the Jaffa Orange Mocha ($6), Spiked Muddy Espresso with Gula Melaka ($6.50) and Red Velvet Hot Chocolate ($5.50). BFF treats all their food with tender, loving care. The Beef Steak ($15) is first marinated in salt and pepper, before being vacuum-packed and cooked in a monitored water bath for 1.5 hours at 56 degrees. Instead of the usual mushroom or black pepper gravy, BFF has created a beetroot thyme puree. The beetroot is processed in a thermomix at 70 degrees to bring out the natural sweetness of it without the addition of sugar.
Brothers in Fine Food
Address: #02-07, Tampines West Community Centre, 5 Tampines Avenue 3, Singapore 529705
Mobile: 9008 9314
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 12pm to 10.30pm. Sat&Sun 9am to 10.30pm. Lunch is served till 3pm and Dinner is served from 6pm. There will be light bites served between 3pm to 6pm daily.
Flock Cafe
This indie cafe has indoor and outdoor seats so take your pick. Fish & Pancakes ($16.80) sounded unique to us so we had to give it a try. 2 tiny fillets of crumbed dory fish are served atop 2 pieces of savoury pancakes, with a side of mesclun salad and French fries. The fish fillets are fried to a crisp golden brown and the meat was fork-tender. Our only complaint about the fillets was that the portion was too small. As for the pancakes, we felt that they were mediocre, nothing to shout about.
Flock Cafe
Address: #01-25, 78 Moh Guan Terrace, Singapore 162078
Phone: 6536 3938
Opening Hours: 8am to 6pm daily.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlockCafeSpore/
I AM Cafe
Located at the junction of North Bridge Road and Haji Lane, I AM cafe is inspired by the city of Amsterdam. Owned by 3 Muslim friends, all preparation and ingredients are done in accordance to the Islamic way of guidance. Their Charcoal-grilled Juicy Beef Burger ($13.90), which comes with a charcoal-grilled beef patty, is topped with pineapple, onions and melted cheese. The patties are all painstakingly grilled over a charcoal-fuelled fire.
I AM Cafe
Address: 674 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188804
Phone: 6295 5509
Website: http://www.iam.com.sg
Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 11.30am to 11pm. Fri&Sat 11.30am to 1am. Sun 11.30am to 10pm. Closed on first and third Mondays of the month.
Penny University
Penny University is a term that originated from 18th century coffeehouses in London, England. Instead of paying for drinks, people were charged a penny to enter a coffeehouse. But here in Katong, you don’t have to pay a penny to enter the cafe. The place is bustling with cafe-goers, especially on weekends. They source their beans from local roasters, serve unique cakes and freshly-baked bread . We had a plate of Turkish Eggs ($8.60) which is served with lightly whipped yoghurt, homemade spicy moroccan harissa sauce and sourdough.
Penny University
Address: 402 East Coast Road, Singapore 428997
Website: http://www.pennyuni.com/
Opening Hours: Tue-Thu 8.30am to 6pm. Fri&Sat 8.30am to 12am. Sun 8.30am to 10.30pm. Closed on Mondays.
Shrove Tuesday
This cafe is famous for their waffles as they use a yeast-raised batter. Their Signature Nonya Chendol Waffle ($12.90) includes two scoops of Chendol gelato and vanilla soft serve topped with azuki red beans, green chendol jelly, gula Melaka and coconut flakes. The Chendol flavour was spot on! Coupled with such a fantastic waffle, we can have this dessert any time, any day!
Shrove Tuesday
Address: #01-32, Blk 94 Toa Payoh Lorong 4, Singapore 310094
Phone: 6258 2254
Website: http://shrovetuesday.sg/
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu 12pm to 10pm. Fri&Sat 12pm to 11pm.
The Coffee Academics
Launched in 2012, The Coffee Academics has made quite a name for itself in Hong Kong. “The Mess” ($20) is a food item that’s exclusive to the new outlet at Raffles City. It consists of a 63 degrees egg served atop sautéed spicy chicken sausages, crispy baby potatoes, pencil asparagus and buttered corn kernels. To end our meal, we got the Academics Pancake Tower ($19). Not only was it beautifully presented, but the piping hot, thick and fluffy pancake totally satisfied our palettes. The delectable pancake tower goes really well with their ice cold berry sorbet, which was sweet and slightly sour.
The Coffee Academics
Address: Sensory Playground - #02-01/02, Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, Singapore 228209 and Nitro Pitstop - #B1-12, Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103
Phone: 6538 1940 (Scotts) and 6266 0560 (Raffles)
Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 9am to 10pm. Fri&Sat 9am to 10.30pm. Sun 9am to 9.30pm.
Casuarina Curry Restaurant
Prata enthusiasts would flock here for their signature mushroom cheese prata. The plain prata goes for a dollar a piece. For $2, you get to enjoy a gratifying meal with simple, tasty curry. The list of prata flavours is extensive, ranging from chicken floss prata, to sausage cheese prata to chocolate prata. Casuarina also has very delicious chicken and mutton briyani, as well as, curry fish head.
Casuarina Curry Restaurant
Address: 136 Casuarina Road, Singapore 579526
Phone: 6455 9093
Opening Hours: 7am to 12midnight daily.
Club July
Club July serves Zi Char and Western food under one roof at an affordable price in the heartland of Toa Payoh North. With only 2 CNY menus available, choose between $388.80 (5-6pax) and $688.80 (10-12pax). A must try is the Chef’s Signature Herbal Chicken Soup. The cloudy broth has a velvety blend of herbs and spices, with a splash of aromatic Chinese wine. Other dishes in the menu include Double Bliss Shrooms with Fortune Noodles, Steamed “Soon Hock”, Pan Fried Prawns with Special Sauce etc.
Club July
Address: 1008A Toa Payoh North, Singapore 318998
Phone: 6259 1660
Good Chance Popiah
Good Chance Popiah Eating House brings back the joy of wrapping Popiah yourself, which evokes nostalgia. Condiments include ribbons of omelette, beansprouts, lettuce, coriander, chopped peanuts, sweet soy sauce, and garlic-chilli paste. You can add prawns and crab meat as well.
Good Chance Popiah
Address: #01-15, New World Centre, 1 Jalan Berseh, Singapore 209037
Mobile: 9622 9445
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 9.30pm daily.
Founder Bak Kut Teh
Since 1978, Founder Bak Kut Teh has been consistently dishing out bowls of delectable Teochew-style pork ribs soup. From a small Bak Kut Teh eatery in Choa Chu Kang in 1978, Founder Bak Kut Teh expanded into their first restaurant space in 1988. Now, Founder regularly ranks as one of Singapore’s top Bak Kut Teh restaurants, and is poised to expand to neighbouring countries.
Founder Bak Kut Teh
Address: #01-09, 500 Jalan Sultan, Singapore 199020
Phone: 6816 2582
Website: http://www.founderbkt.com.sg/
Opening Hours: 27 Jan (Eve of CNY) 9am to 3pm. 28 Jan (CNY Day 1) 3pm to 11pm. 29&30 Jan (CNY Day 2&3) 9am to 11pm. Usual operational hours of 9am to 5am resumes from 31 Jan onwards.
Kampong Chicken Rice
Chicken rice is a local favourite but, have you heard of kampong chicken rice? The yellow skin kampong chickens are different as they have skinnier legs and leaner bodies. They are allowed to run free and are corn-fed, hence they have less fat. So, what makes kampong chicken better than our usual chicken rice? Well, the meat is definitely not as fatty. It is leaner, but very tender. It feels a lot healthier since there is less fat. What seals the deal is the chilli sauce, which is thick and spicy.
Kampong Chicken Rice
Address: 255 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574382
Phone: 6456 0698
Opening Hours: 27 Jan (Eve of CNY) 11am to 3pm. Usual operational hours of 11am to 8.30pm resumes from 28 Jan onwards.
Mellben Signature
Singapore raves about MELLBEN’s heavenly crab dishes, hence this place needs no further introduction. Good news! They are opened during CNY as well! Located at Tanjong Pagar Plaza, Mellben Signature has got all the sensational seafood recipes that have diners clamouring for more. Renowned for their Claypot Crab Beehoon, the milky soup is so flavourful and the broth is infused with a rich crustacean sweetness. Other crab dishes include Chili Crab, Butter Crab, Golden Sand Crab etc.
Mellben Signature
Address: Blk 7, Tanjong Pagar Plaza #01-105, Singapore 081007
Phone: 6220 5512
Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ
Wang Dae Bak is one of the few Korean BBQ restaurants in Singapore that only uses charcoal and not gas. This would be a place that we’ll pick for gatherings as the atmosphere is very lively. Buffet is not available but they have BBQ sets. We tried BBQ Set B ($48) which consisted of marinated prime ribs, pork belly, spicy chicken and marinated shoulder. The beef is tender and marinated to perfection.
Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ
Address: 98 Amoy Street, Singapore 069918
Phone: 6226 0450
Website: http://www.wangdaebak.com.sg/
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am to 2.30pm (lunch) and 5.30pm to 10.30pm (dinner). Closed on Sundays.
Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak
Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak at Adam Food Centre has been labelled as one of the best Nasi Lemak in Singapore. Food comes in sets, with prices ranging from $2.50 to $5.50, depending on the ingredients you order. We ordered their “Royal Rumble” ($5.50) which consisted of Potato Croquette, Fried Egg, Deep-fried fish, Ikan Bilis, Otah and Deep-fried chicken wing. Our verdict? We have to agree that the rice was fragrant and well-enriched by the coconut milk. Expect a queue at this stall, but it’s worth the wait!
Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak
Address: Stall #02, Adam Food Centre, 2 Adam Road, Singapore 289876
Opening Hours: 7am to 5pm. Closed on Fridays.
Ah Dong Teh House
Ah Dong Teh House is a good place for people who prefer kopi and teh to flat whites and cappuccinos. Lunch specials are available on weekdays from 11am to 5pm and all main courses come with a free soup and a free drink. We had the Ah Dong Curry Chicken ($9.90) which you can pair with rice or bread. The curry wasn’t too spicy. It’s on the milkier side and boasts a strong coconut flavour. The chicken was well-cooked too. This was one of the more generous portions of curry chicken that we have had at such a good price.
Ah Dong Teh House
Address: #01-03/04, 10 Tebing Lane, Singapore 828849
Phone: 6241 0309
Website: http://ahdongtehhouse.com/
Opening Hours: 27 Jan (Eve of CNY) 11am to 5pm. 28 Jan (CNY Day 1) 5pm to 2am. Usual operational hours of Mon-Fri 11am to 2am and Sat, Sun&PH 9am to 2am resumes from 29 Jan onwards.
Tanjong Beach Club
Situated on Singapore’s finest stretch of sand and graced with panoramic views of the sea, Tanjong Beach Club is a premier coastal retreat from the bustle of the city. Mains include Tanjong Beach Club’s no-frills take on the Lobster Bun ($38), The Market Fresh Fish of the Day ($35) and Orecchiette Chorizo ($33).
Tanjong Beach Club
Address: 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 098942
Mobile: 9750 5323
Website: http://www.tanjongbeachclub.com/
Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 11am to 10pm. Sat&Sun 10am to 11pm. Closed on Mondays.
Diamond Kitchen
The Diamond Sauna Treasures ($188++ / $368++) which is filled with lobster, snow crabs, red prawns, scallops, mussels, squid and clams, is perfect for a CNY gathering. Do note that this dish is only available at Diamond Kitchen Science Park Drive.
Diamond Kitchen
Address: #01-01, Oasis, 87 Science Park Drive, Singapore 118260
Phone: 6464 0410
Website: http://www.diamondkitchen.com.sg
Opening Hours: 11am to 2.30pm (lunch) and 5.30pm to 10.30pm (dinner) daily.
Mondo Mio
Looking for pizzas and pastas? Mondo Mio’s menu is curated to showcase the vibrant flavours of Southern Italy. The Pizza con Rucola Pesto ($22) is an inimitable standout, where a piquant spread of homemade rocket and roasted pine nut pesto sits beneath discs of salami, ricotta, melted mozzarella and fresh cherry tomatoes. Mondo Mio’s pizza dough is made in-house, using a straightforward traditional mix of only water, flour and natural yeast.
Mondo Mio
Address: #01-02A Riverside View, 30 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238251
Phone: 6736 2503
Website: http://www.mondomiosingapore.com/
Opening Hours: 11am to 2pm (lunch) and 6pm to 10.30pm (dinner) daily.
Niqqi’s – The Cheese Prata Shop
As its name suggests, this Indian-Muslim supper spot is famous for its cheese prata. We ordered a Double Cheese ($4.50) prata and was impressed by the creamy richness of the melted cheese enveloped within the crispy prata skin. Each bite was gratifying, especially when you’re a cheese lover! Niqqi’s also serves up a plate of superb maggie goreng ($3) that’s not too spicy.
Niqqi’s - The Cheese Prata Shop
Address: 16 Clementi Road, Singapore 129745
Phone: 6872 2577
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily.
G7 Sin Ma Claypot Live Bull Frog Porridge
It’s the perfect time to have frog porridge when the monsoon season hits. This is an unforgettable dish for both locals and tourists alike. The Frog Porridge here is priced very reasonably and what you get is a combination of hot and smooth porridge, and succulent frog meat that has soaked up the thick and sweet sauce really well.
G7 Sin Ma Claypot Live Bull Frog Porridge
Address: 5 Cheong Chin Nam Road, Singapore 599730
Phone: 6467 7317
Opening Hours: 12pm to 3am daily.
Ju Shin Jung
For the price that we’re paying for the BBQ buffet, the quality and quantity have exceeded our expectations. The quality of meat and freshness of their prawns are commendable. Also, the BBQ buffet comes with a main dish for every diner. You can choose from fried saba fish, clear beef rib soup, spicy soft tofu soup, hot stone bowl rice, soya bean paste soup and cold noodle.
Ju Shin Jung
Address: #01-18/19, Yess Centre 1F, 27 West Coast Highway, Singapore 117867
Phone: 6464 0872
Website: http://www.jushinjung.com.sg/
Opening Hours: 12pm to 3pm (lunch) and 6pm to 11pm (dinner) daily.
Ming Tang Jiu Gong Ge Hotpot
Deviating from the normal round pot, the 9-grid Hot Pot is divided into 9 sectors. Using the same soup base, you can segregate the cooking of your favourite side dishes. The heat varies from sector to sector, with the centre being the hottest. You’ll find plenty of fresh hot pot ingredients, ranging from meats like kurobuta pork, frogs, mala chicken, to seafood like spicy baby lobster. Go for the seafood set which is priced at $118 (2-3pax), $148 (4-5pax) and $198 (6-7pax).
Ming Tang Jiu Gong Ge Hotpot
Address: #01-02, Bugis Cube, 470 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188735
Phone: 6338 3405
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 12midnight daily.
Diandin Leluk
A specialty of Diandin Leluk, the Tom Yam Soup ($12 small) packs a good punch. The sour-spicy broth is flavoured with lemongrass, lime juice, lime leaves and chilli. It contains seafood such as squids, prawns and fish. The menu here is quite extensive and they are open for 24 hours. The next time you’re craving a feast in the middle of the night, you know where to go.
Diandin Leluk
Address: #01-67/68/69, Golden Mile Complex, 5001 Beach Road, Singapore 199588
Phone: 6293 5101
Website: http://www.diandinleluk.com/
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily.
Teng Bespoke Vegetarian Dining
Teng Bespoke made a lasting impression when their Three-kind Sashimi ($19) set was served. Featuring mock salmon, mock squid and mock tuna, we thought these make-believe replications of sashimi were very well executed. They have a fishcake-like texture and a smooth exterior. You can look forward to vegetarian sushi and other Japanese vegetarian dishes as well.
Teng Bespoke Vegetarian Dining
Address: #01-50, Sunshine Plaza, 91 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189652
Phone: 6337 7050
Website: http://tengbespoke.com/
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 3pm (lunch) and 5.30pm to 10pm (dinner) daily.
Kwan Inn Vegetarian Restaurant
Kwan Inn’s extensive menu includes Vegetarian Suckling Pig, Specialty Vegetarian Goose, and many more. The Si-Chuan Spicy Soup ($15 small) acts as a good appetiser, boasting a good consistency of well-balanced sourness and spiciness. This is perfect, especially on cold nights, and it really whets your appetite. The Spicy Stir-Fried Vegetarian Diced Chicken ($16 small) consists of mock chicken, peanuts, vegetables and chilli peppers. The succulent meat, which was very addictive, goes very well with rice and the level of spiciness was manageable.
Kwan Inn Vegetarian Restaurant
Address: 338 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437110
Phone: 6348 0019
Website: http://www.kwaninnvegetarian.com.sg/
Opening Hours: 11am to 3pm (lunch) and 6pm to 10pm (dinner) daily.
Pepper Jade Thai Vegetarian Cuisine
There is an extensive offering of Thai vegetarian dishes here, from appetisers to desserts. We shared a plate of Deep Fried Chicken wrapped in Pandan ($12 for 6 pieces). If no one mentioned that this is a vegetarian dish, we would’ve thought that the “chicken” was authentic. The tender texture is similar to the actual pandan chicken and even the taste was alike. The Tom Yum Soup in Claypot ($14) explodes with flavours as soon as it reaches our tastebuds.
Pepper Jade Thai Vegetarian Cuisine
Address: #01-28, Sunshine Plaza, 91 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189652
Phone: 6337 7030
Website: http://pepperjadeveg.com/
Opening Hours: “1.30am
Whole Earth
This Peranakan vegetarian restaurant has been awarded the Bib Gourmand Award in the Michelin Guide Singapore 2016. Although their menu is huge, there’s only one page dedicated to true-blue Peranakan cuisine such as Nonya Curry, Nutty Buah Keluak and Assam Pedas Vegetables. Huge crowds can go for the 5-spice Ngor Hiang Roll ($13.90) which is Whole Earth’s rendition of the Peranakan roll, served with traditional sweet sauce. It actually tasted like the real ngor hiang roll. It’s best to dine here in a big group so you can try more delicious dishes.
Whole Earth
Address: 76 Peck Seah Street, Singapore 079331
Phone: 6323 3308
Website: http://www.wholeearth.com.sg/
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 3pm (lunch) and 5.30pm to 10pm (dinner) daily.
Gokul Vegetarian
This restaurant offers a huge variety of vegetarian Indian food so, if you want to try many items, you either have to dine here with a big group or head back many times. The Masala Dosa ($5) was stuffed with lightly cooked potatoes and green peas, and is served with two chutneys and sambar. The potatoes were slightly mashed, resulting in a creamy texture which goes very well with the dosa. Scoop the potato-filled dosa and dip it into the chutneys or sambar and you’ll get to taste different flavours and textures.
Gokul Vegetarian
Address: #01-07, Fortune Centre, 190 Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
Phone: 6337 4811
Website: http://gokulvegetarianrestaurant.com/
Opening Hours: 10.30am to 10pm daily.
Loving Hut (Vegan)
Loving Hut is a vegan restaurant chain serving gourmet cuisine made with wholesome vegan ingredients. Enjoy sides such as Royal Satay, 5-Spice Roll, Bali Bliss Soba Salad or California Mango & Orange Salad. For mains, go for the Banana Leaf Nasi Campur which features a scrumptious Indo-style mixed rice dish topped with fruit achar, spicy eggplant, seasonal green veggie, scrambled tofu and nyonya rendang. Other mains include Aglio Olio, Tandoori Flame Burger, Almond Crumb Fillet, Nyonya Laksa, Nasi Campur, Tomyam Ocean Hotpot Set, Char Kway Teow Set and Lor Ark Noodle. Don’t forget to end your meal with their signature authentic teochew oh-nee (because the owner’s father used to run Mong Hing Teochew Restaurant).
Loving Hut
Address: #01-01, 229 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427489
Phone: 6348 6318
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 3pm (lunch) and 6pm to 10pm (dinner). Sat&Sun 11am to 10pm.
If your Chinese New Year is already packed with visitations back-to-back, you can always bookmark our list down for future reference! These eateries and restaurants will continue providing you with quality food and high levels of service. Satisfaction guaranteed! Well, days are getting busier but there’s always time for us to wish you a very HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR once again! HUAT AHH!!!
MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.
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