In this article, I present a list of Best Restaurants in Singapore Where Chefs Eat when they aren’t going crazy in the kitchen. On the rare off day, chefs eat out. They typically dislike cooking at home; they already do it everyday at work. A list compiled by culinary experts, most of whom are local, and some of whom are Gastronomic celebrities, this is one restaurant list you must make a point to slowly eat through.
The chefs who contributed here are all gustatory craftsmen who have spent years in the kitchen, honing an amazing palate and definitely know way more about food than myself, and thus are the perfect people to listen to. I’ve scoured high and low to bring you some of the biggest names in Singapore’s culinary world for this ultimate recommendation of Best Restaurants in Singapore Where Chefs Eat.
1. Eminent Frog Porridge
“As a Chef usually after my work I like to eat something really light as it is getting late . I don’t really take supper unless I am busy that day and miss dinner. The Food Centre I frequent most is Lavender Food Court/ Centre . I go there only for one reason- that is Frog Leg Porridge. I know most of the stall owners there and always feel like a small village with friends and neighbors around . I love the Kung Po Frog legs with a pot of plain porridge to go with. Will spend like an hour there relaxing, eating with my wife.”
-Chef Eric Teo, ET Culinary Arts
Address: 195 Lavender Street, Lavender Food Square, Singapore 338758 | Tel: 6305 6982
*Note that Lavender Food Square will be closing soon. A branch of Eminent Frog Porridge can also be found at 323 Geyland Rd.
2. Bar-Roque Grill
“I like Bar-Roque grill because they are cooking authentic Alsace food, Chef Stephane is one of a few chefs that I know passionate in cooking and he’s talented as well.”
-Chef Brandon Foo, Le Bistrot Du Sommelier
Address: 165 Tanjong Pagar Road #01-00, Singapore 088539 | Tel: 6444 9672 | Website
3. Brasserie Gavroche
“I remember the French places I go, not as competitors, more like partners. The type of food they [Brasserie Gavroche] do is very simple, very rustic.”
-Chef Fabrice Passicos, Brasserie Les Saveurs
Address: 66 Tras St, Singapore 079005 | Tel: 6225 8266 | Website
4. Red Star Restaurant
“Classic taste of the most authentic dim sum in Singapore”
-Chef Andre Chiang, Restaurant Andre
Address: 54 Chin Swee Rd, #07-23, Singapore 160054 | Tel: 6532 5266
Related Guide: Best Dim Sums in Singapore History
5. Le Bistrot Du Sommelier
“Even before we were doing it, they were the first ones to do rustic French cuisine”
-Chef Anthony Yeoh, Cocotte
*Mentioned by Chef Fabrice Passicos as well
Address: 53 Armenian St, Singapore 179940 | Tel: 6333 1982 | Website
6. Burnt Ends
“Dave Pynt is a friend and I really enjoy his food. It has a great feel to the place and it reminds me of home (Melbourne) with its design and aesthetics.”
-Chef Dallas Cuddy, The Prime Society
“My kind of food, a casual fun place. Very different from what everyone else is doing.”
-Chef Anthony Yeoh, Cocotte
Address: 20 Teck Lim Rd, Singapore 088391 | Tel: 6224 3933 | Website
7. Moosehead Kitchen-Bar
“Spain and Japan has very similar philosophy on food, I think. Chef Manel Valero understands this best – Fresh produce, excellent taste – simple, good food. He also likes to use Japanese produce, together with his style and techniques to add a nice surprising twist for his dishes. Plus, it is always an enjoyable experience when Chef Manel and Daniel is there.”
-Chef Asai Masashi, Bincho at Hua Bee
Address: 110 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068579 | Tel: 6636 8055 | Facebook
ChopeDeals: Save up to 35% at Moosehead Kitchen-Bar >
8. Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh
“For breakfast, nine times out of 10 I would go to old Tiong Bahru Market in Tiong Bahru for bak kut teh – spare rib soup in a peppery broth. It’s not too ‘porky’ and I love the morning glory with chilli and garlic, and fermented bean curd. I have the fish and the tea too.”
-Chef Tetsuya Wakuda, Waku-Ghin
Address: 58 Seng Poh Rd, Singapore 160058 | Tel: 6224 4990
9. Tonny’s Restaurant
“Good service. Very homey style. Fresh ingredients and the Crocodile claw is to die for. Excellent food.”
-Chef Warren Poh, Bellwethers
Address:10 Lorong 3 Geylang, Singapore 388862 | Tel: 6748 6618 | Website
10. OCF Singapore | Olivia Cassivelaun Fancourt
“Because it’s a cuisine which I love and being trained in the French roots, I would know if the techniques are executed well. This restaurant is chic in its own way and the food has lots of creativity and effort involved.”
-Chef Reynaldo Paulinho, 7Adam
Address: The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, #02-02, Singapore 179429 | Tel: 6333 9312 | Website
11. Keria Japanese Restaurant 酒菜けりあ
“I often go to ‘Keria’ at Cuppage Plaza with my Chef friends since they open till late (Usually I go after my work, 11pm-midnight) and they serve nice Izakaya style food with reasonable Sake.”
-Chef Kentaro Torii, Forlino
Address: 5 Koek Road #B1-28, Cuppage Plaza, Singapore 228796 | Tel: 6733 0654 | Website
12. Ola Cocina Del Mar
“Daniel Chavez the chef/owner is someone I have known for the last year and has become a good friend. I love his tapas, it has so much flavour and Dan has a lot of passion for what he does. He is such a great guy and it shows in his food and his personality, he is someone that is always happy and this shines through in his wonderful food. ”
-Chef Dallas Cuddy, The Prime Society
Address: 12 Marina Boulevard #01-06 Marina Bay Financial Centre, Tower 3,Singapore 018982 | Tel: 6604 7050 | Website
13. Sin Huat Eating House
“My favorite spot is a place in Geylang called Sin Huat Eating House. It’s super-casual, if not funky, with unfriendly service. It’s in the red-light district and the food is spectacular. They have a crab bee hoon there that is off the hook.”
-Chef Anthony Bourdain, Author of Kitchen Confidential
Address: 659/661 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389589 | Tel: 67449755
14. Tian Tian Chicken Rice
“You are going to have people disagreeing about where you can find the best laksa and chicken. Obviously it’s not the one from Chatterbox because S$10 will only get you a glass of water there! But I think Tian Tian is the place to get good chicken rice.”
-Chef Alvin Leung, Bo Innovation
Address: Stall 10, Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184 | Tel: 9691 4852
15. Skyve Wine Bistro
“Laid back ambience with quality food.”
-Culinary Trainer Rayner Ng, His Food Concepts
Address: 10 Winstedt Rd, Singapore 227977 | Tel: 6225 6690 | Website
ChopeDeals: Save up to 35% at Skyve >
16. Jacob’s Café
“Jacob’s Café serves home-cooked style traditional food in a very homely interior. I like to go there for a relaxing night away from the city, with a nice pot of stew. One of the must-try dishes is the Oxtail Soup – a nice beefy flavour with herbs and stewed with potatoes, shallots, carrots and mushrooms all cooked to a perfect texture, served with either bread or rice. My other favourite is the Hainanese Mutton Stew served well with rice and their homemade chilli sauce. Just like myself, the owners are Hainanese and I know that it is difficult to execute this dish well. Their version is flavourful with a touch of chinese herbs, and most importantly the stew is not oily.”
-Chef Elvin Chew, Au Chocolat
Address: Blk 5, Changi Village Road, #01-2049 Singapore 500005 | Tel: 6542 7500 | Website
17. Shiraishi 白石
“I would preferably like to dine in a place which is not my area of specialty as I see the particular cuisine day in and out, and would like to try other cuisines for a change like Japanese or Chinese”
-Chef Reynaldo, 7Adam
Address: 7 Raffles Avenue, Ritz Carlton, Singapore 039799 | Tel: 6338-3788 | Website
18. Si Chuan Dou Hua
“A restaurant with authentic taste, reasonable price, good service and the best Dou Hua.”
-Chef Milo Teo, Le Bistrot Du Sommelier
Address: 7500 Beach Road, Park Royal, Singapore 199591 | Tel: 6505 5722 | Website
ChopeDeals: Save up to 10% at Si Chuan Dou Hua >
19. Sin Heng Claypot Bak Kut Teh
“For Sin Heng clay pot bak kut teh because I like their soup base. It tastes herbal and peppery, unlike others I can only taste pepper. They also have different organ parts for people who like to eat [pig] organs, like myself, should come here. And their pig trotters is nice as well.”
-Chef Brandon Foo, Le Bistrot Du Sommelier
Address: 439 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427652 | Tel: 63458754
20. CUT by Wolfgang Puck
“For steak my top choice would be CUT by Wolfgang Puck. CUT has a tremendous variety of quality steak. Beyond being branded a ‘celebrity chef’ restaurant by the resort, it lives up to truly world class standard in terms of its whole experience whether it is in terms of the atmosphere, comfort of the space as well as their service. They also often innovate and update their offering to always be exciting for their regular guests which I feel is important for any restaurant in Singapore these days.”
-Chef Micail Chepi, The Royal Mail
Address: 10 Bayfront Avenue, The shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, B1-71 | Tel :6688 8517 | Website
Related Guide: Best Steaks You can Find in Singapore
21. SPRMRKT
“I know it’s more a café than a restaurant but this is where I like to hang out at. It has everything – good food, art and a shop all in one space. Staff are friendly, they have great coffee and desserts and a warm, cosy ambience. Can’t ask for more.”
-Chef Sufian Zain, Restaurant Ember
Address: 2 McCallum Street, Singapore 069043 | Tel: 6221 2105 | Website
————
Editor’s End Notes
Although personally I might not agree with some of the picks, each Chef definitely has their their own reasons and merits for their choices. 2 restaurants in particular, Burnt Ends and Le Bistrot Du Sommelier, were recommended quite a few times by various culinary professionals and are definitely the restaurants you want to hit in Singapore.
Do you agree with these places recommended by chefs? Were there any surprising finds? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Related Guide: Famous Local Singapore Foods to eat Before you Die
