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After a 3-month renovation, Food Opera at the basement of ION Orchard has finally removed its partitions and reopened to the public with a brand-new look. Inspired by the nostalgia of the 70s, the 24-stall food court recreates several trades from the era, including a barber shop, bank, cinema, TCM hall, among others.
Spirits were high, and the opening-day crowd was a clear sign that the response was well-received, with hardly an empty table in sight.There’s even a piano at the main entrance — fancy a piana solo, anyone?
The decor and design were on point, and I spotted plenty of photo opportunities at every turn. Take, for example, this fancy old-school cinema setup, which reminded me of the old Cathay cinema with its velvet-like red seats, movie posters and retro cinema fittings. We swung by to check out the stalls and see what makan options can be found.
I spotted Derek Cheong, Winner of MasterChef Singapore Season 2, behind his brand, Berampah Bros. You can savour his Signature Ayam Berampah (S$10), alongside other options like Unagi Berampah (S$14.50), and Duck Confit Berampah, which comes with a more atas price tag of S$18.
Ai Shan Claypot Rice offers 11 varieties of sha bao fan like the classic Ai Shan Tender Chicken with Shiitake Mushroom Claypot Rice (S$14.80), Ai Shan Stir-Fried Pork with Chilli Peppers Claypot Rice (S$16.80), and Braised Eggplant with Minced Pork Claypot Rice (S$13.80). A little birdy even told me that if you spent a dollar more for takeaway, you can bring home the entire claypot.
If you’re a fan of Ye Lai Xiang Teochew Porridge at Bukit Merah, then check out Ye Lai Xiang Curry & Mixed Rice, their first-ever concept. You can either pick and choose your own plate of cai fan, or, if the sheer number of options feels overwhelming, simply go for one of their curry rice combos. These include Set A: Curry Chicken, Cabbage, Fried Egg & Rice (S$7.40) and Set C: Deep-Fried Pork Cutlet, Cabbage, Fried Egg & Rice (S$7.90).
For traditional Hakka recipes with a modern twist, swing by Hakka Bond for its Hairy Fig Chicken 25-Grain Rice Set (S$12.50) or Herbal 25-Grain Thunder Tea Rice (S$8.90). Wah Eng Beef Noodles started as a humble pushcart stall in 1948 and has just launched their first food court stall at Food Opera. Feast on its Signature Beef Noodles (S$15.90) that comes with beef slices, brisket, tendon, honeycomb tripe, and beef balls.
Perfect for cold, rainy days, Ah Er Herbal Soup offers comforting bowls of soup including Ginseng Herbal Black Chicken Soup (S$9) and Gingko Nuts Pig’s Stomach Pepper Soup (S$7.50). Thai food enthusiasts can enjoy Steam Grouper with Thai Sour Chilli (S$16.90) or Fried Tang Hoon with Crab Meat (S$13.90) at MP Thai, which has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 4 consecutive years.
For sweet treats to take home, check out Treasure Bakery, a British-style bakery with Nanyang influences. Some bakes that we spotted on the shelves included the Black Sesame Cornet (S$2.50), Curry Chicken Turnover (S$4.50), Madame K’s Strawberry Rouland (S$5.50), and Our Favourite Carrot Cake (S$6.90).
At Toast Box, you can catch their coffee beans being roasted in-house, including the Nanyang Supremo, a blend unique to ION Orchard’s Food Opera. Coffee lovers can opt for Signature Iced Kopi C (S$3.90 for large) or Hot Kopi (S$3.20 for medium), made with the Signature Blend. For the Nanyang Supremo, top up S$0.30 for hot or S$0.50 for cold.
After you’re done eating, you can check out the retail store up front. One notable brand is Tiap Tiap which celebrates heritage flavours, founded by a mother and daughter duo. I found the Ondeh Ondeh in A Jar (S$10.80) a fun and clever way of eating one of my beloved desserts. It was fragrant, rich and perfectly balanced.
Want a chance to score a cute memento? From 15 Oct 2026, simply spend S$30 on food at Food Opera or S$80 at the retail stores to receive a cute tingkat, while stocks last. Come visit Food Opera if you’re in town!
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