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Since 1939, Ka-Soh Restaurant has been serving Cantonese-style fish soup and classic zi char dishes. However, this heritage-laden brand in Bukit Timah has also fallen victim to the rapidly changing food industry in Singapore.
“Being a heritage brand doesn’t pay the bills”, say third-generation owners Gareth and Cedric Tang. Indeed, rising rent and ingredient costs are often cited as reasons for closure, especially for long-term tenants who’ve seen these increases first-hand as time passes.
After the closure of Ka-Soh’s Outram outlet and sister brand, Swee Kee Eating House, in 2021, their Bukit Timah store became their last outlet. However, the owners have decided not to renew their lease, which means that Sunday, 28 Sep will be their final day.
As Ka-Soh Restaurant prepares to close, they have introduced new rules for diners. Consumers who drop by for lunch will be able to make reservations for both weekdays and weekends, but for the dinner crowd, only walk-ins will be accepted.
The owners have also urged customers to leave their personal containers at home if they’re planning to dabao; it ensures an uninterrupted flow of service as each order is packed promptly.
Ka-Soh Restaurant is known for its signature Slice Fish Noodles Soup (S$11) that features a calcium- and collagen-rich soup even without adding milk. The broth is created by boiling toman fish bones over high heat for many hours, resulting in its characteristic milky-white colour.
Apart from Cantonese-style fish soup, Ka-Soh also offers zi char dishes like Sweet and Sour Pork (from S$20.30) and Salted Fish Fried Rice (S$12 for 1 pax, S$20 for 3 to 4 pax, S$30 for 5 to 6 pax).
However, all’s not lost. Cedric Tang plans on switching lanes and embarking on a home-based business to keep the taste of their iconic fish soup alive. He’ll be selling a frozen version of their soups from his home in Punggol.
August marks the beginning of Ka-Soh’s last 2 months in business. So if you’ve got a group of friends itching to makan, why not drop by for the taste of nostalgia before the outlet is gone for good?
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