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Are you bored of patronising the same ol’ restaurants, cafes, or makan places that you are comfortable with? Well, you have come to the right place. Singapore may be small in size, but we’re blessed to have a strong and diverse dining scene with plenty of new offerings that pop-up every month. Without further ado, I present to you the 5 new dining spots in Singapore that opened in May 2026.
1. Jiho Samgyetang SBCD
SBCD, Singapore’s trust brand in specialty Korean cuisine, has collaborated with Jiho to bring you Jiho Samegyetang SBCD at 18 Cross near Telok Ayer MRT Station. Winner of the Korea Franchise Award for 12 straight years, Jiho is one of Korea’s most renowned specialists for samgyetang, serving herbal ginseng chicken soup since 1991.
There are 6 varieties of samgyetang such as Black Garlic Samgyetang (S$32.80), Perilla Samgyetang (S$32.80), Spicy Samgyetang (S$32.80), and Mung Bean Samgyetang (S$32.80). There’s also Samgyejuk, a healthy and comforting Korean rice porridge cooked with chicken and herbs.
If you aren’t a fan of herbal flavours, the menu also offers Bibimbap (S$22.80), Kimchi Pancake (S$19.80), and Japchae (S$23.80).
Address: 18 Cross Street, 18 Cross, #B1-01, Singapore 048423
2. Sederhana
With more than 100 outlets across Indonesia, Sederhana, the crowd-favourite nasi padang chain, has put down roots in Singapore, opening at 738 North Bridge Road in Kampong Glam. The establishment features 2 storeys, with an air-conditioned dining area on the upper level for a cosy and comfortable session.
Some highlights include the beef rendang, daun ubi masak lemak (sweet potato leaves in creamy coconut gravy), egg sambal, and young jackfruit vegetable curry. For the more adventurous palates who don’t mind innards, try the rendang limpa or beef spleen, which has a sponge-like texture and tastes similar to a mixture of braised duck meat and liver.
Prices start from S$4.50 for fish, S$6 for chicken, S$1.50 for egg or vegetables, and S$3.50 for innards.
Address: 738 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198706
3. Asin
Let the creative minds of Chef Ace Tan, his partner Desmond Heng of Suguru, and artist Chloe Woon impress you with a beautiful fusion of food and art at Asin. This sleek and cosy 22-seater fine-dining restaurant at 38 Carpenter Street serves up progressive Asian cuisine that changes with each season.
Never have I met a chef as humble as Ace, who treats his entire kitchen team as equals. He gives each member the chance to engage directly with guests and introduce the dishes themselves. It’s his way of nurturing their confidence and people skills, a gesture that earned my utmost respect. Besides aging meats and seafood, Chef Ace also pickles and ferments a number of Asian ingredients.
We tried the 8-course summer Chapter 1: Home menu (S$188++) featuring an appetiser, dim sum bites, mains, and dessert. Standout dishes included the Assam Hamo, a pike conger fish from Japan that’s deep-fried. It’s served with a tempura Thai lily bulb, a Japanese Amela tomato with the pulp removed and replaced by a jelly, and an intense tamarind assam sauce. He pays homage to his grandmother with the Ngor Hiang 6.0 (+S$18), a supplementary dish with tiger prawns, 5-spiced Jeju pork, and tuhau sauce, made from native Sarawak ginger.
My taste buds were spoilt to death by the Yum Pu Ma Noodles, Black Beauty (black emperor fish), and Jiang Mu Ya (ginger Irish duck). I was also glad I added on the Pepper Hanwoo (Korean beef) (+S$55) served with Sarawak pepper sauce, lily bulb, charred leeks, black garlic, and the fermented kumquat.
The desserts were equally impeccable and, not to mention, visually appealing. The Biwa Honey Sago and Gula Apong Caramel (+S$18) were refined, flavourful, and not overly cloying. Keep an eye out for a few unexpected surprises that aren’t featured on the menu — that’s all I’m willing to reveal for now (wink).
Address: 38 Carpenter Street, #01-01, Singapore 059917
4. Torikizoku
Soft-launched at VivoCity on 29 May 2026, renowned Japanese yakitori brand, Torikizoku, opens its first Singapore outpost. In Japan, this establishment is known for pricing everything at 390 yen. Thus, the outlet here adopts the same system, selling most of its items including the skewers, rice and noodle dishes, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages at S$3.90 each.
The signature items at Torikizoku include the Signature Kizokuyaki Thigh, Grilled Fluffy Grated Yam, and Chicken Kamameshi, a Japanese-style claypot rice. For those who love veggies, the Stuffed Bell Pepper with Ponzu is a great balance of meat and crunchy capsicum. The Chicken Meatball with Cheese is also a crowd pleaser with juicy, savoury meatballs slathered in rich, comforting cheese.
Address: 1 Habourfront Walk, VivoCity Lobby F, #01-104/105, Singapore 098585
5. Visitors
Well, of course, we had to add a cafe to this list. Visitors, situated at 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, is a Korean-style cafe with a clean aesthetic, floor-to-ceiling windows, and wooden accents. The menu choices include a variety of croissants priced from S$7 to S$17, with a focus on sweet selections and a handful of savoury ones. For something more substantial, there are also options like the Basil Garlic Chicken Sandwich (S$18) and Truffle Egg Soldiers (S$13), featuring baguette, soft-boiled eggs, truffle oil, parmigiano reggiano, and dill.
For an indulgent and rich dessert, relish the Basque Cheese Cake (S$11), which comes in either Mugwort or Black Sesame flavours. Banana fans will appreciate the B.B.B (Banana Brulee Brownie) (S$13) served with vanilla cream. You can get your cup of Latte (S$6) or Hazelnut Latte (S$7) with regular or Oat Milk (+S$1), with Iced options for S$0.50 more. Special drinks like Ube Latte (S$7), Brulee Milk Tea (S$7.50), and Matcha Latte (S$7) are also available.
Address: 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #01-106, Singapore 081007
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