Do you hear that? It’s the sound of the Christmas season fast approaching. A time of celebration, relaxing, shopping, and of course, feasting! No idea where to go to eat? Fret not – Tampines Mall has you covered with a wide selection of cuisines and dishes to suit every taste, since after all, why just stop at the typical Christmas fare like turkey and ham?
From delectable seafood delights to sweet treats that will have you wanting more, you’ll be sure to leave satisfied. Join us as we check out the 9 best places in Tampines Mall to expand your waistbands this Christmas season!
1. Lola’s (#01-50/#02-32)
A well-known name in Singapore’s cafe scene, Lola’s is quaint, cozy and homely. Known for their brunches and their breakfast items, they draw queues for their nosh and their lovely pastries as well.
If you want to impress guests this holiday season, look no further than Lola’s Christmas Gift Box. Available as either a Box of 4 Standard Tarts (S$33) or Box of 9 Mini Tarts (S$38), these make the perfect gift for a dessert-loving friend or family member, or to bring to a party for sharing. Each box comes with an assortment of the following tarts: Earl Grey Mont Blanc Tart, Crunchy Hazelnut Chocolate Tart, Vanilla Poached Pear Tart and Strawberry Pistachio Tart.
The Chicken & Avocado Croissant S$17 is perfect for when you need to refuel from the Christmas shopping frenzy. A buttery croissant filled with tender grilled chicken, a mound of scrambled eggs, topped off with avocado purée, Cheddar cheese and sweet tomato mayonnaise.
And in case you need a sweet pick-me-up from all that festive revelry, the Uji Matcha Soft Serve and Cereal Milk Soft Serve with Cereal Crunch and Caramel Sauce (S$6.50) is here for you. Creamy soft serves drizzled with either white chocolate black sesame sauce, or caramel sauce served on top a crunchy layer. Really, how do you say no?
+65 8891 9584
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
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2. Lao Huo Tang Signature (#B1-01 & #B1-27)
Lao Huo Tang has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 2008, started as a stall in Chinatown serving Hong Kong-style soups with no MSG added. The brand has since grown into a leading name for delicious and healthy soup with 13 different brands under its belt. Lao Huo Tang Signature in Tampines Mall is the only outlet under the brand that has exclusive items available only here, which makes it a perfect Christmas stop.
The exclusive menu at Lao Huo Tang Signature includes this impressive Flying Imperial Noodie (S$22.90). Featuring a golden cascade of crispy noodles, this is bathed in a rich, thick and very savoury sauce and finally crowned with fresh prawns.
Give festive feasting a local spin with this dish of Chilli Crab Sauce with Crab Meat and Mantou (S$38.80). Mantou is fried until crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, before being dunked in this iconic Singaporean dish. Lao Huo Tang’s version includes big chunks of tasty crab meat too for even more oomph. I won’t be sharing this, thank you.
+65 6518 3630
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm
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3. The Hainan Story Coffee House 海南寶 (#B1-K2/K3)
The Hainan Story Coffee House is where history is relived. Recapturing the casual charm of coffee shops in the 80s, British and Hainanese culinary culture collide into one delicious combination. Here, you’ll find classic Hainanese delights reinterpreted with a modern twist.
Available exclusively at their Tampines Mall outlet, the House-made Pork and Shrimp Patty Bagel with Hainanese Creamy Cheese on Hot Plate (S$18.80) is truly an indulgent delight. Made fresh in-house, this bouncy and juicy patty is then sandwiched between two bouncy bagel halves before being pan-fried and served in a luscious pool of melted mozzarella cheese and your choice of either Hainanese Curry Cheese or Classic Creamy Cheese sauce.
Another exclusive dish is the Hainanese Butter Chicken (S$16.80). Bite-sized pieces of chicken bathed in a rich spiced tomato-based gravy and served with crusty housemade bagel halves and crispy French fries. Butter chicken is already delicious, and this makes it even better.
The Hainan Story has also launched an exclusive collaboration with KitKat®, featuring baked delights with KitKat® Spread. Look out for menu items like the Cocoa Heavenly Crisp (S$3.80), where crispy toast is slathered with KitKat® Spread and butter.
The Hainanese Bun Delighto (S$3.80) is a soft bun toasted on both sides and filled with KitKat® Spread. Meanwhile, the Swiss ‘N’ Roll (S$13.80 for whole roll, S$4 per slice) features a fluffy-soft matcha sponge cake rolled around velvety KitKat® Spread.
Last but not least, the KABOOM! (S$6.80) truly lives up to its name. This drink is packed full of KitKat® goodness and will almost certainly knock any chocolate lover off their feet.
+65 8951 5597
Daily: 8am – 9.30pm
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4. Kawan Kawan by Fei Siong – Eduardo’s Spanish Place (#B1-11)
Located in the Kawan Kawan food court in the basement, Eduardo’s Spanish Place is a truly unique stall. There are not very many Spanish stalls in food courts and hawker centres, and even fewer that serve paella. The stall is managed by Eduard and his wife, Anna, who are both from the north of Catalonia.
The Spanish Chicken Paella Set Meal with 3 Churros (S$13.80) is an absolute steal. You get a generous portion of paella and a huge leg of chicken. The paella is cooked using Arborio rice, and has a texture similar to a risotto – wonderfully al dente and creamy.
The chicken leg as well is almost like a confit – tender and seasoned just so as to accentuate the natural flavours. Move over, roast turkey!
These Churros are the perfect sidekick to the paella – golden brown and crisp, dusted with just a little sugar, these crunchy sticks aren’t greasy at all and go deliciously with the chocolate sauce.
Endings with desserts are the best, and this Basque-style Cheese Cake (U.P. S$8, S$6 until 31 Dec 2024) is the perfect ending. Creamy, milky and not too sweet, be sure to save some room in your stomach for this.
Daily: 11am – 8.45pm
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5. POCHA! Korean Street Dining (#B1-02)
If you head over to Seoul, you’ll find Pojangmacha, or pocha for short. They’re outdoor carts that sell street foods such as hotteok, gimbap and fishcakes. POCHA! Korean Street Dining captures this unique essence of the South Korean street food scene and brings it to Singapore.
For Christmas, POCHA is debuting their Butter Snow Cheese Krispy Chunks (S$12.90). Think chunks of tender chicken thigh, battered and fried to perfection, and then dusted with buttery cheese powder. We may not experience winter or snowfall in Singapore, but I reckon this is a yummier alternative.
Sharing food has never been more epic (or fun) than with the 1 Metre K-Platter (S$34.90). Featuring a 1-metre long (yes, it really is 1 metre) wooden platter laden with an assortment of classic Korean street food delights, this makes the perfect centrepiece for gatherings.
+65 8111 5184
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
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6. PUTIEN (#02-02)
PUTIEN, whose name originates from founder Fong Chi Chung’s hometown of Putian in China’s Fujian province, has become almost synonymous with Fujian cuisine. The restaurant’s signature blue colours are extremely distinct and they’ve become renowned for their commitment to using the freshest and highest quality ingredients.
This commitment to quality ingredients is behind PUTIEN’s Oyster Festival, which runs from 1 Dec 2024 till 31 Mar 2025 when oysters are at their prime. Honestly, if you ask me, oysters for Christmas sounds pretty festive!
The PUTIEN Crispy Oyster (S$19.80) is a crowd favourite, with fresh juicy oysters in a crispy golden batter.
Another Oyster Festival best-seller, the Braised Oyster with Basil (S$19.80) is only available for a limited time during the festival. Fresh oysters are battered and fried, then braised in a claypot with fresh basil to infuse them with the herb’s fragrance while still keeping them juicy.
+65 6781 2162
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 3pm & 5pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11.30am – 10pm
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7. Swensen’s (#03-30)
For many of us, Swensen’s is likely the place we remember going to for birthdays and other celebrations. Serving up delicious food for the entire family since 1979, their iconic sundaes and mains evoke fond memories for many Singaporeans. Little wonder then that they are the perfect venue for gatherings for the holidays.
Dive into a sumptuous seafood bonanza with the Ocean Feast Seafood Bag (S$53.90). A seafood lover’s paradise, there’s mussels, clams, slipper lobster, crab, prawns and fish all cooked up in a tasty Cajun tomato sauce. Zucchini and fresh corn add some colour and round out the flavours, and don’t forget to mop up that tasty sauce with the accompanying pan-fried garlic sourdough.
Not to be outdone, the Outrageous Milk Shake – Choco Overload (S$13.80) doesn’t disappoint. A blend of Swensen’s Chocoholic ice cream is whipped into a thick creamy shake before being crowned with whipped cream, caramel popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and a drizzle of chocolate fudge. Of course, not forgetting the Oreo crumble and peanut butter slathered rim. This shake isn’t for the faint of heart!
Swensen’s is also famed for their ice cream cakes, and for the season, bring home indulgences such as this lovely Winter Mont Blanc (S$51) made with chestnut ice cream and decorated with soft marshmallows. To sweeten the deal, Swensen’s is running promotions for their Christmas Ice Cream Cakes:
- Early Bird Special (now till 8 Dec 2024): Enjoy 15% off
- Post Early Bird Special (From 9 Dec 2024 to 5 Jan 2025): Enjoy 10% off
+65 6781 5489
Daily: 11am – 10.30pm
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8. Din Tai Fung (#02-01 & #02-31)
Din Tai Fung needs no introduction. This world-renowned brand has received international acclaim for its xiao long bao, and is a favourite place for many locals. With the amount of copycat stalls that have emerged over the years claiming to be able to replicate the iconic Din Tai Fung Fried Rice with Pork Chop, we can safely say it’s become an institution in Singapore.
As part of their festive specials, the crowd-favourite Steamed Chocolate Lava Buns (S$11 for 3, S$3.80 for 1) have once again returned to spread more holiday cheer. A rich and decadent molten centre made with 80% premium chocolate is encased in a soft and fluffy cocoa bun. This indulgent combination is a chocolate lover’s dream – just look at all that luscious chocolate! Don’t wait too long, though – this seasonal dessert is only available until 31 Dec 2024.
Another chocolate-loaded item that’s debuting this Christmas season is the Mama Mochi Chocolate Xiao Long Bao (S$12.80 for 6 pcs, S$15.80 for 10 pcs) with Sea Salt Cream (S$3). Retaining Din Tai Fung’s signature 18-folds, this is a perfect marriage of xiao long bao craftsmanship with a mochi skin that encases a premium chocolate filling. This dish is a new, permanent addition to Din Tai Fung’s menu.
To complete the experience, dip each of these delights in the accompanying Sea Salt Cream for an absolutely sublime sweet and salty combination. From now until 31 Dec 2024, Din Tai Fung is offering complimentary Sea Salt Cream (U.P. $3) with each purchase of Mama Mochi Chocolate Xiao Long Bao as an introductory offer.
Prices stated here are subject to GST and service charges. Pricing may vary across different restaurant locations.
+65 6787 0998
Sun to Thu: 11am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 9.15pm
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9. Itacho Sushi (#04-32)
At Itacho Sushi, if there’s one thing you can be assured of, it’s the quality of their ingredients. They procure all of their ingredients from Tokyo, Hokkaido and Kyushu, and it’s air-flown directly to their restaurants. Best of all? You don’t have to smash your piggy banks to enjoy this quality seafood. Their new menu includes an array of fresh sashimi and sushi, and cooked selections like donburi, handrolls and hotpot.
Itacho Sushi’s food is just as much a feast for the eyes as it is for your tummy. The exquisitely presented Mori Bento Set (S$37.60) is a curated selection of 9 different dishes, served with Japanese rice. For those who want a little bit of everything, this is the set for you.
And to truly savour the quality seafood that Itacho Sushi is known for, the Selected Sashimi Set (9 kinds) (S$68) is a true work of seafood art. Featuring an assortment of 9 different kinds of fresh seafood such as hotate, chutoro, and kajiki, this platter is a must-have for sashimi lovers. Sign me up anytime!
+65 6789 5388
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
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As if all that feasting wasn’t enough, you can continue the festivities with more irresistible rewards from now till 31 Dec 2024. Get up to S$15 eCapitaVoucher with a minimum spend of $180 on weekdays. Plus, collect Carnival Cheer stamps and stand a chance to win 1 Million STAR$®!
* This article is brought to you in partnership with Tampines Mall.
Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5, Singapore 529510
Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5, Singapore 529510
