When someone mentions buffets in Singapore, I’d usually think of the international spread complete with seafood, charcuterie, cheeses and dessert galore. If I’m lucky, there will be a small corner dedicated to Asian delights but let’s be honest, we are never there for that.
You’ll find me scarfing down oysters and basking in all the seafood glory I could ever be in. But if you enjoy eating a gajillion xiao long baos instead, go for it.
While one never gets tired of the same old seafood buffet, or even Korean BBQ buffets for that matter, variety is paramount in life.
So here’s some unusual buffets in Singapore you could partake in. Remember, never to conform and don’t let others tell you what to eat for buffets. You’re not the boss of my stomach!
15. Xiao Long Bao Buffet
Xiao Long Bao Buffet (Weekdays $23.80++ per adult for 5pm to 7:15pm and 7:30pm to 9:45pm, $19.80++ per adult for 10pm to 12am, Weekends $25.80++ per adult for 1st seating, $21.80++ per adult for second seating).
If you’re a big fan of XLBs (Xiao Long Bao) just like me, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Holland Village will be your kind of heaven.
There’s where you can get your freak on and order as many servings of these little pockets of heaven bursting with comforting broth and meat fillings. Do look out for their new salted egg XLBs and chilli crab ones. Mmm.
Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao: 241 Holland Ave, Singapore 278976 | Tel: +65 6463 0968 | Website
14. Traditional Taiwan Porridge Buffet
Taiwan Porridge Buffet ($39 per adult , $49.80 per adult inclusive of desserts, inclusive of desserts).
Nothing nurses a soul better than a heartwarming bowl of porridge. Goodwood Park Hotel’s Coffee Lounge offers a traditional taiwan porridge buffet and they’re pretty damn good at it, considering how they’ve been serving it since 1984.
The selection includes traditional favourites like braised pork belly and must trys like the sauteed chicken with macademia nuts. Finish everything with their selection of desserts and you’re good to go.
Coffee Lounge: Goodwood Park Hotel 22 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228221 | Tel: +65 6737 7411 | Website
13. Spanish Tapas Buffet (Weekend)
Tapas Buffet ($38++ per pax, $58++ for wines, beers and sangria free flow).
Don Quijote on Dempsey Hill sure knows the way to my heart with their weekend tapas buffet. With more than 25 varieties to choose from and free flow of sangria, wines and beers, I’m pretty sure they’ll capture your heart as they’ve did with mine.
So head on down and get yourself unlimited servings of chorizo asado (barbecued spicy sausages) and croquetas con jamon (croquettes with cured spanish ham).
Don Quijote: Dempsey Road, #01-02, Block 7, Singapore 249671 | Tel: +65 6476 2811 | Website
12. Flavours of Asia Buffet (Weekend)
Asian Buffet ($32++ per pax for high tea, $45++ per pax for dinner).
Are you almost 3000 percent done with oysters, lamb racks and all things western and european? All you really need is some asian persuasion, at Flavours at Zhong Shan Park. Situated in Ramada Singapore, Flavours offers an weekend Asian buffet where you get to creatively make your own burger at their DIY burget station.
Don’t forget to check out their salted egg yolk crab cakes because salted egg yolk is always good for the soul.
Flavours at Zhong Shan Park: Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park 16 Ah Hood Rd, Singapore 329982 | Tel: +65 6808 6846 | Website
11. Vegetarian Dim Sum Buffet (Weekend)
Vegetarian Dim Sum Buffet (Lunch at $22.80++ for adults, Dinner at $24.80++ for adults on weekdays; Lunch at $24.80++ for adults, Hi Tea at $14.80++ for adults, Dinner at $26.80++ for adults).
Whoever that said vegetarian food is boring certainly hasn’t been to Lingzhi Vegetarian Restaurant’s weekend vegetarian dim sum. Only available at Novena though.
With a huge variety and when I saw huge, I’m talking about over 10 different kinds of steamed dumplings and cult classics like the char siew sou (pork pastry), char siew bao (bbq pork buns) and siew mai, vegetarian style. Now who’s the boring one again?
Lingzhi Vegetarian Restaurant: Novena Square Shopping Mall 238 Thomson Rd, Singapore 307683 | Tel: +65 6538 2992 | Website
10. Cheese & Chocolate Buffet
Cheese & Chocolate Buffet ($48++ for adults).
A cheese and chocolate buffet is exactly where you will find me, add on pairings with wine and baby I’m sold. Club 55 at Sands Skypark offers chocolate in all sorts of unthinkable forms with over 40 handcrafted desserts.
The 12 varieties of European cheeses will give you a little break from the sugar overload, but remember to always do it with a glass of wine in hand.
Club 55: Marina Bay Sands, Sands Skypark on Level 55, Hotel Tower 2, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956 | Tel: +65 6688 8858 | Website
9. North Indian Lunch Buffet
Daily North Indian Lunch Buffet ($30++ per pax).
Yantra at Tanglin Mall serves fine dining North Indian lunch buffet, fancy style. If you think they only serve up tandoori and naans, you’re so wrong. I mean, there’s upscale cocktails and champagne in the menu even.
Yantra provides an innovative touch to their dishes, like the broccoli cheese tikki. There will always be something for everyone, be it vegetarian or not. While their a la carte can get a little pricey, their buffet is definitely value for money.
Yantra: 163 Tanglin Rd, #01-28/33 Tanglin Mall, Singapore 247933 | Tel: +65 6836 3088 | Website
8. Singapore Local Food Buffet
Local Favourites Buffet ($52++ for lunch, $62++ for dinner).
Over at Hyatt Hotel Singapore, there’s a gem serving up the best of our local fare with a refined touch. Set in a contemporary marketplace, Straits Kitchen is a halal-certified buffet complete with live cooking stations and you’ll be spoiled for choice with their wide selection.
How does one ever choose between Hainanese chicken rice or laksa? Nope no one, that’s why a buffet is how you’ll satisfy all your cravings.
Just when you think you’re done and stuffed, the dessert section will seductively entice you with goreng pisang (banana fritters), home made durian ice cream and many more, be prepared.
Straits Kitchen: 10 Scotts Road, Lobby Level, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 228211 | Tel: +65 6732 1234 | Website
7. Penang Food Buffet
Penang Buffet Spread (Buffet Lunch $46.80++ | Buffet Dinner $51.80++).
Copthrone King Hotel’s Princess Terrace Cafe serves up an authentic Penang spread that will satisfy all your cravings. Forget all the other usual stuff and head on down for dishes with a rich heritage. Choose from curry noodles, kueh pie tee, popiah and many more.
Finish your meal with their unique selection of asian kuehs like the seri muka, apom bokwa, and abuk abuk, of which are all freshly prepared and not overly sweet.
Read our full review of Princess Terrace.
Princess Terrace Cafe: 403 Havelock Road, Singapore, 169632 | Tel: 6318 3168 | Website
6. Korean Chicken & Beer Buffet (Chimaek 치맥)
Fried Chicken Wings ($19.90++ Lunch / $26.90++ Dinner) , with additional $5 on weekends).
There’s the recent craze over Korean fried chicken wings and so what better news than having a Korean fried chicken wing buffet complete with a wicked pairing of unlimited beers and soju, all available at Chicken Up.
You can now feast to your heart’s content and potentially get really buzzed up but do note that there is an additional charge of $5 on weekends and this chicken buffet is only available at Jurong East and Parkway Parade outlets.
Read our full review of Chicken Up.
Chicken Up: 10 Jurong East Street 12, Singapore 609690 | Facebook
5. Prata Buffet
Prata buffet ($6 per pax for group of 8, $6.50 per pax for group of 4-7, $6.90 per pax for group of 1-3).
At a mere $6.50, you get unlimited slices of prata at Prata Corner. Nobody ever said that only pancakes can come in stacks, so order a stack of prata, submerge in the luscious curry and dip it occasionally in sugar for that extra texture and sweetness. The bigger the party pack, the cheaper it gets, so you know what to do. Hurry down for its only for a limited time.
Prata Corner: 459 Changi Rd, Singapore 419882 | Tel: +65 8369 5664 | Website
4. Anti-brunch Burger & Booze Buffet (Seasonal)
EATs, BEATs & Treats Anti-Brunch Buffet ($90 per pax, seasonal event).
Hailed as the ‘anti-brunch’, this isn’t any regular buffet you’ll get. It is a four hour long event, with three hours of free flow food and booze. MEATLiquour started out in the UK and has now finally graced us with their greasily yummy burgers.
At only $90 per pax, you get to have unlimited servings of their comforting and mean burgers or signature sharing platters. Of course, to complement all that greasy goodness isn’t just free flow beers but an assortment of liquor cocktails and slushies and proseccos all afternoon long. You’d better be hungry.
This is a seasonal event and pre-booking is required. Check out Meatliquor’s facebook page to find out when is the next Anti-brunch is happening.
You can read our full review of EATs, BEATS & TREATs.
MEATliquor: 99 Duxton Road, Singapore 089543 | Tel: 6221 5343 |Website
3. Thai A La Carte Lunch Buffet (Weekend)
Thai A La Carte Buffet ($48++, $68++ for premium selections, additional $34++ for unlimited sparkling wines, wines, beers, 12 – 3pm on Weekends and Public Holidays).
If you don’t want to be squeezing with others at Golden Mile Complex anymore, head on down to Patara Fine Thai Cuisine for a taste of fine Thai cuisine.
Here, you get to enjoy thai style fried noodles with prawn, southern Thai style grilled chicken, clear spicy & sour soup with seafood and many more. Douse that fire with some baked thai style durian cake with coconut milk.
If you’re feeling even fancier than that, top up a small amount and get to enjoy their premium a la carte menu that includes grilled kurobuta collar with red curry, duck confit with sweet tamarind sauce and crispy morning glory and many more.
Patara Fine Thai Cuisine: 163 Tanglin Road, #03-14, Singapore 247933 | Tel: +65 6737 0818 | Website
2. Taiwanese Street Food Buffet
Taiwanese Street Food buffet (weekdays at $16.99++ at JEM outlet for lunch, dinner buffet at $19.99++ for both the JEM & Star Vista outlet).
You no longer have to fly all the way to Taiwan to have a taste of their popular street food because Lee’s Taiwanese will do just that for you, in a restaurant setting. Yes, that means unlimited servings of 超大鸡排 (Chicken chops), Chicken bites, Sweet potato fries, bubble tea etc. Extra oriental and extra satisfying huh.
You can read our full review of Lee’s Taiwanese.
Lee’s Taiwanese: 1 Vista Exchange Green, #02-08 The Star Vista Singapore 138617Tel (Star Vista) | 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #03-05/06 Singapore 608549 (JEM) | Website
1. Brazilian Churrasco Meat Buffet
Brazilian churrasco ($49.90+ per pax).
One annoying thing about Korean barbecued buffets or any meat buffets actually is how you’ll leave the restaurant smelling like an overused chimney and that isn’t so pleasant if you’ve gotta be somewhere after that.
Carne and Caipirinha offers Brazilian churrascaria roasted over charcoal fire and the best part of it is how you’ll be waited on. So kick back, relax and indulge without worrying about how smoky you smell.
You can read our full review of Carne and Caipirinha.
Carne and Caipirinha: Blk 106 Sunset Way, Clementi Street 12, #01-50, Singapore 120106 | Tel: 6464 0478 | Website
Related Guide: Best Hotel Buffets and Champagne Brunches in Singapore
