Far East Plaza’s Food Revival: 11 Cool Cafes, Japanese Bars & Other New Gems We Tried

If you’re in Orchard Road and looking for food, Far East Plaza can be easy to overlook compared to the other malls in the area, or you might remember it for its plethora of nail salons, small stores boasting rows of colourful hair extensions, and budget shopping. It’s not a shopping hub by any means and can seem rather dull compared to the likes of Ion Orchard and Takashimaya. 

However, there is one part that livens the place up: Far East Plaza’s food scene. Nestled among the beauty salons and watch shops is a surprisingly wide variety of dining options to choose from. We are talking affordable Japanese fare, sinful desserts, Malaysian food, and more.

Armed with open minds and empty bellies, we headed down and sampled much of the food that this Orchard Road icon has to offer. Below is our recommended list of Far East Plaza food spots to try if you are in the area and looking for some good grub.

Note: For this article, we have left out a few already popular must-tries such as New Station Rice Bar and Puncak Muslim Food to highlight other stalls.

1. Piccolo by Hei Kim

One look at this cafe and we were instantly charmed. From the long marble counter accompanied by marble tables to the wooden stools, light grey walls, and a neon pink light decoration piece, it’s a quaint little cafe that piqued our curiosity.

The cafe serves coffee, tea, and other drinks, but is best known for its house-baked cakes. A quick check-in with the staff revealed that the Burnt Cheesecake ($8) and Banoffee ($9) are fan favourites. Naturally, we ordered those, along with a matcha latte (that’s a review for another day, so stay tuned!).

We were a little surprised that the Burnt Cheesecake did not have the charred top as seen on Piccolo By Hei Kim’s Instagram pictures. However, all thoughts of that went away when we bit into it and were greeted with a sinful mouthful of rich, creamy cheese that had us ‘mhm’-ing out loud. There was a thick layer of gooey goodness with just the right amount of chewy sponge base. 

The Banoffee was also a hit, featuring a generous helping of banana and a slightly bitter chocolate base that went well with the fruit’s sweetness. A hint of toffee in the middle added an interesting burnt sugar note. The combination reminded us of banana splits (in a good way), and the airy, mild-tasting cream allowed the rest of the cake to shine without taking away from the rest of the dessert.

The cafe also serves up seasonal cakes, which you can enquire about in-store or find out from Piccolo By Hei Kim’s Instagram page.

Opens Tuesday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm. Opens on Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Closed on Monday. Located at #03-22, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213. Visit its website and Instagram page for more information.

2. Fan’s Cafe

Shio pan is currently trending in Singapore’s food scene, and Fan’s Cafe’s owner flew to Japan to learn how to make them. When we heard that, we knew we had to give her shio pans a go.

Baked daily, there are six flavours available: Original ($3), Hamu ($3.80), Kani ($4.30), Kohi Choco ($4), Kurugoma ($3.50), and Garlic Cheese ($3.80). We opted for the Original (you can’t beat a plain shio pan) and Kurugoma (with black sesame seeds) to try. They were reheated before being served, which ensured a satisfying crunch when we bit into them. 

We have tried many shio pans before, but Fan’s Cafe’s, while simple and a bit on the smaller side, left an impression. The Original shio pan was extremely buttery and delectably chewy on the inside. A sprinkle of sea salt gave it just enough saltiness without being overpowering.

We were not really sure what to expect from the Kurugoma but ended up enjoying the strong nutty flavour from the sesame seeds. It was also significantly less salty than the Original, which worked in its favour, letting the aromatic sesame notes take centre stage.

Fan’s Cafe offers a breakfast promo where you can get the Original shio pan and a coffee or tea for $6.80. Top up fifty cents and you can upgrade the drink to a matcha latte.

Opens daily from 9am to 9pm. Located at #01-41, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213. Visit its Instagram page for more information.

3. Cha Cha Cafe

Cha Cha Cafe was easily the smallest store that we visited. With a seating capacity of six, we were surprised to notice a steady stream of customers visiting the Vietnamese eatery while we waited for our food (most customers ordered takeaway). We observed that half the customers were Vietnamese ( a good sign the food’s a real deal?)

The many images of dishes lining the walls can be overwhelming, but we ultimately settled on the Bun Bo Xao (stir beef noodles at $10) at the service staff’s suggestion, and Banh Mi BBQ (bahn mi with pork belly at $8.50) just because we can’t resist pork belly.

But while Cha Cha Cafe is small in size, it goes big on flavour. The beef in the Bun Bo Xao was an explosion of sweet, slightly spicy, and savoury flavours. The portions of beef and vegetables were also extremely generous. Small slices of unripe papaya added a layer of tangy sweetness.

The Bahn Mi BBQ had a small sprinkle of pork floss that we admittedly could not taste. Instead, what stood out were the fatty pieces of pork belly coated in an extremely sweet sauce (a Cha Cha Cafe concoction) that was delightfully tasty. As pork belly fans, this gets our thumbs up. 

Opens daily from 10:30am to 9pm. Located at #01-16D, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213.

4. Wasabi Tei

We all know that Singaporeans love Japanese food. There’s something about sashimi that just hits all the spots. The real challenge is finding affordable, qood quality Japanese food that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. That’s where Wasabi Tei comes in with its value-for-money lunch sets.

Hidden in a corner of Far East Plaza is this two-store establishment serving up $18 donburi lunch sets that come with miso soup, salad, and watermelon. The best part? There are no GST or service charge fees. Both stores are rather small, with seats along the counter, allowing you front row spots to watch the chef prepare your meal.

We tried two donburis: the Mixed Sashimi Set (Set A) and the Kaisen Chirashi Set (Set C). The former boasts fresh, thick cuts of salmon, tuna, and swordfish, and when we say the slices were thick, we mean it. Along with it was a large cut of octopus and a shrimp. The salmon and tuna melted in our mouths, while the swordfish had a firmer texture and a mild but distinct taste.

The Kaisen Chirashi Set presented thick cubes of salmon, tuna, swordfish, and small pieces of octopus laid on a bed of rice. It was topped with fish roe that really gave the dish an extra briny, umami flavour. The wasabi added a nice extra kick that helped differentiate it from the aforementioned Mixed Sashimi Set. The mix of seafood and textures also made each bite interesting and well-balanced.

The two other options on the lunch donburi menu are the Salmon Chirashi Set and the Negitoro Set. If you are visiting after lunch hours, there are a plethora of other dishes to try as well. This includes the popular Special Chirashi Sushi ($38) and Aburi Salmon and Unagi Maki ($18).

We recommend avoiding Fridays and Saturday nights as queues can get extremely long (thank you, chef, for the heads up!).

Opens Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm and 5.30pm to 9.30pm. Open on Saturday from 12pm to 4pm and 5:30pm to 9:30pm. Closed on Sunday and public holidays. Located at #05-68/70, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213. Visit its Instagram page for more information.

5. The Mediterranean Deli Turk

While The Mediterranean Deli Turk is a pretty big store, we hardly saw customers during the many trips we made to Far East Plaza. However, its stellar Google reviews and expansive menu convinced us to give it a shot.

From an assortment of appetisers to soups, stews, pide, kebabs, and Turkish drinks, we were truly spoilt for choice. We eventually settled on the Hummus ($19.90), Sigara Boregi (filo pastry baked with homemade cheese, $12.90), Incik (shank of lamb with butter rice, $26.90), and Beef Pide (beef and cheese pizza, $24.90).

For starters, the soft, creamy hummus with a pool of olive oil had a slight tang that paired very well with the side of soft and fluffy bread. The Sigara Boregi is a dish that we’d never tried before and were pleasantly surprised by. It was crispy with a bold, sour flavour from the cheese. It was also surprisingly filling.

The Incik was, for a lack of a better word, shiok. The tomato flavour from the sauce was strong and complemented the lamb well. We also appreciated that it was not too gamey. The meat was extremely tender and came easily off the bone. The butter rice served along with the lamb was very tasty too, though we would have enjoyed a bigger portion.

Lastly is the pide. This famed Turkish pie came stuffed with minced beef that had a strong capsicum flavour. The crust of the pide was quite thin, so the flavour of the toppings was definitely more prominent. There’s lemon on the side, but we personally preferred it without.

Opens daily from 11am to 10pm. Located at #01-17/18/19, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213. Visit its website and Instagram page for more information.

6. Yan Ji Gourmet by Good Earth

Yes, we know we are a little late to the party with trying this popular seafood soup. Yan Ji Gourmet by Good Earth is known for its signature pork meatballs that give the soup its umami flavour, as well as its broth, which consists of 15 components (such as dried Hokkaido scallops) and is left to simmer overnight.

With other outlets in Funan and Westgate, and the original Yan Ji store in Woodlands, we had high expectations. The seafood soup choices ranged from $12.90 (Dory Seafood Soup) to $39.90 (Premium Seafood Soup for 2). We decided on something in between — the Grouper Seafood Soup ($19.90), which comprised a very generous amount of fish slices, clams, crayfish, prawns, and of course, the meatballs.

For all its hype, the meatballs were the least prominent component of the dish, and did not pack as much flavour as we expected. Where this dish truly shines is the seafood and the soup. The fish slices were surprisingly savoury (according to the chef, the fish slices were marinated before cooking). The crayfish were fresh with a strong umami taste that had us wanting more. And the soup? It was everything the reviews said it would be — rich, flavourful, and with a well-balanced sweetness.

Overall, though on the pricier side, the seafood soup was a big hit, which explains the long queues during lunch times.

Note: rice and noodles come at an additional cost of $1.10 for the rice and $1.50 and $1.80 for thick mee hoon and la mian respectively.

Open from Mon to Sat from 11am to 4pm and 5pm to 9pm. Open on Sun from 11am to 4pm, and 5pm to 8:30pm. Located at #01-16A/B, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213. Visit its website and Instagram page for more information.

7. Pancake And Friends

If there is a store that attracts a different demographic than the rest, then it has to be Pancake and Friends. It recently gained a bit of traction on Lemon8 and TikTok, with many youths and young adults touting it as a hidden gem. The main draw: affordable NYC-style bagels starting at $8 and Swiss rostis.

Apart from bagels and rostis, Pancake and Friends serves pratabombs (crispy prata with stuffing) and souffle pancakes, as well as a selection of tea and cocoa.

The NYC-style bagels have two different price points depending on whether you want a closed or open bagel. From our understanding, an open bagel includes more filling, though the ingredients remain the same. We opted for the Salmon Cheese ($8, closed), which featured smoked salmon with cream cheese. We found the taste of the smoked salmon to be a bit too overwhelming on its own. But when we finally bit into the cream cheese, the mild sweetness helped to balance it. Overall, it was a decent dish for the price point.

The Ham Rosti ($15), for us, was the better option, simply because of the well-seasoned egg. It went well with the milder potato base and made for a well-balanced dish.

Opens daily from 10.15am to 9.30pm. Located at #01-34, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213. Visit its Instagram page for more information.

8. Penang Kitchen

Penang cuisine is like no other, so we were pretty excited to come across Penang Kitchen during our recce of Far East Plaza. Bonus points for its homely vibes, thanks to the marbled tables, rattan chairs, and rattan baskets hanging from the ceiling.

To our surprise, this little store hidden in a corner of Far East Plaza (the mall has many, many hidden corners) was featured by the Michelin Guide for having one of the best assam laksas in Singapore. There are mixed reviews on Google, however. Some people love it, while others are less impressed.

We ordered it to taste it for ourselves and also went for a char kway teow. Both dishes are $10 each. The char kway teow was easily one of the better ones we have tried. It had a slight spicy kick and a very strong wok hey taste. The texture of the noodles was also very good. Overall, a very good plate of Penang char kway teow. The only thing we would’ve preferred was for a larger serving of prawns, as we only had two for a $10 price tag.

On to the assam laksa. By the end of our bowl, we had firmly joined the ‘love it’ camp. It was not too sour, which, in our opinion, was the most important factor. The onion added that slight sweetness we were looking for. The pineapple chunks were very sweet and came as an occasional welcome reprieve from the sourness of the soup. But with such divided opinions on this dish, we could have just lucked out with a particularly good bowl. 

Those after other Penang specialities can also look forward to Prawn Noodle Soup ($10) and Rojak ($9).

Opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 3pm and 4pm to 9pm. Closed on Monday. Located at #03-89, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213. Visit its website and Instagram page for more information.

9. All About Tiramisu

Unlike all the other stores in this article, All About Tiramisu is less dine-in and more bring-it-home-and-enjoy. That is, unless you’re lucky enough to snag the smallest size of tiramisu (that comes in a cup) that the store offers and consume it on the little bench available.

All About Tiramisu is a speciality tiramisu store that prepares its stock in-house. The one thing that surprised us was the variety on offer. It’s not surprising to find tiramisu with a touch of booze, but this store takes it to the next level with versions featuring all kinds of alcohol.

We tried three flavours: Rum, Baileys, and Blackforest. For Rum, we tried it on the spot and would recommend it for those who prefer a heavy alcoholic flavour. We personally felt that it was a bit overpowering and opted for Baileys instead. Baileys is All About Tiramisu’s bestseller, and we totally understand why.

The chocolatey Baileys Irish Cream liquor paired very well with the tiramisu’s quintessential coffee notes. The alcohol flavour was not too strong with this one as well, and the cream was airy and light. We personally found the Baileys best after two to three days in the fridge, after it had firmed up a bit. Blackforest was also good, with full cherries and the sweetness amplified by Kirsch liquor.

Other flavours of tiramisu include Zacapa Rum, James Hennessy, Hakushu Whisky, and more. For non-alcoholic options, try the Vanilla Dream tiramisu, another bestseller. Check out the online shop for more flavours.

In-store, prices for the tiramisu vary depending on the quantity you buy and the flavour. When we went during dinner time, there were no small sizes left, and we bought both flavours in the regular size (420ml). Baileys is priced at $27 and Blackforest at $32. There are three larger sizes for the tiramisu (880ml, 1.5 liters, and 3 litres), with prices dependent on flavours. The best part is that you can return the containers and receive a small refund of $1 to $10, depending on the container size.

Open from Mon to Sat, from 11 am to 8:30pm. Open on Sun, from 11am to 8pm. Located at #01-69, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213. Visit its website and Instagram page for more information.

10. Ume Maru

If Wasabi Tei is a no-frills establishment, then Ume Maru is for those who enjoy an atmospheric ambience while they eat. If Ume Maru feels familiar, then you might be thinking of its sister outlet at Fortune Centre: Ume San. Both are umeshu bars, but present different dinner menus. On top of that, Ume Maru has a day-to-night concept - it doubles as a coffee shop during the day.

The restaurant is tastefully designed with lights in the shape of books hanging from the ceiling. Boards with pages of manga are hung on a wall, while images of Japan are hung on the adjacent wall. The Instagrammable decor truly made it feel like we were stepping out of Far East Plaza and into a another world.

The lunch menu features usual Japanese fare like ramen, bento, and dons, while the dinner menu has more options and includes a few unique dishes. Think Japanese fusion dishes such as Prawn Mentaiko Pasta ($24), Salmon Garlic Fried Rice with Mentai ($18), and Yuzu Soba ($22).

We went for the Premium Truffle Ramen ($22), where slices of char siew line the edge of the bowl, topped with truffle caviar. Each spoonful of soup was thoroughly infused with the truffle flavour. If you are looking for a typical ramen dish, this is not for you. We could not really taste the distinct flavour of dashi stock that usually serves as the base of ramen broth.

However, as a truffle-forward dish, it ticks all the boxes. The char siew pieces were not as heavily infused with truffle, allowing the pork’s natural sweetness to come through.

Opens Mon to Thurs from 9am to 9pm. Opens Fri to Sat from 9am to 11pm. Opens Sun from 9am to 5pm. Coffee is served from 9am to 5pm. The lunch menu is available from 12pm to 3pm. Dinner and umeshu menu starts from 5pm onwards. Located at #05-26, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213. Visit its website and Instagram page for more information.

11. Toyo Curry

Last on this list is Toyo Curry. In Singapore, all sorts of curries are readily available, be it Chinese, Thai, Indian, and Japanese. But Korean curry was a first for us. According to the posters, Korean curry is all about being a source of wellness, which makes sense since it’s largely tomato-based.

In Toyo Curry, you can easily customise your curry bowl. Choose from the standard Toyocurry or Toyojeyuk (Korean spicy beef) for your curry base. Base options include rice, pasta omelette, and pita bread (extra $3.30 for two pieces). A good thing is the variety of toppings available from vegetables to proteins, and fried options, though these come at an extra cost depending on your choices. And, most importantly, you can tailor the spice level from zero to three.

However, we decided instead to order one of the set bowls. The Chiking Sausage Mix Toyo included an omelette, chicken sausage, and a side mixture of eggplant, zucchini, potato, and bell pepper. For spice, we chose level one (which the store compares to the spice level of Shin Ramyun).

Growing up, we have always loved eating eggs with ketchup, and this dish made us think back fondly on our childhood. While the egg is a bit on the bland side, this was actually a good thing as it allowed the tomato notes in the sauce to shine through. But while it may be bland, the omelette was very thick, serving as a filling base. The mix of vegetables had a slight charred taste that combined well with the tangy curry. For those of us who are used to bolder curries, Korean curry feels like a lighter alternative.

If you are interested in wholesome meals, Toyo Curry is worth a try to figure out if it would land itself a spot in your diet.

Open daily from 11am to 9pm. Located at #01-01, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213 (it shares a stall with Ice Lab).