If you love indulging in heritage food, then you must wonder where are the best places to have authentic Peranakan fare in Singapore. Look no further, we’ve compiled the top restaurants here for you!
Compiled by Sean Tan
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With years of culinary experience and a highly respected figure on the local dining scene, the Peranakan food doyenne’s legacy is culminated in her flagship restaurant. Here, you can savour the best of Nyonya fare, from afternoon high teas featuring savoury bites such as buah keluak crostini, hae bee hiam sandwiches, pulled beef sambal pao and kuay pie tee to sweet treats including kueh lapis sago, multi-layered baked kueh lapis, kueh dadar and kueh bengkah. A must-try dish is Violet Oon’s dry laksa, which many have lauded as one of the best in Singapore. Also, coffee lovers will enjoy the fragrant cuppas brewed from Violet Oon’s specially curated coffee beans.
The National Kitchen by Violet Oon is at 1 St. Andrew’s Road #02–01, National Gallery, Singapore 178957. Tel: 9834 9935. Visit violetoon.com
The world’s first and only Peranakan restaurant to be awarded a Michelin Star, Candlenut started off as a modest establishment in Neil Road and is now housed under the prestigious COMO Dempsey. Led by homegrown Chef Malcolm Lee with a fierce, dedicated passion to upkeep and refine the tradition of Peranakan food and using his modern techniques to bring the heritage fare to new heights. The range of curry dishes here are a must to try if you visit, and also don’t miss the delectable wok-fried fare featuring premium meat and seafood ingredients.
Candlenut is at 17 & 18 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676. Tel: 1800 304 2288. Visit the Candlenut webpage
Helmed by Executive Chef Raymond Khoo, himself a true-blue Peranakan, this authentic Straits cuisine restaurant serves three generations of delicious ‘mesti-cuba’ (must-try) Peranakan recipes, lovingly handed down by the Nyonyas and Babas in his family. The Peranakan is also the only Peranakan restaurant along the Orchard road belt in Singapore and the only restaurant to serve a ‘Tok Panjang’ – a grand Peranakan feast, once served at the turn of the century, by wealthy Straits families to mark special occasions. Try the 6-course degustation menu or their Chef’s Table Set Menu here for an authentic dining experience, or explore their long list of a la carte menu items.
The Peranakan is at 442 Orchard Road, Level 2 Claymore Connect, Singapore 238879. Tel: 6262 4428. Visit www.theperanakan.com
With a reputation for serving up exquisite and authentic Peranakan fare, this well-known establishment is the go-to to enjoy familiar classics like Ayam Buah Keluak and Beef Rendang. The Assam Puteh, a seafood soup simmered with tamarind juice flavoured with lemongrass and lime leaves, is a Peranakan staple you must try. A nice selection of savouries includes all your familiar braised and stewed meats, plus seafood. For dessert, go for the Durian Chendol if you are a durian lover; but if you are not, the regular Chendol is pretty good too.
Blue Ginger is at 97 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088518. Visit www.theblueginger.com
A passionate endeavour by Chef Kathryn Ho, PeraMakan serves traditional and contemporary food which are wholesome, delicious and generous in portions. Chef Kathryn tries to bring back the food of her childhood in its pure, unadulterated form, made from fresh ingredients, without preservatives and food enhancers. Taking pride of being a true-blue Nyonya, brought up in the fine art of cooking by her grandmother and mother, she hopes to share her Peranakan heritage via her culinary skills to bring good food cooked with love to everyone. For a taste of home-cooked Peranakan food, you can be sure it does not get any more authentic than this!
PeraMakan is at Level 3, Keppel Club, 10 Bukit Chermin Road, Singapore 109918. Tel: 6377 2829. Visit peramakan.com
House in a colonial building, you will be pampered here with a spread of authentic Peranakan cuisine, inspired by the exotic flavours of the spice-rich Straits regions, amidst homely atmospheres. The restaurant’s history is steeped in Straits Peranakan culture, and they serve up modern Peranakan cuisine with classic favourites like the INDOCAFE Signature Kueh Pie Tee (above), INDOCAFE Otah Klasik, Organic Ayam Buah Keluak and Wagyu Beef Rendang. For desserts, we suggest trying the Bubur Cha Cha or their signature Chendol Panna Cotta.
INDOCAFE – The White House is at 35 Scotts Road, Singapore 228227. Tel: 6733 2656. Visit thehouseofindocafe.com
Established since 1953, Straits Chinese Kitchen is the oldest Nyonya restaurant in Singapore. The restaurant uses secret recipes handed down through the generations, with a focus on the original tastes of authentic Peranakan cuisine which has been preserved closely and using only the freshest ingredients and select choice of spices. You can find the full range of ayam (chicken) and babi (pork) dishes here, alongside soups, seafood and all your favourite Peranakan desserts.
Straits Chinese Kitchen is at 34 Craig Road, #01-08 Chinatown Plaza, Singapore 089673. Tel: 6534 7328. Visit www.straitschinese.com
