Must-try: The chili crab burger is a brilliant preview of Singapore’s culinary pride — you guessed it — chilli crab. 

The breaded crab cake patty is generously stuff with blue swimmer crab and served with luscious, spicy-sweet chili crab sauce. 

17 Jalan Pinang

Must-try: The ramen risotto is a creamy dish bursting with the rich, umami flavours of Japanese tonkotsu, adorned with kurobuta pork that almost melts in your mouth. 

Finish with the berry muffcake, a brilliant muffin-hotcake hybird that definitely hits the sweet spot. 

38 South Buona Vista Road

Must-try: The chili crab pasta is yet another take on Singapore’s national dish: al-dente pasta is coated with sweet-savoury chili crab sauce that boasts a little spicy kick, with generous chunks of fresh crab meat to go along. 

Mop up the rest of the sauce with deep-fried golden mantou (buns).

223 Upper Thomson Road

Must-try: The fried chicken with pancakes is complemented with a homemade sweet chili sauce that’s reminiscent of Singapore sambal. 

The croque tambi is another crowd favourite, a curried omelette that’s been around Asia — Sriracha, Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise, pan-seared Scarmoza cheese… served with a side of raita, Indian-style salad. 

297 River Valley Road

Must-try: When this Hong Kong cha chaan teng (tea house) favourite hit Singapore’s shores, it saw snaking queues that never subsided, even during non-peak hours. 

And when you truck into their delightfully creamy scrambled eggs, egg tarts and more, you’ll agree that it’s worth the wait. 

31 Lorong Liput

Must-try: The oriental bolognese fuses angel hair pasta with a flavourful Szechuan ragout and Asian ingredients like lotus roots. 

Also, would you look at that egg? 

#01-01, 115 Amoy Street

Must-try: If you haven’t jumped on the rice bowl bandwagon, well, do it. 

The folks here at Populus do brilliant ones: choose from heirloom beef rendang with Peranakan achar, Singapore chicken rice-inspired fried chicken cutlet, roasted teriyaki salmon and truffle wagyu beef. 

146 Neil Road

Must-try: The Korean-inspired kimchi flatbread features kimchi grilled back bacon, pork bratwurst and sunny side up eggs atop a fragrant toasted flatbread, complemented with a delish homemade sriracha sauce, the myriad of flavours coming together wonderfully in each mouthful. 

Various locations. 

Text: Pinky Chng/The Finder