We’re no strangers to American food. It’s perhaps one of the most easily recognisable cuisines, because we’re seen them all over TV and movies, from toothsome burgers and buffalo wings, to thick and creamy milkshakes and stacks of pancakes. What makes American foods so loved? Their distinct hearty flavours and reliable comfort factor, of course.
This fourth of July, get your star spangled banners ready and head down to the best American restaurants and diners around the island for some quintessential food from the US of A:
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Step into this restaurant to experience some Southern hospitality and delish, hearty meals made with farm-fresh ingredients. Located in Marina Bay Sands, it’s the perfect place to unwind after work or on weekends. Must-try mains include Chicken ‘N Watermelon ‘N Waffles ($40) and Lobster Mac & Cheese ($64), but you should also try the appetisers like Classic Buttermilk Biscuits with honey butter and house-made jam ($10) and Popcorn Shrimp with brown butter and bacon salt ($18). For dessert, tuck into All American Apple Pie a la mode ($14) or, if it’s cheat day, order some Fried Oreos ($14)! There’s also a Great American Brunch on weekends from 10am to 4pm.
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar is at # B1-07 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972. Go here for more information.
Overeasy is a classic American diner that’s decked with all-American paraphernalia, sending you right back to the 1970s. Think retro vinyl booths, checkered flooring, tiled walls and long wooden bar counters, complete with neon lights. Our favourite Overeasy outlet is its first one at One Fullerton, which also gives a picturesque view of the Marina Bay skyline. The restaurant features dishes that are characteristic of the classic American diner. Some of the restaurant’s star players include the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burger ($24), served with Japanese cucumbers, housemade coleslaw and fries, and The Truffle Burger ($28), served with a signature wagyu chunk blend patty, Swiss cheese, sautéed onions & mushrooms, truffle mayo and fries.
Overeasy has several outlets. Go here for more information.
The East Coast (we’re talking about the US, not our humble east side) has been known for its scrumptious seafood dishes, from Maine to Philly to Boston. To satisfy your seafood temptations without needing to fly across sprawling oceans for more than 20 hours, head to Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chophouse, which serves a wide selection of dishes from fresh raw oysters ($48 for six) to Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes ($58) and lobster pot pies ($115). Its spring menu also includes its Antonius Caviar, boasting the finest quality of fresh, unpasteurised caviar from the waters of Warmia in Poland (prices start at $30).
Inspired by the old seafood houses of the Atlantic Coast, the restaurant’s head Chef, Travis Masiero, takes inspiration from his hometown in Boston, delivering dishes that bring forth the freshness of the shucked oysters while incorporating a Bostonian twist that is true to his roots. The oysters are fresh from the waters of Massachusetts and the North Eastern coast of the US, giving you that quintessentially American taste right on your plate.
Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chophouse has several outlets. Go here for more information.
If you are looking for a taste of the South, try Meat Smith, a barbeque joint in locations all across Singapore that combines the best of food from Texas, Kansas City, North and South Carolina. The restaurant boasts a varied selection of juicy and tender meats that would satisfy ravenous meat-lovers, including ½ Pork Spare Ribs ($25), Dino Beef Rib ($85 per rib) and Iberico Bacon Loin ($36 per 220 grams). Perfect for a group dinner, the place also offers barbeque platters, with the BBQ Platter for two ($95) and Meat Smith BBQ Platter for three to four ($180). We say it’s a great excuse to indulge in some meaty goodness with your friends and family.
Meat Smith has various outlets. Go here for more information.
First opened in New York City in 2001, the Clinton Street Baking Company has since made a name for itself as one of the best places to go to get a good breakfast. In fact, its best known for its delicious blueberry pancakes that have been voted best in the city twice on New York Magazine. You can get a taste of the famed blueberry pancakes in its outlet on Purvis Street. The best news yet? Clinton Street Baking Company serves breakfast all hours of the day, so no need to worry about the consequences of hitting that snooze button.
At 31 Purvis St, Singapore 188608, tel: 6684 4845. Go here for more information.
Featuring hearty and robust dishes in its extensive menu, The Market Grill is known for its — you guessed it — grilled selections, ranging from standard to premium cuts of high grade meats to seafood, including its signature flown-in live Boston Lobster, among many others. Opened since 2012, the American restaurant also has burgers and rolls, its most famous being the Lobster Roll ($56), prepared with herbed pommery mayonnaise, toasted brioche roll and greens and served with a side of fries. The Market Grill also serves 350 day grain fed Sabchoku Wagyu ($49 for Tri Tip) as well as Duroc Pork chop ($36). If you are in for a less meaty meal, opt for salad options such as the Lobster Salad ($30) that allows you to taste the best of the American cuisine’s lobster, without the overwhelming feeling of chewing on too much protein.
At 208 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068642, tel: 6221 3323. Go here for more information.
A star player in the nightlife that is surrounding the Esplanade area, Mischief offers the best of American and South-East Asian street cuisine with dishes featuring a creative fusion of the two. Headed by Chef Mark Tang, the dishes served here are modern, but prepared by traditional techniques. Just like the foods you can find in America’s ethnic enclaves, Mischief’s menu offers you Singapore’s take on American staples.
One interesting dish is the Wagyu Cheeseburger ($24), which gives the classic US cheese burger a twist with the inclusion of a Japanese beef patty. The patty is topped with sharp cheddar and BBQ sauce and served between a brioche bun. Other intriguing dishes include Prawn Paste Chicken Wings ($16), Broccoli & Cheese ($8) and their Pulled Pork Fettucine ($23). The place features a nice dining area that transitions into party spot at night with a bar right beside it, so whether you are planning for a nice dinner out with friends or are in absolute need for a party night out, this spot offers you both.
At 8 Raffles Ave, #01-10/12, Singapore 039802, tel: 65320106. Go here for more information.
Serving the authentic flavours of true American BBQ, the restaurant prepares, smokes and slow roasts its smoked specialities to perfection, giving the food a unique Smokey’s signature taste. The diner uses traditional American methods, utilising wood chips and imported American cooking equipment to cook its meats, with the preparation process taking several hours. The wait is well worth it, however, as it leaves Smokey’s meats tender and bursting with flavour. Try its Angus Beef Short Rib ($46), that features a tender 200 day grain-fed Angus beef short rib, mesquite smoked and roasted for over 20 hours that is elevated with a homemade BBQ sauce. But if you are in the mood for something less filling, try Smokey’s Classic ($21), boasting a medium rare beef patty paired with a plain old fashioned bun.
At 73 Joo Chiat Pl, Singapore 427790, tel: 6345 6914. Go here for more information.
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Giving you a taste of the American South, The Beast Southern Kitchen + Bourbon Bar is the home to true blue home-cooked Southern comfort food for you. Its Chicken & Waffles ($20), a classic Southern dish, boasts a boneless chicken thigh brined for 24 hours and then fried till golden brown, served with crisp buttermilk waffle and its house-made bourbon maple butter sauce. Available only on the weekends, its brunch menu features its Southern Big Breakfast ($22) served with andouille sausage, sunny side up and an array of other sides, as well as its Pulled Pork Hash ($20), featuring a 10 hour slow cooked pulled pork with a side of home fries and poached eggs.
At 17 Jln Klapa, Singapore 199329, tel: 6295 0017. Go here for more information.
We can’t have a list on American foods and not include this famed US burger joint, can we? Shake Shack started as a roadside hot dog cart in New York City’s Madison Square Park, and it’s now one of the most popular burger restaurants in the world, serving up a range of fresh, high-quality dishes ranging from burgers to frozen custards and milkshakes. We love their crinkle-cut fries too. Visit the restaurant’s first South East Asian-outlet at Jewel Changi, that is, if you’re willing to brave the snaking queues!
Shake Shack is at #02-256 Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666. Go here for more information.
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Text: Lauren Ong, Additional reporting: Elizabeth Liew