From the moment fans caught a whiff of the rumour that the 15-year-old street burger brand is coming, they were salivating in joy. Proof of this chain’s popularity is not only in the snaking lines at their home base in New York, but also how people flock to an opening at any international outlet.

Singapore’s (and Southeast Asia’s) first Shake Shack will no doubt see the same phenomena, but their delicious grass-fed, hormone-free Angus beef burgers should more than make up for the wait. Make it count by ordering the fast food brand’s signature ShackBurger (which encases a super savoury, crispy-on-the-outside beef patty in buttery soft buns), or Shack-cago Dog (it started as a hotdog stand after all), and polish that off with crispy crinkle fries and its famous shakes. Veggie Lovers will adore its Shroom Burger (pictured) which features a crisp portobello mushroom filled with three kinds of melted cheese. That cheese pull? Totes Insta-worthy.

Our favourite though, has got to be its Singapore-exclusive Pandan Shake. Vanilla frozen custard ice cream is blended with pandan and coconut and topped with gula melaka crumble to form a rich, heavenly beverage that is like ondeh ondeh, kaya toast and pandan chiffon cake in a cup. Worth every single calorie. Other Singapore-only flavours include the Jewela Melaka frozen custard ice cream with vanilla custard, coconut salted caramel, Lemuel chocolate chunks, shortbread and of course, gula melaka.

At #02-256. 

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Tonito will be Singapore’s first all-Latin American restaurant, bringing authentic recipes from places such as Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Columbia, and Argentina to life. A Peruvian theme takes the helm so you can expect your classic ceviche dishes along with Argentinian choripanes and Peruvian Pan con Chicharrones. This exotic menu is set to tantalise those weary of the usual fare, and also rewards those who’ve been seeking Latin American food locally for a purist experience.

The food may be more adventurous, but the atmosphere is not. Tonito will have a relaxed and family-friendly setting, while providing the perfect spot to kick back and have an iconic Pisco Sour, against the lush displays of its surroundings.

At #02-248.

Leave your diets at the door, because Emack & Bolio’s is coming to town. The rock-and-roll-inspired ice cream parlour offers tons of sinful ice-cream flavours such as fruit loops and melted marshmallow, every scoop stacked high in a crispy cone and then outrageously garnished with all sorts of goodies – from traditional sprinkles to frosted rice krispies. Not feeling it for ice cream? They’ve also got treats such as Ice Cream Pizza, froyo and smoothies, guaranteed to satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth.

At #B3-200. 

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While this Michelin-starred Hong Kong brand already has its first outlet in Orchard, their second will be their inaugural one in an airport setting. More importantly, giving nod to the temporal nature of the crowd, the Jewel outlet will, for the first time, be selling Travel Gift Packs of their famed cured sausages and roast duck!

While you can only enjoy their Suckling Pig and Iberico Char Siu within the restaurant, you can now bring a taste of Kam’s Roast back home with the souvenir sets packed and approved for flight journeys. Convenience is always key for time-strapped travellers, ain’t that right? Take your pick of lean pork, goose liver or mixed, and while you’re at it, throw in a few of their Bao Buns to snack on.

At #02-210. 

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It’s baaack! No longer do we have to take a ferry or risk the causeway jam, because our nostalgic fast food chain is making its comeback at Jewel. It had better get those mugs frosted quick!

After being away for 15 years, the empire celebrates its 100th year anniversary with a return to Singapore, to the teary welcome of fans. It’s an all-round yes to their incomparable Coney Dogs and Root Beer Floats, because it’s the stuff childhood dreams are made of.

But hey, because Jewel Changi is a gateway to the world as well, A&W has also decided to curate some of its best-selling items from around the world. These include Cream Cheese Burger from Japan and Golden Aroma Chicken from Indonesia. With a renewed strategy, let’s hope this time, Singaporeans root for the chain and keep them around.

At #B2-209. 

Famed London-born Burger & Lobster is another eatery new to Singapore. Taking prime vantage at Jewel’s topmost floor, Canopy Park, foodies can now enjoy their core menu of prime burger, fresh Atlantic lobster and original lobster roll within a verdant and contemporary setting. Sweet crustaceans and hearty beef done just right — who can say no to that?

Imagine an urban space of rich reds, bold marble and handmade crackle-glazed tiles, and no matter where you’re seated, you’ll have a view to its remarkable fresh lobster tanks. If you’re not feeling too guilty after chomping down on its hearty surf or turf, we suggest you indulge in its drink program, designed to please any type of traveller.

At #05-203.

Calling all local hotpot junkies, you’ll be glad to see a brand new Beauty In A Pot outlet emerge! Known to often be fully booked months ahead of time, visitors will soon be able to experience the restaurant’s fresh seafood and meat options, along with its fragrant herbal broth flavours (especially its iconic beauty collagen broth) at Jewel Changi.

At #B2-224. 

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Pink Fish’s unique concept has yet to be be introduced outside of its home country, Norway. But as Singaporeans move towards living green and eating clean, the restaurant’s focus on producing food transparently and sustainably definitely fits the bill for the food scene here. Featuring options such as salads, wraps, burgers and poke bowls, each dish is built around the star – fresh, high-quality Norwegian salmon.

At #B1-261/262. 

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We’d understand if you thought it was that haircare company. But no, we’re talking about Yun Hai Yao, which has 150 outlets in China and is the world’s largest Yunnan F&B chain. And now with Yun Nans, they are opening their first new restaurant after a decade, out of China and right here in Jewel Changi.

If you’re not familiar with highland cuisine from that region, we’re here to help. There’s the signature Steam Pot Chicken Soup — a bowl of tonic goodness made from a special breed of black feet chicken and, get this, not a single drop of water. The chicken is brewed in a hand-made Jianshui clay pot and pressure-steamed for three hours so the broth is derived purely from condensation. That’s some serious simmering! The result? A clear yet flavoursome soup that is rich with chicken essence. Only 108 pots are available daily, so you might want to get there early.

The Beef Stew in Copper Pot is another must-try for spicy lovers, featuring beef tendon, brisket and tripe in a piquant soup base Hearty and tangy with a strong satisfying kick. But our favourite is the unassuming Stir-fried Wild Porcini Mushrooms with Dried Chilli. According to the owner, the elusive mushrooms are hard to find and are sourced early in the morning by farmers in Yunnan. This dish features fresh Porcini mushrooms (instead of the usual dried ones) flash fried with dried chillies and garlic to produce a slight crunch, and boy is it addictive.

To celebrate the brand’s first international branch, the chef has created items such as the Yunnan Rice Noodles in Prawn Broth with Black Truffle — a play on our local prawn noodles. There’s also the grilled sea bass with lemongrass, boasting smoky yet tender flesh with flavours reminiscent of Thai cuisine. Using complex cooking techniques and showcasing rich flavours, we’re guessing it’ll be a hit with local gourmands.

At #02-217. 

The more the merrier, and that’s especially true when it comes to bubble tea options. Originally from Taiwan, The Alley has spawned stores all over the globe from Seoul to Paris. The brand is famous for its range of Brown Sugar pearl milk tea, known as Deerioca, but we reckon its ultra-Instagrammable Aurora collection – featuring rainbow-coloured fruit tea in gorgeous bottles – will be bringing in the crowds too. Plus, it’s open 24 hours!

At #B2-273.

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Love otah? At this brand new concept by Lee Wee & Brothers, be prepared to be wowed by new flavours exclusive to the Jewel outlet, like Pink Salmon Otah, Scallop Otah, Cream Cheese & Corn Otah, and Green Petai & Anchovy Otah! At O’TAH, you can also try the O’TAH Fries – hand-cut hunks of mackerel fish otah fries accompanied with shoestring potato fries and a lime and herb mayonnaise dip. Also, don’t miss Ben’s Burger, a towering creation showcasing mackerel fish patty, tomato, purple cabbage, caramelised onion and sunny side up, all sandwiched between fluffy charcoal buns, and also Lee Wee & Brothers’ new Pesto Salmon Nasi Lemak.

At #B2-241. 

The famous pioneer of the well-loved Mille Crêpes from New York is opening its fifth store in singapore at Jewel. With an airy, open-concept 50-seater café and boutique, Lady M is debuting the brand’s first-ever Bon Bons line which features 23 different flavours of sweet confections – from gummies and sweets to flavoured nuts and chocolates. The store will also be unveiling a selection of new products, which includes an all-new seasonal cake, Pistachio Mille Crêpes that is making its international debut in Singapore. The cake has no less than 20 handmade crêpes layered with plush pistachio pastry cream, the finest pistachio paste is then hand-whipped into layers of cream, giving the cake a distinct, nutty finish. A must-try if you ask us!

At #02-253. 

Have a sweet tooth? Now, you can indulge in your dessert cravings at any time of the day, as Icenoie Hokkaido’s fourth outlet in Singapore will be its first-ever 24-hours store in Singapore. Previously known as Naganuma Ice Co before a rebranding exercise, the brand is Hokkaido’s top seller of soft serve and gelato, selling some 3,500 soft serve and gelato daily there.

Icenoie is known for its use of raw milk instead of fresh milk. Freshly-squeezed raw milk from the Maoi ranch near Naganuma town in Hokkaido is collected daily and transported to the Icenoie factory to process within the same day. The raw milk is then pasteurised at a low heat of 68 degree celsius to retain its original flavour and nutrients.

Expect four soft serve and seven gelato flavours at its Jewel Changi store, as well as desserts such as creme brulee and soft serve parfait. Fans shouldn’t get bored either — the store says it plans to change flavours every two weeks. Bonus: Icenoie is having a promotion where you get to enjoy one-for-one on all available soft serve flavours (limited to the first 50 customers per day and while stocks last) until May 5. Can you say yum?

At #B2-243. 

The first stand-alone dining establishment by the Shangri-La Group, the 220-seat Shang Social combines a dining space with a casual market section (called MRKT) and cocktail bar. The 88-seat restaurant focuses on three facets of Chinese cuisine – Cantonese, Huaiyang, and Sichuan – with dishes from the group’s master chefs.

Shangri-La’s executive Chinese chef Mok Kit Keung of Shang Palace, will have his signature dishes – bamboo noodles with dark soya sauce and lard, and deep-fried whole boneless chicken filled with fried glutinous rice – featured in the Cantonese selection.

For Huaiyang cuisine, chef Joe Hou of Jiangnan Wok at Shangri-La Hotel, Nanjing’s specialty is the “Jiang Nan Wok” Braised Black Marbled Pork. And for Sichuan fare, check out chef Rick Du’s Sichuan spicy free-range chicken. Chef Du is the executive Chinese chef at Summer Palace in Shangri-La Hotel, Shenyang.

MRKT will feature more casual dining options such as noodles and chef Hou’s Suzhou baked minced pork bun, while the 18-seat bar pairs cocktails with Chinese-style tapas.

At #01-219 – #01-222.

Local cafe d’Good’s third outlet houses its first-ever Coffee Museum, which owner Mike Chin claims is the most comprehensive museum on the history of coffee in Singapore. There are antique artefacts such as a vintage Nescafe coffee can from the 1930s, an antique coffee bean roaster barrel, a Mr Coffee automatic coffee brewing system from the 70s, and a life-sized recreation of an old-school kopitiam complete with a coffee uncle. Mike says he sourced for them online and through word-of-mouth, and the process took years.

Explanatory boards can be found on the wall explaining the origin of coffee in Singapore, how the quintessential kopitiam came to be, as well as what the first/second/third wave of coffee is. The museum is open to public for free, and there are booth seats there for diners as well, so head there if you want to know more about your cup of joe.

Besides the museum, the cafe space is also very picturesque, resembling the interior of a black-and-white colonial house. Unique creations have been crafted specially for the Jewel Changi outlet, such as the Hainanese Chicken Roulade and Risotto Balls, a reimagined dish of the beloved chicken rice. It features poached chicken thighs in rolls paired with crispy and juicy risotto balls and topped with foie gras (instead of chicken liver). Other mod-sin dishes include the Laksa Seafood Pasta and the lobster and Bak Kut Noodle Soup, which all make an interesting dining experience.

At #01-227.

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The Michelin-starred restaurant from Hong Kong already has nine outlets in Singapore and is adding their tenth outlet in Jewel, the first-ever Tim Ho Wan to open in an airport. Started by Chef Mak Kwai Pui (from 3-Michelin-starred Lung King Heen restaurant) and Chef Leung Fai Keung, Tim Ho Wan is often called the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in the world, famous for their char siew baos and dim sum. The new outlet will feature the Hong Kong Style Wonton Noodles (above), an exclusive dish you can only get in Jewel.

At #02 -223

This is the first shop for the local artisanal gelato brand in a mall/airport, and it’s really exciting because now we have another place to indulge in their refreshing treats. Sharing the space with local fashion label In Good Company (@igcasia), the shop is located conveniently outside the boutique where shoppers can buy and go, or hang around outside to enjoy their gelato before going in for a bit of retail therapy. It will carry the full range of botanical flavours they are famous for here, including popular signatures like the White Crysanthemum, Spiced Pear, Strawberry Basil and Lychee Raspberry.

At #01-214/215/216.

Looking for a place to chill, away from the shopping crowds? Head to the top floor of Jewel where the bars are and look for the corner where Rumours Bar & Grill is located at. This is the second outlet for the award-winning bar from Bali here (the first is in Holland Village) and they will serve up the same exciting menu of bespoke cocktails plus hearty dishes and bar bites. We suggest the signature Blowing Smoke, a showstopping cocktail with hickory wood smoke, and also the delicious Two Boyfriends which features a very unique combo.

At #05-27.

Opened by Blue Waves Food Empire who also brought us the award-wiining Rumours Bar & Grill (see previous slide), Sama Sama is a new concept that offers authentic Indonesian cuisine in a cosy, contemporary setting with a unique touch of Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage.

 Here, you’ll be able to savour Indonesian food staples like gado gado and satays, plus flavourful grilled meats. Sama Sama is also one of the few Halal-certified restaurants in Jewel.

At #03-225/226.

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Paradise Classic is opened by Singapore’s biggest Chinese restaurant chains, Paradise Group of Restaurants which also gave us their famous eight-flavour Legendary Xiao Long Bao from Paradise Dynasty. The restaurant serves up an extensive menu featuring Nanyang-style Chinese cuisine. If you prefer more casual Chinese dining fare, located beside the restaurant is LeNu, the noodle bar concept that is known for its signature braised beef broth is cooked for 18 hours using beef marrow, bones and other premium ingredients for an authentic beef taste.

At #04-244.

The Suju Masayuki-run restaurant’s signature dishes include the Hamburg Steak, $42, with miso-demi-glace sauce, and soup using Suju’s originally blended miso together with rice cooked in a bronze pot said to enhance the flavour and aroma of the rice. Another fast favourite is the Mixed Katsu, $34, and Gindara Misozuke Yaki, $42, a charcoal grilled miso-marinated codfish.

What’s been captivating foodies on social media are the cafe’s matcha creations, including the Matcha Mille Feuille, Matcha Montblanc (pictured) and Matcha Opera. There’s also gelato with unique flavours like Roasted Green Tea, Soy Sauce-Flavoured Caramel Walnuts, and Sweet Potato.

Those who love their Japanese snacks and drinks will lobe Nomono, which is the JW360° retail corner. It procures snacks and the best souvenirs from all over Japan. Some fab picks include the zesty Apple Chips, which consist of air-fried raw apples; the Hagi no Tsuki Custard Cream Cake, a soft and fluffy sponge cake with custard cream filling, originating from Sendai; and the Mount Fuji Shape Rice Cracker Box. You’ll also find seasonal products like sakura sake and sakura sea salt

At #01-223/224/225.

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Text: Zoe Zeng, Sean Tan, Elizabeth Liew, Morgan Awyong, Joy Fang, Barbara Koh, Eunice Quek/The Straits Times. This post was first published on April 16, 2019, and was updated on May 9, 2019.