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Taste Tradition at Arab Street’s Best Restaurants
Arab Street seamlessly blends art, culture, and culinary delights. Nestled within the lively Kampong Glam area, this locale holds immense significance as an enclave of Arab and Malay culture.
What better way to fully experience the eclectic energy of Arab Street than by delving into its finest dining establishments? Here’s a list of Arab Street’s best restaurants that we think are worthy of every penny and every space in your tummy.
Beirut Grill
Address: 72 Bussorah St, Singapore 199485
Contact Details: +6590691925
Operating Hours: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday to Saturday, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm
Craving a taste of Lebanese food right here in Singapore? Take a trip down to Beirut Grill for an authentic Middle Eastern dining experience.
Having been a culinary staple since 2009, Beirut Grill satisfies your taste buds with authentic pastries, kebabs, and the must-try Beirut lamb chop.
Even the ambience and interiors are tastefully decorated with Middle Eastern designs, leaving you to dine with your friends as if you’re in Beirut!
| Pro Tip: Some nights, Beirut Grill surprises its guests with belly dancers! There’s no strict schedule as to when they come out, but a chance to watch live belly dancing might convince you to keep coming back until you do! |
Overrun.SG
Address: 29 Arab St, Singapore 199728
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 12:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Friday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Sunday, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Cool off your Arab Street stroll with a treat from Overrun.SG! Since 2015, this halal-certified ice cream haven has been delighting customers with lavish soft serves.
Each order features your chosen soft serve, generously adorned with toppings like longan, biscuits, wafers, marshmallows, and more. Don’t miss their signature Overrun Chendol, a flavour-packed delight loaded with beloved traditional toppings.
Every bit, from the bottom to the tip of the swirl is covered with your chosen toppings. So for $9.50 a pop, you get pretty good value for money!
| Pro Tip: Overrun.SG often closes early when stocks run out, with their signature chendol flavour running out the fastest. If you want to try it, it’s best to visit around their opening hour (noon)! |
Overrice
Address: 41 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198489
Contact Details: +6588771827
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Overrice is known as one of Singapore’s first halal-certified Mediterranean eateries, and offers rice bowls inspired by the eat-and-go concept of New York’s The Halal Guys, eliminating the need to travel across the globe for their renowned loaded rice bowls.
Signature dishes include oven-grilled chicken, pulled pork, and falafel, and they come with a heaping serving of seasoned Basmati rice. Each order gets a side of tomatoes, lettuce, pita bread, and fresh cucumber too!
It’s also worth noting that Overrice offers plant-based rice bowls and sides like spicy popcorn chicken and grain-fed beef fries. There are a lot of bites you can pair with your rice bowl, and they don’t break the bank too much either.
| Pro Tip: If you want to enjoy Overrice from the comfort of your own home, they do islandwide delivery for just $5. You also get $5 off your first purchase on their website! |
Cappadocia Turkish Restaurant
Address: 69 Bussorah St, Singapore 199482
Contact Details: +6596779072
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 am to 11:30 pm
For a delightful dining experience near Arab Street, don’t miss a visit to Cappadocia Turkish Restaurant. Affectionately known as “Cappa” among locals, this restaurant has been a longstanding favourite in the Arab Street enclave.
For a restaurant located in a prime spot next to tourist spots, Cappadocia Turkish Restaurant offers authentic Turkish cuisine at affordable prices. A meal will set you back an average of $15 to $30, while a sharing platter for two to three costs just below $60!
Their extensive menu includes a range of dishes, from beloved starters like hummus, baba ganoush (eggplant dip), and falafel wrap to main courses featuring grilled meat kebabs with options like lamb, beef, and chicken.
| Pro Tip: Cappa is recognised for its vibrant and energetic atmosphere, so take this into account when planning a reservation if you prefer a quieter ambience in a casual restaurant. |
All Things Delicious
Address: 21 Arab St, Singapore 199844
Contact Details: +6563965302
Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm
True to its name, All Things Delicious is a bakery and cafe dedicated to crafting delightful baked goods. While their scones may not conform to the typical round shape, their triangular and tender Scottish variations are equally pleasing.
Topped with options like gula melaka (palm sugar) and orange cranberry, these scones offer a unique twist. Among crowd favourites are the halal-friendly sticky apricot pistachio cake, sticky toffee pudding, and banana upside-down cake.
Beyond baked goods, the cafe also features a range of hearty breakfast options, pasta, and rice bowls—all irresistibly delicious!
| Pro Tip: Given the limited seating at All Things Delicious, it’s advisable to secure a reservation ahead of time. You can book a table by calling the phone number above or by booking through the website! |
Alaturka Turkish and Mediterranean Restaurant
Address: 15 Bussorah St, Singapore 199436
Contact Details: +6594346026
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:30 am to 10:30 pm
Craving authentic Mediterranean cuisine? Explore Alaturka Turkish and Mediterranean Restaurant, where Chef Nafiz Bozkurt, with over 18 years of expertise and hailing from Turkey, uses exclusively authentic spices, including sumac imported from his homeland.
This restaurant has been dishing out Turkish and Mediterranean delights that quickly propelled it to earn a spot on the Bib Gourmand list in the 2016 Michelin Guide Singapore.
Aside from the must-try charcoal-grilled kebabs, other signature dishes are the freshly baked traditional bread with accompanying dips like hummus and baba ganoush, and the buttery kunefe pastry.
| Pro Tip: If you have particular dietary requirements, it’s advisable to inform the staff at Alaturka in advance, preferably during your reservation call. They can make adjustments to your orders and prepare them just the way you like them! |
The Coconut Club
Address: 269 Beach Rd, Singapore 199546
Contact Details: +6587253315
Operating Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 11:00 am to 10:30 pm, Thursday, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Fans of nasi lemak (coconut rice) will point their fingers at The Coconut Club if you ask them where to get the best kind! That’s because they use a signature White Sutera coconut milk, a blend made from cold-pressed Mawa and Kampong coconuts.
Most of the menu items at The Coconut Club are, obviously, coconut-based or marinated with coconut. Star items are the nasi lemak, percik kambing (lamb short ribs), and ayam goreng berempah (spiced fried chicken).
Coconut-free choices like gado gado (Indonesian salad), and spicy okra are available as well. Due to its popularity among locals and tourists alike, it’s advisable to make a reservation in advance to secure a table!
| Pro Tip: The Coconut Club has two levels, the Dining Room at Level 2 and the Canteen at Level 1, and these two offer separate menus. The former is the more formal dining area and requires reservations for their lunch sets. The latter, on the other hand, only accepts walk-ins! |
Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro
Address: 257 Beach Rd, Singapore 199539
Contact Details: +6563969096
Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Friday to Saturday, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Another halal restaurant to check out on Arab Street is Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro. If you’re looking for a spot to have brunch with your friends and family, pencil down this place!
Managed by a Singaporean-Swedish couple, the cafe serves up Swedish pancakes and stuffed cabbage rolls, with a standout reputation for their Swedish meatballs, often considered superior to those at IKEA.
Other recommended dishes include grilled chicken salad and salmon gravlax. Fika also serves desserts and pastries to pair along with coffee and tea.
| Pro Tip: At Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro, the service is self-administered, requiring you to place your food order at the counter. To secure a table, you can follow the local practice known as “chope-ing,” where you leave a tissue or napkin on an unoccupied table while ordering your food. |
The Malayan Council
Address: 71 Bussorah St, Singapore 199484
Contact Details: +6590097345
Operating Hours: Sunday to Monday, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm
The Malayan Council is one of the most famous restaurants in Arab Street, serving up traditional Malay dishes and few Western items on the menu. As they serve mainly Malay cuisine, you can expect the food to be a little spicier.
Highlighted menu options include a smoked duck lemak chilli padi pasta or a sarong platter featuring Singapore chilli lobster, accompanied by crispy fried mantou buns to absorb the flavourful sauce.
For dessert, treat your sweet tooth with some ondeh ondeh, traditional Malay rice cakes coated in shredded coconut. If there’s one place to get an authentic taste of Malay food, it’s at the Malayan Council!
| Pro Tip: The serving sizes are suitable for sharing, so think about ordering an amount that is sufficient for you and your friends. |
Ratu Lemper
Address: 31 Arab St, Singapore 199730
Contact Details: +6598132450
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Friday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Arab Street boasts numerous cafes and eateries featuring traditional Malay and Indonesian fare. A standout choice is Ratu Lemper, offering an Indonesian snack akin to a halal version of Spam musubi, substituting Spam with delectable beef rendang.
Generous servings of beef rendang and other savoury meats, such as spicy chicken and mutton satay, are nestled between layers of glutinous rice, delicately enveloped in pandan or banana leaves.
Lemper can be bought here in 10s or by piece, but we highly recommend eating it fresh and warm for optimal softness and flavour. You can get a whole box of 10 for just $20, while a pack of three pieces only costs $7 a pop!
| Pro Tip: To indulge in Ratu Lemper’s signature platters, pre-ordering is essential, requiring a preparation time of at least two to five days. For those planning to order for friends and family, it’s advisable to place orders through the website well in advance. |
