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What to Eat at Tanjong Pagar: A Foodie’s Guide
Are you ready to explore one of Singapore’s coolest neighborhoods and embark on a culinary adventure? The vibrant Tanjong Pagar is home to various restaurants and cafes, from traditional hawker stalls to swanky Michelin-starred establishments.
Whether you’re a foodie looking to sample unique Singaporean dishes or simply looking for a quick bite, Tanjong Pagar has something for everyone. Let’s discover the many culinary delights this neighborhood offers and get insider tips on the best places to dine.
Mushroom Bak Chor Mee
Recommended spot: Blue Star Fish Ball Minced Meat Noodles
Address: 6 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-29
Operating hours: 10 AM to 9 PM, Tuesday to Sunday
Price: SGD 6
Mushroom bak chor mee is a Singaporean noodle dish with stewed mushrooms as a topping, braised in a savory broth with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger.
I highly recommend trying the mushroom bak chor mee at Blue Star Fish Ball Minced Meat Noodles. The perfectly stewed mushrooms have a tender texture, and the savory broth infused into the noodles gives the dish a rich, umami taste.
| Pro tip: For a more delicious bak chor mee experience, consider ordering the dry version and asking for extra fried pork lard to add to the noodles. This will give the dish an added crunch. |
Lei Cha Fan
Recommended spot: Traditional Hakka Rice
Address: 6 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-21
Operating hours: 9:30 AM to 3 PM, Monday to Saturday
Price: SGD 4
Lei cha fan, or thunder tea rice, is a healthy and nutritious dish with fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds, and a flavorful tea soup poured over white or brown rice.
For the best Lei Cha Fan experience, head to the Traditional Hakka Rice hawker stall in Tanjong Pagar Plaza.
Lei cha soup has antioxidants and other beneficial compounds, and the other components of the dish make for a well-balanced and not-too-oily dish.
| Pro tip: Mix the rice and vegetables thoroughly before pouring the tea soup to help distribute the flavors evenly. The tea soup is the most flavorful part of the dish, and by mixing it with the rice and vegetables, you will ensure that every bite is delectable. |
Singapore-Style Ramen
Recommended spot: A Noodle Story
Website: https://www.kioskscollective.com/a-noodle-story
Address: 7 Wallich St, #B2-32 Guoco Tower
Operating hours: 10 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Sunday
Price: SGD 11
Singaporean-style ramen is a fusion dish that combines the flavors of Singaporean cuisine with Japanese ramen.
A Noodle Story at Tanjong Pagar is one of the few places that serve this dish. The ramen noodles are served in a rich and creamy laksa broth and topped with chicken, shrimp, tofu, and various vegetables.
The restaurant creates the broth using coconut milk, curry paste, and a variety of other spices. They perfectly cook the chicken and shrimp, make the tofu soft and flavorful, and add a nice crunch to the dish with the vegetables.
| Pro tip: To add a delicious umami flavor to your ramen, try ordering it with a side of ikan bilis or dried anchovies, a common ingredient in Singaporean cuisine. You can sprinkle the ikan bilis over your ramen or eat it on the side. |
Chicken Tikka Masala
Recommended spot: Gravy Restaurant and Bar
Website: https://www.gravy.sg/
Address: 1 Hoe Chiang Road
Contact details: +6569097554, +6591015824
Operating hours:
- 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Tuesday to Thursday
- 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM, Friday
- 12 PM to 10:30 PM, Saturday
- 12 PM to 10 PM, Sunday
Price: SGD 18
Chicken tikka masala is a popular Indian dish consisting of tender chicken kebabs in a creamy tomato sauce.
The chicken is marinated in spices and yogurt and then cooked in a tandoor oven. The tomato sauce is made with onions, garlic, ginger, and various spices and simmered until thick and creamy.
Gravy Restaurant and Bar serves a delicious chicken tikka masala made with high-quality ingredients. The restaurant uses traditional Indian cooking methods, giving you an authentic dining experience.
| Pro tip: I recommend ordering the chicken tikka masala with naan. Naan is a flatbread that is cooked in a tandoor oven. It’s perfect for dipping into the creamy tomato-based sauce of the chicken tikka masala. |
Tteok-Bokki Hot Plate
Recommended spot: CAFE KREAMS
Website: http://www.kreams.sg/
Address: 32 Maxwell Road, #01-07 Maxwell Chambers
Contact details: +6596732307
Operating hours:
- 9 AM to 10 PM, Monday to Saturday
- 12 PM to 8 PM, Sunday
Price: SGD 36
The Tteok-Bokki Hot Plate at CAFE KREAMS is a Korean-Singaporean fusion dish that consists of mild spicy cheese rice cakes and fried glass noodles wrapped in seaweed.
The dish consists of a Korean seaweed rice ball and hard-boiled eggs served with a cheese sauce blend of cheddar, mozzarella, and American cheese. It’s creamy with a slightly sweet and savory taste.
It’s a popular dish and perfect for sharing, as it comes in a large serving.
| Pro tip: If you are new to Korean food, I recommend starting with the mild spicy cheese sauce. You can ask for a spicier sauce if you find that the mild version isn’t enough. Also, mix the cheese sauce and rice cakes evenly before eating to help distribute the flavor. |
Ayam Buah Keluak
Recommended spot: The Blue Ginger
Website: https://theblueginger.com/
Address: 97 Tanjong Pagar Road
Contact details: +6562223928
Operating hours: 12 PM to 3 PM and 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM, Monday to Sunday
Price: SGD 30
Ayam Buah Keluak is a chicken dish stewed in a unique black gravy made from the buah keluak nut, an ingredient native to Southeast Asia. The strong, earthy flavor of the nut gives the gravy a deep and complex taste.
At The Blue Ginger, chefs marinate the chicken in spices before stewing it for hours in the buah keluak gravy. This results in tender and juicy chicken with a rich and flavorful gravy.
This popular dish typically accompanies white rice and sambal (chili sauce) and is a must-try for anyone seeking an authentic Peranakan dining experience.
| Pro tip: If you are new to Peranakan cuisine, I recommend ordering the ayam buah keluak with mild sambal. You can ask for more sambal if you need more spice. |
