From Korean barbecue to fine-dining restaurants, there is a smorgasbord of dining options in Tanjong Pagar. However, these eateries are relatively new compared to a culinary landmark of the neighbourhood. Here is a guide to the best food at Tanjong Pagar Plaza.
Located within walking distance from three MRT stations – Tanjong Pagar, Outram Park, and Chinatown – the building is a mixed-use development established in 1976. It was constructed as part of an urban renewal plan and houses seven residential blocks, a hawker centre, and around 130 retail stores.
In the past decade, the surrounding area has been taken over by Korean barbecue joints. Opposite, 100 AM mall is chock full of Japanese food. Duxton is host to many buzzy restaurants. But Tanjong Pagar Plaza still holds its own when it comes to good food.
The second floor is where you’ll find Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market & Food Centre, home to popular food stalls such as Rolina Traditional Hainanese Curry Puffs, Delicious Mee Rebus, Mee Siam, and Lontong, and Teo Chew Fishball Noodles. Across it is Bami Express, known for its house-made Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches. Chef Yamashita is a Japanese-French bakery famous for its elaborate pastries, and The Teochew Kitchenette serves classics from the Chaoshan region along with tze char dishes.
On the first floor, Lad & Dad is a destination for well-made British pub fare like fish and chips. Hakata Ikkousha Ramen is your happy place for Hakata-style noodles and Menbolah riffs on Korean shrimp toast. For dessert, cool off with Dopa’s nut-based gelato. Discover them and more below.
(Hero and featured images credits: @rolinasingapore / Instagram; Let’s Kinn THAI / Facebook)
12 places for the best food at Tanjong Pagar Plaza
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Bami Express
Located opposite the hawker centre, Bami Express is run by a husband-and-wife team that specialises in Vietnamese banh mi. Many of the ingredients including the baguettes and the fillings are prepared in-house and come in flavours like the Bami Sai Gon (chicken liver pate, pork ham, stewed pork, and chicken floss) to fried fish patties. The eatery offers a set meal with a banh mi and Vietnamese coffee for an additional S$1.
What to order
Both the classic Sai Gon (S$5.50) and BBQ chicken (S$5) are two of the bestsellers.
Monday – Friday, 9am – 4.30pm
Saturday, 9am – 2.30pm
Closed on Sunday
(Image credit: @t42ok884 / Instagram)
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Bluemist Restaurant
Sometimes, life calls for a fuss-free, affordable beer and comfort food. That’s when Bluemist steps in. The restaurant and bar has beers on tap, wines, and spirits, as well as dishes from biryani and pakora to beef stew and buffalo chicken wings. Bluemist also regularly offers promotions including happy hour and set meals.
What to order
Bluemist’s has an early bird special from 11am to 3pm, where beers like Tiger and Guinness start from S$11.80++. Have it with the Wagyu burger (S$28.64) with a sunny-side-up egg and streaky bacon.
Monday – Saturday, 11am – 3am
Sunday, 1pm – 11.30pm
(Image credit: BLUEMIST / Facebook)
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Chef Yamashita
Chef Yamashita is the eponymous bakery of Yamashita Masataka. After working at various bakeries around Japan for a decade and starting his patisserie in Nara, the Japanese chef moved to Singapore to helm Patisserie Glace and Flor Patisserie before setting up his Japanese-French bakery here. Whole cakes and slices are available, as well as mille-fueille and Japanese cheesecake. Yamashita has also published four cookbooks.
What to order
The highlight is the castella cake (from S$4), a moist and luscious sponge cake that is denser than traditional pound cakes, and with a touch of honey. Yamashita’s other specialities include the mochi-like kome kome ring (from S$3.80) and lychee strawberry sponge cake (from S$43).
Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Closed on Monday
(Image credit: @cweizhi / Instagram)
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Dopa
Short for the word “dopamine,” Dopa wants to raise your feel-good hormone with its nut-based gelato. The flavours are anything but basic, ranging from Tasmanian honey to the store’s take on Ferrero Rocher, and can be scooped onto house-made buttermilk waffles. Ice cream containing dairy, nuts, and gluten are clearly labelled.
What to order
Popular flavours include roasted pistachio (from S$6.50), macadamia (from S$6.50), and banana caramel (from S$5.50).
Sunday – Thursday, 12pm – 10pm
Friday & Saturday, 12pm – 10.30pm
(Image credit: Dopa)
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Equate Coffee
Stark, minimalist, and looking like a sci-fi cave lab, Equate Coffee’s thesis is on well-made brews. Its espresso blend has notes of raisins and brown sugar, and the ceremonial-grade matcha comes from the premium Niko Neko brand. The cafe also serves a 50s Brew (cold brew coffee, Earl Grey tea, and Earl Grey cream), together with a tight selection of croissants and caneles.
What to order
Both the cafe latte (from S$5.50) and the matcha latte (from S$5.50) are the cafe’s bestsellers, which pair well with chocolate canele (S$4).
Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 5.30pm
Saturday, 8.30am – 3pm
Closed on Sunday
(Image credit: Equate Coffee / Facebook)
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Hakata Ikkousha Ramen
Ikkousha, an amalgamation of the Japanese words for “One Happy Place,” wants to you to associate paradise with its Hakata-style ramen. Founder Kousuke Yoshimura does this with a pork bone broth simmered for hours until creamy, a sauce made with 20 types of spices and three kinds of fish mix, thinly-sliced chashu, and noodles that are as savoury as the soup. Diners can customise how robust they want their ramen to be.
What to order
Either the Tonkatsu Standard (S$14.50) or the Tonkatsu Black (from S$16) darkened with black garlic.
Monday – Saturday, 11.30am – 10pm
Sunday, 11.30am – 9pm
(Image credit: Hakata Ikkousha Ramen)
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Lad & Dad
Fresh from a recent renovation, Lad & Dad continues to be the go-to spot for refined British pub fare. The gastropub is particularly known for its fish and chips made with Atlantic haddock and served with mushy peas, as well as the beef stew with mashed potatoes and gravy.
What to order
Without a doubt, the fish and chips (from S$18++) and the beef stew (S$18). To drink, either go the classic route with a London pale ale (S$14) or the crisp Pilsner Urquell (S$14), both fresh from the tap.
Tuesday – Sunday, 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (closed on Monday)
(Image credit: @gohsiokpeng / Instagram)
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Let's Kinn Thai
Let’s Kinn is a casual eatery serving classic dishes from Thailand from tom yum soup to green curry. During lunch, they have set meals that include a main course, Thai milk tea, and a side dish starting from S$9.90, and patrons during dinnertime typically order the hotpot with Mama noodles. The restaurant has a happy hour promotion on Chang beers from 3pm to 8pm.
What to order
The leng saap Volcano Pork Ribs (from S$19.90), which is a mountain of bony pork cuts doused with chilli and herbs, and served in a pork broth. Finish with the beloved mango sticky rice (S$9.90).
Daily, 11am – 10pm
(Image credit: Let’s Kinn THAI / Facebook)
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Menbolah
Menobolah is an approximation of the Korean name for “shrimp toast,” which the takeaway stand offers with either French toast or garlic toast. It also serves Korean fried chicken, rice bowls, and Korean-style fried rice.
What to order
The mentaiko menbosha (S$11.90) are nine bite-sized, deep-fried shrimp toasts painted with pollock roe sauce. The Korean fried chicken (from S$8.90) and beef bulgogi menbo toast are also popular.
Monday – Friday, 10am – 9pm
Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 10pm
(Image credit: MenboLah / Facebook)
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Old Chang Kee Coffee House
The takeaway stands are almost everywhere in Singapore today, but Old Chang Kee started as a coffee shop stall in 1956. The chain recreates history with Old Chang Kee Coffee House, an eatery serving traditional dishes such as nasi lemak, prata, porridge, and mee siam, as well as snacks like its trademark curry puff. Breakfast and lunch sets are also available.
What to order
The Flower Bread (S$13.90+) is a petal-like loaf with curry chicken in the middle, and large enough for two.
Monday – Friday, 7.30am – 9pm
Saturday & Sunday, 8am – 9pm
(Image credit: @hellozizilovepanda / Instagram)
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Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market & Food Centre
For local food, head to the second floor of Tanjong Pagar Plaza for this hawker centre. Notable stalls include Rolina Traditional Hainanese Curry Puffs, Delicious Mee Rebus, Mee Siam, and Lontong, Teo Chew Fishball Noodle, Fu Hai Curry Chicken Noodles, and Wei Wei Carrot Cake.
What to order
Get the curry puffs from Rolina (S$2 each), whose recipe dates back to 1976 and is currently run by the founder’s third generation. Out of its three specialities, the mee siam (from S$3.80) at Delicious is the most popular. Teo Chew’s bak chor mee (S$4.50) is generously portioned.
(Image credit: @rolinasingapore / Instagram)
The Teochew Kitchenette
Teochew classics are the highlight here, including braised pork belly and fried prawn rolls. The air-conditioned eatery also has many variations of fish soup and tze char dishes from har cheong gai to sweet and sour pork.
What to order
The batang fish soup (from S$7) is a signature here, along with the fish head steamboat (from S$36).
Daily, 11.30am – 4pm, 5pm – 8.30pm
(Image credit: @leeksk / Instagram)
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Jethro enjoys wine, biking, and climbing, and he's terrible at all three. In between them, he drinks commercial lagers, and eats dumplings and ice cream.
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