Whether you’re a vistor or a long-time local, no Singapore experience is complete without a taste of Peranakan food.
Peranakan food contains a large amount of fragrant spices due to its strong Malay and Indonesian influences, resulting in a “flavour bomb” of complex tastes that people who have tried it will never forget. Read on to find out the best, royal-approved Peranakan dishes that Singapore has to offer.
House of Peranakan (Petit, Cuisine, and Peranakan Inn restaurant)
Here is a dining experience truly fitted for a royal: various VIPs such as Her Royal Highness Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand (Cuisine branch), and second Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Dr Goh Keng Swee (Peranakan Inn) have all dined in this famed restaurant.
While all three branches serve the finest Peranakan dishes cooked by CEO and founder Bob Seah, each has a unique charm that sets them apart from others. The Petit branch is a cozy 30-seater, great for a tête-à-tête with your closest friends, or, if you have a larger family gathering, the spacious 90-seater Cuisine branch would be the perfect fit. Looking for a Instagrammable place instead? Try the Peranakan Inn restaurant that features old-school windows, signboards and blue walls that is sure to be a hit on your page.
House of Peranakan Petit: 42 Eng Hoon St, Tiong Bahru Estate, Singapore 169785
House of Peranakan Cuisine: 103 Frankel Ave, Singapore 458225
Peranakan Inn: 210 East Coast Rd, Singapore 428909
Their best dishes:
Pulut Hitam (black glutinous rice desert served with coconut cream)
Curry Fish Head
Also try its award-winning Curry Fish Head that is cited by Asian Wall Street Journal as Singapore’s best dish.
Old Bibik’s Peranakan Kitchen
Famous for serving dishes that taste like homemade food, this casual diner has racked up a long list of loyal fans, including both locals and hoards of tourists. The recipes of this restaurant has been passed down for two generations, and had been featured in countless media publications.
Address: 328 Joo Chiat Rd, #01-02, Singapore 427585.
Their best dishes:
Beef Rendang
Cincalok Omelette
PeraMakan
In addition to the well-known Keppel Bay PeraMakan outlet, the Tingkat PeraMakan outlet at Owen Road serves the same dishes but at the smaller portion and a more wallet-friendly price, making it great for a quick Peranakan craving fix, or a casual gathering with your friends and family.
PeraMakan: 10 Bukit Chermin Road Level 3, Keppel Club, Singapore 109918
TingKat PeraMakan: 119 Owen Rd, Singapore 218924
Their best dishes
Beef Rendang
Chendol
The Blue Ginger
Known for the authentic taste its food evokes, this Peranakan restaurant is rated 4.3/5 on Facebook, and boasts 401 recommendations despite serving simple, one-dish-per-meal dishes. The original branch of this diner is set in a old shophouse at Tanjong Pagar, but has since expanded to a new location in Great World City due to the massive success of its first branch.
Addresses: 97 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore 088518 and 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #01-106, Singapore 237994
Their best dishes:
Nonya noodles
Durian Chendol
National Kitchen by Violet Oon
You know it has to be one of the best when its located in the National Gallery of Singapore. One of the most famous local restaurant chains in Singapore, National Kitchen by Violet Oon’s dishes are as rich and complex as its decor, and is popular among tourists who want a Peranakan fine dining experience.
Address: 1 St. Andrew’s Road, #02-01 National Gallery Singapore, City Hall Wing, Singapore 178957
Take note that the chef also runs other restaurants in Singapore. You can find all their locations here. Also check out our review of their food at Violet Oon Singapore ION Orchard.
Their best dishes:
Laksa
Beef Rendang
Godmama
This unique restaurant name is created by joining “Godma” and “Mama” together, both of whom had been great influences on the founder’s early life. The recipes used to create the dishes are also passed down to her, inspiring her to replicate her favourite dishes for the public.
Address: 109 North Bridge Rd, Funan Mall, #04-07 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 179105
Their best dishes:
Laksa pasta fusion
Beef Rendang
Candlenut
Candlenut is the world’s first Michelin starred Peranakan restaurant – so it definitely has in our list of best Peranakan restaurants in Singapore. Like House of Peranakan, Candlenut is often visited by VIPs, including the Obamas recently.
Address: 17A Dempsey Rd, Singapore 249676
Their best dishes:
Chincalok omelette:
Ayam Bakar Buah Keras
O’nya Sayang
Known as the wallet-friendly neighborhood Peranakan restaurant by many, this eatery doesn’t intimidate like others on this list, thanks to its friendly prices. It serves up home-style food that satisfies customers without breaking the bank.
Address: 60 Paya Lebar Road, #B1-30/31, Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051
Their best dishes:
Lor Bak noodles
Chendol
Chong Wen Ge Cafe
Located in one of Singapore’s oldest Chinese temples, this cafe is furnished with hundreds of Peranakan culture inspired tiles, antiques and attires. Even though the menu is said to be simple, with one page for food and another for drinks, this lesser known diner would be the perfect spot to take Instagram-worthy photos, while enjoying authentic Peranakan food.
Address: 168 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068619
Their best dishes:
Laksa
Indocafe
Nestled in a corner of Scott’s Road, this Peranakan cafe is known to give its diners a luxurious experience with its luxe, opulent decor, and sumptuous spread all at a relatively reasonable price.
Address: 35 Scotts Road, Singapore 228227.
Their best dishes:
Beef Rendang
Colonial Club
With delightful, local signature dishes such as their famous Nasi Lemak, paired with the minimal Colonial style decor, it is no wonder that this restaurant is such a hit and is always swarming with post-landing, hungry tourists.
Colonial Club: 65 Airport Blvd, Changi Airport Terminal 3, #03-33, Singapore 819633
Colonial Club Signature: 290 Orchard Rd, Paragon Shopping Centre, #B1-43, Singapore 238859.
Their best dishes:
Nasi Lemak
Prawn noodles
Heritage House
If you have a serious sweet tooth, this Peranakan confectionary house may be your favourite on the list! Heritage House creates all sorts of desserts and pastries, from pastel rainbow mooncakes to new year pastries, perfect for hosting guests and giving them a pleasant surprise, or simply to give as a gift.
Address: 2 Venture Drive, Vision Exchange, #02-43, Singapore 608526
Their best dishes:
Rainbow mooncake
Traditional nonya cakes
Babachews
A favourite amongst youngsters, this restaurant has a tasteful mix of modern yet retro decor that mirrors its Mod-Sin (Modern Singaporean) selection of food, including fascinating odd combinations like Otah You Tiao (Spicy fish cake in a dough stick), or Salmon with Laksa sauce.
Address: 86 East Coast Road, Katong Square, Singapore 428788
Their best dishes:
Mille Feuille with rojak flavored cream and sliced fruits
Lobster and Seafood Curry Risotto
The Curry Wok
Located in a quiet corner of Bukit Timah, The Curry Wok serves up homely and comforting dishes that never fail to satisfy its diners each time they visit, despite its humble appearance.
Address: 5 Coronation Rd, Coronation Arcade, #01-04, Singapore 269406.
Their best dishes:
Curry Fish Head
Simply Peranakan
Well known for its intricate, Peranakan-style textiles and decor that can be seen through the glass windows, this eatery serves up very traditional Peranakan dishes that hotel guests flock to during meal times.
Address: 28 Cavenagh Road, Hotel Chancellor @ Orchard, #01-05, Singapore 229635
Their best dishes:
Assam Fish Head Curry
Guan Hoe Soon
Evident from the aged wooden furniture, this is Singapore’s oldest Peranakan restaurant, and has been open since 1953. It is even said to be late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s favourite restaurant, due to the food’s authentic Peranakan taste!
Address: 38/40 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore 427762
Their best dishes:
Chendol
Beef Rendang and Ngoh Hiang
Folklore
The head chef of this restaurant is half Eurasian and half Peranakan, which explains why the menu at his restaurant is a fusion of the two cultures. Situated in Destination Singapore Beach Road Hotel, a new establishment by Park Hotel Group, this is yet another hotspot for Peranakan food, for tourists and locals alike.
Address: 700 Beach Road, Destination Singapore Beach Road, Level 2, Singapore 199598
Their best dishes:
Buah Keluak fried rice
Tok Panjang
Named after the Peranakan tradition of feasting at long tables, this small and casual restaurant serves Peranakan food to many office crowds during lunch hour, as well as families seeking to satisfy their Peranakan food cravings.
Address: 331 New Bridge Road, Dorsett Residences, #01-03, Singapore 088764
Their best dishes:
Nasi Lemak
Chendol with durian pulp
Whole Earth
One of the rare vegetarian Peranakan restaurants in Singapore, Whole Earth still manages to create mouth-watering dishes that could win over even the biggest meat-lover. This is definitely a Peranakan restaurant to bring your vegetarian friend to, or if you want to see how their chefs manage whip up good Peranakan dishes without using meats.
Address: 76 Peck Seah Street, Singapore 079331