7 Fusion Feasts in Singapore for the Indecisive Diner
Why pick one cuisine when you can have several on a single plate? This guide shines a spotlight on the city’s best fusion eateries, showcasing culinary delights from across the globe.
1. Morsels
Source: Morsels
Since it reopened in a rustic, farmhouse-style space in Dempsey in January 2017, Morsels has continued to rise through the restaurant ranks. From their award-winning food that excites the palette with its surprising cacophony of flavours to its laidback vibe with outside-in design, this unassuming spot has become a popular place to while away an afternoon.
As for the menu, it describes itself as Asian fusion and delivers such variety of dishes that even groups with the most diverse of dining preferences will be happy here. Sri-Lankan tiger prawns sit on the starter menu alongside cabbage kimchi-topped clams and an Italian plate of burrata and heirloom beets. A true treasure of a main course is the Kurobata Pork Collar while their signature ‘Tiramiso’ dessert takes the biscuit with its Milo and dark rum sauce.
Their latest addition is a four-seater Chef’s Table where owner and chef Petrina Loh will craft a special menu just for you. It was her childhood travels that really inspired this fusion restaurant, and led her to make everything on the menu from scratch and in-house.
In summary? Morsels is a tasty little haven among the buzz. Set aside a few hours, you’re sure to be here longer than you think.
Address: 25 Dempsey Road, #01-04, Singapore, 249670
Opening Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10.30pm
Sunday: 11am-3pm
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2. The Botanic Restaurant
Source: The Botanic
Whatever your dietary requirements – vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free – The Botanic Restaurant is a kitchen that will serve you well. Their diverse menus feature all manner of wholesome south-east Asian and Mediterranean flavours, expertly adapted for specific nutritional needs.
A quick glance at the food showcases the global influences. Lunch here for example, will take you on an international food tour that starts with Turkish tabbouleh and Italian gnocchi, before moving onto South America for a barbecue pork shoulder smothered in ‘achiote’ spices from Brazil. Then it’s over to Asia for Japanese wagyu brisket crafted into the most mouth-watering burger with chipotle and pickled cucumber. Their vegan menu is no less flavoursome either, with our top pick being the smoked eggplant with black bean sauce and curry leaf, lightened up with a dash of coconut. If the cacao and chia seed brownie doesn’t tempt your taste buds for dessert, side-step the sweet and opt for the cheese plate instead. They even have vegan cheese options to keep plant-based diners smiling.
Executive Chef Shannon Binnie (who is himself vegan) prides himself on ethical sourcing his ingredients, from organic honey and grass-fed meat to free-range eggs. Even the wine list is biodynamic, sustainable and organic.
Address: 252 North Bridge Rd, #01-22, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore, 179103
Opening Hours:
Monday-Sunday: 11.30am-11pm
Get 10% off at The Botanic with ChopeDeals!
3. Quentin’s
Source: Facebook
Any chef will tell you that recipes handed down through the generations are the best. It’s no surprise then that Quentin’s – tucked away in a quiet area of Katong – has become something of a household name.
Eurasian cuisine was around long before the term ‘fusion food’ had been coined, referencing dishes borne from marriages between people from Asian and European backgrounds. The resulting food was undeniably good and spawned a culinary genre entirely of its own. At Quentin’s, for example, recipes first cooked by owner and chef Quentin Pereira’s grandparents still appear on the menu. There’s Portuguese dishes made with Malay and Indian spices, and British recipes using Chinese ingredients, all of which make for an interesting sensory experience. Fancy the food isn’t, but homemade with care it certainly is.
Their executive bento set are particular crowd-pleasers, which include globally-influenced combinations like the chicken ‘devil’ curry, roasted pork belly, fried okra and sambal belachan. Don’t miss their ‘kakes’ either. The buttery, nutty, semolina-crafted Sugee Cake is a traditional choice for Eurasian celebrations, and a Quentin’s speciality. (Be sure to pre-order for eat-in or takeaway.)
Aside from the food, Quentin’s also plays host to live music on weekends, and has turned their fourth floor into a display of artefacts that showcase Eurasian culture.
Address: 139 Ceylon Rd, Eurasian Community House, Singapore, 429744
Opening Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 11.30am-2pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm
Saturday-Sunday: 11am-2pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm
4. The Salted Plum
Source: Facebook
Fusing Taiwanese and Singaporean cuisine in a celebration of the old and new, The Salted Plum is known for their reasonably-priced small plates that combine taste with creativity.
They recently expanded from their Circular Road shophouse to a new location in Suntec City, which has proven just as popular as the first. Both areas of the city are rife with competition, yet this eatery is alive and well, and it’s all down to the food.
If you’re a The Salted Plum newbie, make life easier for yourself and opt for the TSP Experience set menu. Plate after plate will be delivered to your table to be enjoyed tapas-style, including triple-cooked yams, burnt chilli chicken, oyster omelettes and Taiwanese sausage patties. An extra dish worth adding is the sliced beef belly with sesame and pickled ginger; it’s not part of the pre-decided feast but is worth ordering alongside the set for its succulence and melt-in-the-mouth goodness. If you’re dining for lunch, join the queue to get your hands on this must-try dish in the form of a beef belly rice bowl with a side of oyster mushrooms, plum powder and smashed potatoes.
Address:
- 10 Circular Road, Singapore, 049366
- 3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City 3, #B1-122A, Singapore, 038983
Opening Hours:
Circular Road:
Monday-Saturday 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm
Suntec City:
Monday-Friday 8.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-9pm
Saturday-Sunday 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-9pm
5. CreatureS
Source: CreatureS
In Singapore, it seems the point where east meets west is located in the backstreets of Little India. More specifically, in a shophouse named CreatureS that combines Singaporean, Chinese and Italian fare on one innovative menu.
The cosy interiors will make you feel at home even before a bite of comfort food passes your lips. While most of the restaurant is designed in warm Peranakan style with a touch of old-world charm and plenty of foliage, the colourful mural is a bright addition that has since appeared on many an Instagram feed.
The passion in this kitchen is all about natural ingredients and experimental textures. The prawn linguine, assam snapper and rendang lamb with coconut rice have all become fan favourites, as has the sharing platter that combines some of CreatureS’ most popular dishes: the minced pork belly Ngoh Hiang, Hainanese chicken rice roll and the century-egg and salted egg yolk-topped tofu of the Kyoto Desker. Their signature durian cake is another popular choice, namely for its fluffy pandan sponge and aromatic durian paste.
And it’s not just the food that has people keen to visit. The cocktail menu is varied and creative, and includes mixes like the Creamy Creatures. Expect fragrant rosemary-infused milk froth shaken with dark rum and gula melaka (palm sugar); quite the heady concoction.
Address: 120 Desker Rd, Singapore, 209639
Opening Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 5pm-10pmFriday-Sunday: 12pm-10.30pm
Get 30% off at CreatureS with ChopeDeals!
6. Candlenut
Source: Facebook
The Michelin-starred mastery that happens in the kitchen at Candlenut makes this one of the best choices for a celebratory dinner. Elegantly nestled inside COMO Dempsey, their authentic yet innovative take on modern Straits-Chinese cuisine has made this the world’s first Peranakan restaurant to earn the coveted culinary star.
Fresh, seasonal ingredients are head chef and Candlenut owner Malcolm Lee’s specialty, and it shows in the numerous, carefully curated menus. Two of the best from the a la carte offering are their version of Babi Buah Keluak (slow-cooked, free-range pork in an aromatic, black-nut gravy) and the Yeye White Chicken Curry. The latter is one of their signature dishes, and an original chef Lee family recipe that has been passed down through four generations. From the ‘charcoal grill and Chinese wok’, the baby squid ink stir fry (Assam Sotong Hitam) - intoxicatingly flavoured with tamarind, lemongrass and chilli - is a top pick. And because no meal is complete without dessert, don’t miss the delectable and beautifully-presented, two-tiered Nyonya cake, Kueh Salat.
As for the restaurant itself, it’s modern yet traditional with lots of golden hues and an abundance of light.
Address: 17A Dempsey Rd, Singapore, 249676
Opening Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 12-3pm, 6pm-11pm
7. Neon Pigeon
Source: Facebook
Hip izakaya Neon Pigeon on Keong Saik Rd showcases the best of Japanese flavours with a European twist. Behind the vibrant pink bird sign sits a casual, energetic eatery with industrial chic decor, where great-tasting fusion starters like the Tokyo Hummus (served with edamame and curry chips), Tsukune Meatballs and Soft Shell Crab Baos with avocado and black pepper teriyaki sauce are just waiting to whet your appetite.
Moving onto mains, the menu is designed small-plate style and is designed to share. There are several sure-fire winners including fried octopus in yakinaku sauce, duck tonkatsu and the mouth-watering Golden Curry Rice that combines roasted cauliflower, green onion and egg yolk.
Aside from the edible delights, the cocktail list also has people clamouring to come here. The Ahri Spritz’s blend of red berry sake, St Germain elderflower and prosecco is a popular choice, as is the intriguingly-flavoured Yagi; a short but punchy drink made of gin, green chartreuse and the Japanese shiso shrub.
Address: 1A Keong Saik Rd, #01-03, Singapore, 089109
Opening hours:
Monday-Saturday: 6pm-12am
