Where To Get The Best Peranakan Dishes in Singapore

Psst! Did you know that the hit blockbuster, The Little Nyonya, is making a comeback? This time, the remake will be aired on an online Chinese video platform, iQiyi and you can look forward to catching your favourite artistes, like Xiang Yun, Dai Xiangyu and Jeffrey Xu, on the big screens again! While we are all eagerly waiting for the show to be aired, we’ve prepared a special list of 9 Peranakan restaurants that’ll satiate your hunger for all things Nyonya. 

1. True Blue Cuisine

Source: True Blue Cuisine

True Blue Cuisine is conveniently located along Armenian Street. Stepping into the restaurant, it feels as if you’re taken back in time with its perennial decor and authentic Nyonya dishes. It is no wonder that Mr Benjamin Seck, the head chef and proprietor of the place, labels True Blue Cuisine as a ‘living heritage’.

Delight your taste buds with a plethora of Nyonya must-haves, from the likes of the restaurant’s signature beef rendang, to its homemade ngoh hiang. After filling your tummy, hop on to the Peranakan museum, which is just a stone’s throw away from True Blue Cuisine. 

Address: 49 Armenian Street, Singapore 179937

Opening Hours:
Monday-Sunday: 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-9.30pm

Save up to 10% at True Blue Cuisine with ChopeDeals here!

2. Baba Chews Bar & Eatery

Source: Baba Chews Bar & Eatery

 

Baba Chews Bar & Eatery pairs time-tested Peranakan dishes with local and international flavours. If you’re craving authentic Nyonya dishes, opt for the Itek Tim - double boiled duck broth with salted mustard leaves - or the Beef Short Rib Rendang - fork tender USDA prime beef short ribs stewed in a Baba Chews’ signature rendang sauce. For something cheekier, try the Otah You Tiao, a homemade otah sandwiched between two deep fried charcoal dough fritters and smothered with a sambal sabayon sauce, or the Foie Gras Tau Kwa Pau, which gives an explosion of flavours and textures when you sink your teeth in. 

Baba Chews is both an eatery and bar, so you can wash your meal down with their assortment of tipples, like a good Old Fashioned, or a refreshing Lemongrass Cooler, laced with whiskey.  

The restaurant also offers a breakfast a la carte menu featuring American diner style favourites such as buttermilk pancakes served with fresh berries and maple syrup. 

Address: 86 East Coast Road, Katong Square, Singapore 428788

Opening Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 6.30am-11.00pm
Friday-Saturday: 6.30am-12.00am

Save up to 10% at Baba Chews Bar & Eatery with ChopeDeals here!

3. Violet Oon Singapore (Bukit Timah) 

Source: Violet Oon Singapore

Cited as the doyenne of Peranakan cuisine, the self-titled Peranakan restaurant by Violet Oon serves up authentic Nyonya delights that promises to tantalise your tastebuds. 

Whet your appetite with their housemade pickles like the Sayor Kuak Chye or Nyonya Archar, before feasting on a slew of table must-haves, such as the Buah Keluak Ayam, Aunty Nanny’s Daging Chabek Beef Cheek and Babi Pong Tay, which go great with a bowl of fragrant Jasmine rice. End the meal with one (or more) Nyonya desserts such as Gula Melaka Cake or the Burbur Cha Cha Pannacotta - a timeless Nyonya dessert paired with a modern twist. 

Address: 881 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 279893

Opening Hours: 
Tuesday-Sunday: 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10.30pm
Closed on Mondays

Save 10% at Violet Oon Singapore with ChopeDeals here!

4. Folklore

Source: Folklore

Folklore celebrates all things Singaporean. Being a racial melting pot, Singaporeans get to enjoy a diverse variety of cuisines and cultures, and that is what Folklore aims to do. 

Playing a small but important part of our locality is the Peranakan culture, which is captured through Folklore’s creative Nyonya dishes, such as Buah Keluak Fried Rice and Peranakan Chap Chye. Grab other dishes such as the Sambal Stingray or Debal, a classic Eurasian dish of pork ribs and roast pork in a spicy curry base to complete this uniquely Singaporean heritage trail through food! 

Address: 700 Beach Road, Level 2 Destination Singapore, Singapore 199598

Opening Hours:
Monday-Sunday: 12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm

Save up to 20% at Folklore with ChopeDeals here!

5. Candlenut

Source: Candlenut

Labelled as the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, Candlenut offers authentic Nyonya fare with a contemporary twist. Helmed by chef Malcom Lee, the restaurant offers classic Nyonya dishes made with fresh, quality cuts of meat such as the Westholme Wagyu Beef Rib Rendang and the Babi Buah Keluak made using Free-range Borrowdale Pork soft bone. 

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind gastronomical experience, end the meal with the Buah Keluak Ice Cream. An ingredient made popular by the Nyonyas, buah keluak, often served savory with meats, is crafted into a sugary treat and served with Valrhona chocolate, chili and warm chocolate espuma. 

Address: 17 & 18 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676

Opening Hours: 
Sunday-Thursday: 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 12pm-3pm, 6pm-11pm

Get a table at the exclusive Candlenut here!

6. Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant

Source: Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant 

With its numerous number of Nyonya restaurants at every nook and cranny, Joo Chiat is known as a Peranakan enclave. One of the pioneering restaurants that set up shop in this iconic heartland is Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant, which prides itself as Singapore’s oldest Peranakan restaurant.

Some signature items include Ayam Buah Keluak and Babi Pong Tay - two essential dishes at any Peranakan feast. The restaurant also has a few uncommon Nyonya dishes, such as the Bak Wan Kerpiting Goreng and Nonya Mee.

Address: 38 & 40 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore 427762

Opening Hours: 
Monday-Friday: 11am-3pm, 6pm-9.30pm
Saturday-Sunday: 11am-3pm, 5.30pm-9.30pm

Find out more about Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant here! 

7. IVINS Peranakan Restaurant 

Source: IVINS Peranakan Restaurant 

If you’re after a fancy Peranakan meal without having to travel far, why not pay IVINS Peranakan Restaurant a visit? Located at Binjai Park, the brand has since opened a new outlet in Heartland Mall, Kovan, making it more accessible.

At IVINS, the rempah (spice paste) used in their curries and sambals are all prepared from scratch - the same way it has been done 30 years ago. With that promise, you know you’ll be digging into authentic Nyonya dishes! The Assam Fish Head is an auspicious dish at any dinner table, whereas the Hor Pow, which is essentially stuffed beancurd, is a sign of prosperity when eaten.  

Address: 

• 19/21 Binjai Park, Singapore 589827
• 205 Hougang Street 21, Kovan Heartland Mall, Singapore 530205

Opening Hours: 
Friday-Wednesday: 11am-3pm, 5pm-9pm

8. The Blue Ginger

Source: The Blue Ginger

Galangal, also known as blue ginger, plays a very important role in any Nyonya kitchen. It gives off a sharp, spicy and peppery taste and is found in many quintessential Peranakan dishes. Just like the rhizome, The Blue Ginger serves up its rendition of authentic Nyonya dishes, promising you and your taste buds an epic adventure. 

For starters, grab a Kueh Pie Tee cup to toast to a great meal ahead. Then, the feast begins with an assortment of Blue Ginger signatures such as Hee Peow Soup, Babi Hong, Ayam Panggang “Blue Ginger” and Terong Goreng Cili, all of which goes great with a bowl of fragrant steamed rice. End of the meal with the king of fruits served as a puree in the Durian Chendol. 

Address: 97 Tg Pagar Rd, Singapore 088518

Opening Hours: 
Monday-Sunday: 12pm-2.15pm, 6.30pm-9.45pm

Make a reservation at The Blue Ginger here!

9. Chong Wen Ge Cafe

Source: Chong Wen Ge Cafe

Situated in the heart of Telok Ayer is the Thian Hock Keng Temple. Worshippers of Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess, go there to pay their respects and give offerings. Located within the temple grounds is Chong Wen Ge Cafe, which specialises in Nyonya kuehs and other Peranakan quick bites. Grab an assortment of colourful kuehs such as the kueh salat and ang ku kueh on a sharing platter. If you’re still not satiated, the cafe also makes a great Nyonya Assam Laksa that gives a spicy kick. 

The Gula Melaka milk tea, which gives a rich and robust twist to traditional teh, is a refreshing thirst quencher and a great perk-me-up! After your meal, you may want to visit the Peranakan Tile Gallery or the Music Box Museum, both located within the compounds of the temple.

Address: 168 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068619

Opening Hours: 
Friday-Wednesday: 11am-5.30pm
Thursday: 12pm-5pm

Find out more about Chong Wen Ge Cafe here!

Want to reignite that passion for all things Peranakan again?  

Maybe a sumptuous Peranakan meal would help you rekindle that flame! Planning a day out? Why not explore the neighbourhoods of Joo Chiat and Katong rich in Peranakan culture and heritage and go on a food trail through while you’re at it?