Chinatown Singapore is packed with delicious food markets, eateries, and restaurants for visitors. From street food to Michelin-starred restaurants, there's always something for everyone and every food craving.
If you're looking for grab and go tasty snack, stop by one of the many street food hawkers. For something more substantial, plenty of Chinese restaurants serve traditional dishes like dim sum, roast duck, and wonton soup. Or, if you're in the mood for something more contemporary, several fusion restaurants blend Chinese cuisine with Western flavours.
Here we'll go through the 5 best restaurants in Chinatown Singapore, what they offer, and why it's worth trying on your visit.
Let's start.
5 Iconic Restaurants In Chinatown Singapore
The restaurants in Chinatown Singapore are as varied as the people who live in this vibrant and historic neighbourhood. With so many options, it can take time to decide where to eat. To help narrow your search for good food in Chinatown, we've compiled a list of 5 iconic food stops that you shouldn't miss on your visit.
Fortune Court 天富阁
Fortune Court 天富阁 makes it to the list for being one of the best Chinatown restaurants. Fortune Court offers patrons authentic Cantonese food served in a modern setting. Heading by the Ex-Executive Chef Of Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurant, Chef Lee created an irresistible menu that tourists and local visitors can appreciate.
Adding to its charm, the modern ambience and creative decor give the restaurant a luxurious feel, but the prices are reasonable. The menu features classic dishes with a twist, such as the X.O Lobster EE-Fu Noodles, Signature White Pepper Crab and Three Cup Chicken. To top it all off, Fortune Court also serves lunch sets and daily discounts on signature dishes.
Fortune Court - X.O Lobster EE-Fu Noodles, image credit - fortunecourtsg.com
Xiao Long Kan Hotpot
Xiao Long Kan Hotpot specialises in serving traditional Cheng Du hotpot with rich flavours and authentic ingredients. Located along Smith Street, it's a definite stop to take on your Chinatown food trip. The restaurant's Butter Spicy Hotpot, paired with your choice of beef slices, marinated pork, and vegetables, is a must-try.
Patrons can also choose a set menu of chicken, Australian Beef, or fresh seafood, ideal for large groups. The hotpot broth is simmered for hours to extract all the natural flavours, giving it a deep and complex taste.
Xiao Long Kan Hotpot, image credit: facebook.com/xiaolongkanhotpot
If you're looking for an authentic Chengdu experience, Xiao Long Kan Hotpot is the perfect place. The restaurant also offers a variety of other hotpot broths and appetisers so you can customise your meal to your liking.
Nomiya
Taking a break from Chinese food, Nomiya serves exquisite Japanese dishes paired with a great sake collection for visitors to enjoy. Their menu features meal sets, sharing plates, and small plates, so you can easily customise it to fit your appetite.
The must-try dishes are the Truffle Chirashi Don for lunch and the Signature Izakaya Sets from their dinner menu. These, along with mouth-watering appetisers and small plates, create the ideal meal. Nomiya also has a daily Happy Hour menu that includes sake, beer, liquor, and cocktails.
The attractive restaurant has a dim and cosy feel, perfect for intimate gatherings or as a final stop to wind down after a long day exploring everything Chinatown offers. Discovering what to eat in Chinatown will never be a complicated task. Whatever you crave, there is undoubtedly a restaurant or stall to satisfy.
Nomiya - Cold Udon & Black Truffle, image credit: nomiya.sg
Chinatown Seafood Restaurant
Chinatown Seafood Restaurant (The Yellow Chair Restaurant aka Ba Dao Guan Restaurant), located at 51-53 Pagoda St, Singapore 059212, Singapore, is known for its authentic Singaporean cuisine and refreshing drinks. The restaurant offers a relaxed yet lively ambiance, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists. The menu is extensive, featuring dishes such as prawn fritters and chili crab, which are appreciated for their flavors and quality. The environment is clean and well-maintained, contributing to a pleasant dining experience.
Guests value the restaurant for its reasonable prices and efficient service. The staff are friendly and manage the high tourist volume effectively, ensuring that the dishes are served fresh. The bustling atmosphere provides an excellent opportunity for people-watching while enjoying a meal. Ba Dao Guan’s range of dim sum and overall food quality make it a noteworthy dining option in Chinatown, offering a blend of traditional hawker-style food with the convenience of a restaurant setting.
Chinatown Seafood Restaurant (The Yellow Chair Restaurant aka Ba Dao Guan Restaurant), image credit: https://www.facebook.com/ChinatownSeafoodRestaurant/
Mei Heong Yuen Dessert 味香园甜品
After trying the variety of dishes and restaurants that Chinatown offers, from xiao long bao, pork dumplings, and chicken wings to larger portions like a BBQ buffet, looking for dessert is next! Restaurants and cafes in Chinatown Singapore are not limited to savoury meals but also delectable and sweet desserts for anyone with a sweet tooth. If you are looking for the ideal place for dessert in Chinatown, Mei Heong Yuen Dessert is the place to head to.
Mei Heong Yuen Dessert is located along Temple Street and will surely be a hit for kids and adults alike. Their dessert menu features treat like snow ice, cakes, and sweet dumplings. As a Chinatown staple, locals and tourists alike cannot help but indulge in this Chinatown dessert parlour.
3 Must-visit Food Centres In Chinatown Singapore
Aside from the wide selection of restaurants, Chinatown is home to a handful of food centres, famous for serving up delicious hawker dishes. Finding these dishes is no challenge, just head to one of the centres listed below for the ultimate Chinatown Singapore hawker experience. Choose from hearty dishes like fried noodles and chicken in soy sauce or speciality seafood laksa.
Here are 3 must-visit food centres in Chinatown that will satisfy any craving you may have:
Maxwell Food Centre
The Maxwell Food Centre is home to numerous hawker food stalls celebrating authentic Singaporean cuisine and food heritage. Visitors can choose classic dishes or reinvented recipes that elevate traditional flavours into modern taste. The best part is that these food stalls offer affordable meals, so you can try a little bit of everything without breaking the bank.
Interior of maxwell food centre
Amoy Street Food Centre
Located in the central business district, the Amoy Street Food Centre offers visitors a mix of traditional recipes from generation to generation and modern foods that add unique twists. It's also a wonderful place to look for sweet snacks like rice cakes and muffins to compliment a salty snack.
Tourists and visitors can enjoy local delights while exploring the new flavours of hawker centres and stalls. Regardless, leave enough room to try other street food and restaurants!
exterior of amoy street food centre
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
The Chinatown Complex Food Centre is a foodie paradise, with stalls offering various local and international cuisines.
From Chinese to Indian, Malay to Thai, there's always something for everyone at the Chinatown food court. If you're looking for an authentic hawker experience, the Chinatown Complex Food Centre is the place to go.
The Chinatown Complex Market is also home to some of Singapore's iconic dishes, like Hong Kong-style soy sauce chicken, clay pot rice meals, and duck soup. Celebrating Chinatown's Hawker Day Out is the perfect time to explore the cuisine at this local food centre. Visitors can sample the best street foods combining local cuisines and fusion cooking. Also, visitors can choose from savoury dishes, sweet snacks, and various delicious beverages.
No matter what you are craving, Chinatown Complex Food Centre has the taste you are looking for. Double-check the Chinatown food court opening hours and plan! You'll likely spend more time there than you think.
lunch time at chinatown complex food centre
3 Michelin Bib Gourmand Food Destinations In Chinatown Singapore
For those looking for the best of the best when it comes to cuisine, heading over to a Michelin Rated Singapore Chinatown restaurant proves the perfect solution! These Michelin rated food destinations in Chinatown Singapore are worth the visit for a filling meal with delicious flavours.
Here are 3 Michelin rated restaurants to stop at:
Hawker Chan
Hawker Chan is known for offering some of the most affordable dishes at Michelin-star standards. The famed Chef Chan perfected his soya sauce chicken recipe and opened the Liao Fan Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle. In 2016 Hawker Chan received the prestigious right to call itself a Michelin Star restaurant.
Visitors to this Michelin-star Singapore Chinatown restaurant can expect a filling meal at a reasonable price. The soya sauce chicken comes with rice or noodles, and the braised pork belly is served with steamed buns. Aside from that, the Smith Street restaurant also offers other dishes and appetisers to satiate any craving.
Hawker Chan - Soya Chicken Noodles
Lian He Ben Ji Claypot
Lian He Ben Ji Claypot is located at the Chinatown Complex serving up authentic claypot rice dishes topped with flavourful ingredients prepared over charcoal fire. The 41 years old hawker stall is headed by Mdm Lim Siew Lee, received Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2018. However, this coveted rating did not change the stall's focus on authenticity and heritage.
The most popular dish is the Mixed Rice for SGD 10. The dish includes lup cheong, salted fish, and vegetables, laid atop a bed of perfectly cooked rice. Other dishes like the Lotus Root Pork Rib Soup complete your meal and satisfy your tummy. Adding it all up, the smokey aroma and taste will surely pull you in to try their menu!
Fatty Ox HK Kitchen
A visit to Chinatown Singapore is never complete without trying a delicious noodle dish, and Fatty Ox HK Kitchen has exactly that. Also located at the Chinatown Food Complex, the stall serves up hearty Cantonese noodle dishes topped with roasted meats and savoury sauces.
The menu also includes sides like dumpling soup, seasonal veggies, and fried shrimp rolls for an ideal pairing to your main dish. The best part is that these dishes come at a reasonable price without compromising on taste and quality.
Fatty Ox HK Kitchen, image credit: facebook.com/fattyoxhk
Endless Flavours To Explore At Chinatown Food Street
Singapore'Chinatown is known for having the most variety in cuisine. Visitors can find every flavour within the best restaurants. What makes the food here unique is the mix of old and new, traditional and fusion. The best part is that you don't have to spend much money to enjoy good food. Plus, there is no limit to the type of cuisine you can find. You could easily spend a week in Chinatown and still not try everything!
