Singapore Restaurant Tips by SWFC_Fan

Kaafaair: Cafe in China Square Central

I stopped off at Kaafaair cafe one afternoon during my visit to Singapore in December 2005.

This small bright cafe is located at China Square Central on Pickering Street and has a handful of tables situated outdoors. The bright appearance is created not just by the blue and white checked tablecloths and the yellow umbrellas, but also the young bubbly waitresses.

There is a small food menu including waffles, New Zealand ice cream, salads, seafood meals and snacks (eg chicken wings).

However, most of the menu comprises a vast array of coffees, smoothies, milkshakes and soft drinks.

I opted for an ice blended Bailey's coffee (Cost S$5.30) from the menu devoted to Bailey's infused coffees and milkshakes. It was a bit on the expensive side and was very average, with only a hint of Bailey's amongst the strong coffee taste.

Still, it's a nice place to sit and watch the world go by!

Address: Chiang Mai Palace, 3 Pickering St., China Sq Cen

Comparison: about average

Directions: Outdoors, in China Square Central

Phone: 6538-2231

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Coffeehouse

Raffles City Food Court: Chinese fast food in the mall.

The "Food Junction" food court on the 3rd floor of the Raffles City shopping mall contains numerous catering outlets devoted to various Chinese foods.

For example, there are outlets serving chicken rice, beef noodles, seafood, dimsum, soups and desserts.

I ate in here a number of times during my stay in Singapore, each time having a decent sized, satisfying meal for around S$3 or S$4. The food is cooked to order, is high quality and is excellent value for money!

There were a great many dishes that I didn't recognise by name, and often the accompanying photo didn't give me any further clues. Other dishes I did recognise by name, but I didn't have any desire to try - for example, fish head curry, pigs organ soup and chicken feet.

Ice cold soft drinks can be purchased from a dedicated drinks outlet at a cost of about S$1.50 for a large cup.

Favorite Dish: Each of the dishes I tried cost less than S$4 and were served in large portions:

Special fried rice (rice with chicken, prawns, pork, vegetables, peppers etc).

Chicken with fried egg and rice.

Fried Mee Pok (noodles with prawns, chicken, crab, vegetables etc).

Excellent value for money!

Address: 252 North Bridge Road

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: The food court is on the 3rd floor of the Raffles City shopping mall, close to Raffles Hotel.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum

Ritz Apple Strudel & Pastry: Apple (or Durian!) strudel

This little cafe on North Bridge Road has a handful of tables out front and serves freshly baked apple strudel, other cakes, soft drinks and coffees.

I had the mini apple strudel (2 reasonable sized slices for S$3.50) and a bottle of Orangina (S$2.60). Large family-sized strudels are also available to take away, while a poster on the cafe's window was advertising the latest product - Durian strudel!

You will find Ritz located on a corner towards the northern end of North Bridge Road, beneath a fashion shop. You will easily spot it with its bright neon sign out front.

Address: 534 North Bridge Road

Comparison: about average

Phone: 6337 4381

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Dessert

Royal Bell's & Lanna Thai seafood restaurants: Beer and food by the river Boat Quay Review

Royal Bell's and Lanna Thai seafood restaurants are located midway along the long stretch of bars and restaurants at Boat Quay.

All of these establishments look similar from the outside, with tables next to the river, large menu boards outside and persistent touts trying to entice people in.

I never ate at any of the restaurants at Boat Quay (the food is generally more expensive due to the riverside location and the proximity to the offices of the business district), but I did have a beer here on a couple of occasions.

Most of these places open between 11am and noon and remain empty for much of the afternoon, only coming to life after dark. This is therefore a good place to enjoy a quiet pint in the afternoon, while looking out across the river at Raffles Place or along at the skyscrapers of the CBD.

Royal Bell's and Lanna Thai has a Happy Hour from 4pm to 7pm, where a mug of Thai Chang beer costs just S$3.50 and a jug costs S$12.90 (these prices are exclusive of 10% service charge and 5% tax, but the prices are still reasonable). The beer is served in iced glasses, making it a welcome afternoon refreshment!

The atmosphere and setting are pretty informal with green plastic chairs, red tablecloths and few customers during the day. Unlike some of the bars further along Boat Quay nearer the CBD (such as The Penny Black and Harry's Bar), these restaurants don't tend to attract as many suited and booted businessmen during the lunch hour and the prices are certainly lower than in those bars frequented by the office workers!

Address: 66-68 Boat Quay

Comparison: about average

Directions: Boat Quay

Phone: 8112 1985

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Seafood

Mos Burger: Japanese burger joint

With a late night craving for fast food, I visited the North Bridge Road branch of Mos Burger during my stay in Singapore.

The selection of food and drinks at this Japanese burger chain is similar to that of its more famous American counterpart, but Mos Burger does serve excellent chicken teriyaki burgers.

Branches can be found all over the city and prices are generally between S$1 and S$4 for burgers or various value meals.

Favorite Dish: Chicken teriyaki burgers!

Address: Various branches throughout Singapore

Comparison: less expensive than average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Fast Food

Seng Huat: Cheap, no-frills noodles!

Seng Huat, like many restaurants in Singapore, offers a large selection of cheap, plentiful Chinese dishes.

I ate in here a number of times during my 11 days in the city, each time having the same dish of fried wanton noodles.

It is a very basic restaurant with plastic chairs and tables spilling out of the premises and on to the pavement next to North Bridge Road, and meals are served on plastic plates with chopsticks.

The selection is wide, with many chicken, duck and seafood dishes, and the prices are very reasonable. A typical meal will cost somewhere between S$2 (0.70 GBP / 1 Euro) and S$5 (1.75 GBP / 2.50 Euros). The fried wanton noodles, which also came with a free bowl of fish-flavoured soup, cost just S$3.

Soft drinks and bottled Tiger beers can be purchased from a separate kiosk within the restaurant.

Favorite Dish: Fried wanton noodles! A large plate of noodles, a dozen wantons and a spicy sauce (ask for extra spicy if you are given the choice!). The free soup was also a nice touch.

Go to Seng Huat if you want some cheap and tasty noodles!

Address: North Bridge Road.

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: On North Bridge Road, close to the Backpacker Cosy Corner guesthouse, across from Parco shopping mall.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum