New Restaurants

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Modu
Located in Mandarin Gallery along Orchard Road, I checked out a new Korean restaurant Modu, Singapore’s first Samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup) specialty shop. Modu is by the original founders of Drim Korean Steakhouse in Mandarin Gallery, where its name means “made for everyone”. With a diverse menu, expect the likes of Collagen Herbal Samgyetang, Perilla Seed Samgyetang, including unique specialties like Black Sesame Samgyetang and Black Chicken Samgyetang. For sides, there are options like Minari Pancake, Potato Pancake, Tofu SamHap, and HwangTaeChae. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: #02-37, Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road, Singapore 238897
 

Chen’s Kitchen
Located at the basement of Paragon Shopping Centre, the newly opened Chen’s Kitchen is the latest concept by Chen’s, the sister concept of Michelin-starred Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro, and a four-time awardee of the Michelin Bib Gourmand. Chen’s Kitchen is a casual family-dining concept where the wide variety of dishes showcase the same ethos of Shisen Hanten by blending Japanese techniques with Szechuan flavours. Expect the likes of XXL Szechwan La Zi Ji, Mapo Tofu in red, white and jade flavours, Poached Fish Fillet in Golden Broth, and more. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 290 Orchard Road, Paragon Shopping Centre #B1-43, Singapore 238859

Cheflam’s 
New dining alert in Tanjong Pagar. Meet Cheflam’s (兰堂川菜), the first overseas outpost by renowned Sichuan master Chef Lam Shan which opened in Guoco Tower in the heart of Tanjong Pagar, celebrated for pioneering Sichuan Dongpo cuisine. With over 40 years of culinary expertise, Chef Lam showcases a refined tribute to Sichuan’s rich gastronomic heritage, reimagining its essence for the modern palate. The Singapore menu is the same as the Chengdu outlets where the flavours stay authentic as it is. Expect Chef Lam’s renowned Gold Medal Kung Pao Chicken and more than 20 famed Sichuan dishes on the menu, starting from S$18.90. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: Guoco Tower #01-13, 5 Wallich Street, Singapore 078883

Yakitori One
We usually think about Japanese brand when it comes to yakitori but here is a yakitori specialist from Beijing. Located in Suntec City Mall, Yakitori One (鳥萬) is Beijing’s popular yakitori specialist, and has recently debuted its first overseas outpost in Singapore. The brand is known for its unique chicken skewers that spotlight every part of the chicken from head to tail, including rare cuts like chicken neck and aorta. Yakitori One only opens for dinner for now, and it has a Omakase Menu along with a wide selection of skewers and sides from their ala carte menu as well. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard #01-514/515, Situated Outside Tower 2 Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983 

Yakiniku Gyubei 
Located at 100AM in Tanjong Pagar, the newly opened Yakiniku Gyubei is a brand from Japan known for their head-to-tail philosophy. Yakiniku Gyubei was founded in 1999, and it offers 24 cuts of premium Wagyu beef from ethically raised Kyushu cattle. With 22 outlets across Japan, this is the brand’s first overseas expansion. The brand takes on a “zero-waste meat” approach where the menu features a selection of cuts, including the likes of sirloin, shoulder loin, tongue, and more. The lunch sets start from S$13.90, while the Omakase BBQ Courses are priced from S$100 for two persons for lunch, with à la carte options and dinner omakase starting at S$48. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: Tras Street, #03-10, 100AM Mall, Singapore 079027 

Vino Tinto
Located in the heart of the CBD at One Raffles Quay (ORQ) South Tower, Vino Tinto is a new Spanish tapas and wine bar which just opened recently by the same team behind Canchita and Tinto (Chefs Daniel and Tamara Chavez). The name Vino Tinto is named after the Spanish term for red wine, where the menu features over 30 authentic tapas starting from S$6, paellas, and an extensive selection of Spanish wines, sangria, and cocktails from S$14 a glass. By day, the space is also opened for breakfast where it serves Spanish coffee and freshly baked treats. For business crowd, I must say the 3-course set lunch is priced competitively at S$46++ per person [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 1 Raffles Quay, South Tower, #01-10/K1, Singapore 048583 

Mizue Cafe & Wine Bar 
Located in Club Street, Mizue Cafe & Wine Bar is a relatively new restaurant and wine bar concept which took over what used to be Club Street Wine Room. The name Mizue embodies fluidity and balance, drawing on the Japanese philosophy of “wa” (harmony) in both design and experience. By day, it is a café concept and at night it transforms into a lively, urban bar. Mizue focuses on Italian flavours with Japanese touches. For dinner, you can select 5 dishes for S$65, 7 dishes for S$75 and 9 dishes for S$95 to create your own tasting menu where everyone on the table has to select the same menu. Alternatively, you can also go by ala carte orders. The pastas can’t go very wrong. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 87 Club Street, #01-01, Singapore 069455 

Bee Hoe Coffee 
Out of sight to the world, Bee Hoe Coffee is a hidden coffeeshop located in the back alley where only the most discerning coffee junkies are aware of. It is located at the back of Autocutt Barbershop, and it is the coffee arm of the brand where it serves up Vietnamese style egg coffee along with other regular coffee options, including Iced Coconut Coffee. Food options are limited to some Penang inspired street food such as Bakwa Roti. Space wise, limited indoor seats and a couple of outdoor chairs along the back alley which is quite the quintessential Singaporean street experience.

Address: 55 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore 427779

Koki By Mono Izakaya 
Located along Duxton Road, Koki is still at its soft launch phase where its cafe menu centres around toast – brioche or shokupan done in different combinations like sando or toast. I had their Breakfast Toast using shokupan which has scrambled egg, sliced gouda, breakfast ham & shredded cheese. The drip coffee and tea selections are quite exotic as well. Think Guacamaya Caturra Washed Guatemala (Cata Coffee), Konga G1 Heirloom Washed Ethiopia (Double Up) for coffee, while tea includes the likes of 18-Year-Old Aged Fermented Pu Er Yunnan (Koko Tea). This is also a dual concept space where it transforms into a Pan-Asian dining concept called Equatorial by the evening. 

Address: 60A Duxton Road, #02-01, Singapore 089524 

Buzzing Restaurants

Guum Launches Revamped Menu & Weekend Brunch 
A new dish on the menu I had was the Al Bibimbap, good to share for 2-3 pax. You get lobster chunks, seafood flakes and roe on white bibimbap. The Surf & Turf Platter is also great for 2-3 pax and include meats like the tender Tajima Wagyu ribeye 120g (salt), Black Angus hanging tender 120g (galbi), Iberico presa 120g (fermented fish), Red grouper half fillet (fermented fish), Boston lobster tail 1pcs (salt), Jeju abalone 2pcs (brown butter liver sauce) and Veggie Royale (salt). My favourite item from the platter is the tender and flavourful Tajima Wagyu beef! Another surprisingly good item for us is the delicious Jeju Abalone, especially so with that garlic butter liver sauce. For desserts, the new Injeolmi Tiramisu is nothing like the Italian version I imagined, as this is made of Toasted rice cake powder & Nespresso tiramisu. 

Address: 29 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089136

Wakuda’s New Weekend Brunch Menu 
Priced at S$88++ per person, the new weekend brunch menu starts with iconic dishes like Wakuda’s Flan and a Mix Salad with soy honey vinaigrette and red onion. The meal then proceeds to a Sushi Platter which showcases seasonal fresh ingredients. What I really like about the sushi is the rice which has that nice balance of vinegar and good texture to hold the ingredients well. The next act is the main course where you get to choose one from the options of signatures from the likes of Kurobuta Pork Cutlet Katsu, Miso Cod (my pick), Grilled Ora King Salmon, Unagi, Wagyu Beef Tenderloin, and more. Dessert is chef’s selection, and I had was a delectable Basque Cheesecake paired with Genmaicha ice cream. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Marina Bay Sands, Hotel Tower 2, Lobby, Singapore 018956 

Amo Launches Revamped Menu 
One of the longstanding Italian restaurants along Hong Kong Street, Amo now does a rotating weekday set lunch at S$28++ for 2 courses. I had their ala carte menu and started with the thinly sliced Wagyu Beef Carpaccio with Rucola, Parmigiano and Truffle Relish; and the fresh Artisanal Burrata Cheese with Datterini Tomatoes and Basil Pesto. Pasta wise; the Homemade Spaghetti Chitarra with Seafood and Pomodoro looks simple but delicious. It spots a nice al dente texture packed with robust flavours. For meats, try the Grilled Iberico Pork Secreto with Sweet Onion Friggione or the Grilled Wagyu Beef Hanging Tender Tagliata with Truffle Mash, both of which are commendable proteins for me. 

Address: 33 Hongkong Street, Singapore 059672

Sodeng Opens Second Outlet At Amoy Street 
With two outlets in Telok Ayer Street and Amoy Street, Sodeng Korean Charcoal Grill Restaurant has been on my to-go list for awhile and I finally had the chance to visit the newer Amoy outlet which only opened two months ago. The Amoy outlet is spacious, and I like that the tables are spaced out quite well such that it is not too squeezy like other Korean BBQ restaurants. The signature 3072 Woo-Dae Galbi (S$45/pax, min 2 pax) where the prime grade ribs are marinated for 72 hours in hand-made sauce with over 30 ingredients, is a must try. [Read more here for our full review]   

Address: 88 Amoy Street, Singapore 069907 

Michelin Bib Gourmand Kok Sen Opens Second Outlet At City Square Mall 
This is the first time Kok Sen Restaurant (also a Michelin Bib Gourmand contender) opened in a mall after 54 years, and it located on level 4 of the revamped mall. There are new outlet exclusive dishes to City Square Mall like the Crispy Smoked Tea Duck and Kok Sen’s original Big Prawn Thick Beehoon White Soup. Unfortunately, the duck was a tad too dry for me, though you do get that tinge of tea flavour in the meat. The Roasted Pork with Black Sauce is easily my favourite dish during our meal where the tender pork is flavourful with the black sauce. 

Address: 180 Kitchener Road, #04-31/32 City Square Mall, Singapore 208539

New Sandos At Old Hen 
Sando from S$9! Sign me up. We tried some of the new sando flavours like the Folded Egg Sando (S$12.5) which can’t go very wrong with the tamagoyaki-style eggs, kewpie mayo, bacon jam and chilli crunch. The other sando flaovur which surprise us is the Ogura Sando (S$9) with Hokkaido azuki and salted butter. Very distinct red bean flavour and the amount of butter is not too much, along with the soft milk bun! If you want something more savoury, there is also the Chunky Tuna Mayo Sando (S$16) with confit tuna, herb mayo, slaw & pickles. 

Address: 88 Rangoon Road, #01-03, Singapore 218374

Ranted by The Ranter