What’s there to eat at Bugis?
A relatively simple question that is surprisingly hard to answer as there are so many choices to choose from in the vicinity. I can’t lie, but it can get overwhelming at times as you scramble to search for the nearest eatery to you, only to end up disappointed by unsatisfying or even overpriced fare.
Luckily for you, we’ve compiled the ultimate Bugis food guide filled with the best restaurants, cafes and specialty desserts. Regardless of whether you’re there for retail therapy, to visit a self-photo studio, or to explore Singapore’s art and culture, you’ll always need food to fuel your day!
1. YY Kafei Dian
Our national breakfast staple has to be a plate of Kaya toast alongside a steaming hot cup of Kopi. YY Kafei Dian is a popular coffee shop that serves Hainanese fare. Get this: their fluffy Kaya Buns (S$1.70) are lightly toasted and then generously slathered with Kaya jam and a slab of butter. It’s such a simple combination but it just hits different.
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📍 37 Beach Rd, #01-01, Singapore 189678
🕐 730am–7pm (Mon to Fri), 8am–7pm (Sat & Sun)
2. RIB Soul Food
Introducing Singapore’s first ever Muslim-owned Southern BBQ rib specialty joint in Kampong Glam, RIB Soul Food. This is a real game changer. One of their most popular dishes, the Freddy’s Lamb Ribs (S$22.90), comes with two thick lamb ribs, alongside roasted vegetables and cheesy homemade mac and cheese!
Otherwise, go for the Build-Your-Own-Ribs (S$22.90) if you prefer your meats done a certain way. Finish off with their special mocktails like Bloody Injection (S$16) and Vampire’s Venom (S$15).
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📍 8 Jln Kubor, #01-01, Singapore 199207
🕐 5.30pm–10pm (Mon to Thu), 5.30pm–10.30pm (Fri), 12pm–10.30pm (Sat & Sun)
3. Buta Kizoku
When you’re done shopping, why not head over to Buta Kizoku in Bugis Junction? This eatery serves a variety of yakitori (Japanese skewers) like Iberico pork and chicken. Each skewer is individually torched to achieve its charred surface and delicately coated in their house-made special sauce.
Besides their skewers, try their Jowl Charsiew Ishiyaki Ramen (S$15.90) and Iberico Pork Belly Ishiyaki Ramen (S$14.90) that boasts a rich and umami broth, simmered for over thirty six hours with Iberico pork bone and seafood.
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📍 Bugis Junction, #02-48, Singapore 188021
🕐 11.30am–9.30pm (Mon to Thu, Sun), 11.30am–10pm (Fri and Sat)
4. Hangawi Korean Food
Fortune Centre is one of my favourite go-to places for affordable yet quality foods. Hangawi Korean Food serves authentic homely Korean fare. Go for a hearty meal like their Bibimbap (S$6.90) or their Kimchi Soup Set (S$7.50) which comes with rice and the usual banchan (side dishes) — kimchi and spicy anchovies. Perfect for those who are hangawi.
📍190 Middle Rd, #02-18, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979|
🕐 10.30am–4.30pm (Mon to Sun), 6pm–7.30pm (Mon to Sun)
5. Eminami Halal Vietnam
Craving for Pho, especially on those cold, rainy days? Eminami Halal Vietnam — a Halal-certified modern Vietnamese coffee house just along Kandahar Street — is opened by a Vietnamese-born Muslim lady called Emina Abdullah.
Soak in the comfort of their Classic Pho Bo (S$14.90) or Bún bò Huế (S$15.90) if you have a high spice tolerance. Otherwise, you can always grab and go with their Banh Mi starting from S$10.90. Ideal for all you shopaholics!
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📍 46 Kandahar St, Singapore 198898
🕐 10am–10pm (Tue to Sun), Closed on Mon
6. OUD restaurant
The Muslim-owned OUD Restaurant specialises in open fire grilled meats like Argentinian Ribeye (S$38) and OUD Grilled Lamb Ribs (S$38). Their ribeye has the perfect fat-to-meat ratio, leaving you wanting more after each bite. Choose to pair it with their peppercorn, bearnaise or truffle sauce — a nice touch for a more layered dish.
Did I mention that they have four Michelin-studded chefs? You just know that the food is going to be exquisite.
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📍 48 Kandahar St, Singapore 198899
🕐 11.30am–3pm (Mon to Sun), 6pm–10pm (Mon to Fri), 6pm–11pm (Sat and Sun)
7. Una Una
Here’s two words that you don’t often get to hear in the same sentence — unagi and affordable. At Una Una, however, you can get their Unagi Hitsumabushi at S$18.31. Hear me out, this Nagoya charcoal-grilled eel comes with rice, dashi soup and your standard Japanese sides (a pretty reasonable price for unagi food in Bugis if you ask me).
That said, the glistening layer of glaze on the eel itself is always tempting.
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📍 201 Victoria St, #05-02/03, Singapore 188067
🕐 11am–3pm (Mon to Fri ), 5pm–10pm (Mon to Fri), 11am–10pm (Sat and Sun), Closed on Mon
8. Indobowl
If you’re on a diet, look away.
IndoBowl is Singapore’s first halal eatery that specialises in Indomie dishes, run by the team behind Royz et Vous — ideal for all those who love instant noodles. Choose from their Indomie Original (S$7.68) that comes with Sambal Balado (hot and spicy sauce) or Sambal Ijo (Indonesian-style green chilli). It’s giving Samyang a run for their money.
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📍 29 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198487
🕐 12pm–3.15pm, 5pm–9.15pm (Mon to Sun)
9. New Rong Liang Ge
Although it may look unassuming at first, hawker spots can be an underrated gem in the neighbourhood. That being said, it’s worth heading down to try out New Rong Liang Ge if you’re looking for inexpensive Cantonese-style roasted meats!
Choose from their plate of Char Siew Rice (S$3) or Roasted Duck Rice (S$4), drenched in the signature dark sweet sauce that we’re all familiar with. Add on their double-boiled soups and you’ve got yourself a hearty meal.
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📍 269B Queen St, Singapore 182269
🕐 7am–9pm (Mon to Sun)
10. June Bakery
Having grown up around many old school bakeries, they can be hard to come by nowadays. Run by an elderly couple, June Bakery specialises in orh nee (taro) desserts. If you love Hong Kong-style egg tarts, then, you’ll definitely have to get the Orh Nee Tart, Cheese Tart and Egg Tart starting from S$1.50.
Do come earlier as they sell out fast!
📍 7500A Beach Rd, #B1-321, Singapore 199591
🕐 7am–2.30pm (Mon to Fri), Closed on Sat & Sun
11. Mahmud’s Tandoor
Opened by a Pakistani-Indian couple, Mahmud’s Tandoor started their home-based business selling Tandoori style burgers and chicken wings. As of now, they only have two burger flavours, both priced at S$12 (ala carte) each.
The OG Tandoori Burger is served with a juicy cut of baked tandoori chicken thigh, slathered in their tangy mint yogurt sauce with sliced onions, sandwiched in between their brioche buns (yum). Alternatively, get the CrispyDoori Burger (S$12) if you like to keep things spicy.
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📍 730 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198698
🕐 11am–8.30pm (Tue to Thu, Sun), 11am–9pm (Fri and Sat), Closed on Mon
12. Tipo Pasta Bar
The halal-certified Tipo Pasta Bar is one of the more (if not most) popular pasta restaurants in Bugis (prove me wrong). If you’ve been there before, you’ll know that you can personally customise your own pasta bowls from their wide selections of freshly made and artisanal pastas!
You can never go wrong with a plate of Classy Carbonara (S$18.90) or Aglio Alright (S$18.90). Check out their other affiliated Tipo stores in Bugis that sells food like pizza and more!
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📍 28 Aliwal St, #01-07, Singapore 199918
🕐 11am–10pm (Mon to Sun)
13. Ting Yuan Hotpot Buffet
When coming up with this Bugis food guide, I knew that I wanted to throw in a few spots that open till late for all the night owls. And Ting Yuan Hotpot Buffet is just the place. From their wide selections of soups, meats, sides and more, there’s something out there for everyone.
Their hotpot lunch and dinner buffets are priced at S$25.80 (Monday to Thursday) or S$28.80 (Friday to Sunday, PH and Eve). Soup bases like Fresh Tomato, Fungus Mushroom, Mala Soup and my personal favourite, Herbs Chicken are available if you just top up an additional S$8.
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📍 22 Liang Seah St, Singapore 189043
🕐 11am–1am (Mon to Sun)
14. Chix Hot Chicken
Co-founded by Singapore idol winner Taufik Bastisah, Chix Hot Chicken serves the hottest chick in town (literally). Their Nashville-style fried chicken comes in a multitude of heat that you can choose from ranging from mild to insane.
Feeling like a daredevil? Get their signature Soul Slider (S$9.90) and top up an additional S$0.99 for the Atomic heat (eat at your own risk!).
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📍 1 Jln Pisang, Singapore 199069
🕐 12pm–9pm (Mon to Thu, Sun), 12pm–10.30pm (Fri & Sat)
15. Taste Good
Salted egg can never go wrong and Taste Good in Sim Lim Square has certainly created a brand for itself selling fragrant and wonderfully savoury salted egg dishes. You must try out their Salted Egg Chicken (S$7.20).
Each meat is fried to a crisp golden brown exterior which soaks up the buttery and creamy sauce really well. It is such a sinful meal, especially with the fried egg, but since you’re already clocking in those steps whilst thrifting, why not just go for it?
If you don’t already know, there’s been some heated discussions about whether Taste Good or 3 meals a day (located just next door) tastes better. What do you think?
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📍 1 Rochor Canal Rd, #02-04 Sim Lim Square, Singapore 188504
🕐 9am–7.45pm (Daily)
16. Twenty Grammes
No meal is ever complete without desserts. A local boutique in Kampong Glam, Twenty Grammes serves artisanal gelato with homemade crisp waffles and custom cakes. If you’re feeling particularly famished, go for the Smores Waffles (S$16).
It comes with lightly toasted marshmallows, ice cream of your choice and whipped cream, on a bed of warm and crispy thick waffles.
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📍 753 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198721
🕐 12pm–10pm (Mon to Thu, Sun), 12pm–1am (Fri & Sat)
17. Jiu Gong Ge Hot Pot
Here’s another late-night hotpot spot. Jiu Gong Ge Hot Pot — located in Bugis Cube — has a wide variety of marinated meats like their Australia Wagyu slices (S$20), Spain Slices Pork Belly (S$8) and more food you could’ve ever wished for!
If you’re feeling adventurous (and have the stomach for it), try the Pig Brains (S$8) and Sichuan Spicy Beef Tongue (S$16). Alongside these dishes, create your own sauces if you’re one of those people who head straight to the sauce table at hotpot places.
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📍 470 North Bridge Rd, #01-05 Bugis Cube Singapore 188735
🕐 1130am–2am (Daily)
18. Cafe Margaret
One of my favourites in this Bugis food guide is Cafe Margaret, hidden away at Bali Lane! As though you’re transported to Korea, the interior of this cosy cafe is decked with mismatched furniture and vintage furnishings —it’s giving cottagecore vibes.
Come early if you don’t want to miss out on their Cube Pies from S$7.80. These come in an assortment of flavours, ranging from Injeolmi, Matcha, Lotus Cookie, Nutella, and Pistachio!
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📍 32 Bali Ln, Singapore 189868
🕐 10am–7pm (Fri to Wed), Closed on Thu
19. Onalu
As someone who has to make a journey to the West to reach school everyday, students at SMU have it real lucky.
Nestled in SMU is Onalu, a bagel house with student-friendly pricings. It may not be situated exactly in Bugis, but this is a great food option for students who are always rushing to class. If you‘re a savoury lover and looking for sustenance, opt for the Say Cheese (S$5) or Deviled Spam (S$9). The choice of bagels includes Plain, Sesame, Cheese and even Pandan! A warm and toasty bagel will hopefully make back-to-back lectures less tiring.
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📍 60 Stamford Rd, #01-11, Singapore 178900
🕐 9.30am–5.45pm (Daily)
20. Whiskdom
You may have chanced upon this shop with a logo of an adorable bunny eating a cookie whilst strolling along North Bridge Road. Whiskdom specialises in selling chunky molten lava cookies and blackout fudgy brownies.
Their Levain-Bakery-style cookies like the Chunky Chocolate Chip (S$6.50) and Dark Chocolate Overloaded (S$6.50) are so worth the price. It’s basically the size of your palm — they definitely don’t skimp on ingredients here.
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📍 757 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198725
🕐 12pm–8pm (Tue to Sun), Closed on Mon
21. Overrice
Known for their halal rice bowls and pita pockets, Overrice’s dishes are jam packed with well-seasoned meats and fresh lettuce and tomatoes. All of their rice bowls are drizzled in the same secret white sauce and fiery red sauce starting from S$11.
But if you’re looking for something different in Bugis, the Chicken Pita Pocket (S$7) is a good alternative for great food too!
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📍 41 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198489
🕐 12pm–9pm (Daily)
22. Waku Waku Yakiniku
Waku Waku Yakiniku is Singapore’s first halal Yakiniku eatery (not to be confused with Waku-Shin Yakiniku at South Bridge Road. Just looking at the marbling on the Prime Wagyu Sirloin Steak (200g) for S$58, you just know that the meat is going to be rich in flavour and melts in your mouth.
Get the best of both worlds with the Assorted Mixed Platter (500g) at S$50, which comes inclusive of beef, lamb and chicken.
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📍 27 Bali Ln, Singapore 189863
🕐 5pm–10pm (Daily)
23. Pasta & Co
Another hidden gem tucked away in Fortune Centre is Pasta & Co. They serve fresh, handmade pasta daily with a twist of pasta flavours so you’re in for a surprise every time you’re there.
Some choices include their Beetroot Fusilli, Pumpkin Rigatoni and Roasted Capsicum with Paprika Spaghetti.
Most of their pastas start from S$19.90 to S$27.90 — I practically inhaled their Cacio E Pepe (S$22.90) as it was slightly creamy, with the pepper adding a slight heat to the dish.
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📍 190 Middle Rd, #02-17 Fortune Center, Singapore 188979
🕐 12pm–1230pm (Tue to Sun), 530pm–10pm (Tue to Sat), Closed on Mon
24. Yat Ka Yan Dessert
When you’re done learning about Singapore’s rich culture and heritage history at the National Museum, head down to Yat Ka Yan Dessert. Tucked away in Fortune Centre, this humble eatery specialises in traditional local desserts.
Go for a comforting bowl of hot Yam Paste (S$6), Chendol Black Glutinous Rice with Coconut Milk (S$4.70) or the classic Almond Cream (S$4.70). If you’re planning to go to Pasta & Co for dinner, now you’ve got dessert sorted as well.
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📍 190 Middle Rd, #02-08 Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
🕐 1.30pm–10pm (Mon, Wed & Thu), 1.30pm–11pm (Fri to Sun), Closed on Tue
25. Bulgogi Syo
You’ve probably heard of Seorae if you avidly frequent Korean BBQ chains. Led by the same team, Bulgogi Syo uses a three step grilling process.
Staying true to their name, they’ll give you a whole fire ‘syo’ where you get to witness your meats torched, grilled, and flambéed in front of you. Enjoy the Chef’s Choice Combo (S$59) for a succulent slab of marinated pork collar and juicy, tender chicken, alongside a jjigae and fried rice of your choice.
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📍 200 Victoria Street, #02-49 Bugis Junction, 188021
🕐 11.30am–10pm (Daily)
26. Shinfuni
Nestled in Bugis Junction is Shinfuni, an artisanal Taiwanese bakery (yes, it’s the sister-brand of KAZO!). You can’t go there and not get their iconic Shinfuni Signature Hokkaido Cream Apple Pie (S$4.80).
If you’re in Haji Lane early (to get an oracle reading, perhaps?) the Golden Horn Croissant (S$3.20) is a good breakfast option!
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📍 200 Victoria Street, B1-K04 Bugis Junction, Singapore, 188021
🕐 9.30am–9.30pm (Mon to Thu, Sun), 9.30am–10pm (Fri & Sat)
27. Mondays
We all know that Mondays can be tough. But, when you’re at Mondays, watch your troubles melt away as you are invited to try their European-style brunch, sweet treats, and canelés.
As they’re a Muslim-owned cafe, they do not use any alcohol for flavouring in the canelés! There’s no excuse not to give those French pastries a try now.
Go for the Original at S$4 or Cream Cheese Matcha (S$6), Raspberry Truffle (S$6), Valrhona Chocolate (S$6) or even Dalgona Espresso (S$6) for all those who tried making the viral Dalgona coffee during the COVID period.
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📍 8 Jln Klapa, Singapore 199320
🕐 11am–10pm (Tue to Fri), 9am–8pm (Sat & Sun), Closed on Mon
28. Dessert First
Singapore’s weather can be fairly unpredictable. One thing that we can always depend on, however, is the unforgiving sun that blazes down on us.
That being said, treat yourself to a refreshing bowl of snow ice at Dessert First to cool yourself down. The Mango Shaved Ice (S$10.50) has fresh mango cubes, Nata De Coco, mango sauce, topped with a scoop of mango ice cream. They also open till midnight if you’re in need of a late-night supper spot.
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📍 8 Liang Seah St, #01-04, Singapore 189029
🕐 1pm–12am (Mon to Thu), Fri & Sat (1pm–1am), 12.30pm–12am (Sun)
29. Chanko Oden
Need something easy to eat whilst you’re on the go? Chanko Oden is a take-away food kiosk in Bugis Street with over 30 different types of oden to choose from, priced at either S$1.50 or S$2.
Go for the Tom Yum Fish Cake (S$2), Seafood Beancurd (S$2), Beancurd Puff (S$1.50) and more! Picture this, you’re holding a warm cup of seafood-based dashi broth filled with oden skewers. It does sound comforting, especially on a rainy day, doesn’t it?
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📍 3 New Bugis Street, S188867
🕐 12pm–9pm (Daily)
30. Huevos
Our Bugis food guide isn’t complete without adding Huevos. I just love how the dishes are generously loaded with sauces and packed with ingredients. I’d often avoid anything seafood-related as it can get pretty fishy for my liking.
Thankfully, their Baja Fish Tacos priced at S$14 for two pcs or S$18 for three pcs, are coated in a perfectly spiced breading and irresistible chipotle aioli.
Here’s a tip — go during the weekdays or off peak seasons as the dine-in area is pretty small!
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📍 803 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198771
🕐 11am–3pm (Tue to Sun), 5pm–10pm (Tue to Sun), Closed on Mon
And with that, these are our top picks for the Bugis food guide! As someone who takes exceptionally long to decide my next meal, this guide will certainly come in handy the next time I’m in Bugis looking for good food.
Will you be heading to one of these spots soon?
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