328 Joo Chiat Road is full of surprises.
By day, it is home to Kings Cart Coffee Factory, a chill cafe serving up brunch classics, unique flavoured coffees and coffee cocktails.
By night, it undergoes a dramatic transformation into Joo Chiat Oyster House, a restaurant serving hot tapas, Singaporean-inspired tipples, and its namesake, oysters.
The lights are dimmed, turning the retro-vintage space into one that harks back to the days of “red-light district of East Singapore”. Not only is it aesthetic (perfect for those with “moody” IG feeds), but it also makes for a great date night spot.
As someone with a passion for both oysters and the neighbourhood of Joo Chiat, I couldn’t wait into the restaurant’s freshly shucked oysters, which are flown in weekly from Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
With prices starting from only S$3.10 per piece (minimum order of two per flavour), you can enjoy these creamy, plump, and luscious molluscs three ways: naked, flavoured, or baked.
We got to try Flavoured Oysters (from S$3.30 per piece for a dozen) topped with Ikura, Red Wine Mignonette, and Chimichurri.
It’s hard to go wrong with the first two, but the chimichurri — zesty, garlicky, and herbaceous— was extra slurp-worthy savoured atop juicy oysters.
Fresh oysters are best paired with the amusingly named, yet dangerously drinkable East Coast Plan (S$22), a combination of Hendrick’s gin, fresh mint, lime, and prosecco that truly embodies the “rejuvenating and revitalising” East Coast Plan.
If you don’t take raw oysters, the Baked Oysters (from S$4.30 per piece for a dozen), will be right up your alley. Look forward to the array of strong umami flavours like Mentaiko, Garlic Chilli, and my favourite of the lot, Miso Butter, which is torched tableside for a little extra flair.
Moving on to the tapas, which showcases fusion East-meets-West flavours, you won’t go wrong with the Blur Like Sotong Fritters (S$14), squid fritters served with an addictive kaffir lime mayo.
The Tako Romesco (S$14), which sees cured octopus leg cooked in a romesco sauce (charred capsicum sauce) with a sprinkling of crunchy pistachio nuts, was decent, though I found the flavour of the sauce to be a tad muted.
There is also Crisp Charred Broccoli (S$10), which I’d recommend you order only if you need to up your vegetable intake for the day.
Don’t skip the Chilli Crab & Mantou (S$16) if you’re a fan of the well-loved local dish. It comprises sweet and savoury sauce flecked with crab chunks and creamy egg, served alongside mini fried mantou — the perfect sauce vehicle.
Wash down these small plates with the fiesty and sharp flavours of Aunty Rosalyn (S$22), a gin-based number perfumed with fresh lemongrass and galangal.
It’s inspired by a real-life Peranakan matriarch with the same name, and is hence stronger than you think — don’t be fooled by those spicy, tangy, and aromatic layers!
The mains are equally seafood-centric — think Katong Laksa Fish & Chips (S$21) and Mentaiko Carbonara (S$24) — but you can also find meatier options like Chicken Roulade (S$24) and 8 Hour Braised Beef (S$26).
However, you don’t need to be vegetarian in order to enjoy the Portobello Aglio Olio (S$21), which features a classic combi of portobello mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, chilli flakes, garlic, and, oddly enough, shredded (and not grated) parmesan.
Who needs dessert when you have the Solero (S$20), a fun rum-based cocktail inspired by the nostalgic Solero lime ice cream I used to love as a kid? It’s topped off with a fizzy lime sorbet foam, yielding a delightful concoction that is equal parts tart, creamy, and citrus-y.
I’ll definitely be back with my fellow seafood-loving friends for a fun night of oysters, cocktails, and of course, that gorgous kaffir lime mayo I’ve yet to stop thinking about.
Wanna do the same? Reservations can be made here.
Joo Chiat Oyster House
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???? 328 Joo Chiat Rd, #01-05, Singapore 427585
???? 5pm–10pm (Mon to Tue), 5pm–11pm (Wed to Sat)
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Photos by Christabel Tan
I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨