Hop on the TEL: 12 food spots to check off your eat list along East Coast Road

You’re going to want to bust out your loose jeans for this. From expertly seared cuts of beef to succulent stacked burgers, this vanguard hawker fires up plates that one will typically expect in higher-end restaurants. Now, with Katong Park MRT complete, your only valid excuse not to visit is perhaps the long wait time. Otherwise, come before peak hours and bring your appetite for a carnivorous feast.

Having cut his teeth in three-Michelin-starred Zén, mastermind Fikri Rohaimi presents a hawker steakhouse concept where he and his nifty team can afford to be imaginative, experimental and a tad cheeky with what they put out onto diner’s plates. Besides the curated selection of steaks, other highlights are the chunky white pepper fried chicken sandwiches and seasonal seafood where razor clams, roe-filled crabs and local mussels have since graced the menu.

Black Goat Burgers
Address: 4A Jalan Batu, Jalan Batu Market & Food Centre, #01-05, S(432004)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Katong Park MRT (TE24)

Scandinavian wooden furnishings and exposed brick tables make this Joo Chiat café the next great hotspot for coffee and board games with friends—or strangers, as the main communal table fosters the idea of a cosy living room. The owners of this café love their bakes, which is why you’ll see gems such as chicken pies and cardamom buns. Those who love their pastries, go for the “Memory of østerbrogade”, which sees flaky layers of pastry topped with vanilla cream and stuffed with raspberry jam. For added decadence, indulge in the Iranian pistachio tart, which uses the key ingredient liberally, from its firm praline to its frangipane and cream. 

174bingo
Address: 174 Joo Chiat Road, 01-01, S(427445)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Marine Parade MRT (TE26)

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Finally, a sexy wine bar with proper curation of wines in Katong. It’s been a long time coming. The Studio by Juice brings a design-led wine studio that offers a tight but well-curated range of wines—upwards of 200 vintages and still expanding. The dimly lit second-floor shophouse is rather amorous, perfect for dates or wine enthusiasts looking to unwind.

The young but knowledgeable crew are more than capable of picking out a bottle that suits you, based on your simple prompts, which detracts from the typical stressful wine-ordering experience. And if you’re up for learning more about what goes into your glass, chat up the crew about the producers. The space also opens its doors to collaborative initiatives with local creatives. Expect crocheting workshops hosted by Tanchen Studio; get to meet the winemakers hosted by The Smallest Wine Fair; and pizza party pop-ups with cult pizzeria Chooby Pizza in the near future.

The Studio by Juice
Address: 39A East Coast Road, S(428756)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Marine Parade MRT (TE26)

Nasi ulam is a rarity these days but those who don’t mind the trek for a taste, know to look for Nyonya Novelties. Hidden away from plain sight in a coffee shop along Upper East Coast Road, this humble stall is run by Peranakan owner Daisy and her husband. Here, they use at least 17 ingredients in the nasi ulam, including fresh herbs such as laksa leaves, lime leaves, kantan (torch ginger flower), lemongrass, and kerisik (toasted desiccated coconut). The main difference between most versions is that Daisy uses basmati rice instead of jasmine rice, so more diners are able to enjoy it with less guilt. There’s also Chendol Melaka, which Daisy makes fresh, using soft pandan and fresh coconut, finished with a pinch of salt.

Nyonya Novelties
Address: 15 Upper East Coast Road, Soy Eu Tua CoffeeShop, S(455207)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Siglap MRT (TE28)

Read more: Where to find the best Peranakan dishes in Singapore, according to a Peranakan

One of the more exciting culinary prospects that birthed in 2023 is Province, a trendy hole-in-a-wall diner dreamt up by young chef Law Jia Jun. Every evening, the eight-seater diner plates up an imaginative tasting menu that draws influence from Law’s travels throughout Southeast Asia and its diverse culinary cultures. Ingredients featured can be highly seasonal, from using Japanese purple sweet potatoes from Chiang Rai and mahlesa, a wild spice from the mountains of Northern Thailand to chocolatey buah keluak puree.

Law is an alumnus of the cult favourite Magic Square (now-defunct incubator restaurant in Portsdown Road) and hails from a tutelage stint at three Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, making him a one to watch and his food, certainly worthy of a trek to Joo Chiat.

Province
Address: 153 Joo Chiat Road, S(427431)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Marine Parade MRT (TE26)

Once known for opening exclusively on weekdays, this cult-favourite prata shop is worthy of a trek to Katong for many Singaporeans. Today, it has extended their operation hours to cater to the weekenders, and with the new Marine Parade station up and running, these crispy dough stacks have never been more accessible. Crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, every prata kosong plays the perfect vessel for the light yet flavourful fish curry—or white sugar, if that’s your poison.

Pro tip: order the coin prata, if you’re one to enjoy the crunchier bits. Expect to wait in line though, because even the likes of Spanish rockstar chef David Muñoz had to wait in line for his favourite prata in the world, so do you.

Mr and Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata
Address: 300 Joo Chiat Road, Tin Yeang Restaurant, S(427551)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Marine Parade MRT (TE26)

Even after a year since it first opened, Fico is still one of the toughest seats to book in town and for good reason. The winning combination of stunning seafront views, an inviting farmhouse vibe, and unapologetically bold Italian flavours has rocketed chef-partner Mirko Febbrile back into the local culinary scene. From the ultra-long 14-seater communal table reminding of the conviviality of Pugliese dining culture to the epic dessert trolley that satiates your sweet cravings, everything is intentionally designed to evoke Puglia in the south of Italy where Febbrile spent growing up.

Besides fresh pasta, the pillowy foccacina, which is Febbrile’s cross between pizza and focaccia, plays base for seasonal toppings such as piennolo giallo tomatoes and creamy bufala mozzarella—one not to be missed.

Fico
Address: 1300 East Coast Parkway, East Coast Park Area F, S(468964)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Bayshore MRT Station (TE29)

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Delicate appetites need not apply. These colossal creations are an ode to excess, daring you to conquer their towering heights with each ravenous bite. The pièce de résistance, the Beastly Girl herself, is a carnivore's dream. Torched beef tongue, oozing with beefy umami, mingles with melted emmental, punchy dijon mustard mayo, and a perfectly oozy fried egg, all sandwiched between crusty sourdough slices. The cheesy caramelised onion toastie, albeit simple, is deceivingly tasty. And if you’re an early bird, the joint fires up the breakfast grill, serving up chunky sausages on big breakfasts to hearty vegetarian-friendly Turkish eggs. Do yourself a favour and arrive hungry.

Beastly Girls Sandwich Bar
Address: 11 East Coast Road, #01-18, S(428722)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Marine Parade MRT (TE26)

Yes, the stalwarts may have opened a spanking new outpost along Geylang Road but Siglap insiders know all too well that the mom-and-pop Hainanese eatery still reigns supreme. Delighting many since 1963, Jin Wee Restaurant oozes rustic charm and is fitted with old-school furnishings. The ambience extends to the cooking too. Most would order up these comforting nosh: a crispy Hainanese pork chop drizzled with a tangy tomato sauce; the herbaceous beggar’s chicken that arrives in a clay pot; and the salacious Hainanese braised pork belly that melts in your mouth.

But in any case, if you find yourselves in groups, consider ordering a charcoal fish steamboat to share—especially on rainy days. Nourishing bowls of double-boiled soups are also available—watch as the cooks fish them out of the ancient urn that is still heated by charcoal today.

Jin Wee Restaurant
Address: 928 East Coast Road, S(459117)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Siglap MRT (TE28)

Read more: The best Hainanese curry rice in Singapore, according to local chefs

Chef Milind Sovani first conceptualised The Song of India, an Indian fine-dining restaurant on Scotts Road that was recognised with one Michelin star. When the restaurant closed, he pivoted to serving fun yet elevated Indian street food, inspired by some of the buzziest khau gallis (street food strips) that open till late. It was a hit among the residents of the East Coast, often with packed-out evenings. His cuisine focuses on regions such as Mumbai, New Delhi, and Maharashtra. Think luscious chunks of yoghurt marinated tandoor-grilled chicken laced with saffron and earthy spice or the unctuous lamb shank curry that comes with an explosively rich gravy. 

Whatever you do, don’t leave without tearing apart the signature monster papad, which is a lentil-based flatbread decorated with a lively assortment of chillies, onions and tomatoes.

Masalaa Bar
Address: 723 East Coast Road, S(459071)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Siglap MRT (TE28)

These days, chef-owner Antonio Miscellaneo needs no introduction. His rustic abode, La Bottega Enoteca, is notoriously difficult to book as they are making the best pizza in town right now. Back in 2023, the restaurant located in Joo Chiat even clinched the 19th spot in the 50 Top Pizza Awards in the Asia Pacific region, making it the undisputed best pizza in Singapore today. His “Newpolitan” pizzas are made from a 72-hour slow-fermented dough to deliver a beautifully fragrant crust.

The menu selection keeps it simple, but it’s the tomato-based pizzas that punch above their weight, made as they are with San Marzano DOP tomatoes. The Marinara, for instance, delivers a powerful kick with the addition of garlic, anchovies, olives, oregano, and organic extra virgin olive oil. 

La Bottega Enoteca
Address: 346 Joo Chiat Road, S(427596)
Nearest TEL MRT Station: Marine Parade MRT (TE26)

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