New Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Singapore: July 2017

If, like Burpple Tastemaker Peter Wong, you're wondering if this Muslim-owned prawn noodle stall at Toa Payoh West Market and Food Centre can turn out a flavour-packed stock sans pork bones, the answer is a resounding yes. If Peter's guess is right, the stock gets its depth and complexity from a large amount of prawn shells, garlic and shallots. The result? A broth that's fresh and sweet, and the perfect base for the soupy Prawn Noodles ($3.50). If you're a fan of crustaceans, consider getting the Prawn Noodles with Clams ($6.50). Hardworking Burppler Doreen Tan counted 18 juicy clams in total — how generous! Pro tip: Note that they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Burppler Doreen Tan

Opened by Mediacorp actors Chew Chor Meng and Dennis Chew, this coffeeshop mookata is perfect for midnight supper runs as they open till 2am daily! Apart from its night owl-friendly timing, what we appreciate are the fresh ingredients and affordable prices — a meal would set you back an average of $12 to $15 per person. The meats (chicken, pork, beef) are well marinated without the heavy-handedness, and the prawns are fresh. You can also consider getting the set meal ($26 for two pax), which comes with a mixture of ingredients including prawns, mussels, scallops, mussels, pork collar and belly, chicken and veggies. Dip it in the accompanying chilli sauce, which Burppler Triffany Lim declares to be "dang awesome".
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Triffany Lim

Taking over defunct Chef's Noodle in Harbourfront Centre, Ramen Hitoyoshi dishes out bowls of slurping good ramen at affordable prices — great for those working in the area. We like how the pork broth is thick and robust, that it comes with complimentary side dishes like corn and marinated bean sprouts, and that there are even USB ports to charge mobile phones. All ramen orders can be customised according to your preference — thick or thin noodles, less or extra oil, and how you prefer your noodles to be cooked. If you like a little more bite in your noodles, opt for them to be done 'hard' instead of 'normal'. Take comfort in their Tonkotsu with all Toppings ($14.90) that comes with the full works: chashu, aburi belly chashu, seaweed, black fungus, ajitamago (egg) and spring onions. But if you're looking for more heat, go for the Spicy Tonkotsu (from $11.90). The latter features the same pork broth topped with a scoop of spicy minced meat that Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua says will "creep up at the throat pretty unknowingly", so pace yourself!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

Joining the selection of top-notch restaurants at Marina Bay Sands is this lauded Miami brand specialising in Southern cooking. In its first outpost outside of the United States, The Bird is all about hearty food and Southern hospitality. Prices are on the higher side, but that certainly hasn't stopped the crowds from swooping down. The must-order here is no doubt the Lewellyn's Fine Fried Chicken ($35 for half a chicken) — the 100-year old recipe that has the chicken brined for 27 hours and marinated in a delicious mix of spices. Another favourite among the Burpple community is the Chicken 'N' Watermelon 'N' Waffles ($45), which sees crisp and tender spiced-rub chicken served with chilled spiced watermelon, Vermont sharp cheddar cheese waffle and heady bourbon maple syrup. According to Burpple Tastemaker Felicia Sim, the portion is good to share between two; all the better so you can negotiate tummy space for the spot-on Deviled Eggs ($14) topped with smoked roe, dill and chives, and the Classic Buttermilk Biscuits ($10). Declared by Burpple K T to be the best he's tasted in Singapore, these biscuits are warm, comforting and absolutely delicious with the accompanying honey butter and housemade jam. Pro tip: The general consensus is that the desserts are on the sweeter side, so decide wisely.
Avg Price: $60 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Felicia Sim

Located on the left of the entrance at Grovo Tower, this chain establishment from Spain is where you should take your business partners for a meal. The sprawling space is classy, food is tasty and there are partition panels between tables — great for private conversations. Most dishes are cooked in their Josper (pronounced 'hosper') charcoal oven. This includes their bestselling Charcoal Seafood Paella ($28). The dish may appear simple, but it is pleasantly flavourful and, in the words of Burppler Shawn Loh, "immensely satisfying". Be sure to try the oozy Spanish Omelette ($15) that comes with chorizo and aioli (garlic mayonnaise) from the tapas section and the Spanish Pork Belly ($25) from the meats section. The latter features tender, fatty pork topped with smoked apple cream, teriyaki sauce and vegetables.
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh

Known in owner Yozo Otsuki's Kyoto hometown for serving great coffee, Japanese cafe Kurasu is all set to make work days at co-working space district6 a little brighter. Pop by the minimalist space in Odeon Towers for a mid-day caffeine hit, or if you need a conducive place for a business discussion. Kurasu currently only serves coffee (from $5) and their signature Matcha Latte ($5) in takeaway cups, but light bites are in the pipeline. The matcha has a lovely bitterness that is complemented by the creaminess from the milk, but if you don't like your drinks too sweet, consider taking Burppler Dex Neo's advice to request that they make yours less so. As for coffee, they do a great Flat White ($5), a smooth and strong cuppa that bears nutty, earthy notes from the blend of beans from Ethiopia, Brazil and Colombia. Alternatively, try their excellent drip coffee, which they call Pourovers ($6). Have a chat with their friendly and knowledgeable baristas, who are happy to share the flavour profile of the various beans so you can figure out which you'd prefer.
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

With a focus on premium single origin dark chocolates, this new cafe at Millenia Walk specialising in artisanal ice cream and decadent chocolate desserts is a must-visit for serious chocolate connoisseurs. First-timers should go for the Chocolate Rhapsody ($18). A perfect introduction to what they can offer, the plated dessert features a scoop each of their signature ice cream (dark, milk and white chocolate), along with chocolate soil, tuille, mousse and meringue for an unparallelled party of textures and varying chocolate intensities. Share this with a friend to avoid chocolate overload! If you're looking for a little chocolate education, the Single Origin Platters (from $8) feature a curated line-up of chocolate pastries, ice-cream or drinks that will help you appreciate the nuanced flavour profiles, with a little help from printed tasting notes, of course! Otherwise, keep things simple with a scoop of their Artisanal Ice-Cream (from $5) — the Dark Chocolate is a favourite amongst the Burpple community for its deep and rich cocoa flavours. Pro tip: Approach the friendly and knowledgeable servers if you feel overwhelmed by choices — they'll gladly help you along.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

Located on Craig Road, Hustle Co is a cafe that serves brunch grub, hearty mains and best of all, 12 rotational craft beers on tap! With long communal tables to accommodate large groups, tasty dishes all day long (they start at 9am) and drinks till midnight, you know where we'll be after a hard day's work. The offerings for lunch and dinner differ, so you can try different items each time you visit. If you're coming for brunch, opt for the crowd favourite Salmon & Rosti ($23), topped with a generous slice of pan-seared salmon and salmon roe, and wash it all down with a cup of their excellent Coffee (from $3.50). In the night, sink your teeth into their Dirty Burger ($19), a 160g beef patty sandwiched between two brioche buns, garnished with bacon, taleggio and cheddar cheese, and served with a side of fries. When it's available, order a pint of the 8 Wired Flat White Coffee Milk Stout (from $9). The New Zealand brewed craft beer features a traditional milk stout with the addition of Cuban and Brazilian coffee. We're hooked.
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burppler Winston Goh

Located beside Souperstar in Tanjong Pagar Centre, this Yunnan-style noodle and rice shop is the place to go when you're craving a big hit of punchy flavours for lunch. The affordable lunch sets each come with a drink and a cold side dish — we like that options are beyond the predictable, with choices like black medlar and chrysanthemum tea for drinks and bittergourd salad and marinated black fungus for sides. Try the Spicy Beef Brisket Mixian ($13.80, Set B), which sees silky smooth noodles bathed in a feisty broth. The Sichuan Mala Beef Tender Rice ($12.80, Set A) sees lightly spiced tender beef slices that are delicious and spot-on in terms of mala flavour, but Burppler Dex Neo wishes they can be more generous with the meat and gravy.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

A newcomer in the buzzy basement of One Raffles Place, this takeaway stand serves Japanese fermented rice drinks said to detoxify the body and aid digestion. Amazake is a non-alcoholic, milky and naturally sweet drink without added sugar. Choose to have your amazake neat, or mixed with either soy milk or cold-pressed juices. Start your day with the Mango or Kiwi Amamoto Chia Seed Parfait ($5.80) and a cold amazake drink (from $4.80) as your Breakfast Set — you save $2 that way. Of the three cold drink options, we like the Roasted Soybean (U.P. $5) the best. When stirred in well, the roasted powder gives the drink a smoky flavour that we just can't get enough of! At lunch, skip the snaking line at The Daily Cut and head here for their salads (from $9.80) instead. Apart from greens, quinoa and cherry tomatoes that you can dress with either one of their house made salad dressings (Yuzu or Sesame) mixed with amazake, the meats are also marinated in amazake, resulting in tender yet flavourful proteins. Pro tip: Stock your fridge with a bottle of their Pure Amazake ($6.50) for days when you're feeling bloated!
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See

You read that right — this casual joint in Chinatown dishes out sharing plates, rice bowls and sandwiches that are priced at either $5 or $10. The food is very good (we hear the kitchen is helmed by former sous chef of Salted & Hung) and there are communal tables to accommodate large groups, making this two-week-old spot a popular one with those working nearby. At lunch, start with the addictively tasty Fried Smashed Potatoes ($5) and the Fried Chicken ($5) served with a squeeze of house made nori mayonnaise on the side. The menu reminds us of a playful take on Taiwanese street snacks. Sink your teeth into the crowd favourite Steak Sandwich ($10), where a nicely grilled steak is sliced into bite-sized pieces, topped with a generous portion of caramelised onions and slathered with bearnaise. All this is sandwiched between two slices of toasted bread that provide just the right ratio of meat to bread. For something heartier, go for the Lu Rou Fan ($10), a rice bowl topped with thick chunks of what we deem as the most tender braised pork belly, a sous vide egg and kai lan. Pro tip: Swing by at dinner with your colleagues and kick back with half a pint of beer, all priced at $5!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

Visit this new kid in the Arab Street neighbourhood for superbly prepared kushikatsu (Japanese deep-fried skewers). It is started by the Unlisted Collection, which runs several popular joints including Burnt Ends and Cheek by Jowl, so expectations are high. The space is hip but laid-back — come by on a chill date, or to hang out with a couple of friends. As its name suggests, the Signature Kushikatsu ($2 to $8 per skewer) here are coated in panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), and the beauty lies in how the batter is evenly distributed, thin, crunchy and remarkably oil-free. Options run the gamut from prawns and scallops to pork neck and baby corn — they're all great, so you're unlikely to go wrong regardless of what you choose. The skewers are made for pairing with drinks and there are plenty here, from wines to sakes and Japanese beers. Kanpai!
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burppler Veronica Phua