New Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Singapore: January 2019

Sleek decor, well-stocked bar and impressive open kitchen (wood-fired grill, anyone?) — this chic spot along Duxton Road doles out delicious sharing plates that's perfect for dinner with the gang. Must-orders include the Pan ($7), consisting of a grilled potato focaccia and fragrant confit garlic and shallot adobo dip, and the crispy-outside, tender-inside Grilled Rainbow Trout ($46).
Photo by Burppler Alicia Kho

Grab the colleagues and leg over to this double-floored watering hole along Stanley Street for Japanese bar bites and strong tipples. The top floor consists of a casual dining space while on the ground, a darkly-lit, slightly mysterious whisky den – you can enjoy drinks and nosh at both. On food, get the crisp yet juicy Kaffir Lime Karaage ($15) and melt-in-your-mouth Smoked Wagyu Steak ($28) to go alongside a refreshing Whisky Highball ($12).
Photo by Burppler Justin Teo

On sunny days, turn to this Hokkaido-based shaved ice joint in Outram Park to beat the heat. Icy selections are aplenty, including the Kuromitsu Anmitsu Parfait ($12.80) – an assembly of delightful sweets including agar cubes, shiratama mochi and a choice of vanilla or matcha ice cream. The bear shaped Hokkaido BIEI Jersey Milk Shaved Ice ($9.80) with fragrant and rich Hokkaido milk is a hit as well.
Photo by Burppler Wei Zhi Chiang

From three Singaporean guys come the idea for Salted Egg Yolk Xiang Guo! While ma la pots are still available and measures up in spicy, tongue-numbing qualities, the community is flocking to this spot for the more unique former. Fresh toppings go from $1 each ($2 for meat and noodles), which are then stir-fried in the rich salted egg yolk sauce with a slightly spicy kick. Yum.
Photo by Burppler Veronica Phua

Taking over the now-defunct The Lime Truck's space at Pasarbella at Suntec City is this no-frills, honest-to-goodness stall specialising in rice bowls. Pop by during lunch hour for the tender and well-marinated beef short rib Karubi Rice ($16.50), or the smoky and fatty Iberico Jowl Rice ($13.50). Each rice bowl comes with a side salad and bowl of miso soup – pretty value-for-money, we'd say.
Photo by Burppler Muriel AvdH

Turn to this specialty cafe located at King Albert Park for catch-ups with an old friend. Displayed in pods, the gelato is churned into beautifully peaked soft-serve upon order — super fresh. If you're a durian fan, the Burpple community recommends the Musang King Durian ($9.80) for its smooth texture and intense flavour. Go for the light and fluffy swiss rolls here as well, such as the Vanilla Cheese Roll ($4).
Photo by Burppler Xing Wei Chua

Fans of Alchemist Coffee, mark your calendars to visit the new flagship space at Khong Guan building. This minimalist and nostalgic industrial space is set to be a hot hangout around the island. Service is great, and the bean blends differ from those at their other outlets. Both the Brazilian and Ethiopian are delicious, tending towards the slightly acidic and strong side. Burppler Xing Wei recommends pairing the Flat White ($5) with the crisp and flaky Butter Cinnamon Danish for an ultimate afternoon treat.
Photo by Burppler Jaster Ngui

This Michelin-starred ramen branch's new outlet in Great World City shines the spotlight on another mollusc; the oyster. Expect a unique, briny flavour in the oyster broth, which is especially prominent in the Oyster Paitan Ramen ($15.90). Not a fan of oysters? Go for the tonkotsu options, such as the Smoked Pepper Tonkotsu Ramen ($13.90), which boasts a lovely smoky and peppery aroma.
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

Tucked away in Bedok's Happy Hawkers, this stall opened by an ex-DTF chef doles out familiar favourites at a fraction of the price. Think ultra-comforting Pork Ribs Fried Rice ($6), Dan Dan Noodles ($6) and Pan-Fried Dumplings ($5), all under $10 each. The only catch? Weekends warrant about an hour's wait for food — hit this during off-peak hours instead.
Photo by Burppler Muriel AvdH

This Harbourfront newbie is just the place for pancake lovers. The community attests that at $9.50 a pop, the Strawberry Souffle Pancakes are sufficiently soft and jiggly. Also good are the Mango Souffle Pancakes ($8.80), which sport an excellent mango-to-pancake ratio. For something to wash down the treat, try the fragrant White Peach Oolong Latte ($4.50).
Photo by Burppler Seanna Lim

Update: The souffle pancakes will no longer be available 20 Jan 2019 onwards, but a new Artea outlet featuring the popular pancakes is in talks!

Keisuke's new 22-seater in Bugis+ takes a crack at omurice, and it turns out to be great value for money. Priced from $9.90, the set features perfectly swirled eggs blanketing tomato rice, tasty sauce (go with tangy demi-glace!) and a side salad. Given the sizeable portion of rice, skip the Combo ($12.90) that comes with pasta and spend the cash on their tender, tasty Chicken Hamburg ($3) side instead.
Photo by Burppler K T

Keng Eng Kee takes on zi char-inspired burgers at this new hawker stall in Bukit Merah. For a fun, fusion dinner, share the generously portioned Chilli Soft Shell Crab Burger ($15) — crispy soft shell crab slathered in sweet, spicy chilli crab sauce, sandwiched between buns. Expect the same wok hei goodness, packed into one big burger bite.
Photo by Burppler Colin Tan