16 Best Tiong Bahru Food You Must Try [2023]

Tiong Bahru was constructed in the 1920s and houses the oldest housing estate in Singapore. It has since undergone many changes and it has become the spot to be in Singapore for trendy cafes, hawkers, and indie boutiques amid pre-war architecture.

It has a blend of traditional and new architecture which provides visitors with a window into Singapore’s past and present. There are many individual restaurants, cafes, and hawker centers in the area.

As an avid lover of the Tiong Bahru area, I am happy to bring you the 16 best Tiong Bahru food You Must Try.

Table Of Contents

16 Best Tiong Bahru Food You Must Try [2023]
- 16 Best Tiong Bahru Food You Must Try [2023]

16 Best Tiong Bahru Food You Must Try [2023]

1. Por Kee Eating House 1996

Por Kee is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Tiong Bahru. Their food here is not only nostalgic but also has good wok hey flavor, is fresh and they have a huge selection of Chinese food. I especially like their cereal prawn, sweet and crunchy cereal with fresh prawns. Their signature long rib is tender, juicy, and sweet. The egg beancurd was also among the best dish here. Nice relaxing outdoor environment in the heart of Tiong Bahru.

Check out my full review Por Kee Eating House Since 1996 In Tiong Bahru

Address: 69 Seng Poh Ln, #01-02, Singapore 160069
Opening hours:
Closed on Monday
Tuesday to Sunday – 11:00am to 2:30pm, 5:00pm to 10:45pm
Tel: 6221 0582
Google Map, Website

2. Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup (Bak Kut Teh)

Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup Premium Spare Ribs Soup

Tuan Yuan Pork Rib Soup serves one of the best pork ribs soups also known as “Bak Kut Teh” in Tiong Bahru. Their broth here can be customized to add more spiciness by adding more Pepper. I like that they use Sarawak Pepper as it has a more robust flavor and punches.

The pork here is tender and moist, especially their Premium Spare Ribs. The Kway Chap here is more on the peppery side with a mild herby flavor. I usually don’t eat Pork Kidney but Tuan Yuan changed my mind about it, it has a solid chewy texture and almost no weird kidney smell or taste that I previously disliked.

Check out my full review Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup (Bak Kut Teh)

Address: 127 Kim Tian Rd, #01-01, Singapore 160127
Opening hours:
Closed on Monday
Tuesday to Sunday – 11:00am to 3:00pm, 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Tel: 6684 0123
Google Map, Website, Instagram

3. Jian Bo Shui Kueh

I have been eating this Jian Bo shui kueh ever since I was young. Though the review online may not be good, it is still the best Shui Kueh for me. The steamed rice cakes have a good medium-firm texture. Their chye poh (preserved radish) is sinfully good as it is covered with oil that has a good aroma and a good amount of saltiness. Chilli here has a medium spice and sweetness to it.

Jian Bo has a minimum order of 5 pieces for $3.00 and two other sizes 8 pieces for $4.80 and 10 pieces for $6.00. I usually go for 3 to 5 pieces and share the rest with others.

Check out my full review Jian Bo Shui Kueh At Tiong Bahru Market

Address: 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-05, Singapore 168898 (Tiong Bahru Market 2nd Floor)
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday – 5:30am to 8:30pm
Tel: 6753 7588
Website, Google Map

4. Min Nan Prawn Noodle

Min Nan Pork Ribs and Prawn Noodle are one of my new favorite spots in Tiong Bahru Market. The broth here is properly filtered and has a mild umami flavor. The pork ribs here are super tender and flavourful. The prawn here is on the smaller side but it is fresh and has a medium firmness to it. Be warned that the chili padi here is super spicy. I order their dry prawn noodle version ($5.00). It also comes in a $6.00 size.

Check out my full review Min Nan Prawn Noodle At Tiong Bahru Market

Address: 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-31, Singapore 168898 (Tiong Bahru Market 2nd Floor)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 8:00am to 2:30pm (Closed on Monday)
Google Map

5. Zhong Yu Yuan Wei Wanton Mee

Zhong Yu Yuan Wei Wanton Mee is known for their premium cut of Char Siew from the pigs’ armpit. I arrived just after 12.30 pm and their premium char siew is already sold out thus I got the normal version for $5.00.

The normal char siew was pretty good with a small number of fats and good char on it. The noodle was thin and has a springy texture. Chilli here has a mild spice to it. The overall dish was on the mild flavor side with good char siew and noodles.

Check out my full review Zhong Yu Yuan Wei Wanton Mee Tiong Bahru Market

Address: 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-30, Singapore 168898 (Tiong Bahru Market 2nd Floor)
Opening hours:
Close on Monday, Tuesday & Friday
Wednesday, Thursday & Weekend – 7:00am to 1:00pm
Tel: 9657 9957
Google Map

7. Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice

Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice Stall

Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice is one of the most popular shops in Tiong Bahru Market. With a standard queue time of 20 minutes during peak hours. The winning dish here is their Hainanese steam chicken, it is moist and tender. If they can cut their chicken slightly bigger each piece would be great. The Rice here is fluffy and aromatic which leaves you wanting more.

Check out my full review Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice

Address: 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-82, Singapore 168898 (Tiong Bahru Market 2nd Floor)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 10:00am to 5:00pm (Close on Monday)
Google Map
Check out their main outlet in Chinatown here

8. Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice

Loo's Hainanese Curry Rice Tiong Bahru Market Stall — Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice Tiong Bahru Market Stall

Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice has been around in Singapore since 1946. That shows how much the locals love the food. Their multi curry sauce here is the highlight together with their pork chop. Pork belly here has a balance of fats and meat. They also have plenty of choices of other vegetables and proteins such as sotong, prawn, and eggplant.

Check out my full review Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice Tiong Bahru Market

Address: 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-67/68 Market, Singapore 160071 (Tiong Bahru Market 2nd Floor)
Opening hours: Friday to Wednesday – 8:00am to 2:45pm (Closed on Thursday)
Tel: 9617 0052
Google Map

9. Tiong Bahru Bakery

Tiong Bahru Bakery is one of Singapore’s best bakery chains. Over the past few years, they have expanded from 1 store to 9 stores. They are famous for their pastry such as Kouign Amann, Croissant, and Tarts. Though they have multiple locations, do expect long queues during weekends. I like that all pastries are reheated in the oven before serving. The flavors are well balanced, and their pastry is crispy.

Check out my full review Tiong Bahru Bakery: A Pastry For Everyone

Address: 56 Eng Hoon St, #01-70, Singapore 160056
Opening hours: Daily 7:30 am to 8:00 pm
Tel: 6220 3430
Website, Google Maps

10. Flock Cafe

Flock Cafe is a nice little cozy and quiet cafe in Tiong Bahru. It is a long rectangle shape cafe so you have sections with make it quiet, and cozy but also a little cold as they have 3 big air-con. The Beef burger was dripping with its juice as has a decent umami flavor to it. The waffle batter was thick and crispy accompanied by a perfectly cooked scrambled egg and crispy bacon. Excellent cup of coffee, smooth, creamy, and fresh beans.

Check out my full review Flock Cafe – Cozy And Quiet Cafe In Tiong Bahru

Address: #01-25 Tiong Bahru Estate, Moh Guan Terrace, Block 78, 162078
Opening hours: All Day – 8:00am to 8:30pm
Tel: 6536 3938
Google Map, Website, Instagram

11. Plain Vanilla Tiong Bahru

Plain Vanilla Tiong Bahru Earl Grey Lavender Muffin

Plain Vanilla is one of Singapore’s best places for cupcakes and is one of the most popular bakeries/cafes in Tiong Bahru. The cupcakes here have a good balance of sweetness, texture, and aroma. Their tarts here also have a good crust with generous filling in it. Their signature Chicken Pesto Orecchiette was also great, it reminds me a lot of a lasagne dish with a hint of pesto in it.

Check out my full review Plain Vanilla Tiong Bahru – Best Cupcakes

Address: 1D Yong Siak St, Singapore 168641
Opening hours: All day 7:30am to 5:00pm
Tel: 8363 7614
Google Map, Website, Instagram

12. Chapter 55

Chapter 55 is one of my favorite casual Italian restaurants. The price point is slightly higher than hawker stall Italian food and their food taste sits right below a good high-end Italian restaurant. I like their Vongole spaghetti here, it has fresh and clean clams, al-dente pasta, and a good balance of flavors. Their Lasagne here is more on the cheesy side with a mild-medium beefy taste. The pizza passed the cheese pull test and also had a good thin crust to it.

Check out my full review Chapter 55 – A Value For Money Italian Food

Address: 55 #01-37, Tiong Bahru Rd, 160055
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday – 11:30 am to 3:00pm, 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Sat & Sun – 11:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6221 2219
Google Map, Instagram

13. The Butcher Wife

The Butcher's Wife Restaurant — The Butcher’s Wife Restaurant

The Butcher's Wife Chargrilled Wagyu Picanha — The Butcher’s Wife Chargrilled Wagyu Picanha

The Butcher’s Wife serves unique gluten-free European food. Every dish we had here was like “Wow, what is that?” kind of feeling. They serve a variety of vegan, vegetarian and normal food inside which can cater to everyone. The highlight would be their chargrilled wagyu picanha, it was smokey, tender, and had a medium-strong umami flavor. Their dessert sticky white corn bruless was also surprisingly nice, not too sweet, and had a passionfruit sorbet to balance the dessert.

Check out my full review The Butcher’s Wife – Unique European food

Address: 9 Yong Siak St, Singapore 168650
Opening hours:
Closed on Monday
Tuesday to Friday – 12:00pm to 3:30pm, 6:00pm to 11:30pm
Sat & Sun – 11:30 am to 3:30pm, 6:00pm to 11:30pm
Tel: 6221 9307
Google Map, Website, Instagram

14. Merci Marcel

Check out my full review Plain Vanilla Tiong Bahru – Best Cupcakes

Address: 1D Yong Siak St, Singapore 168641
Opening hours: All day 7:30am to 5:00pm
Tel: 8363 7614
Google Map, Website, Instagram

15. Caffe Pralet

Caffe Pralet is a small cafe at the corner of the Tiong Bahru estate area. Lesser known cafe but the sandwich and coffee here are excellent. I personally like their Spam Bam sandwich as it has crispy spam, flavorful egg mayo, and fluffy multigrain bread. The coffee latte was smooth, with medium to strong body flavor, and just the right temperature.

Check out my full review Caffe Pralet – Great Sandwich and Coffee

Address: 17 Eng Hoon St, #01-04 Eng Hoon Mansions, Singapore 169767
Opening hours: All day 9:00am to 6:00pm
Tel: 6223 5595
Google Map, Website, Instagram

16. Hua Bee

Hua Bee is one of the few old-school restaurants still around in Tiong Bahru. They are serving their fish ball dish in all kinds of noodles. If you can handle spice as your first dish of the day, you can go for their spicy noodle dish but if you can’t, you can go for their plain fish ball noodle. The food itself does not scream quality but rather is more nostalgic. Couple that together with the old aunties serving and the restaurant’s old-school vibe, I would say Hua Bee is one of the must-visit restaurants in Tiong Bahru.

Check out my full review Hua Bee – Experience Tiong Bahru In The 50s

Address: 78 Moh Guan Terrace, #01-19, Singapore 162078
Opening hours:
Closed On Sunday & Monday
Tuesday to Saturday – 7:30am to 2:30pm
Tel: 6438 4567
Google Map

16 Best Tiong Bahru Food You Must Try [2023]