Orchard Road is more than just a shopper’s paradise. After all, an afternoon of serious bargain hunting and mall trawling is sure to work up a helluva appetite, right? So put down those shopping bags, kick back and grab some tasty grub at these malls.
Forum The Shopping Mall
If you find yourself at the outskirts of Orchard, treat your tastebuds right at Jamie’s Italian at Forum. Truffle lovers (who isn’t one?) should order the decadent funghi pizza that’s topped with porcini, truffle cream and truffle butter. Rather have something Japanese instead? Head down to Uma Uma Ramen for a bowl of mentaiko ramen with your mates, or Kaiseki Yoshiyuki if you want a more formal multi-course meal. While those looking for a quick grab-n-go lunch can opt for takeaways kebabs from Shiraz Mazzeh or sandwiches from Supernature To-Go.
Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road, Singapore 238884. p. 6732 2469. Open 9.30am-9.30pm daily.
Wheelock Place
We can’t step into this iconic, conical building without missing Borders, but restaurants like Cedele, Bangkok Jam and Nam Nam Noodle Bar kinda dull the pain of losing one of our favourite bookstores. Head down to Cedele and scratch your itch for a brunchy bite with their eggs Benny and selection of gourmet sandwiches. Bangkok Jam presents diners with “urban Thai cuisine”, while Nam Nam Noodle Bar serves up Vietnamese classics like pho, banh mi, and Vietnamese iced coffee for that caffeine kick. If it’s Japanese bento you’re after, hop over to Sun and Moon Dining and café for some kamameshi and wash that down with a cuppa at The House of Robert Timms. That’s five reasons for you to pay Wheelock Place a visit again!
Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road, Singapore 238880.
Liat Towers
Right next door to Wheelock Place, you’ll find OverEasy’s brand new outlet that’s been the talk of the town. Like the original restaurant at One Fullerton, American comfort fare reigns supreme here. Sink your teeth into the truffle burger or get acquainted with New York diner staples like the Reuben pastrami sandwich and waffles & wings.
Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Road, Singapore 238881. p. 6589 8494.
Ion Orchard
If you’re eager to fill your belly with fried rice, wanton noodles and all manner of dim sum, look no further than Taste Paradise. Try the tasty xiao long baos, packed with moist pork and flavourful broth – take care not to burst them! If decadent dim sum steaming in a pot doesn’t satisfy the carnivore in you, pop over to Magosaburo instead. These Japanese meat mavens offer some of the rarest cuts of Japanese beef. Knackered from all that shopping? (it happens), catch a breather over a cup of fancy tea at TWG or dine 55 stories up at the acclaimed Salt Grill & Sky Bar for classy Australian fare. Diners on the prowl for haute Japanese cuisine can look forward to fine Japanese sushi and yakitori dishes at Yakitori Enmaru.
Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801. p. 6238 8228. Open 10am-10pm daily.
Wisma Atria
Ignoring the fact that the “omakase” in Omakase Burger has nothing to do with actual omakase dining, the American-style diner does a pretty kickass burger if we do say so ourselves. Though it might be a little on the small side compared to most burger joints, you’re paying for quality here. What you get is a freshly made USDA beef patty, imported American cheese and an oh-so-pillowy Japanese bun. The mall also caters to lovers of dim sum with Chinese crowd-favourite, Din Tai Fung. While those looking for light fluffy croissants and other French delights, on the other hand, will find them at Korean bakery, Paris Baguette.
Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877. p. 6235 2103. Open 10am-10pm daily.
Ngee Ann City
Ngee Ann City is home to Patties and Wiches where Chef Kozo Matsumoto serves up his own take on American burgers and sandwiches. The foie gras burger here takes centre stage with seared, melt-in-your-mouth foie gras slices, a juicy patty and soft, fluffy artisanal buns. If you’re a fan of Japanese food, you’d already have heard about Tampopo Grand Sushi & Shabu Shabu’s black pork shabu-shabu. Still haven’t satisfied that craving for meat? Make Three Little Pigs your next stop for pork goulash, or Angus House for a thick slab of beefy goodness. Sushi lovers will also be pleased to know that sushi bar, Ginza Kuroson, finds a home at this mall.
Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238873. p. 6506 0460. Open 10am-9.30pm daily.
Paragon
Café & Meal MUJI sees the lifestyle store’s minimalist approach spill over to its new casual dining concept. Meals here come in sets, and you can pick and choose from a selection of hot and cold deli items, or sink ’em forks into its Earl Grey chiffon cake for a real winner in the dessert department. If you’re looking for something more substantial, Daikokuya, one of the pioneers of Singapore’s ramen craze, serves up a selection of Japanese classics that include the chashu ramen and beef rice bowls. But just in case all that’s too heavy for you, Soup Restaurant, So Pho and Shimbashi Soba have got lighter meals that won’t weigh you down when you hit the malls again.
Paragon, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore 238859. p. 6738 5535. Open 10am-10pm daily.
Mandarin Gallery
Arteastiq does a lot more than art and tea, just so you know! Pop by for brunch and you’ll find a huge selection of unique dishes like frijolles, soba salad and the delectable crabcake eggs Benedict. Wild Honey also competes for the brunch crowd with a themed menu starring Mexican, Californian, Tunisian and Canadian breakfast fare. Seekers of sushi who want to elevate their palates are in for a real treat at Hashida Sushi, an omakase-styled establishment that sees Master Chef, Kenjiro Hashida, serve up his curated selection of sushi that flaunts premium ingredients and fantastic execution. And don’t forget to end things off on a sweet note at his newest venture, Hashida Garo, which serves as a platform for Chef Hashida’s innovative desserts. Carnivorous ones take note! Lawry’s The Prime Rib does a classic Sunday roast here as well.
Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road Singapore 238897. p. 68316363. Open 11am-10pm daily.
Cineleisure Orchard
A popular spot among students, Eighteen Chefs is the place for value-for-money dining deals. Signature items include the Heart Attack Fried Rice, which is prepared using dark sauce and the oil from the bits of beef steak that come with the rice. Got a hankering for something greasy and fried? Get your hands dirty at Choo Choo Chicken where you’ll dive into plates of Korean-style fried chicken smothered in original, soy, spicy or sweet sauce. Can’t decide between Japanese and Italian food? You don’t have to at Shokudo Japanese Pasta & Pizza – a must-try includes the unagi pizza. And don’t forget to grab some devilish dessert at The Pancake House of TOKIO or Doughs Of Crepes!
Cineleisure Orchard, 8 Grange Road, 239695. p. 6738 7477. Open 10am-10pm daily.
Orchard Central
Get hands-on and shamelessly messy with your food at Dancing Crab, where you can pick from several bags of boiled seafood served with different sauces. We suggest you don’t wear white! But if it’s another bounty of the sea you’re after, Tanuki Raw’s oyster happy hour will get you some freshly shucked oysters at two dollars each. Alternatively, dig into burgers at BWB Burgers, Wings, Bar or Ewf by Everything with Fries. But if all that meat doesn’t get you excited, Green Rabbit’s crepe and salad gastrobar will sort you out for herbivorous light bites.
Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896. p. 6238 1051. Open 10am-10pm daily.
313@Somerset
Who says healthy food has to be bland? Yayoiken’s teishoku meals come with rice, miso soup, fish or meat and a vegetable and pickle dish. If the primal meat lover in you would rather dive into a plate of sausages, Brotzeit will sort you out for all your beer and brat needs. New kid on the block, Masizzim, is another great place to catch up with friends. We learnt the hard way that this Korean joint’s spicy beef noodles pack quite a bit of heat, so be warned! Irish at heart or just craving a hearty stew? Tuck into a traditional Irish stew and a pint of Guiness at Malone’s Irish Restaurant and Bar. Topping it off with Italian food in this mall is Trattoria Italian Kitchen that’ll stave all your pasta cravings off.
313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895. p. 6496 9313. Open 10am-10pm daily.
Plaza Singapura
The refurbished, sprawling Plaza Singapura plays host to over 80 restaurants, but Skinny Pizza and Muchos Mexican Bar & Restaurant are the ones that catch our eye. We’ve already given you the skinny on Skinny pizza, so you know that you’re in for a lip-smacking experience. And since authentic Mexican cuisine isn’t too common in the Orchard area, Muchos Mexican Bar & Restaurant is a welcome addition to the mall. If the cornucopia of European cuisines is what gets you excited, Ambush is your one-stop restaurant for anything from spaghetti to bratwursts. Or alternatively, you can take your tastebuds back East at Hong Kong Wonton Noodle or Itacho Sushi.
Plaza Singapore, 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839. p. 6332 9298. Open 10am-10pm daily.