10 Restaurants In Singapore For Comforting Asian Eats That Mum Will Approve Of

From mid-range to high-end, here are our fave dining haunts for family get-togethers.

Published: April 3, 2025

Mum’s Not Cooking: 10 Restaurants in Singapore For Comforting Asian Eats — Photo: Courtesy of Equatorial SG

When it comes to dining out with family, nothing beats the warmth of comforting Asian cuisine. Whether you’re in the mood for zhi char with a twist, or elevated dishes with nostalgic flavours, I highly recommend these restaurants that I know for certain mum will approve of.

Candlenut

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As the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, Candlenut offers refined versions of traditional dishes. If you enjoy all things buah keluak, then you’re in the right place: Aunt Caroline’s Babi Buah Keluak ($48) is an exquisite take on the classic, featuring slow cooked Iberico pork jowl infused with the unique nuttiness of buah keluak. Pair this with Buah Keluak Fried Rice ($28) topped with a sunny-side-up egg, and indulge in the Buah Keluak Ice Cream ($20) which creatively blends buah keluak with rich Valrhona chocolate, chili, and a warm chocolate espuma. For those seeking a comprehensive experience, Candlenut offers the "Ahmakase" tasting menu (from $108++ per person), a curated selection that showcases the chef's signature dishes and seasonal specialties.

Candlenut is at 17A Dempsey Rd, Tel: 1800 304 2288. Book a table here.

Choon Hoy Parlour

A nostalgic gem by chef Dylan Ong (of The Masses), Choon Hoy Parlour serves up an irreverent menu of Singapore-inspired dishes with a side of vintage charm. To start, I highly recommend the Fu Zhou Oyster Cake Stuffed in Pani Puri ($18.90 for six pieces), a fusion dish that combines oysters, rempah sponge, peanuts, minced pork, and anchovies encased in a crispy pani puri shell. For mains, do try the succulent CHP Signature 12hrs Braised Oxtail Rendang ($29.90) and Teochew Braised Duck Leg ($49.90) served with stuffed tau kwa. Complete the hearty experience with luscious greens from the CHP Signature Salad Ulam ($15.90) complete with sambal belacan and ginger flower emulsion.

Choon Hoy Parlour is at 85 Beach Road #01-02, Tel: 6266 0061. Book a table here.

Dragon Chamber

Hidden behind a refrigerator door, Dragon Chamber is a speakeasy-style Chinese restaurant known for its unconventional dishes. The team presents a refreshed menu with spin-offs of house signatures. Best enjoyed in a group setting, start with sticky-sweet Iberico Char Siew ($18) with sesame ice plant salad, and fill it with mains like Tea Smoked Chicken ($28 for half, $44 for whole) smoked with pu-er tea; Typhoon Shelter King Prawns Stir-Fry ($48) sauteed with garlic, cereal, chillies and black beans; Flying King Prawn Noodles with Hokkaido Scallops ($88) with crispy “sheng mian'' noodles; and XO Red Coral Trout ($88) presented with deep fried bones to snack on.

Dragon Chamber is at 2 Circular Road. Book a table here.

Equatorial SG

Located on the second floor of a Duxton Road shophouse, Equatorial SG is a cozy semi-fine dining concept that blends traditional Pan-Asian flavours with modern culinary techniques. Founded by a team of F&B experts led by chef Caleb Ang, the restaurant offers a reimagined dining experience focused on high-quality ingredients, innovative cooking methods, and premium drink pairings. The heart of the restaurant is its open Binchotan kitchen, where precision charcoal grilling imparts a subtle smokiness to dishes. Signature offerings include Matcha Curry Grilled Masala Chicken ($28), Sliced Ribeye Bulgogi ($38), and Dry Aged Bluefin Maguro (from $48), each showcasing bold flavours enhanced by unique techniques like hay smoking. If you’re still hungry, do try their Mini EQ Shiok Don ($18.90) elevates the traditional rice bowl with luxurious ingredients like truffle and ikura, while the dessert menu features playful takes on local favourites, such as Kaya Toast Mascarpone Cheesecake ($11).

Equatorial SG is at 60A Duxton Rd, #02-01, Tel: 8960 6202. Book a table here.

Jiak Kim House

If you love modern takes on Singaporean classics, Jiak Kim House is the place to be. Formerly my old stomping ground, Zouk Club, this foodie destination led by Chef TQ (Seow Tzi Qin) is one of the first places that comes to mind when planning a dinner for elderly family members—the space is massive, the atmosphere is relaxing, and the music is a nostalgic throwback. The menu pays homage to local flavours with refined, unexpected twists. Start with the Mushroom Herbal Tea ‘Macchiato’ ($24) served with a dough fritter, followed by Tingkat of Memories ($26), a tasting platter featuring a seven-herbed crab cake, lamb goulash croquette, Spanish mackerel otak otak, and an aburi wagyu beef skewer—perfect for sharing. For noodle lovers, the Seafood Laksa Fettuccine ($44) reimagines the beloved laksa with Ulam herb pasta, Obsiblue prawns, mud crab, and a rich, spicy laksa bisque. And for a taste of comforting home-style cooking, Mdm Lee’s Lotus Leaf Rice & Ayam Taliwang ($42) is a must-try, featuring turmeric-grilled Benja chicken paired with Mum’s rice, acar, and a punchy dried scallop sambal.

Jiak Kim House is at 5 Jiak Kim St, #01–17, Tel: 9831 5430. Book a table here.

Kotuwa

Bringing the vibrant flavours of Sri Lanka to Singapore, Kotuwa (by Rishi Naleendra of Michelin-starred Cloudstreet) is a lively spot for communal dining. For starters, we highly recommend the spicy Crab Cutlets ($16) and Lychee Achcharu ($8). Then go for the Chicken Kottu Roti ($26), a street food dish, with chopped flatbread stir-fried with chicken, eggs, and fragrant spices, and Lamb Shank Curry ($42), featuring tender lamb braised in a rich Sri Lankan red curry. Soak it all up with some delicious appam aka Egg Hoppers ($7 each)—bowl-shaped rice flour pancakes with a runny egg centre—and call it a night!

Kotuwa is at 46 Kim Yam Road, #01-03, Tel: 6518 4278. Book at table here.

Path

For an elegant take on Asian flavours, Path by local chef Marvas Ng, showcases refined dishes inspired by his childhood and working in kitchens overseas. Highlights from the latest menu include the Crispy Scale NZ Chatham Island Blue Cod ($65), served with a luscious fermented black bean beurre blanc, and the indulgent Aus Wagyu Oyster Blade ($82) with black pepper croquettes and black trumpet mushrooms. Seafood lovers will enjoy the BBQ Trio King Prawn ($62), tossed in a garlic chilli ragu and served with spaghetti “Cong You Style,” while the Mapo Style Thousand Layer Tofu ($36) offers a bold, plant-based take on a Sichuan classic. Don’t leave without trying his Trio of Okinawa Brown Sugar Madeleine ($9)—it’s the perfect harmony of a warm soft spongy centre with just the right amount of crisp on the outside.

Path is at 12 Marina Boulevard, Tower 3, #01 - 05/06,Marina Bay Financial Centre, Tel: 6443 0180. Book a table here.

Rempapa

For a taste of heritage cuisine that spans Peranakan, Eurasian, and Malay influences, Rempapa is a must-visit. Chef Damian D’Silva serves up dishes that remind you of home-cooked meals but elevated with his signature touch. Try the Beef Cheek Rendang ($35), slow-cooked in a fragrant coconut and spice blend until meltingly tender, or the Babi Pongteh ($30), a slow-braised pork belly dish with a rich fermented soy bean sauce that is both savoury and subtly sweet. The perfect accompaniment is a steamy bowl of jasmine rice and some greens like the Sambal Sweet Potato Leaves ($16) or Kedongdong Salad ($18), a refreshing mix of tangy kedongdong fruit, fresh herbs, and a spicy-sour dressing that awakens the palate.

Rempapa is at 2 Paya Lebar Rd, #01-01/02/03 Park Place Residences at PLQ, Tel: 9459 1603. Book a table here.

Restaurant Fiz

A Green Star Michelin awardee, Fiz by Malaysian chef Hafizzul Hashim, reinvents Malay cuisine with bold flavours and creative presentation. Now available for lunch, Fiz’s Episode 2 al a carte menu is a celebration of Southeast Asian flavours, structured into three segments: Beginnings, Hidang, and Endings. Start with the Sea Urchin ($28), a Thai-Javanese-inspired dish where sea urchin crowns a silky curry custard steamed in a banana leaf. Or opt for the Prawn Hinava ($38), an interpretation of a Kadazan-Dusun delicacy, featuring raw Ang Kar prawns tossed in calamansi juice and bird’s eye chillies. The Hidang section encourages communal dining with bold, fire-kissed dishes. Highlights include the US Prime Short Rib ($98), a Vietnamese-inspired grilled short rib marinated in spices, slow-cooked for three days, and caramelised with tamarind and lemongrass. The Lamb Shank ($58) is another standout, braised in a Thai Massaman curry of over 20 spices until fall-apart tender. Pair your mains with Adan or Sia Rice ($12) or Congee ($16) in a light fish broth.

Fiz is at 21 Tanjong Pagar Road #01-01/02, Tel: 9679 8021. Book a table here.

Tiffin Room

For a refined North Indian feast, the historic Tiffin Room at Raffles Singapore never disappoints. A great all-in-one meal is the Mera Dabba Experience (from $84 per guest) where the dishes are lovingly presented in tiffin boxes. Includes two appetisers like paneer tikka and fish tandoori, one main course (try the Murgh Makhani butter chicken) with side accompaniments like basmati rice, tandoori breads, chutneys and pickle. Finally, enjoy not one but two kinds of desserts: Gulab Jamun (soft milk dumplings soaked in syrup) and Rasmalai (cheese dumpling).

Tiffin Room is at 1 Beach Road, Raffles Singapore, Tel: 6412 1816. Book a table he r e.