25 Telok Ayer Food Places For Famous Korean Fried Chicken, Orh Nee Tarts And More

Telok Ayer food guide

Telok Ayer cafes are in abundance for their chic interiors and chill brunches.

Amoy Street Food Centre is nearby too. But if you think that is all to Telok Ayer, you are missing out.

Here are some underrated Telok Ayer food places that we like.

• 1. Daily Beer

Popular Korean fried chicken chain Daily Beer opened their first outlet in Singapore sometime in May 2024, making it one of the most vibey chimaek spots in the CBD. We recommend getting the crowd-favourite Angry Bird, which is essentially tender, deep-fried chicken priced at $32++ for eight pieces.

Pair this with their toasty Cheese Balls ($12++ for five), featuring mozzarella cheese packed in a mochi-like fried ball. Your experience isn’t complete without having their craft beers, where there are seven flavours to choose from.

Prices range from $13++ to $17++. Read our Daily Beer feature. Address: 212 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068645

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30am to 11pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 12:30am

Website

Daily Beer is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 2. Toku Nori

Toku Nori is a Japanese restaurant serving up handrolls, appetisers, and a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The restaurant is a quick three-minute walk from Telok Ayer MRT Station!

During our visit, we enjoyed the Wagyu & Uni ($16++) handroll, starring Wagyu karubi, Hokkaido uni, and caviar. An equally delicious alternative is the Foie Gras ($16++) handroll, featuring aburi foie gras topped with a spicy leek and garlic soy glaze.

Substantiate your meal with the sweet-salty Chicken Ribs ($14++): crispy, fried chicken ribs covered in yakisoba sauce. Read our Toku Nori feature.

Address: 200A Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068638 Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 11pm

Website

Toku Nori is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 3. L’antica Pizzeria da Michele

L’antica Pizzeria da Michele is one of Naples’ oldest pizzerias, and they have been around since 1870. Good news: their Club Street outlet marks the restaurant’s first outlet in Southeast Asia! If you don’t know what to get, start with the classic Margherita ($28++), featuring tomato sauce, Pecorino Romano DOP, Agerola fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), and some basil.

For those who prefer punchy flavours, get the Cetara ($34++) instead. You get the same toppings in the Margherita, as well as Cetara anchovies, Leccino olives, and capers.

Read our L’antica Pizzeria da Michele review. Address: 8 Club Street, #01-08, Singapore 069472

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 11pm, Sun 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm

Website

L’antica Pizzeria da Michele is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 4. Moss Cross Tokyo

Moss Cross Tokyo has opened their first overseas outlet in Singapore. This is an omakase restaurant that fuses both French and Japanese cuisine, creating new and interesting dishes you can look forward to.

Last time we went, we tried their Wakon-Yosai ($150++ per person) which came in a beautiful platter with nine mini plates of assorted starters. Check out our Moss Cross Tokyo review.

Address: 181 South Bridge Road, #02-01, Capri by Fraser China Square, Singapore 058743 Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm

Website

Moss Cross Tokyo is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 5. Um Yong Baek

For legit Busan-style pork rice and soup, head to Um Yong Baek, a popular Korean restaurant in Telok Ayer. Visit during lunch for their signature Dwaeji Gukbap, a traditional dish that originated during the Korean War. The UYB Clear Daejigukbab ($22++) is a must-try; you get a clear broth that’s uber flavourful yet light, boiled for at least eight hours to fully extract the rich essence of the pork.

It’s also packed with a generous mix of pork collar, tender pork cheek, and pork stomach, atop a bed of short-grain rice. If you’re here for dinner, the restaurant offers Korean BBQ instead!

Read our Um Yong Baek review. Address: 27 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069623 Opening hours: Daily 11am to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm

Tel: 8843 5968

Website

Um Yong Baek is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 6. Thachang

ICYMI, Thachang has moved to Telok Ayer after the closing of Golden Mile Complex. This restaurant is known for their Special Pork Boat Noodle ($10.90++).

We loved the robust flavour and the wide variety of meats consisting of pork balls, tender pork slices, and liver. Our favourite was the Special Beef Boat Noodle Soup ($11.90++) for its rich and robust beef broth. Read our Thachang review.

Address: 171 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068621 Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 10pm

Website

Thachang is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 7. Spicy Wife

A Telok Ayer food guide is incomplete without mentioning Amoy Street Food Centre. Spicy Wife offers affordable, large portions of nasi lemak in the hawker centre!

The last time went, we found their Mutton Rendang ($7.50) to be the unexpected MVP as the meat did not have any hint of gaminess, and instead, was well-marinated with the aromatic flavours of rendang. Read our Spicy Wife review.

Address: 7 Maxwell Road, #02-119, Amoy Street Food Centre, Singapore 069111 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:45am to 2pm

Website

Spicy Wife is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.

• 8. Kamal’s Restaurant

If you are craving some mamak stall goodness, head to Kamal’s Restaurant! This restaurant touts themselves to be the specialist in chicken briyani, so we got a plate to try. Their Fried Chicken Briyani ($8) was served with basmati rice and a large piece of deep-fried chicken thigh.

We liked the crispy batter that was well-seasoned with turmeric and masala. The rice in the briyani was super fluffy and flavourful too!

Read our Kamal’s Restaurant review. Address: 7 Stanley Street, Singapore 068726 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 6pm, Sat 7am to 3pm

Kamal’s Restaurant is a Muslim-owned eatery.

• 9. The Fat Kid Bakery

For a sweet snack, head to The Fat Kid Bakery for sourdough bombolone! Bomboloni is an Italian stuffed doughnut that is known for its light fluffiness, but what’s special about the bakery is that they use sourdough instead of a regular doughnut.

The last time we tried these, our three favourite flavours were Blueberry Cheesecake ($5.30), Citrus Bomb ($5.30), and Sea Salt Maple ($5.50). For folks who prefer savoury foods, the bakery also has flavours such as the Spicy Egg Mayo ($6.50) and Garlic Mascarpone ($6.50). Read our The Fat Kid Bakery review.

Address: 39 Amoy Street, Singapore 069865 Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 9am to 5pm, Fri 9am to 6:30pm, Sat 10:30am to 4:30pm

Website

The Fat Kid Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 10. Lian Hup Heng

Here’s another recco from Amoy Street Food Centre: Lian Hup Heng, a hawker bakery serving affordable bakes. Our favourite was their Orh Nee Tart ($3.80) for its rich filling and silky texture.

We also liked the subtle tanginess of their Yoghurt Cranberry ($3.80) cake. They also have a Today’s Special ($3.80) that changes daily, so there is a new pastry to look forward to on each visit.

Read our Lian Hup Heng review. Address: 7 Maxwell Road, #02-128, Amoy Street Food Centre, Singapore 069111 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 3pm

Website

Lian Hup Heng is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 11. Daylight Coffee

Pair your bakes with drinks from Daylight Coffee. This hawker stall near Lian Hup Heng offers cafe-style coffee at great prices.

We tried their Iced Oat White ($5.40) and loved how well the roasted coffee paired with the smooth oat milk. The stall is also famous for their Spanish Latte (from $4.50), which is your regular espresso-based coffee with condensed milk, giving it a milky sweetness.

Read our Daylight Coffee feature. Address: 7 Maxwell Road, #02-126, Amoy Street Food Centre, Singapore 069111

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 3pm, Sat-Sun 10:30am to 2:30pm

Website

Daylight Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 12. Quan Ji

Zi char from Quan Ji at Amoy Street Food Centre had us completely impressed. Dubbed by my colleague as “the king of noodles” was the Wong Po Lou Meen ($20) AKA yellow cloth noodles.

This decadent dish comprised egg noodles seasoned in lard and oyster sauce, and then tucked in a prawn omelette blanket. The lard added tons of flavour to the noodles and gave them a glowing sheen.

Read our Quan Ji review. Address: 7 Maxwell Road, #01-56, Amoy Street Food Centre, Singapore 069111

Opening hours: Wed 11am to 9pm, Thurs-Fri 11am to 9:30pm, Sat-Sun 3:30pm to 9:30pm Quan Ji is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 13. French Fold

Tucked in the corner of Telok Ayer Street is French Fold. This cafe was the talk of the town for a brief period for their delicately presented dishes. This restaurant makes their crepes and galettes Breton-syle, which means that the batter is made with specially imported buckwheat flour, giving them a unique nutty flavour.

We loved the No.4 ($20++), a pretty package of ham, mushrooms, sunny-side-up egg, and Comte cheese, perfect as a breakfast platter. Read our French Fold review.

Address: 204 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068640 Opening hours: Sun-Wed 8am to 10:30pm, Thurs-Sat 8am to 11pm

Website

French Fold is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 14. Plain Vanilla

If you are looking to do some cafe-hopping, Plain Vanilla is a great place to start! This long-standing coffee place does their basics well.

Try their “PBJ” ($10++) sandwich, which has a twist of house-made sea salt almond butter and raspberry rose jam. Or pair your coffee with their Earl Grey Lavender Cupcake ($4.80++), our favourite out of their mainstays for its rich tea flavour. Read our best Plain Vanilla cupcakes feature!

Address: 134 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068600 Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7:30am to 7pm, Sun 7:30am to 5pm

Website

Plain Vanilla is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 15. Tori San

If you’re in the CBD and craving legit tori paitan AKA chicken ramen, head to Tori San. Order their Signature Toripaitan Chicken Broth Ramen ($12.90), which is surprisingly affordable given the eatery’s prime location!

This dish features chicken breast, grilled chicken meatballs, and springy noodles, served with Tori San’s specialty chicken broth. Fans rave about the soup being light yet flavourful—perfect for those who want something light between work. Other highlights include Truffle Umami Toripaitan Chicken Broth Ramen and Truffle and Porcini Broth Ramen, priced at just $13.90 each.

Read our Tori San feature. Address: 116 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068585

Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm

Website

Tori San is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 16. Hellu Coffee

Hellu Coffee at Far East Square is where you get delicious croffles! On our visit, their Maple Bacon ($7.90+) croffle was a delicious, chunky mix of savoury and sweet in each bite. Hellu Coffee is also known for their Creamu drinks, which stars a generous amount of whipped cream on top.

We got their Iced Matcha Creamu ($8.90+) and really liked the balance of earthy matcha and sweet cream. Do note that there’s a minimum order of one item per diner.

Read our Hellu Coffee review. Address: 137 Amoy Street, #01-05, Far East Square, Singapore 049965 Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 8am to 5pm, Fri 8am to 4pm, Sat 10am to 4pm

Website

Hellu Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 17. Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen

To experience eating yong tau foo (YTF) in a bar setting, try out Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen. The restaurant offers Ampang-style YTF, where the toppings you pick will be deep-fried, drenched in meat gravy, and served with thick bee hoon or rice. The last time we went there, we loved that the deep-fried ingredients stayed crunchy even after being covered in gravy.

Their menu is extensive too, with other items ranging from skewers to dumplings. Read our Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen review.

Address: 127 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068596 Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11am to 12am, Fri 11am to 1am, Sat 4pm to 11pm

Website

Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 18. Leshan Cafe

Leshan Cafe is located inside Thian Hock Keng Temple, next to the Musical Box Museum. This is where you can eat Peranakan food while soaking in the peace of the temple.

The cafe is known for the Sing Laksa (from $13.60) as their customers love the large prawns and rich broth. Else, you can also try their Laksa Ramen ($16.60) with the same noodles found at Ippudo ramen!

BTW, the Kueh Kueh ($1.60 per piece) in this cafe is also approved by Malaysian comedian and The Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng, as he had once featured their kueh on his IG story. Address: 168 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068619

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 4:30pm

Website

Leshan Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 19. Beppu Menkan

Beppu Menkan has been serving up ramen in Singapore for more than 20 years. Their affordable yet special noods come with a variety of toppings. A popular pick is the Beef Char Siew Ramen ($14.80++), featuring sliced beef char siew, corn, and fried garlic, served in Kyushu soup.

Other delicious options include Tori Curry Ramen ($15.80++) and Hiyashi Ramen ($12.80++): cold ramen with char siew, crab meat stick, shredded carrot, and bamboo shoot. Address: 3 Pickering Street, #01-32/33, China Square Central, Singapore 048660 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm, Sat 11:30am to 10pm

Website

Beppu Menkan is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 20. YinJi

YinJi is an award-winning chee cheong fun eatery from Guangzhou. This place is where to go if you are still thinking of that zha leong AKA Fried Dough Roll ($5.50) you ate on your last trip to Hong Kong.

For folks who have not been to HK, zha leong is you tiao that’s wrapped in chee cheong fun and drenched in soy-based sauce. Other popular flavours include Char Siew Roll ($6.80), Beef Brisket Roll ($8.60), and Fresh Big Prawn Roll ($9.90).

Read our YinJi review. Address: 133 Amoy Street, #01-01, Far East Square, Singapore 049962 Opening hours: Mon 9:30am to 4pm, Tue-Sat 9:30am to 7pm

Website

YinJi is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 21. Biang Biang Noodles Xi An Famous Food

If you’re on TikTok, you may have seen the video discussing the most difficult Chinese character to write—the word “biang” in biang biang noodles. Now you can eat them at Biang Biang Noodles Xi An Famous Food at Telok Ayer Street, and at great prices too!

For only $8.90, you can get the Biang Biang Noodles Three-In-One, which is the super-filling combination of the iconic wide noodles with stir-fried tomato eggs, braised meat, and some vegetables. Address: 51 Telok Ayer Street, #01-07, Singapore 048441

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 9:30pm

Website

Biang Biang Noodles Xi An Famous Food is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 22. Kulto

If you need a quiet place for a corporate meal or family gathering, Kulto is a great pick. There’s a great mix of tapas, seafood, meats, and paella dishes to choose from, great for sharing with the table.

Must-tries include the Jamon Iberico Croquettes ($16++), Seafood Paella (from $58++), and Suckling Pig with Quince Paste & Padron Peppers ($89++), which feeds up to four diners. We recommend ending your meal with their famous Kulto Cheese Cake ($16++), made with Manchego cheese and white chocolate. Address: 87 Amoy Street, Singapore 069906

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 10:30pm

Website

Kulto is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 23. Katong Mei Wei Express

Take note, chicken rice fans: Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice has opened an express outlet in the CBD! Located at ICON Link@ClubStreet, an underground mall connected to Telok Ayer MRT Station, this opening marks the brand’s third location, following its original stall at Katong Shopping Centre and a second outlet in Bedok.

At Katong Mei Wei Express, prices start at $8.80 for a Regular Chicken Rice, which comes with a serving of chicken, rice, achar, a bowl of soup, and condiments. If you’re sharing with your colleagues, go for the Quarter Chicken ($16.80), Half Chicken ($22), or Whole Chicken ($42).

Check out our Katong Mei Wei Express feature. Address: 8 Club Street, #B2-19, ICON Link@ClubStreet, Singapore 069472

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 7pm

Website

Katong Mei Wei Express is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 24. Morita Unigoro

Morita UNIGORO, which originates from Osaka, is a new-ish omakase restaurant in Telok Ayer that’s perfect for your next celebratory meal. You’ll find uni-centric menus here, priced from $168++ per person for the Luxury Course.

The star of the meal is the Uni Hotpot, brimming with abalone from Sanriku Coast, Hamaguri clams from Kuwana City, Ise Ebi or Japanese spiny lobster from Ise-Shima, A5 Kagoshimaya Wagyu beef, and Hokkaido pork belly. This hotpot is served solo dining-style, so there’s no need to share! Read our Morita Unigoro review.

Address: 10 Stanley Street, #01-01, Singapore 068729 Opening hours: Mon, Thurs-Fri 12pm to 2:30pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, Tue-Wed 6pm to 10:30pm, Sat 12pm to 2pm, 6pm to 10:30pm

Website

Morita UNIGORO is not a halal-certified eatery.

• 25. Onori

Japanese handrolls are not exactly cheap, so when we found Onori, a two-minute walk from Telok Ayer MRT Station, we knew we had to feature them. Here, handrolls are sold in sets of three, four, and five for $11.90+, $14.90+, and $17.90+, respectively.

This works out to around $3.50+ per piece—not bad at all, especially in this economy. Combinations include Hotate w Uni Paste, where premium scallops are paired with creamy uni, and Unagi Kabayaki, featuring grilled unagi in a sweet-savoury glaze. Each roll is made fresh to order with Akitakomachi rice, which is steeped in red vinegar and kombu for an added depth of flavour.

Read our Onori review. Address: 135 Amoy Street, #01-03, Far East Square, Singapore 049964 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 5pm to 8pm, Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm

Tel: 6298 2236

Website

Onori is not a halal-certified eatery.

Best Telok Ayer food places

Now you know that cheap food in Telok Ayer is not just food from Amoy Street Food Centre. With these places, you can hide from the lunch crowd and still be able to enjoy tasty food!

For more goodies in the area, check out our Chinatown food guide for an affordable hotpot buffet and Michelin-approved curry mee. Alternatively, check out the best Korean restaurants in the CBD for legit jjajangmyeon, K-BBQ and more.

Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news.