Not just home to the Jalan Besar Stadium which has hosted some major sporting events over the years – Jalan Besar has long been a foodie haven with its attractive range of cafes, bars, and restaurants found in the hood.
Meaning Big Road in Malay, the once humble track running through a betel nut and fruit orchard has seen expansive growth and transformations since its urbanisation post WWI. A brilliant blend of traditional and modern – the appealing hipster hub of Jalan Besar is well-suited for a lazy weekend afternoon, or a satisfying meal during the week.
From trendy bars and cafes to tasty hawker comfort food – Expat Choice guides foodies to the following destinations where you can dive into popular favourites like sure-fire curry rice, authentic dim sum, superb coffee, happy hour deals, fresh seafood cuisine, soothing pig organ soup, irresistible fried oyster omelette, and unique lava cookies, just to name a few! Image Credit: Scaled by Ah Hua Kelong Facebook Page
Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant
Check out Singaporean’s favourite dim sum destination since 1962, if you’re hankering after the satisfaction of traditional Chinese fare. Swee Choon Tim Sum occupies five ground-floor shophouses to keep up with its demand for their signature mee-suan kueh, Portuguese egg tarts and custard-rich liu sha bao. They serve classic Hong Kong and Shanghai style dumplings and hand pulled noodles for lunch, then switch to zi char dishes in the evening. Expect to find a queue well into the early hours for a seat – so either go early or make a reservation, especially during weekends. Image Credit: Swee Choon Tim Sum Facebook Page
a. 191 Jalan Besar Singapore, Singapore 208882
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
A stalwart on the local café scene, this hipster hangout is one of the major reasons why café-hoppers and caffeine addicts flock to Jalan Besar. Industrial chic on the inside, with a breezy alfresco area – Chye Seng Huat Hardware knows its coffee inside out. They hold an impressive range of espressos, seasonal coffees and cold brews. Brekkie lovers will relish the all-day big breakfast or pandan gula melaka pancakes, while hearty eaters can dig into mains like wagyu beef burger and tempura unagi wrap. Image Credit: Chye Seng Huat Hardware Facebook Page
a. 150 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 207563
1 Tyrwhitt Bistro Bar
Right by the Jalan Besar Stadium, in the increasingly trendy Lavender quarter of Singapore, Tyrwhitt Bistro Bar beckons a friendly visit. Serving predominantly Italian fare, their Truffle Mushroom Pizza is a well-loved favourite – plus they let you get a half-and-half pizza. Beyond a broad selection of drinks, find happy hour deals like 1-for-1 pints of Kronenbourg Blanc or Carlsberg, and beer towers. Image Credit: 1 Tyrwhitt Bistro & Bar Facebook Page
a. 1 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 207522
Beach Road Scissor-Cut Curry Rice
This humble hawker joint is noteworthy for its aromatic and flavour-packed servings of curry rice. Beach Road Scissor-Cut Curry Rice is one of the pioneers for this iconic Singaporean dish – where scissors are used to trim food into bite-sized pieces, before being soaked in a pour of delicious curry. Sample popular option inclusions such as braised pork belly, cabbage and chicken chop. The wait in queue is definitely worth it’s culinary delights. Image Credit: Danielfooddiary.com
Scaled by Ah Hua Kelong
Touting a new expression of Singapore seafood cuisine – Scaled was established in 2018 by Ah Hua Kelong. The first fish-farmer-owned restaurant in Singapore to serve locally farmed seafood, uses a fresh-driven philosophy and original local-inspired recipe. Reputed as a local seafood supplier to other eateries in Singapore such as Labyrinth, Salted & Hung and Rosemead – you can trust top-notch and consistent quality is never undermined. The menu injects Asian flavours on most of its incredible dishes. Try out their most popular serve – the Roasted Black Garoupa is seasoned with garam masala, mushrooms and a potato-based vichyssoise. Image Credit: Scaled by Ah Hua Kelong Facebook Page
a. 8 Hamilton Rd, Singapore 209179
Creamery Boutique Ice Creams
Established in 2012 by founder-couple Ian Lee & Jerry C.J. in Bangkok, Creamery Boutique Ice Creams has since expanded with outlets in Malaysia and Singapore. Spotted just opposite Chye Seng Huat, CBIC is offers exceptional artisanal ice-creams, unique molten lava cookies and ice-cream shakes. The cookies are arguably the highlight – served in the style of a lava cake and oozing with flavours like red velvet with lemon cream, charcoal cookie with salted egg and matcha. The boutique still draws excitement from returning diners for their novel flavours and creative presentation. Image Credit: Creamery Boutique Ice Creams Facebook Page
a. 139 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 207557
Lim’s Fried Oyster
Positioned on the ground floor of the Jalan Berseh Food Centre, Lim’s Fried Oyster is a second-generation hawker stall serving up decadent orh luak. A simply irresistible dish – the oysters are plump and juicy, and the omelette has a lovely wok hei with charred, crispy sides. Fermented shrimp in the homemade chilli paste accentuates briny depth for lip-smacking goodness. Image Credit: Misstamchiak.com
a. 166 Jln Besar, #01-32 Berseh Food Centre, Singapore 208877
Druggists
The bar replaced a former Chinese medicine hall in 2015 and kept the name of its previous tenant intact. Since then, Druggists serve up therapeutics of a different kind – craft beer, Asian spirits and meads, natural wines, cocktails, and of course, good food. Food-wise you can expect well-executed shares and nibbles such as the loaded pork pizza, kung pao chicken poppers, veg fritters, har cheong gai (prawn paste chicken), and the kacang power burger. The casual eatery has indoor, alfresco and lounge seating available, along with a selection of merchandise. Image Credit: Druggists Facebook Page
a. 119 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 207547
