Bonding Kitchen

Bonding Kitchen is a Peranakan restaurant on the second floor of orchardgateway, a mall at 277 Orchard Road. It serves Nyonya dishes, a style of cooking that blends Chinese and Malay influences, with some modern touches. It opened in February 2021.

The chef-owner is Danny Chew, who has cooked for more than 25 years. He started in kitchens at 17 and graduated from At-Sunrice Global Chef Academy in 2011. He spent four years at a Chinese restaurant in Liverpool, England, and later ran a private dining service in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Bonding Kitchen is his first restaurant in Singapore.

What to order

Most dishes are made for sharing, so order a few plates for the table. The Wagyu Beef Rendang is the signature. The beef is slow-cooked in coconut milk with more than 15 herbs and spices, and there is also a pork ribs version.

• Kueh Pie Tee: crisp little shells filled with turnip, mushroom and pork belly, topped with prawn and quail egg
• Ngoh Hiang: beancurd skin rolls of pork, shrimp, mushroom and water chestnut, deep-fried
• Ayam Buah Keluak: chicken braised with the black buah keluak nut and lemongrass
• Babi Pongteh: pork belly stewed with fermented soybean, star anise and cinnamon
• Sotong Masak Hitam: squid wok-fried in its own ink with tamarind
• Crab Curry Masak Lemak Kunyit: crab in a fresh turmeric and coconut milk gravy

For soup, try Pong Tauhu, with pork and shrimp meatballs and tofu. Bakwan Kepiting, a crab and pork meatball soup, must be ordered ahead. End with the homemade chendol: shaved ice with pandan jelly, coconut milk, palm sugar and red beans. Set menus are offered alongside the à la carte list, and there is a wine list.

The setting

The dining room is modern and bright. A full glass wall lets in plenty of light, and the floor is laid with geometric tiles. A red ceremonial banner hangs at the entrance, a nod to Peranakan tradition. It is a cosy room that suits a family meal or a long lunch with friends.

Good to know before you go

• Booking: reserve online through the restaurant's website, or call or WhatsApp the team.
• Dietary needs: pork appears in many dishes, including some soups and vegetable dishes. Message the team on WhatsApp to check ingredients.
• Getting there: Somerset MRT station is the nearest stop.
• At home: delivery can be ordered online through the restaurant's website.

Nearby

Bonding Kitchen is a handy lunch stop while shopping on Orchard Road. For a steak dinner close by, Bedrock Bar & Grill is on Somerset Road. For more Nyonya food, compare it with Simply Peranakan Cuisine.

You can also browse more Peranakan restaurants or all restaurants in Orchard and River Valley. The menu and bookings are on the Bonding Kitchen website.