Best Peranakan Restaurants in Singapore

Peranakan restaurants in Singapore: what to know

The Peranakans are descendants of early Chinese settlers in the region, many of whom married local women. Over generations, they created their own culture, dress and food. Men are called Baba and women are called Nyonya, which is why the food is often called Nyonya cooking. Peranakan restaurants in Singapore keep these family recipes alive. Many dishes take hours to prepare, so a good Peranakan meal is a real treat.

What does Peranakan food taste like?

Peranakan cooking is rich, spicy, sour and fragrant all at once. Most dishes start with rempah, a spice paste pounded from chillies, shallots, lemongrass, galangal and candlenuts. Galangal is a root related to ginger. Tamarind adds sourness, and belacan, a fermented shrimp paste, adds depth.

Dishes to order

• Ayam buah keluak: chicken stewed with black keluak nuts. You scoop out the nut's earthy paste and mix it with rice.
• Babi pongteh: pork braised with fermented soybean paste until soft.
• Kueh pie tee: thin, crisp pastry cups filled with shredded, stewed turnip (also called jicama) and topped with prawn.
• Chap chye: cabbage and other vegetables braised with glass noodles.
• Itek tim: a sour duck soup with salted vegetables.
• Otak-otak: spiced fish paste wrapped in leaves, then grilled or steamed.
• Nyonya kueh: small, colourful cakes made with rice flour, coconut and pandan, a fragrant leaf.

Laksa, a spicy coconut noodle soup, also has Peranakan roots. See the Laksa page for where to try it. Kaya, the coconut jam spread on toast, comes in a green Nyonya style too. Read Hainanese vs Nyonya Kaya: Brown or Green Coconut Jam to learn the difference.

Where to eat Peranakan food

City centre

National Kitchen by Violet Oon is inside National Gallery Singapore, so you can pair a meal with a gallery visit. True Blue Cuisine and Godmama are also in the City Hall and Clarke Quay area. Blue Ginger is in Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar.

Katong and Joo Chiat

Katong and Joo Chiat in the east has long links with Peranakan culture. Here you will find Guan Hoe Soon and Chilli Padi Nonya Restaurant. As its name suggests, Kim Choo Kueh Chang is a place for kueh and chang, which are rice dumplings. After eating, walk past the colourful Koon Seng Road Shophouses. See all Restaurants in Katong & Joo Chiat for more nearby food.

Elsewhere

Candlenut is in leafy Dempsey, Tanglin and Holland. Indocafe The White House is in the Orchard and River Valley area.

Tips for a Peranakan meal

• Order to share. Peranakan meals are served family style. Order a few dishes with plain rice for the table.
• Ask about spice. Many dishes use chilli, and sambal belacan (chilli pounded with shrimp paste) often comes on the side. Staff can point you to milder dishes.
• Check for pork. Many Peranakan dishes use pork, so ask before you order. If you need halal food, look for the MUIS halal certificate on display. MUIS is the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.
• Book ahead. Popular places fill up for dinner and at weekends.
• Check prices. Costs range from casual to special-occasion. Prices change, so check the menu before you go.
• Save room for dessert. Try kueh or chendol, a cold dessert of shaved ice, coconut milk, green rice-flour jelly and palm sugar.

Visit the Peranakan Museum in the City Hall area to see Peranakan beadwork, clothes and porcelain.

FAQs about Peranakan restaurants in Singapore

What is the difference between Peranakan and Nyonya food?

There is no real difference. Nyonya is the word for Peranakan women, and the food takes its name from them. Both names describe the same style of cooking.

What should I order at a Peranakan restaurant?

Start with ayam buah keluak, babi pongteh, chap chye and kueh pie tee. Finish with nyonya kueh or chendol.

Where is the best area for Peranakan food in Singapore?

Katong and Joo Chiat in the east has the strongest links to Peranakan culture. The City Hall area also has several good restaurants, close to the Peranakan Museum.

Is Peranakan food spicy?

Some dishes are spicy, but many are mild and rich. Chilli is often served on the side, so you can add as much as you like.