Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro

Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro is a Sichuan and Cantonese restaurant on Level 35 of Hilton Singapore Orchard. It serves Chūka Sichuan, the Japanese style of Sichuan cooking that the Chen family made famous in Japan. The Singapore restaurant opened in 2014 and is led by third-generation chef Chen Kentaro.

The story starts with his grandfather, Chen Kenmin, who was born in Sichuan and opened the first Shisen Hanten in Japan in 1958. His son, Chen Kenichi, became widely known as an Iron Chef and grew the family business across Japan. The Singapore branch has been in the MICHELIN Guide since 2016 and holds one star in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Singapore.

What to order

The menu pairs the family's Sichuan signatures with classic Cantonese dishes. There are lunch, dinner and weekend brunch menus, plus set menus for the table. Expect wok-fired meats, dim sum made by hand, barbecued meats and live seafood. Dishes the restaurant lists as signatures include:

• Chen's Mapo Tofu: the family's best-known dish, made with a bean paste fermented for three years.
• Szechwan-style Stir-fried Hokkaido Mangalica Pork: rich pork belly with fermented bean sauces, singled out by the MICHELIN Guide.
• Chen's Original Spicy Inaniwa Noodles: a spicy dish made with fine Japanese Inaniwa noodles.
• Barbequed Honey-glazed Hokkaido Shirobuta Pork Char Siew: Cantonese-style barbecued pork with a honey glaze.
• Boiled Sliced Red Grouper Fillet with Szechwan Pepper Sauce: a classic Sichuan fish dish with plenty of heat.

Spice levels vary from dish to dish, so ask the team which ones are milder if you prefer less heat. A sommelier looks after the wine list.

The setting

The main dining hall sits high above Orchard Road. The MICHELIN Guide notes a recent refurbishment that keeps the room smart but more understated. Contemporary art is on show across Levels 34 and 35. Most pieces are by artists from Japan, China and Taiwan. They include Resonance, an installation by Beili Liu made for the main dining hall.

There are six private rooms, including the Chef's Table. Most are named after places in Sichuan, such as Cheng Du and Le Shan, and they seat six to 20 guests. Cheng Du and Tian Fu can be joined to hold up to 30. The Chef's Table seats eight and comes with a live cooking segment from the kitchen.

Good to know before you go

• Booking: reserve online through TableCheck. For private rooms, email the restaurant.
• Dress code: smart casual. Men need long trousers and covered shoes, and shorts and flip-flops are not allowed.
• Payment: the restaurant is cashless, so bring a credit or debit card.
• Access: the MICHELIN Guide lists wheelchair access and valet parking.
• Cooking demos: the chefs run live cooking demos from time to time, with a hands-on truffle siew mai session. Check the website for upcoming dates.

Nearby

The restaurant is right on Orchard Road, so it fits well around a day of shopping. Hotels in the area include Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel and Grand Hyatt Singapore. For more ideas, browse our Chinese and dim sum restaurants, our rooftop and sky dining picks or all restaurants in Orchard and River Valley. You can also visit the Shisen Hanten website for current menus.