Straits Chinese Nonya Restaurant (Cecil Street)

Straits Chinese Nonya Restaurant on Cecil Street is a Peranakan restaurant in the basement of Keck Seng Tower, in Singapore's business district. It serves Nyonya dishes made from family recipes. The group also runs outlets at Esplanade Mall and on Joo Chiat Road.

The family opened its first restaurant, Guan Hoe Soon, in Joo Chiat in 1953. It says this makes it Singapore's oldest Nyonya restaurant, and three generations have run the business since. The Michelin Guide notes that this Cecil Street branch opened in 2011.

What to order

Peranakan cooking, also called Nyonya cooking, blends Chinese methods with local spices, herbs and spice pastes. Dishes picked out by the Michelin Guide and the restaurant's Chope listing include:

• Ayam buah keluak: chicken cooked with buah keluak, a black nut with an earthy, rich taste. The Michelin Guide names it as a signature here.
• Ikan assam nanas pedas: fish in a spicy, sour and sweet gravy with pineapple.
• Ngoh hiang and otah: a five-spice meat roll and a spiced fish cake, both good for sharing.
• Curry fish head: a large, spiced dish for a group to share.
• Crab foo yong: a soft omelette with crab.

For dessert, the restaurant's Chope listing mentions durian pengat, a creamy durian sweet. The group's own menu page also shows an Impossible Nonya vegan bowl. To learn more about this food, read our Peranakan food guides.

The setting

The dining room has a traditional Chinese look, with wooden furniture and decorative pieces. Diners on Chope have called it warm and cosy. It suits a working lunch in the CBD or a relaxed family dinner. Peranakan meals are usually shared, so order a few dishes with rice for the table.

Good to know before you go

• Reservations: book online through the Straits Chinese website or call the Cecil Street outlet.
• Takeaway and catering: the group offers takeaway, delivery and catering. It also has festive menus for Chinese New Year and Christmas.
• Other outlets: the Esplanade Mall and Joo Chiat Road restaurants serve the same style of food.
• Payment: the Michelin Guide notes that credit cards are accepted.

Nearby

To stay in the business district, see The Clan Hotel Singapore on Cross Street. You can browse all restaurants in Marina Bay and the CBD. For more Peranakan meals, see our Peranakan restaurants in Singapore. They include Candlenut at Dempsey and National Kitchen by Violet Oon at the National Gallery.