11 Bendemeer food spots you must visit!

Nestled within the vibrant streets of Singapore lies Bendemeer, a neighborhood bursting with flavor and history. From its humble beginnings as a bustling trading post to its modern-day status as a culinary hotspot, Bendemeer has always been a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, and community spirit. In this blog post, we'll delve into the rich tapestry of hawker food, restaurants, and cafes that define Bendemeer's culinary landscape, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the diverse flavors that make this corner of Singapore a foodie's paradise. 

1. Abundance: Taiwanese Restaurant & Craft Beer Bar

I’ve always had a fondness for Taiwanese cuisine, although I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Taiwan myself. Abundance: Taiwanese Restaurant & Craft Beer Bar is a Taiwanese cafe located at Jalan Besar, with another outlet at Lengkok Bahru.

Address: 399 Jln Besar, Singapore 209008

Opening Hours: 11 am–11 pm

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

We ordered the following:

Herbal Braised Pork Rice 药炖⻧⾁饭

Featuring herbal braised pork belly, sesame egg, Taiwanese garlic sausage, and house pickles. The pork belly is infused with Chinese herbs and spices, imparting a rich, aromatic flavor. The addition of a runny egg adds creaminess and enhances the overall deliciousness.

Golden Chicken Mee Sua 麻油花雕鸡面线

Consisting of pan-fried chicken thigh, vermicelli, black fungus, goji berries, sesame oil, and Shaoxing wine. The vermicelli has a tender yet firm texture, perfectly cooked without being too soft. The prominent flavor of Shaoxing wine complements the subtle sesame oil beautifully.

Gua Bao 刈包

Filled with braised pork belly, hand-roasted peanuts, house pickles, and coriander. A generous portion of succulent pork belly is sandwiched between soft buns, creating a delightful combination.

Red Hot Chili Dumpings 红油超⼤⼿ & 🆕 Emperor Sprouts w/ Crispy Garlic 蒜炒帝王苗

Special mention goes to the Emperor Sprouts with Crispy Garlic for their delightful garlicky flavors.

2. Two Blur Guys

Two Blur Guys is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that serves up gourmet burgers. The restaurant has been open for nearly a decade, but it remains relatively unknown so this should classify them as a hidden gem. 

Was tempted by this Truffle Egg Burger 🍔 Prime which comes smothered with a tasty truffle egg. This was an upgrade from the beef cheeseburger which already comes with tomatoes, sweet relish & gruyere cheese. I could see the juices from the beef patty trickling out as I was cutting it and the patty was sufficiently tender. Not bad! The egg had a really distinct truffle taste, which could be due to the oil that they use. All Burgers are served with a fresh green salad and crispy fries. They have a good selection of gourmet burgers too.

Address: 387 Jln Besar, Singapore 209002

Opening Hours: 10am - 12am daily

3. Moonchild

Moonchild is the newest addition to the café scene on Jalan Besar! It's brought to you by the same team behind Atlas Coffee House. Embracing a celestial theme in its name, despite lacking celestial decorations, the café boasts a modern interior of concrete and wood.

Specializing in breakfast and brunch, Moonchild has been garnering attention for its visually appealing dishes. One such dish is the Malfaldine, which has been generating buzz on Instagram. I had high expectations for the Sausage Mushroom Malfaldine. However, the fennel pork resembled more minced meat upon arrival. Accompanied by mushroom cubes, chopped kale, and spinach, the dish offered a dry yet flavorful experience with robust meaty flavors. Despite the deviation from my expectations, I found it to be a delicious and satisfying meal.

Address: 351 Jln Besar, #01-01, Singapore 208988

Opening Hours: Tues - Sat 9 am–10 pm

Sun 9am - 7pm

Closed on Monday

4. Dynasty Fried Porridge

My passion for noodles knows no bounds! After seeing someone rave about the KL-style Hokkien Mee at this establishment, I simply had to experience it firsthand. Honestly, KL-style noodles are a rarity, making this place a true hidden gem. Nestled within an unassuming coffee shop bearing the name Dynasty Fried Porridge (皇庭炒粥), one might mistake it for a porridge joint, wouldn't you agree?

Address: 30 Foch Rd, #01-02, Singapore 209276

Opening Hours: 11.30am - 10.30pm

Picture this: fat yellow noodles tossed in a tantalizing dark soy sauce alongside cabbage and shrimp, all crowned with crispy fried pork lard. While adding chicken, pork, or squid slices would elevate the dish, I'd still gladly fork out $6 for this delightful creation. It's not overly salty, but can become a bit overwhelming after a while, making it wise to opt for a larger portion and share, don't you think?

But wait, there's more to Dynasty Fried Porridge (皇庭炒粥) than just their namesake dish! Their signature clay pot creation, available in small or large sizes only, is a testament to their culinary prowess. This porridge, fried to perfection in a wok before being served in a clay pot, is a sight to behold. Adorned generously with fried shallots, leek, and pork lard atop, each spoonful offers a satisfying crunch. Inside, you'll discover a medley of meat, shrimp, squid, and taro, all bathed in a flavorful broth. Despite its rich color, the porridge surprises with its well-balanced and nuanced taste, needing no additional seasoning. It's a true culinary delight, bursting with flavor and aroma! Highly recommended!

5. Wild Coco (Nasi Lemak)

I have been on the hunt for nice nasi lemak around Singapore and I found Wild Coco. Wild Coco is tucked in a coffee shop near Boon Keng MRT station. They are sharing the same premises as Bugis Xin Yuan Ji Fish Soup. They specialize in Malaysian-style Nasi Lemak. Malaysian coconut milk rice is served with sambal, fried crispy anchovies, toasted peanuts, and cucumber.  Wild Coco is not a halal-certified eatery.

Address: 122 McNair Rd, #01-45, Singapore 320122

Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10.30 am -  9 pm

They have 3 choices here : 

Ayam Berempah Leg

Ayam Rendang

Sambal Fried Fish

Everything is served with fragrant coconut rice, sunny side up, ikan bilis, peanuts, cucumber, and sambal.

I ordered the Ayam Berempah Leg. I could see that the skin was absolutely crispy. What makes this dish extra special is the crunchy crumbs that come along with it. These crumbs, which are lavishly sprinkled over the fried chicken, are produced from the leftover spice combination used to marinate the meat. Infused with a fragrant blend of herbs and spices, including lemongrass and ginger.

Alot of nasi lemak stalls don't have the perfect fried chicken but this was quite good! The chicken was absolutely tender and also juicy! 

The coconut rice was fluffy and mild in flavor, yet it was delicious on its own. The chili was flavorful, but it overwhelmed the rice when eaten together. The fried egg was also delicious. The fried egg was on point too. Look at the runny yolk! 

6. Eat 3 Bowls @ Bendemeer

Eat 3 Bowls is a well-known Taiwanese restaurant in Singapore, known for delivering an authentic Taiwanese dining experience. With locations in Bendemeer, Pasir Panjang, and Compass One, the restaurant is famous for its 3 Bowls Signature Trio Combo. This combo is a delight for food lovers, offering three of Taiwan's most beloved street foods: Braised Pork Rice (Lu Rou Fan), Chicken Rice, and Oyster Intestine Mee Sua.

Their marketing of these three signature dishes is excellent. The braised pork rice features tender, flavorful braised meat served over short-grain rice. The chicken rice boasts a generous portion of shredded chicken topped with scallion oil, simple yet incredibly fragrant and tasty. Although I chose to skip the intestines in my Oyster mee sua, the thick bonito-flavored broth was delicious, and the small bowl contained a large, fresh oyster.

Additionally, I tried the Crispy Oyster Mushroom, which can be customized for spiciness. It was salty, addictive, and simply irresistible!

Address: 80 Bendemeer Rd, #01-01, Singapore 339949

Opening Hours: 11am - 9pm

Closed on Wednesday

7. Asylum Coffeehouse

Asylum Coffeehouse, a minimalist coffee house that opened in 2021, boasts a soothing, calming, all-white interior. Their signature coffee blend, Keluak, named after the Peranakan dish, features a subtle earthy taste that transitions into smooth chocolate with a lingering hint of peanut. this blend enhances the iced mocha drink with its rich chocolate notes and a pleasantly nutty aftertaste. 

To accompany my drink, I also ordered one of their seasonal teacakes, the Chocolate Orange. The teacake was topped with chocolate frosting and infused with the bright, citrusy zest of orange. The bitterness of the chocolate complements the sweetness of the orange flavor and fresh fruit, resulting in a dessert that isn’t overly sweet.

Address: 311 Jln Besar, Singapore 208970

Opening Hours: 8am - 4.30pm

8. Prince Noodles

You know a place is exceptional when they focus on just a few items on their menu, indicating they've mastered those dishes. Prince Noodles exemplifies this by offering only three types of Sarawak Kolo Mee. I ordered their Signature Kolo Mee, which includes handmade fishballs, tau kwa, crispy tofu, and minced pork, and I added an onsen egg. The noodles are springy and appear to be pre-mixed with a dark sauce. They topped it with spring onions and fried shallots, so be sure to give it another toss to enhance the fragrant aroma and add a slight crunch that contrasts with the noodles' softness. The sauce here is not particularly strong but is light and effective. The minced pork adds to the savory profile. Overall, I found this dish to be very comforting and enjoyable.

Address: Bgain @ Lavender Food Court, 380 Jln Besar, #01-10 ARC 380, Singapore 209000

Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm

Closed on Sunday

9. SYIP

SYIP Luzerne is the second SYIP cafe, following its first establishment at Farrer Park. SYIP boasts an array of all-day brunch items, mains, desserts, and specialty drinks. Among their popular offerings are the SYIP Big Breakfast, Octopus Mentaiko Rosti, and Grilled Truffle Cheese Toastie. Recently, they introduced the Scallop & Prawn Pumpkin Risotto, exclusive to the Luzerne outlet.

This risotto features creamy arborio rice infused with the rich, comforting flavors of roasted pumpkin and confit tomatoes, and is topped with succulent Canadian scallops and perfectly grilled tiger prawns. The dish offers a delightful blend of savory and sweet notes, with each bite bringing out the roasted pumpkin's warmth and depth and the seafood's exquisite taste. The texture of the risotto is slightly gritty and could benefit from being a bit creamier, but it still provides a satisfying and flavorful dining experience.

Address:  Luzerne, 72 Bendemeer Rd, #01-05, Singapore 339941

Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm

10. Mentai King

Mentai King is a new culinary venture in Singapore by the founder of the popular King of Fried Rice chain, Lester Li. It specializes in mentaiko rice bowls and offers a variety of mentaiko-centric dishes, each served with fragrant garlic butter rice, broccoli, and tamago (Japanese rolled omelette). We ordered the Mentai Salmon Bowl and the Mentai Pork Cutlet Bowl. The Mentai Salmon Bowl includes a generous piece of salmon adorned with mentaiko, while the Mentai Pork Cutlet Bowl features tender pork cutlets seasoned uniquely and topped with mentaiko.

The salmon has a slight crispness that contrasts beautifully with its flaky interior. The pork cutlet is remarkably tender, offering a satisfying crunch with every bite. The crowning feature is the rich, creamy mentaiko topping, which delivers a burst of savory umami flavor.

The garlic butter rice at Mentai King serves as an aromatic and flavorful base for their mentaiko bowls. Each grain is perfectly cooked, striking a perfect balance between fluffy and slightly chewy. The garlic provides a strong, yet distinctive punch that enhances the buttery smoothness, making every bite immensely satisfying.

Address: 27 Bendemeer Rd, Singapore 330027

Opening Hours: 11am - 9pm

11. Two Bakers Cafe

Two Bakers Cafe is a well-known café and patisserie in Singapore, celebrated for its artisanal pastries and desserts. Their menu boasts an extensive array of desserts, brunch options, and beverages to cater to diverse tastes. Recently, they introduced their Petite Desserts Series, a delightful selection of their top 12 best-selling treats, downsized for indulgence in bite-sized portions. Among these delectable offerings is the Earl Grey Pear tart, featuring delicately infused Earl Grey pear nestled within a luscious almond cream. Another highlight is the ondeh ondeh, exuding the quintessential flavors of coconut, gula melaka, and pandan, evoking the essence of traditional Southeast Asian sweets. Lastly, the zen creation tantalizes with a harmonious blend of rich black sesame, indulgent salted caramel, and vibrant matcha, promising a sensory journey with every bite.

Address: 88 Horne Rd, Singapore 209083

Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm