Behold - the best of this year's Ramadan specials from Singapore's top halal restaurants and cafes
With the delicious array of great Halal restaurants in Singapore, you’ll never be short of places to iftar (break fast) after dawn-to-dusk fasting. From buffets in swish hotels to special menus in hipster Haji Lane cafes, there are heaps of Ramadan specials happening at the mo’. Hurry, make your reservations and tuck into any of these delish dining options – they’re only available ’til the eve of Hari Raya (24 June). Ramadan Mubarak, folks!
Carousel
Type of cuisine: Authentic Thai buffet
Key dishes to try: Dig into authentic Thai at Carousel this Ramadan – three guest chefs from the culinary team of The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai will be helming the kitchen to serve up tantalising grub made with the freshest produce, traditional desserts and the best curries and barbecue dishes. Three menus will be on rotation, but be sure to look out for signatures like yan ma muan poo nim thord (spicy soft shell crab salad with green mango and mint leaves), gang ped ped yang (red curry with roasted duck and lychee) and buea loy (rice dumplings in coconut soup).
Ramadan deal: $83++ per person, from 27 May to 24 June 2017
Carousel, Royal Plaza on Scotts Hotel, 25 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228220, p. 6589 7799.
Scotts Lounge
Type of cuisine: Local buffet
Key dishes to try: Scotts Lounge is pulling out all the stops this Ramadan, with local flavours as the star of the show. Located at the second level of Royal Plaza on Scotts, the restaurant will serve up a variety of local dishes like salted yolk fried rice with seafood and crispy silver bait, wok-fried black pepper crayfish, homemade jumbo satay, sambal stingray and Singapore laksa. And for a reward for making it through a long day of fasting, there’ll also be old desserts such as durian pengat and mango sago with pomelo in coconut cream, and hot ones like steamed yam paste with ginko nuts.
Ramadan deal: $55++ per person, from 2 to 24 June.
Scotts Lounge, Royal Plaza on Scotts Hotel, 25 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228220, p. 6589 7799.
Azur
Type of cuisine: Asian buffet, with Raya favourites and seafood as its specialities
Key dishes to try: Halal eaters, if you’ve always wanted to dine at Azur, seize your chance this Ramadan. Specially for the month, the restaurant has been cleansed by MUIS and will be serving up an entirely Halal-certified buffet spread. Start your meal on a sweet note with free-flow bandung, then take it easy with the many light seafood on ice options, including tiger prawns and Hokkaido clams, before gradually making your way through rich Raya favourites like ayam masak merah, beef rendang and lontong.
Ramadan deal: $55++ (1-for-1 on Mondays to Thursdays), and $55 nett for Friday and Saturday, from 26 May to 24 June
Azur, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, 75 Airport Boulevard, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Singapore 819664, p. 6823 5354
Straits Kitchen
Type of cuisine: Traditional Asian buffet, with Malay, Indian, Chinese and Arabian influences
Key dishes to try: Fill your plate with divine treats from the Arab-style grill mix, or jump straight into buffet all-stars like the chilli crab and vegetarian selection of dal tadka, palak paneer and shabnam curry. Hit your sweet spot with the bevy of Middle Eastern sweets – including baklava and mohallabiah milk pudding – available.
Ramadan deal: $78++ per person
Straits Kitchen, Lobby level, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211, p. 6732 1234.
AquaMarine
Type of cuisine: International buffet
Key dishes to try: Aquamarine’s usual buffet fare of local and international cuisine gets a Ramadan upgrade this month with additions like grilled salmon with rempah (spices) and spicy coconut, chicken and jackfruit curry, as well as wagyu beef oxtail rendang. Squeeze in a reservation for Friday and Saturday evenings if possible; that’s when they bring in the big guns: Balinese roasted whole baby lamb with rendang spice and tamarind pineapple and chilli dip.
Ramadan deal: From $70++ per person
AquaMarine, level 4, Marina Mandarin, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594, p. 6845 1111.
21 on Rajah
Type of cuisine: Traditional Malay cuisine
Key dishes to try: Fill up your platter with kampung favourites like ayam panggang (roast chicken), sambal udang petai (prawns in spicy sauce and with bitter beans), beef rendang and carbo-load on nasi dagang: a rice dish made with halba seeds and coconut milk . Don’t forget to stop by the barbecue station for beef with kicap manis pedas (spicy sweet soy sauce), sambal seabass and ayam panggang (grilled chicken).
Ramadan deal: $45++ to $60++, from 27 May to 24 June
21 On Rajah, Days Hotel, 1 Jalan Rajah, Singapore 329133, p. 6808 6847.
Asian Market Cafe
Type of cuisine: Asian buffet
Key dishes to try: Among the Malay and Indonesian dishes available are Ramadan specials like ayam panggang, beef rendang and the grilled station with padang satay. Don’t forget to pop by the tawa station – that’s where you’ll find baked fish, roast duck and grilled otak-otak (fish cake).
Ramadan deal: $72++, from 27 May to 24 June
Asian Market Cafe, Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560, p. 6339 7777.
Atrium Restaurant
Type of cuisine: Seafood buffet
Key dishes to try: The seafood spread at Atrium (it’s Halal-certified from 27 May ’til 2 July) is nothing short of stellar, with classic Asian dishes and Western seafood delights sharing equal billing in heartiness and variety. Load up on seafood on ice (think Boston lobsters and French oysters) and chilli crayfish, but don’t forget to pile your plate with the to-die-for creamy seafood paella and grilled bamboo lobsters from the barbecue station.
Ramadan deal: $90++ on Sundays to Thursdays and $100++ on Fridays to Saturdays (1-for-1), from 27 May to 2 July
Atrium Restaurant, 317 Outram Road, Singapore 169075, p. 6733 0188.
The Landmark
Type of cuisine: International buffet
Key dishes to try: Three words: Killer Indian dishes. Main courses like mutton masala, butter chicken and aloo gobi rank high on our must-eat list here. Stuff yourself silly all you like, but save a little room for irresistible Indian sweets like gulab jamun (spongy milk balls soaked in rose-scented syrup) and ras malai (spongy cottage cheese balls soaked in sweetened milk).
Ramadan deal: $35++ from Mondays to Thursdays, $40++ from Fridays to Sundays
The Landmark, Village Hotel Bugis by Far East Hospitality, 90 Victoria Street, Singapore 188061.
Blue Jasmine
Type of cuisine: Thai buffet
Key dishes to try: Expect everything from refreshing salads and spicy appetisers to hearty stir-fries and delectable desserts. Highlights include stir fried minced lamb in yellow curry sauce, roast duck red curry with grape and pineapple, and the all-time fave, mango sticky rice. We recommend dining outdoors – few things beat the serenity of breaking your fast over sunset views.
Ramadan deal: $38++, from 26 May to 24 June
Blue Jasmine, Park Hotel Farrer Park, 10 Farrer Park Station Road, Singapore 217564, p. 6824 8851.
The Lab SG
Type of cuisine: Unusual spins on bistro fare
Key dishes to try: The name says it all – expect unconventional yet delish concoctions, even on its Ramadan menu. Main course choices for the two sets include Mediterranean meat goulash, shrimp mango salsa burger and itik percik (grilled duck). As for sweet treats, we’re seriously excited for the banana pengat (sweet dessert broth) cheesecake.
Ramadan deal: $30 or $38 for a set
The Lab, 1 Jalan Pisang, Singapore 199069, p. 9875 7232. Pre-orders are required to confirm reservations.
Katong Kitchen
Type of cuisine: Peranakan buffet with Japanese station
Key dishes to try: Any foodie worth her salt will be well impressed with the wide variety of Asian dishes at Katong Kitchen. Authentic Peranakan fare steals the show with mouthwatering dishes like ayam buah keluak, DIY kueh pie tee, and Nyonya laksa. There’ll even be Japanese dishes this year, with grilled saba fish, tempura, and sushi available.
Ramadan deal: $48++ from Mondays to Thursdays, $58++ on Fridays to Sundays
Katong Kitchen, Village Hotel Katong, 25 Marine Parade Road, Singapore 449536, p. 6551 2141.
Tiffany Cafe
Type of cuisine: Asian buffet
Key dishes to try: At the end of a hard day of fasting, nothing quite hits the spot like good ol’, spicy, calorie-laden food. Put the usual buffet fare on the backburner; the real standouts here are ayam kalio, murtabak and rojak bandung. .
Ramadan deal: 1-for-1 dining promotion, $65.80++
Tiffany Cafe, 60 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059804.
Kintamani Restaurant
Type of cuisine: Asian buffet
Key dishes to try: Love your meats? Sink your teeth into grilled leg of lamb and chicken Sharwarma – both marinated for a full 24 hours, then roasted and grilled for hours for a sizzling crust. Also on the menu are chilli crab, Net Crepe with chicken curry and many more.
Ramadan deal: $58++, with a 1-for-1 dining promotion for Mastercard and VISA holders. The buffet includes free-flow iced bandung or iced syrup. Available from 27 May to 25 June
Kintamani Indonesian Restaurant, 405 Havelock Road, Furama Riverfront, Singapore 169633.