These restaurants from China in Singapore spotlight authentic regional cuisines, from fiery Hunan dishes to Hakka classics.
With the surge of restaurants from China and China-brand snacks in Singapore, there’s been plenty of hype this year. These China-brand restaurants offer a deeper dive into authentic flavours from China – from fiery Hunan dishes and bold Sichuan spices to refined Zhejiang plates and rare Hakka classics. I’ve tried my fair share of restaurants from China and rounded up some of the most notable in Singapore to bring you this curated list.
Best restaurants from China in Singapore that serve authentic China food
1. Tai Er
When we think of Chinese cuisine, the first flavour that comes to mind is probably Sichuan cuisine. This restaurant specialises in sauerkraut fish, with over 500 outlets worldwide. When they first opened at Jewel, making a reservation was impossible – almost like striking the lottery.
Tai Er uses a preparation method with over 3,000 years of history to ferment its sauerkraut. My favourite? The signature sauerkraut fish, without question. It’s soft and tender with the golden, tangy sour sauerkraut broth. Totally comforting and addictive on a rainy day. If you’re someone like me who hates fish bones, this is perfect as they use boneless sliced fish. I ended my meal with ice jelly and black sugar, a cooling dessert that balances the bold flavours perfectly.
Must try dishes: Suancai fish; ice jelly with black sugar
Price: Dishes from $12.90
Opening hours: Varies by location
Address: Tai Er, multiple locations including Nex, Suntec City and Jewel Changi Airport
2. Ban Lan
Recently opened in November 2025, one of Suzhou’s most celebrated Fujian restaurants brings authentic Hokkien cuisine to Singapore. It’s the first-ever overseas outpost, and it’s also Michelin-approved, so you know the food is good. Leading the kitchen is chef Sun Xiaoyang, a Fujian native with over 18 years of culinary experience who was also named the Chef of the Year by the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide in 2024. His signature dish, The King of Hokkien Cuisine, is a must-try. It’s deeply umami-packed, brimming with prized seafood and layered with flavour from a 24-hour slow-simmered broth that captures every essence. The tie guan yin tea-smoked chicken stood out as well; it’s juicy and tender with a lingering tea aroma that perfumed every bite. If you want a good taste of authentic Hokkien cuisine, this is the place for you.
Must try dishes: The King of Hokkien Cuisine; tie guan yin tea-smoked crispy sesame chicken; Quanzhou seafood braised noodles
Price: Dishes from $16
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 3pm; 5.30pm to 10pm
Address: Ban Lan, #02-01/02, Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, Singapore 228209
3. Tomacado
With over 10 branches across China and one in Hong Kong, Tomacado has made its dip into Southeast Asia. The restaurant combines floral aesthetics with all-natural ingredients, bringing you an Asian fusion menu from salads to meats and seafood. You can also build your dream bouquet here – perfect for special occasions. The interior truly feels like a floral garden. Tomacado is all about clean eating, so you won’t find greasy or processed food on the menu. The extensive menu means you’ll need a bit of time to decide on what to order, but we’re here to help.
Kick things off with the signature honey roasted pumpkin salad ($34), or the cured salmon ($28) if you’re after something refreshing with savoury notes. For mains, we’d recommend its steak, which comes with three dipping sauces, over the roasted chicken. Despite all the blooms around the space, we wished there were more floral elements on the plates.
Must try dishes: Signature honey roasted pumpkin salad; MBS 6/7 wagyu steak; cured salmon
Price: Appetisers from $12; mains from $24; desserts from $14; drinks from $12
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 10pm
Address: Tomacado, #01-22, Paragon, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore 238859
4. Nanjing Impressions
This is one of the OG China chain restaurants in Singapore. Founded in 1994, it’s one of the must-visit restaurants in China and has been awarded a Top 50 Chinese Heritage Restaurant by the National Restaurants Association of China. Once you step in, you’ll be transported to the Qing dynasty with interiors designed like an old tea house, featuring hanging lanterns, as well as staff dressed in Chinese costumes from the era. It’s a pretty unique dining experience. My recommendations include their Nanjing roast duck and the melt-in-your-mouth “Lion’s head” meatball.
Must try dishes: Nanjing roast duck; steamed glutinous rice with pork; “Lion’s head” meatball; kung pao kampong chicken with crispy sesame bun
Price: Dishes from $6.80
Opening hours: Varies by day
Address: Nanjing Impressions, #04-46 to 51, Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839
5. Tan Yu
Originating from Shenzhen, this is one of the most popular grilled fish chain restaurants from China, with a mission “to grill the perfect fish”. It has expanded globally to Singapore and Malaysia with an extensive menu of 12 flavours to choose from, as well as four different types of fish. Select from 21 side dishes, including hotpot ingredients like luncheon meat, enoki mushrooms, and potatoes. Bestselling flavours are the Chongqing grilled fish and the grilled fish with green pepper, but you can also get non-spicy flavours like soy sauce and garlic.
We’d recommend sticking to one grilled fish per table – it’s surprisingly filling and can easily feed up to three pax. Additionally, fillet options are also available for those who prefer not to go through the trouble of removing fish bones while eating.
Must try dishes: Chongqing grilled fish with beancurd; grilled fish with green pepper
Price: Grilled fish from $46.90; other dishes from $5.34
Opening hours: Varies by location
Address: Tan Yu, multiple locations including 313 Somerset, Bugis Junction and Waterway Point
6. Nong Geng Ji
A celebrated Hunan restaurant chain with a strong presence in China, Nong Geng Ji brings mouthwatering and fiery Hunan dishes to Singapore. The menu will feel similar to fans of homegrown brand Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine. But, having tried both, the former is more heavy-handed on oil and spices, which we’ll recommend if you like your flavours intense.
Expect to see a lot of chillies, fermented ingredients and fragrant tea oil for that maximum punch from one of China’s spiciest regions. Need recommendations? You can’t go wrong with the signature stir-fried pork with abalone and chilli that brings the heat, and the hearty sauerkraut fish with soup that’ll have you downing one too many bowls of rice.
Must try dishes: Stir-fried pork with abalone and chilli; tea oil stir-fried kampung chicken; sauerkraut fish with soup
Price: Dishes from $12.32
Opening hours: Varies by location
Address: Nong Geng Ji, multiple locations including City Square Mall, Orchard Gateway and VivoCity
7. Long Jing
Long Jing, also known as Green Tea Restaurant, is focused on the fusion of food and culture. Its menu offers the cultural essence of Zhejiang cuisine, with an extensive selection of Hangzhou dishes like the Dongpo ribs and Xishi tofu in a stone pot. Not forgetting the ambience, the interior is filled with plenty of green accents with Hangzhou West Lake’s inspired murals. You’ll feel like you teleported to Hangzhou without paying the flight ticket.
Spoilt for choice by the long list of signatures? Go for the vermicelli wrapped shrimps, featuring succulent shrimps atop fragrant, garlicky stir-fried noodles, and roast chicken with a perfectly crisp skin. You’ve probably seen the Leifeng Pagoda ice cream on social media, but we say skip that for the Jiangnan green tea cake instead. Unassuming on the outside, this delicate pastry boasts a flaky exterior that complements its smooth green tea paste filling.
Must try dishes: Roast chicken; vermicelli wrapped shrimp; Jiangnan green tea cake
Price: Dishes from $11.80
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 11am to 10pm
Address: Long Jing, #01-384, Suntec City Tower 1 & 2, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
8. Hakka Yu
Photography: Hakka Yu
Hakka Yu, a restaurant from Guangzhou in China, brings traditional Hakka dishes reimagined for modern palates in Singapore. Despite Hakkas being the fourth-largest Chinese dialect group in Singapore, there’s only one other Hakka restaurant here – Plum Village Hakka Restaurant (temporarily closed). To fill that gap, the brand operates under Putien, reviving Hakka dishes that are slowly disappearing. Some must-tries include the Hakka salt-baked chicken, egg dumpling soup and abacus seeds. If you’re keen to experience authentic Hakka flavours, this is the place to do so, especially classics like abacus seeds – it’s definitely a rare find even on local menus.
Must try dishes: Hakka salt-baked chicken; claypot Hakka egg dumpling soup; abacus seeds
Price: Appetisers from $4.10; dishes from $6.30
Opening hours: Varies by location
Address: Hakka Yu, multiple locations including Jewel Changi Airport and Northpoint City
9. Lee & Bai
Hankering for a taste of Cheng Du? Skip the flight and make haste to Lee & Bai’s first Singapore outpost. With over 400 outlets across China, you know this well-loved brand means serious business. These folks are known for steaming hot, fluffy buns filled with braised pork, shrimp, cabbage and the like, but what really impressed us was their soft yet bouncy texture.
And don’t just fill up on the buns. The restaurant also offers a slew of main dishes and tantalising sides. Try the Cheng Du noodles coated in a starchy, umami-rich meat sauce, and the tofu skin doused in chilli oil that’s good for sharing. To wash it all down, help yourself to the unique tea-infused soya bean milk in flavours like camellia and oolong.
Must-try dishes: Cheng Du braised pork bun; chives fresh pork bun; soya bean milk with oolong tea
Price: Appetisers from $4.80; steamed buns from $5.80; noodles from $8.80
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 10pm
Address: Lee & Bai, #01-01, Guoco Midtown II, 20 Tan Quee Lan Street, Singapore 188107
Ready to eat your way across China (no passport required) at these China-brand restaurants?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best China-brand restaurants in Singapore?
Singapore has seen a rise in China-brand restaurants offering authentic regional cuisines, including Tai Er (Sichuan), Ban Lan (Hokkien/Fujian), Tomacado (Asian fusion), Nanjing Impressions (Nanjing classics), and more.
2. Which dishes should I try at China-brand restaurants in Singapore?
Must-try dishes include Tai Er’s sauerkraut fish, Ban Lan’s King of Hokkien Cuisine, Tomacado’s honey roasted pumpkin salad, Nanjing Impressions’ roast duck, and Tan Yu’s Chongqing grilled fish.
3. Are these restaurants suitable for families and groups?
Yes! Many dishes are shareable, such as Tan Yu’s grilled fish for up to three people, making them perfect for family meals or group dining.
4. How much do meals at China-brand restaurants in Singapore cost?
Prices vary by restaurant: dishes can start from $6–$12, mains from $16–$46, and desserts from $5–$14 depending on the venue and type of cuisine.
5. Do these restaurants offer vegetarian or non-spicy options?
Yes. While some focus on spicy Sichuan or Hunan cuisine, many restaurants also provide non-spicy or vegetarian-friendly options like Tomacado’s salads or Long Jing’s Jiangnan green tea cake.
6. Where are these China-brand restaurants located in Singapore?
They’re spread across Singapore, including popular spots like Jewel Changi Airport, Orchard Road, Scotts Square, Suntec City, and Guoco Midtown.
