Ever tried Nepalese, Caribbean, African or Russian cuisines? You can do so right here with these unique food options in Singapore.
In the flavour city that is Singapore, we’re spoilt with a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. We love our mix of local and international food – from local delights to Japanese, Mexican, Korean and American. But by now, you’ve probably had countless bowls of ramen and plates of kimchi fried rice, so how about trying something different? Switch up your culinary experiences with unique food picks in Singapore.
Unique food in Singapore: Cuisines to try
1. Portuguese cuisine: Lusitano
With authentic Portuguese cuisine being a rarity in Singapore, Lusitano impresses with its high-quality food and reasonable pricing. The restaurant’s cosy, quaint atmosphere creates an inviting setting, while the extensive menu and a diverse selection of Portuguese wines enhance the dining experience. The seafood rice stew and grilled octopus leg stand out as highlights, delivering bold flavours and expertly prepared dishes.
Lusitano, #01-29/30, City Gate Mall, 371 Beach Road, Singapore 199597
2. Mongolian cuisine: Positivity Cafe
It’s not every day we encounter Mongolian cuisine in Singapore. Luckily, Positivity Cafe does it right. Helmed by a mother and daughter team, the restaurant offers a spread of classics and Eastern European picks including Mongolian beef dumplings, meat pastry, borscht (a sour soup made with meat stock, veggies and beetroot), kotlet (lamb or beef patties), gulyash (a hearty, meaty stew) and more.
Positivity Cafe, #01-04/05, 76 Shenton Way, Singapore 079119
3. Burmese cuisine: Burma Social
Burmese cuisine blends delicious elements from Chinese, Laotian, Thai, Bangladeshi, and Indian traditions, offering a truly unique dining experience. Inspired by this rich mix, Burma Social is a modern bar and restaurant that combines the traditional taste of Burmese food with the lively atmosphere of contemporary dining. Menu highlights include hincho tohu, creamy yellow chickpea soup with Burmese botanicals, Ngapali salt baked fish, kang kong fritters with tamarind sauce and more.
Burma Social, multiple locations including Tras Street and East Coast Road
4. Orang Laut cuisine: Orang Laut SG
Pulau Semakau may be a landfill today, but it was once home to the original inhabitants, the Orang Pulau, who lived a simple, seafaring life. With sampans docked at their wooden jetties and fresh seafood caught from the surrounding waters, their lifestyle was deeply connected to the island. Over 40 years ago, they were relocated, but their memories and traditions live on, especially in the food at Orang Laut SG.
The unique dishes are a blend of Malay Nusantara influences, with seafood and vegetables at the heart of their cuisine. From sotong hitam (black squid) to asam pedas (spicy, sour fish); ketam lemak (flower crab in a thick, yellow gravy) to sambal udang (prawn samba); these recipes are passed down from ancestors and reflect the essence of their island heritage.
Orang Laut SG, order online on weekends
5. Peruvian cuisine: Canchita
Founded by Peruvian chefs Daniel and Tamara Chavez, Canchita offers a vibrant dining experience, serving authentic Peruvian and Latin American cuisine in a cosy setting. The menu features a variety of dishes, including ceviche, causas (mini casserole with potato and meats), tacos, and more.
Known for its fresh and flavourful ceviche, the restaurant offers classics like Ceviche Clásico and vegan-friendly choices like Vegetarian Ceviche Power. Don’t miss out on Latin-inspired favourites such as Lomo Saltado (stir-fried beef with veggies and peppers) and Beef Anticuchos (grilled meat on skewers).
Canchita, #9A-9B, Dempsey Road, Singapore 247698
6. Caribbean cuisine: Lime House Caribbean
Serving up Caribbean dishes with a fancy twist, Lime House hits it out of the park with flavour bombs, chill vibes and a fantastic menu. There’s more than jerk chicken here. Forks out for oxtail, goat curry, fried plantain, crab dumpling and guava cheesecake. Wash them down with cocktails named after the god, goddesses, spirits and ghosts from around the Caribbean. How cool!
Lime House Caribbean, 2 Jiak Chuan Road, Singapore 089260
7. Bangladeshi cuisine: Khana Basmati
It’s the real deal when even Bangladeshis residing in Singapore rave about the food at Khana Basmati. The halal restaurant is wallet-friendly and generous with its portions. Tuck into an array of fish, chicken, mutton and veggie picks along with authentic dishes like mughlai paratha (stuffed flatbread), haleem (a type of stew that includes wheat or barley, meat and lentils) and samosas.
Khana Basmati, 1 Rowell Road, Singapore 207955
8. Persian cuisine: Shabestan
Shabestan adds flavour to the prominent riverside spot that is Robertson Quay. The Persian restaurant brings you fine Middle Eastern cuisine that’ll floor everyone at the table. For a preview of Persian flavours, best-sellers lamb kubideh, shandiz (lamb chops), shah pasand chicken, ghormeh sabz and bahala polo machicheh (lamb shank) will leave you satisfied. Big eaters will enjoy the Shabestan platter for two or four, with generous portions of minced lamb, chicken, fish and prawn kebabs and a choice of lamb or beef fillet.
Shabestan, #01-13, 80 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 239013
9. African cuisine: Kafe Utu
Feel the warmth of African hospitality at Kafe Utu – and we’re not just talking about the dishes. From hand-carved wooden doors and mirrors to artworks by African American artist Janet Taylor Pickett, this vibrant spot celebrates all things Africa.
Experience three different concepts under one roof: have a cup of Ubuntu blend coffee with special-grade single-origin coffees sourced from Uganda, Brazil and Mexico at the Kafe; gather the friends for a fun get-together at the lounge or bar terrace; or have an intimate meal at the nook. Must-try dishes include Swahili fish curry, lamu stingray stew and smokey cassava leaf with marinated chicken thigh.
Kafe Utu, 12 Jiak Chuan Road, Singapore 089265
10. Nepalese cuisine: Everest Kitchen
The idea of opening Everest Kitchen came to life when an ex-British Gurkha officer wanted to share his adventures in Nepal and the Himalayas with Singapore. The no-frills restaurant may not be the best-looking but its earnest menu makes up for it. You can’t have a Nepalese meal without a plate of delish momos. And yes, you’ll find these chicken dumplings right here.
The menu has a variety of classics such as chowmin noodles, thukpa (stew), wai wai noodles, bhatmas sandeko (soy bean salad), chicken pangra (gizzard), and chicken sekuw (Nepali skewers). The Nepalese also do a decadent dessert in the form of Kheer, a sweet, smooth rice pudding dish.
Everest Kitchen, 55 Chander Road, Singapore 219550
11. Greek cuisine: Blu Kouzina
Want a quick gateway to Greece minus the passport? Blu Kouzina is your best bet. Experience distinct Mediterranean flavours with ingredients air-flown directly from Greece. These folks even use their own extra virgin olive oil here. Don’t leave without trying the xtapodi (grilled octopus), paidakia (lamp chops) and, of course, the dips with pita. With the nautical decor and a sea of blues and whites, you may just feel like you’re in Greece for a hot minute.
Blu Kouzina, multiple locations including Dempsey and Siglap
12. Slavic cuisine: Kapitan
Never underestimate the power of a mere dumpling. We surely don’t, thanks to our fair mix of xiao long baos, gyozas and pan-fried iterations. But do you know about Russian dumplings? Class is in session at Kapitan, which serves a variety of potato, meat, cheese dumplings and more! Psst: get the platter of eight to try ‘em all. Save room for cheburek (an ‘angmoh’ curry puff), Salo (cured pork belly) and Uzbek Plov (‘angmoh’ biryani)
Kapitan, #01-05, Maxwell Chambers, 32 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069115
13. Argentinian cuisine: Bochinche
Bochinche celebrates a passion for food and the social custom of gathering to dine, at the same time, dispelling the notion that Argentinean cuisine is all about meat. Highlights include Ojo de Bif (rib-eye steak); a mind-blowingly good dulce de leche served with bunyols de vent (Catalan doughnuts) and banoffee ice cream. Prepare your palate for an explosion of bold yet delicate flavours.
Bochinche, 27 Club Street, Singapore 069413
14. Hawaiian cuisine: Aloha Poké
While Hawaiian sun, sand and surf might be an ocean away, traditional Hawaiian fare makes its way to Singapore at Aloha Poké. Founded by two Singaporean couples who were bitten by the Poké bug while vacationing in Hawaii, this casual, colourful eatery specialises in the traditional Hawaiian raw fish salad. Here, you’ll get to design your own tasty bowl by picking your choice of house-marinated poke (tuna, salmon and cooked options like tofu, shrimp and king oyster mushroom), complimentary add-ons and premium toppings.
Aloha Poké, multiple locations including Jewel Changi Airport, Marina Bay Link Mall and Westgate
Told you we’ve got our fair share of unique food in Singapore! Take yourself and your taste buds for a ride around the world with interesting cuisines.
