When it comes to Singapore’s culinary scene, there’s always more to discover. Exclusive pop-ups regularly bring unique new gastronomic experiences to our door, and chef collaborations continually yield creative and delicious results. And of course, who could forget the constant slate of inventive new restaurants to visit that are finding their place on our shores?
All the world’s flavours are on display in Singapore, never more apparent than in these restaurants. On one hand, the refined sophistication of elevated haute cuisine, found in Loca Niru. Here, Japanese flavours meet French technique and Southeast Asian heritage in a spellbinding confluence of quiet elegance. On the other, the vibrant colours of Latin America, found in MyX. There, a warm hearth meets equally warm, hearty food positively doused in spices and seared in smoke, inspired by the American Coastal South and the rich cultural traditions of Latin America.
In the mood for some Italian? Gaze across the Atlantic to Medusa. Very nearly a one-for-one transplant of vintage ’60s Rome, the restaurant offers a sanguine vision of modern Italian cuisine—with its ambience, you would be forgiven for thinking you were dining opposite the Spanish Steps. Curious about zany Asian takes on classic Tex-Mex flavours? Head to Rodeo Table, where whimsical Japanese experimentation finds a home in cheerful Mexican fare.
Ahead of your next gathering or weekend out, look to Vogue Singapore’s list of the city’s most exciting new restaurants to visit.
John Heng
1 / 4
Loca Niru
The name Loca Niru is derived from a pair of Japanese Zen idioms, translating to a white horse stepping into a field of white reeds—a symbol of beauty in perfect harmony. A statement that rings true throughout the restaurant, from the inviting interiors to the delicate menu. Set in the established Tan Yeok Nee heritage home, its earthy palette and natural wood furnishings are rooted in the Kotan design philosophy, surrounding guests in a calming blend of past and present. The restaurant is centred around the open kitchen surrounded by a bar-style dining area with an intimate view of the chefs and thoughtful service.
Helmed and conceptualised by executive chef Shusuke Kubota, whose culinary journey spans France, Japan and Singapore, a convergence of French technique, Japanese sensibilities and Southeast Asian produce take root. The menu opens with a Hassun trilogy: jelly of dashi stock atop sweet prawn tartare, a brandade with chestnut puree and a frog meat roll topped with curry leaf aioli. Each bite offers a new layer of flavour than before. The Awabi comes next, where the restaurant puts a twist on the classic chawanmushi. Egg custard is steeped in vegetable stock and finished with seasonal mushrooms and a clear mushroom consommé, bursting forth with umami. The Oyasai follows suit, where the spotlight falls on Malaysian vegetables. A steamed dumpling is filled with diced burdock, jicama and yacon and wrapped in a delicate skin infused with chive oil. It’s served with a side of salsa and pickled cabbage, creating a symphony of flavours as the natural sweetness from each green shines through.
But the star of the show is the Isaki course, where Japanese grunt fish is pan seared and served with a Nyonya beurre blanc, reducing the classic Nyonya rempah and fish stock into a light sauce. An unexpected joy comes from the side of buah keluak bread. Inspired by Italian bread service, the chef blends buah keluak into a paste before incorporating it into the bread dough. It’s an award-winning ode to Peranakan flavours, and rightfully so. The dessert course arrives in the form of shine muscat layered with kedondong jelly and coconut mousse. It’s topped with a kedondong sorbet blended with oba leaves, creating a sweet and refreshing relief. As you move from the first course to the next, a gradual symphony of flavour, intention and care unfolds at Loca Niru.
Loca Niru, House of Tan Yeok Nee, 101 Penang Road #02-01, Singapore 238466
Courtesy of MyX
2 / 4
MyX
MyX is best described as a home away from home. On one hand, it’s situated in the heart of Chip Bee Gardens, an age-old estate that is as tranquil as it is cosy. On the other, the decor and service all evoke the comforting spirit of hearth and home. Inside, you’re treated to picture-perfect warm lighting throughout, with natural wood grain running the length of the restaurant’s furniture. There’s even a group dining area that comes complete with a lending library and vinyl listening station. The food, though, is where things really start to shine.
The follow-up to the acclaimed Cudo from the Eleven Co. Group takes a page from that restaurant’s book and draws further inspiration from a mix (pun fully intended) of flavours from the American Coastal South and Latin America. To start, the freshest of palette refreshers: the Salmon Tiradito brings its acid A-game with lashings of lime juice, citron vinegar and pickled daikon. If it’s decadence you’re looking for, the Warm Crab Gratin has your back, a chip ‘n’ dip, crab-and-cheese extravaganza with an incredibly rich, gooey, white wine-infused bechamel, uplifted by Worcestershire sauce and a Creole Spice blend.
The stars of the show, though, are undoubtedly its grilled meats. The Grilled Iberico Pork is nothing to sneeze at, but if you want real, otherworldly umami, the brightest star in MyX’s sky is the Dirrrty Chicken Rice. Throw everything you thought ‘chicken and rice’ could taste like out the window—spices by the dozen work its magic and what you get is an unexpected burst of flavour emerging from this juicy combo of perfectly charred chicken and hearty rice. The desserts are all on-brand, as well. Doubling down on the blend of culinary inspirations that form the bedrock of MyX’s menu, the Kaffir Lime Panna Cotta takes cooked cream to a different level as a brown butter crumble is elevated with the zest of kaffir lime.
MyX, 44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-46, Singapore 278116
Courtesy of Medusa
3 / 4
Medusa
A thrilling, potentially petrifying, vision in red, Medusa places its patrons in the pulsing heart of 1960s vintage Rome. The restaurant wants you to remember where you’ve been too—the first thing greeting you being a gleaming wall of neon lights, extending an invitation to snap something for the ‘Gram and crystallise your time in Rome. Step into the dining space and behold: a sanguine portrayal of class, charm and heritage. The walls are bedecked with framed photos of Italian cultural phenomena and surround a host of bright red chairs and tables.
If you close your eyes, you might just hear the chatter of downtown Rome—or at the very least, the murmurs of the bustling, highly attentive waitstaff. When all is said and done, though, the menu is a hefty one—full of Roman cult classics given a modern twist, but we urge that you come with an appetite. Hearty antipastis set the tone, like the Focaccetta & Dip, which comes with indulgent tomato sauce and salsa verde dips, and the Supplì al Telefono, rice croquettes oozing glistening pomodoro and pecorino fondue. The best thing on the menu is an underrated Roman gem, Casarecce Alla Zozzona, a delightfully messy combination of the very best of the four classic Roman pastas—cacio e pepe, carbonara, gricia and amatriciana. Other mains include non-pasta dishes like a Porchetta atop an appetising salsa verde, and the crunchy Broccoli, one of Medusa’s many pinsa romanas, or Roman flatbreads, featuring sausage, stracciatella and, of course, broccoli.
It wouldn’t be Italian food without pizza, and the establishment slings evenly charred pies with the best of them. Take, for example, the Pomodoro & Ciccia. Here, fior di latte, guanciale and the ever-present pecorino romano offers simple, but well-executed flavours. If, somehow, you’re not full from the spread thus far, the desserts are sure to take up the rest of your stomach space with ample flair. These include, but are certainly not limited to, the Maritozzi Selection, Rome’s signature sweet bun slathered in whipped cream and pistachio—a dining denouement that is rich, velvety and not to be missed.
Medusa, 26 Beach Rd, B1-22 South Beach Avenue, Singapore 189768
Courtesy of Rodeo Table
4 / 4
Rodeo Table
The Japanese are one with the spirit of whimsy, and Rodeo Table is an excellent expression of that sensibility. This is helped in no small part due to its location—nestled in the basement of the Mint Museum of Toys. But if you thought this bold, brash diner was all bark with no bite, think again: the newest Tex-Mex wonder to hit Singapore’s shores is the real deal.
Almost everything here is familiar if you’ve ever spent time in a taqueria. Familiarity doesn’t mean mediocrity, though, and the food is clearly a labour of love. At first glance, the menu is an exercise in Tex-Mex staples: chips and dips, tacos, fajitas, quesadillas and plenty of margaritas, including the famed Coronarita. But look a bit more carefully and the spirit of Rodeo Table reveals itself through tasteful dashes of Japanese inflection. On the surface, the choices appear baffling, but on the palette, they are nothing short of incredibly satisfying—and a welcome addition to the Latin American culinary scene in Singapore.
The standouts of this sweeping menu? The buffalo wings are flavour bombs, coated in a heady blend of savoury spices and seasonings. The tacos, made with fresh corn tortillas, come packed with unique fillings like the Prawn Tempura, Yakitori Tsukune and Tuna Avocado Tartare. The skillets sizzle and sing, especially with the streetside flavours found in the Elote, an homage to the classic Mexican street corn snack. And the mains are funky fusion at its best. Here, there are a wide assortment of burgers, hot dogs and steaks, but for a real trip, look to the Tokyo Jambalaya, an Asian stir-fry channeling the spirit of the American Bayou. The desserts are a home-run as well: the Mexican Pudding a confident riff on creamy dulce de leche, and it’s hard to imagine a better end to a night then chowing down on Rodeo Table’s crispy Churros with Chocolate Sauce.
Rodeo Table, 26 Seah St, Basement, Singapore 188382
Dining and Cooking