10 Best Chinese Restaurants in Singapore for Cantonese Fare: Double-Boiled Soups, Dim Sum, Suckling Pigs, and More
PUBLISHED May 10th, 2018 06:00 am | UPDATED October 22nd, 2019 08:42 pm
Amongst all the different schools of Chinese cooking, Cantonese cuisine remains one of the most popular styles for its emphasis on fresh ingredients, elaborate presentation, and versatile cooking techniques. And then, there’s the fact that a large number of Chinese people around the world have ancestors that come from Guangdong, where the exquisite fare originated. From double-boiled soups and roasted suckling pigs to intricate dim sum creations, here are 10 Chinese restaurants in Singapore that do Cantonese food best.
Modern Cantonese
Man Fu Yuan
Is Man Fu Yuan one of the best out there? We certainly think so. Executive Chef Eric Neo brings to the floor a plethora of imaginative Cantonese delights with a modern finesse at this stalwart Cantonese fine dining restaurant, a winner of many awards since its establishment in 1995. Some of his new dishes include a decadent Pan-fried Foie Gras with Suckling Pig wrapped in a crêpe and a Miso Shoyu Baked Cod sitting on a bed on scrambled egg white, which you can elevate with a handpicked selection of fine wines and premium tea pairings. Traditions are best not forgotten here, and their Longjing Tea-Smoked Duck is still one to rave about.
Man Fu Yuan is located at InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Rd, Singapore 188966, p. +65 6825 1008. Open Mon-Fri 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm, Sat-Sun 11.30am – 1.15pm, 1.30pm – 3.15pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm.
Yàn
Since opening at the National Gallery in 2015, Yàn has more than lived up to its meaning, ‘宴’, by proving a ‘feast’ of exceptional flavours. Now with new Executive Chef Lai Chi Sum (previously of Tung Lok) at the helm, look out for his distinct and elegant sensibilities imbued into old school classic Cantonese dishes born from his Hong Kong roots, whether it’s the Baked Pork Ribs in black olive sauce, Steamed Kampong Chicken, or our favourite, the Baked Crab Shell chock with crab meat and onion.
Yàn is located at #05-02 National Gallery 1 St. Andrew’s Rd, Singapore 178957, p. +65 6384 5585. Open daily 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm.
Majestic Restaurant
Restaurant Majestic, which found a new home at Marina One last year, continues to entice diners with its unique brand of contemporary Chinese cuisine steeped in Hakka influence, as directed by veteran Owner-Chef Yong Bing Ngen. Think handmade Organic Brown Rice Cheong Fun laden with prawns and lei cha (thunder tea) sauce and Lychee ‘Siew Mai’ that’s sweet, sour, and spicy all at the same time. The signature here is the Roasted Ireland Silver Duck, which can be served whole ($60) or Peking-style ($88).
Majestic Restaurant is located at 5 Straits View, #04-01 Marina One, The Heart (East Tower), Singapore 018935, p. +65 6250 1988. Open Mon-Sun 11.30am – 3pm, 5.45pm – 10pm.
Summer Pavilion
With a Michelin star to its name, Summer Pavilion at the Ritz offers a highly sophisticated contemporary Cantonese dining experience that’s best experienced with Executive Chef Cheung Siu Kong’s exquisite tasting menus (from $128 for lunch and $158 for dinner) and set menus, where perennial picks like the Summer Pavilion Monk Jump Over The Wall, Poached Special Fish Noodles with lobster meat, and Braised King Scallops shine. During lunch, you might want to check out the restaurant’s fabulous selection of dim sum delights.
Summer Pavilion is located at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039799, p. +65 6434 5286.
Golden Peony
Refined Cantonese cuisine, signature dim sum offerings, and an artfully selected wine list are just some of the things that make Golden Peony so special. Its intricate menu features choice Cantonese ingredients specially imported from various regions of China, and what you get are things like the superb ‘Bi Feng Tang’ Crispy Half Maine Lobster topped with spiced almond flakes ($32), Braised ‘Dong Bo’ Pork Belly ($12) served with a crispy bun, and Double-boiled Kami Sakura Chicken Soup ($20).
Golden Peony is located at L3 Conrad Centennial Singapore, 2 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038982. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am – 10.30pm, Sun 10.30pm – 10.30pm.
Traditional Cantonese
Wah Lok
Looking for authentic Cantonese fare? The award-winning Wah Lok is one of Singapore’s most well-known spots for the cuisine, and is particularly popular for its fairly-priced dim sum that has maintained its high standards for decades. Some stellar picks to try are the Baked Barbecue Pork Buns ($6) and Steamed Crab Meat & Egg White Dumplings ($7.50), and off the a la carte dining menu, the Deep-fried Century Egg ($12) wrapped with minced shrimps and Lobster Mee Sua ($28).
Wah Lok is located at 76 Bras Basah Rd, Singapore 189558, p. +65 6311 8188. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm, Sun 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm.
Myo Restobar
From the folks behind International Plaza’s Kia Hiang Restaurant comes the moderately new Myo Restobar, a modern take on the traditional Cantonese restaurant. But while their branding and decor lean towards the trendy, their food is classic as it gets. From the signature Kia Hiang Claypot Organic Chicken ($28), enveloped in sweet cabbage and a syrupy herbal broth, to Angus Ribeye Cubes sautéed with garlic and brocolli, these hearty home-style dishes will be sure to bring back all the happy memories. Read our review here.
Myo Restobar is located at Lobby 1, #19-01 Oxley Tower, 138 Robinson Rd, Singapore 068906. Open Sun-Fri 11am – 9pm.
Lei Garden
A regular feature in in Singapore’s Michelin Guide, Lei Garden at CHIJMES prides itself on creating high-quality and memorable Cantonese cuisine that’s nothing short of unforgettable. Creations to try include the Barbecued Honey Pork with a generations-old recipe, a Baked Chicken that’s cooked in a traditional casserole under a pile of premium sea salt, and and an incredibly warming Double Boiled Soup boiled from fish bone and a selection of Chinese herbs (Dahurian Angelica Root and Szechwan Lovage Rhizone).
Lei Garden is located at #01-24 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria St, Singapore 187996, p. +65 6339 3822. Open Mon-Sun 11.30am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm.
Peony Jade
Peony Jade is a rather uncommon sight at a place known for its nightlife, but inside its alluring dockside space along the Singapore River, all is well – especially if its traditional Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine you’re looking for. Here, the freshest ingredients and masterful culinary techniques give birth to beloved dishes like Fried Whole Scallop tossed with nothing but salt and pepper, and the famed Yin Yang Lobster sautéed with salted yolk and poached with mayo. Then, end off your meal with their signature Fresh Avocado Cream dessert.
Peony Jade is located at 3 River Valley Rd, Singapore 179020, p. +65 6338 0305 and 10 Bukit Chermin Rd, Singapore 109918, p. +65 6276 9138. Open Mon-Fri 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm, Sat-Sun 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm.
Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant
Replete with ornate black and gold décor and jewel box booth seats, Wan Hao checks all the boxes for a fancy Chinese restaurant with its well-executed Cantonese delicacies – which is to say, noteworthy dishes like the Chilled Duck Wing marinated in Chinese rose wine, Braised Lobster with Assorted Seafood, and Executive Chef Brian Wong’s popular Double-boiled Cordyceps Flower Consommè with lobster and egg white. If you’re craving for a tipple, they carry some decent wines as well.
Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant is located at Level 3, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road, Singapore 238865, p. +65 6831 4605. Open Mon-Fri 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm, Sat-Sun 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm.
Top Image: Man Fu Yuan’s Tiger Prawn Vermicelli in Superior Broth and Chinese Wine
