The best hidden food gems in Tiong Bahru

Quench your thirst at Canjob Taproom, a small bar situated on the first floor of Link Hotel. This joint has a rotating menu of six craft beers on tap, four cocktails, as well as a boutique selection of gin and tonics to satisfy most alcohol lovers out there. And if you prefer to pop one off while streaming a series from the comforts of your home, you can always make a beeline for the liquor store to bring back craft beer, cider, sake or any other poison of choice. 

TRY Line your stomach with Canjob Taproom's specialty bratwurst hotdogs. But you're really here for the beer and the selection changes all the time – so speak to the bartenders to get recommendations or try your luck!

It’s not just your typical plate of Hainanese chicken rice over at Kampong Chicken Eating House. While the chicken is still cooked so perfectly succulent, kampong chicken here is typically less fatty and a healthier choice for those with high cholesterol. Before it caught on with organic butchers, kampong chicken is essentially the original free-range chicken with sweeter and leaner meat. 

TRY What else, but the chicken rice? If in a larger group, we recommend getting the whole chicken ($28) to share. They do the rice very well too, so all you need is a light drizzle of dark sauce and some ginger chilli.

As commonplace as zi char restaurants are, good ones are a diamond in the rough. At Tian Tian Seafood Restaurant though, they do up a range of classic cooked-to-order dishes such as har cheong gai (shrimp paste chicken) and even fried live frogs ($20). As a seafood restaurant though, their strength obviously lies on fresh seafood. They have a wide range, from snow crab ($18/100g) to turbot fish ($12/100g). It’s also open till 3am, marking it as one of those late-night supper spots to visit when you get midnight cravings. 

TRY The drunken prawns – it’s meant to be some of the freshest around.

You've got to love the dedication behind Tan's Tu Tu Coconut Kueh. Taking over from her brother since he passed on, the ladyboss behind this traditional snack shop runs between the Havelock and Clementi outlet almost everyday, where she personally grinds the rice flour and handmakes each delightful morsel of tutu kueh (a small steamed cake, made with ground peanuts or grated coconut filling). The effort is evident in the tutu kueh, which has chewy yet tender skin that keeps customers coming back.

TRY The peanut tutu kueh (five for $3.50) is a crowd favourite, but our personal pick is the coconut tutu kueh (five for $3.50), which has a brown grated coconut filling that's sweet – but not overly so. For something a little different, try the chocolate tutu kueh (five for $4). 

Bincho at Hua Bee is clearly inspired by the yakitori-ya stalls that line the streets of Osaka. Its menu is filled with a range of chicken skewers, featuring unusual parts like the gizzard ($7) to the cock’s comb ($7). While it's housed in an old-school kopitiam that doles out bowls of bak chor mee during the day, it swiftly transforms into a yakitori restaurant once dusk hits. You’ll have to enter through the hidden back door, flanked by rubbish bins along a dark alleyway, just to get into this edgy space. Set meals start from $120, which comes with a yakitori platter – neck, breast, and liver skewers included. 

TRY The tsukune ($21), a grilled chicken meatball that’s served with a raw egg yolk. It’s made of minced chicken neck, and offers a delicious burst of flavour when dipped into the creamy yolk.

Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries' story began almost 40 years ago. Back then, Chef Chik Sang was an apprentice chef in Hong Kong, where he honed his craft in dim sum. Since then, he's refined his baking technique and brought it over to Singapore, where he now runs a chain of Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries outlets – the oldest being the one in Tiong Bahru (and the most modern, a flagship in Bugis). 

TRY Its claim to fame is the flaky egg tart, so give that a shot. We also love Leung Sang's polo buns. 

While Tiong Bahru might be chock full with interesting cafés, it’s Flock Cafe that’s been under-the-radar all this while. They do serve up quintessential café fare, such as avocado toast ($13.80) and an Eggs Sally ($17.20) with smoked salmon, but it’s the undisturbed ambience that most will keep flocking over for. It’s also a pet-friendly space so feel free to bring your pups over. 

TRY For a twist on the classic eggs Benny, order a Cheeky Eggs ($17.20). It comes with two poached eggs, braised pork cheek, and a generous dollop of hollandaise sauce – all over a brioche bun.

Omakase meals are always a hit in Singapore, and Torio Japanese Restaurant at Tiong Bahru’s Link Hotel is no different. It is one of the more affordable omakase lineups out there though, starting from just $80 – you’ll get a full-fledged meal too, ranging from three kinds of appetisers to an array of skillfully-prepared sushi. If looking for a reliable Japanese haunt for lunch, Torio also offers appetising donburis, from chirashi ($35) to Toro, Uni & Ikura ($45). 

TRY The Gyuniku (Beef) Course ($68) that’s only available for dinner – they do a solid foie gras chawanmushi and teriyaki beef rice bowl.