The best home-based businesses in Singapore that we love

A soupy dish is always a good shout on a chilly day. Or shall we say chilli day? Inspired by the famous Gangsa Road ke kou mian (KKM), which is a fiery and healthier twist on the instant Koka noodles, Dot Dot Bowl's Gangsa Noodles (from $8) is a DIY alternative that lets you customise the way you like it – soupy or dry, spicy or mild. It’s run by the original Gangsa Road KKM uncle’s daughter, Sharon Teo, and takes less than five minutes to put together all the vacuum-packed ingredients, making it the perfect stay-home alternative.

When Sir Mix-a-Lot says he "don't want none unless you got buns, hun," we're assuming he means curry buns. If so, we can relate. Curry buns are typically savoured by families in the comfort of their homes, and this family-run, home-based business will hand-deliver them to your doorstep with the widest smile. Word of warning: these curry buns (from $32) have a fiery kick to them. It's a family recipe loaded with bite-sized buttery potatoes, boneless chicken, and of course, spicy curry gravy. The bread is also made from scratch to ensure that it's crusty yet fluffy. These big, bad boys are also shareable between two to three people.

There's no better pleasure than sinking your teeth into a flippin’ juicy cheeseburger. Trading his six-stringer for a US-imported camping grill, former Cashew Chemists guitarist Ulrich Chia perfected the art of smashing ground beef ball on the grill and flattening it until it turns into a crusty-edged patty – a style that is popular in the USA. Aptly called The Smash Hit ($17), the signature burger comes with smashed dry-aged beef, gooey American cheese, onion jam, and fresh tomatoes, all sandwiched between traditional Hainanese sweet buns. Note that the burgers are only available for pickup, and orders are also capped at 40 slots each weekend.

The price tag on Singapore’s iconic dish can leave you feeling… crabby. But thanks to this Muslim-owned, home-based business, you can savour the flavour without breaking the bank. Whipped up by childhood friends Danial Azroy and Hasyim "Syimmy" Hasbullah, they use Danial's mum’s Chinese-style chilli crab recipe. Killa Krab dishes three different sets, all named after characters from the American sitcom Modern Family, the Gloria ($25) which comes with two pieces of soft-shell crabs, The Manny ($25) which comes with one bowl of mud crabs, and The Dunphys ($75) which is a sharing set that comes with three pieces of mud crabs and two pieces of soft-shell crabs. All sets include the signature chilli crab sauce and golden brown buns.

It’d be a mis-steak not to mention Cuts & Slices. Taking notes from YouTubers in the land of ribs and brisket (aka the USA), twenty-something Hendra Yeo rolls out perfected pizzas and marvelous meats from his family's backyard in Kembangan. This includes 12-hour smoked brisket (from $14/100g), 10-hour apple wood smoked short ribs ($70/kg), and smoked beef cheeks (from $8.50/100g). There’s also hot smoked salmon for a lighter alternative ($70/kg). Comfort food like 12-inch New York-style pizzas and tacos are also up on the menu. Orders are only available on weekends, so you’ll have to place them via Instagram DM to ensure that they hit the grill while you chill.

Got an upcoming event but can’t bear to spend hours in the kitchen? Dapur Mother Mary (DMM) has your back. Whether it’s an open house, a birthday party, or a work event, co-founder Tajjlee Rahim and his family will batch cook, pack and deliver from their kitchen to yours. But don’t expect light bites – DMM is all about hearty, classic Malay dishes (from $7.50). Think beef rendang, nasi sambal goreng, nasi goreng kampong, mee goreng, and the list goes on. And take our word: these are cooked authentically, just the way nenek (grandmother in Malay) does. The home-based business currently only takes small bulk orders.

For bakes that look as good as they taste, hit up Miss Van Dough – a clever wordplay on the names of founder/baker Vanessa Goh and painter Vincent Van Gogh. Among her popular treats include chunky chocolate chip cookies, fudgy brownies, macarons, and the popular pandan biscoff tarts. Look forward to curated packages that come with an assortment of sweet treats that changes regularly – it might come loaded with hefty cookies, brownies, tiramisu, and more. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on Instagram; these sets tend to sell out quickly, so fastest fingers first.

A scroll through Dapiku Sweet's Instagram will give you a sugar rush. It's like staring into the soul of a millennial Marie Antoinette, with each post screaming "Let them eat cake!" There's no denying that resident baker Lee Jian Yun and illustrator Aliff Tee have a knack for show-stopping creations and drool-worthy imagery. Whether it's a minimally-frosted naked cake or an intricately decorated vintage-style cake, each of these hand-crafted treats is a mini work of art. The sweet-toothed duo also does chocolate cookies, burnt cheesecake, and special dessert boxes if you're really feeling naughty.

Let’s get this bread – literally. Self-proclaimed "Doughminatrix", Karen knows just how to tickle your tastebuds with fusion sourdough loaves. Get ready to fall in loaf (see what we did there?) with flavours like truffle mushroom ($29.90), dark chocolate ($25.90), and the signature caramelised onion sourdough ($24.90). There are also sourdough pandan waffles (from $15.90), sourdough babka ($24.90), and special bread boxes ($24.90) which includes a loaf with Iberico spam, caramelised onion, and cheese. Mark your calendars for the next Bake Day where you can make your orders.

This Muslim-owned home bakery needs no introduction. It's known for its single-item menu: a burnt cheesecake that comes in a toasted, golden brown crown and gooey, cream cheese middle. This cult favourite was a hit during the circuit breaker, consistently selling out like hotcakes. The seven-inch original cheesecake ($61) is perfect for a party of seven. For two to four pax, check out the Mini Flavoured Selection ($40). This comes in various flavours such as smoked berries, chocolate, matcha, caramelised banana, and even durian. Pre-order yours quickly to not miss out.

When you think of ondeh ondeh, it’s no surprise that this home-based outfit’s signature ondeh cake springs to mind. Former five-star-hotel chef Adeline Ng nails down the recipe to a T with layers of pandan sponge cake, topped with desiccated coconut, and filled with gula Java. Its flavour has been described as "otona no amasa," which translates to “sweetness for adults” in Japanese. In other words, it hits the spot without being overwhelmingly sweet. Besides the signature ondeh ondeh cake (from $36), it also boasts the first original durian ondeh cake (from $56). And by indulging in these gorgeous sweet treats, you'll also be helping Adeline. She is diagnosed with an extremely rare autoimmune disorder which has left her blind in one eye. All money earned from her bakes goes into her steep annual medical expenses.