Hedy Khoo

Singapore

Senior Correspondent at The Straits Times

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Articles

Buffets under $40 in Singapore: Affordable options for tapas, hotpot and dim sum

1 week ago | straitstimes.com | Hedy Khoo

SINGAPORE – Diners who crave the abundance and variety of buffets without paying more than $40 have plenty of choices. Instead of the standard international offerings, some restaurants specialise in fare that one does not usually associate with buffets – Spanish tapas, Peranakan classics and traditional Thai dishes. Several restaurants offer spreads with tighter menus, shorter seatings and sharper weekday deals. But there is no compromise on taste.
Jiak Ba Food Heaven Taiwanese stir fries and bar bites at Far East Square

1 week ago | straitstimes.com | Hedy Khoo

SINGAPORE – A fast-casual Taiwanese joint by day, where the Central Business District office crowd tucks into an all-day menu of braised pork rice and oyster mee sua, Jiak Ba Food Heaven (Jiak Bar) transforms after 5pm into a Taiwanese fusion bar serving xiao chao – unpretentious stir-fries and bar bites. The 1,200 sq ft eatery at Far East Square opened in March and seats 86 diners.
Jia Li Seafood Soup in Tiong Bahru serves fresh-cut fish in housemade seafood broth

1 week ago | straitstimes.com | Hedy Khoo

SINGAPORE – At Jia Li Seafood Soup, the broth does the heavy lifting. Each batch is simmered from scratch every morning using three old hens, pork ribs and a luxurious addition of dried scallops. Co-owner Derek Lai, 40, takes pride in not adding monosodium glutamate to his soups. One does not get that telltale thirst after finishing a bowl of the hearty broth.
Cantonese crispy spring chicken steals the show at Teochew Kitchenette.

1 week ago | straitstimes.com | Hedy Khoo

SINGAPORE – Bak kut teh may be the signature dish at The Teochew Kitchenette @ Keong Saik, but the real crown jewel at the 60-seat zi char eatery – which opened in November 2024 – is the Crispy Spring Chicken ($42). Never mind that it is a Cantonese dish and must be ordered three days in advance – it is worth the wait. No artificial colouring is used in the marinade. The chicken is seasoned with salt for a day, then carefully bathed in oil.
Singapore bak kut teh scene simmers with bold new flavours

2 weeks ago | straitstimes.com | Hedy Khoo

SINGAPORE – Bak kut teh is back and bolder than ever. At Old Street Bak Kut Teh’s newest outlet in Telok Ayer, diners can dig into peppery pork rib soup and bar bites like grilled Iberico pork jowl, washed down with Stella Artois, while singing karaoke in a private room. It is a far cry from the spartan kopitiams and hawker stalls where pork rib soup is typically slurped with sips of kungfu tea. A wave of new openings in 2024 and 2025 is reshaping the heritage dish.
Tastemakers: Former meat lover turns school canteen stall into $21 million vegetarian chain

3 weeks ago | straitstimes.com | Hedy Khoo

SINGAPORE – At 22, Mr Fu Yong Hong opened a vegetarian stall – despite hating vegetables. Today, he helms Singapore’s biggest plant-based restaurant chain. Now 36, he is chief executive of Greendot Group, which pulls in an annual turnover of $21 million from 15 outlets, including Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant. The group will open a 16th eatery – a Greendot outlet – at The Star Vista in July. Mr Fu co-founded the business in 2011 with his secondary school friend, Mr Justin Chou.
How these young brewers turned their homes into cafes serving specialty coffee and matcha

3 weeks ago | herworld.com | Hedy Khoo

The hottest trend in Singapore’s cafe scene is not housed behind floor-to-ceiling glass windows or nestled within heritage shophouses. It is brewing on front porches and in HDB flats in residential estates islandwide. Since late 2024, a batch brew of cosy home cafes has been started by young Singaporeans eager to share their passion for coffee and matcha, without the financial burden of operating a full-fledged commercial outfit.
Home cafes in Singapore: Young brewers serving matcha and kopi

4 weeks ago | straitstimes.com | Hedy Khoo

SINGAPORE – The hottest trend in Singapore’s cafe scene is not housed behind floor-to-ceiling glass windows or nestled within heritage shophouses. It is brewing on front porches and in HDB flats in residential estates islandwide. Since late 2024, a batch brew of cosy home cafes has been started by young Singaporeans eager to share their passion for coffee and matcha, without the financial burden of operating a full-fledged commercial outfit.
Less frills, more flavour: Fast-casual restaurants take off amid belt-tightening

1 month ago | straitstimes.com | Hedy Khoo

SINGAPORE – Veterinary nurse Natasha Allen, 25, has cut back on dining expenses – but not on meals with friends. She used to dine at full-service restaurants such as Spanish restaurant Tinto and Italian restaurant Sospiri twice a week, spending close to $100 an outing. Now, she opts for fast-casual eateries like Korean chain Jinjja Chicken, where her bill size is about $20.
Food Picks: Home-style flavours at Palapa Indonesian Fast Food

1 month ago | straitstimes.com | Hedy Khoo

SINGAPORE – If you think Indonesian food is just ayam penyet or nasi padang, Palapa Indonesian Fast Food wants to change your mind. Opened in June 2024 by Mr William Luimenta, 35, and Mr Timothy Santika, 34, the fast-casual eatery offers a tight selection of chicken (fried and grilled), lamb and beef. Both co-owners, originally from Indonesia, are Singapore permanent residents. Mr Luimenta is from Medan, while Mr Santika is from Jakarta.