Feeling cooped up in Singapore and missing your vacation? Go to one of these Dempsey Hill restaurants for a variety of global cuisines and pretend you’re on holiday! You can enjoy alfresco or outdoor dining against a picturesque green backdrop.
Korean: Chang Korean BBQ
Helmed by a Korean chef, Chang serves authentic Korean cuisine with premium barbecue dishes and seafood options that are a cut above the rest. It’s no wonder this popular alfresco restaurant is well frequented by Korean expats and locals. Chang has recently launched a daily set lunch menu, too. You can enjoy a selection of appetisers such as green salad with seared scallop, steamed pork belly with garlic leaves or seafood Korean pancake, and a wide array of side dishes along with a choice of mains. The four-course set featuring charcoal-grilled marinated prime rib-eye is priced from $43, and the five-course set with baked black cod with caramelised bean paste sauce is from $48. The well-trained service staff will grill the premium ingredients to perfection at your table once the charcoal is fired up!
71 Loewen Road
French: Eat at My Kitchen
Dempsey Hill’s newest family-friendly addition is sure to be a hit. This is the only restaurant listed in this article without an alfresco area – yet it’s set deep into greenery, so you feel like you’re outside just the same. The space is huge, but it manages to pull off a truly cosy feel. Wednesday through Sunday, the French restaurant offers a fab five-course set dinner from $128. Weekend brunch is special, too; priced from $28, it includes a breadboard with fresh-flavoured butter plus a main plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, roasted mushrooms and vine-ripened tomatoes. Want something a little different? Try “Cook and Eat Lunch”, a three-hour cooking session where you get to make your own meal and then enjoy it! There’s a hands-on party package, too, where you and your friends can roll your own popiah and end with homemade chendol for dessert.
8D Dempsey Road
Italian: La Forketta
If it’s Italian you’re craving, this artisanal restaurant is the place to go for inside or outdoor dining. The fresh and simple interpretation of Southern Italian food has made La Forketta a hit since 1993. Choose from a wide selection of appetisers, ranging from burrata cheese to beetroot salad. Savour wholesome servings of fresh organic pasta with your choice of meat ragout, vongole or pesto sauce. Signature dishes include wood-fired sourdough pizza, grilled Norwegian salmon and roasted pork belly with bacon. Save space for the yummy tiramisu or the warm chocolate cake! (Can you say “yum!” in Italian?) Also, the three-course set lunch is a bargain from just $33 (or from $45 with a glass of wine).
9 Dempsey Road
Vietnamese: Red Sparrow
Step into Red Sparrow and you’ll be charmed by the Old Saigon vibe – not to mention the authentic Vietnamese fare. Come here with friends for a bowl of comforting and flavourful pho for lunch. Or sample some of the signature dishes including Vietnamese-style pancake with tiger prawns and pork (banh xeo), shredded green mango salad with quail eggs (banh tran tron) and marinated pork grilled to perfection and served with white rice noodles and salad (ban cha). You can enjoy your lunch with a cold Vietnamese beer or a traditional drip coffee – and there’s a delicious coffee donut available for a sweet ending to a perfect meal.
11 Dempsey Road
Modern Asian: Jam at Siri House
What a way to celebrate a first birthday! Now with a refreshed space, Jam at Siri House has added some new creations to its menu to elevate your time out with friends to the next level. You can enjoy yummy snacks while sipping gorgeous cocktails at The Lounge, or try out a few of the new à la carte dishes in The Backyard – the outdoor dining area surrounded by greenery. This is the latest in communal dining where everybody is encouraged to share and tuck into all the items on the table. Food-wise, the restaurant is known for its Asian dishes inspired by the nostalgic flavours of childhood, reimagined in new and inventive ways – think wagyu satay and also charcoal-grilled pork ribs with a kombu crust.
8D Dempsey Road
Singaporean: JUMBO Seafood @ Dempsey
Got guests in town? Impress them with some traditional seafood delights from a Singapore institution: JUMBO Seafood @ Dempsey. This popular restaurant is well-loved by locals and foreign visitors alike. Order the iconic chilli crab and savour the delicious sweet and savoury seafood served with mantou, a crispy Chinese bun. Other signature dishes include the cereal prawns, mee goreng and steamed bamboo clams with minced garlic. There’s a lush outdoor dining area that’s perfect for wining and dining at night. And why not gift your foodie guests with JUMBO’s pre-packed sauces, which include flavours such as Chilli Crab, Black Pepper Crab, Mee Goreng and Cereal Prawns?
11 Dempsey Hill
This article first appeared in the April 2020 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
