Global Flavours on SG’s Orchard Road: Eat Your Way Around the World
Singapore’s culinary story is famously woven from many threads. Malay and Indian spices flavour
Teochew and Cantonese-descended culinary traditions and vice-versa, with differences subtle and
profound to be experienced between different households. And with Singapore rising to global
prominence as a key trade hub and expatriate haven, global tastes have started adding even more
vibrance to the mix.
The growing diversity of restaurants in Orchard Road’s environs is a testament to these profound
changes. In some spots, you can even taste the world without stepping out into the street. Right above
the Somerset MRT Station, the 313@Somerset Shopping Centre is just one of many places that bring
together a remarkable mix of local and international eats.
Whether you have half an hour between shops or are dedicating an evening to exploring flavours, this
area offers plenty of culinary passports to stamp. Try kicking off your international food journey with
these cuisines:
1) Ramen and Sushi Done Right
Orchard Road doesn’t disappoint when it comes to Japanese cuisine. Here alone, you’ll find a variety of
casual Japanese eateries featuring rich bowls of different regional varieties of ramen, fresh sashimi, and
expertly crafted sushi don. If you’re not sure where to begin, start with classic and accessible tonkotsu
or shoyu ramen and go wherever your tastebuds and curiosity take you.
2) Vietnam: Pho, Banh Mi, and More
Vietnamese dining offers you fragrant herbs, bright lime, savoury broth, not unlike Singapore’s native
eats, but still markedly different. It’s easy to get Vietnamese cuisine wrong, but a number of Orchard
Road spots serve authentic, traditional pho, banh mi, and other classics with all the flavours you’d
expect. If nothing else, a steaming bowl of pho beef or a refreshing summer roll is perfect on a rainy
Singapore afternoon, or even as a light dinner after a long day of exploration.
3) A Symphony of Savoury & Sweet Korean Flavours
Perhaps as part of the global K-Wave, it seems that Korean cuisine has also taken hold in Singapore.
Famous for its bold heat and fun dining formats, Korean cuisine runs the gamut, from staples like spicy
stews and bibimbap to beloved snacks and desserts like K-style corndogs and bingsu (shaved ice). These
meals fit both quick solo lunches and longer fiestas with friends.
4) Authentic Mexican & Latin American Street Fare
Speaking of fiestas, the wide variety of Latin American cuisines is now starting to be authentically
represented in Singapore. Foodies who have been around for decades might remember a time when
you couldn’t find a taqueria or burrito spot worth their name, but that is no longer an issue thanks to
the country’s growing international population. If you haven’t yet, try out some Mexican or Brazilian
eats for a vibrant contrast to Asian dining.
5) The Whole Breadth of Chinese Cuisines
Singapore has long been an Asian crossroads, so it’s no surprise that it offers the whole gamut of
Chinese cuisine, distinct from Singapore’s own Chinese-descended culinary heritage. If you’re looking for
them, you will even find regional takes on classic noodles, grilled fish, hotpot or wok-tossed stir-fries. Eat
with chopsticks, share plates and enjoy long, comforting flavours that reflect different parts of the
region.
6) Heartwarming Western Comforts
Sometimes, familiarity makes the best meal. Orchard Road is consistently among the first in the region
to offer authentic European and North American food concepts. Whether it’s steaks and hearty burgers,
fish and chips, or pastas and comfort mains, you’ll be able to take your pick, and be fully confident that
what you get lives up to the “real thing,” because it is the real thing.
7) Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Delights to Wake Up Your Palate
These cuisines are especially good for group dining, sharing plates and light yet flavourful meals.
Authentic takes of these cuisines have been sorely lacking in Singapore in part decades, but the full
experience can now be enjoyed if you’re in or around Orchard Road.
Here’s a pro tip: in between bites of grilled kebabs and flatbreads, you can enjoy colourful mezze and
fresh salads as a pleasing palate cleanser.
8) European Bistro Dining with Authentic Ambience
For a bit of old-world charm, European dining at Orchard Road brings relaxed bistro-style meals and sit-
down cuisine that’s literally, not figuratively, a world away from Singapore’s own home-brewed coffee
culture. Think hearty brunch boards, rustic mains and, in some places, Italian, Swiss, or French-inspired
classics with ambience that takes you elsewhere.
9) Casual Pan-Global Food Hall Adventures
If you want maximum variety without leaving one place, the food hall inside 313@Somerset is a
convenient choice. Food Republic brings together everything from Chinese grilled fish and mala hotpot
to Thai staples, Vietnamese noodles, Indonesian classics and more. Mix and match several small dishes
and make a meal of global street eats on one table; you might not be able to do it anywhere else.
How to Eat Around the World in a Day
Whether you’re a local or a visitor with a day to spend in SG, start your food adventure at Orchard Road.
Yes, the rest of Singapore is full of great dining spots, but it’s difficult to beat Orchard Road for sheer
diversity and proximity.
If you want, you can kick things off with a midday ramen or pho, wander through shops, then linger at a
legitimate Mexican taqueria for lunch. Walk off the meal with more shopping and return in the late
afternoon for Korean desserts or a café pick-me-up. Or mix things up as your heart desires.
Orchard Road makes this trivially easy to do. Unlike many other major shopping and financial districts
elsewhere, you’ll find malls connect through sheltered walkways. The Somerset MRT station also sits
right under 313@Somerset, so you never stray far from transport to the further reaches of the city as
you hop between cuisines. Whatever you fancy, Orchard Road’s global food options make it easy to
savour far-flung flavours without leaving Singapore.
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