Kamusta kabayan! If there's one thing that can instantly transport us back to the Philippines, it's the familiar taste of our favorite Filipino dishes. Whether it's adobo, sinigang, or halo-halo, there's nothing quite like the comfort and nostalgia that Filipino food brings.
Luckily, Singapore is home to a vibrant Filipino community, and finding authentic Filipino food has never been easier. So, Your Filipina Ate in Singapore is here to give you some of the best spots to satisfy your Filipino food cravings!
Lucky Plaza
Address: 304 Orchard Rd, #06-50 Lucky Plaza, Singapore 238863
Opening Hours: 9am - 9pm
For a true Filipino food extravaganza, head straight to "Little Manila" in Lucky Plaza, Orchard Road. This bustling shopping center is a Filipino food paradise, with numerous restaurants, groceries, and food stalls serving up authentic Filipino dishes. Here, you can indulge in classic favorites like lechon, kare-kare, and sisig, bringing a taste of home right to your plate.
My favorite spots are in Basement 2 of Lucky Plaza, where you can find Lutong Pinoy, Lechon, All About Max's, Tapa King, Jollibee, and Shakeys. It can be quite crowded on weekends, so I suggest you go on weekdays. The majority of the stalls accept cash only, except for Jollibee, Shakeys, and All About Max's, so make sure you have some cash with you (although there are ATMs in the mall as well).
There's also Kabayan Restaurant upstairs at Level 3, which also serves good and authentic Filipino dishes like your favorite ulam, so that's another choice. Going even higher (Level 6) is another Jollibee branch.
For Filipino snacks, like bread and turon, head to Level 3 and you'll find neighboring stalls selling these. Of course, find your suki as sometimes we crave for a specific familiar taste like ensaymada and Spanish bread.
Filipino Restaurants in Singapore
If you're craving a sit-down meal and a cozy ambiance, several Filipino restaurants in Singapore offer a wide range of traditional and contemporary Filipino dishes. Some notable restaurants include:
1. Max's Restaurant
Address: 14 Scotts Rd, #01-07 Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213
Opening Hours: 11am - 9pm during weekdays, 10am - 9pm on weekends
Located in Far East Plaza, Max's Restaurant is easily one of my most favorite restaurants to go to when I crave Filipino food. It's also where I buy food whenever I'll visit my Singaporean friends' homes. They especially like the lechon sisig and lumpiang shanghai.
Tip: Go to their website to book a table if you're going as a group and on a weekend as it can get busy on Saturdays and Sundays. This 2023, they have a buffet package every Tuesday night, so you can check it out, too!
2. Gerry's Grill
Address: 51 Cuppage Road, Starhub Centre, Singapore 229469
Opening Hours: 12pm to 10pm Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 10pm on Sundays, closed on Mondays
Gerry's Grill is a go-to restaurant in the Philippines. I had spent birthdays in their Alabang branch when I was still based there, so I hunted down Gerry's Grill once when I learned they have a branch in Singapore.
They have the usual Filipino food favorites and beers, of course, so you can head there as an option besides Max's Restaurant. The place is just a short walk from Somerset MRT.
I didn't visit the place again as my first trip was quite disappointing. The service was slow, the place was untidy and too noisy; so it's not really something I'm looking for when I dine out. But go check it out as you have a different preference from mine. Don't let my opinion hold you back! ;)
3. Lechon Republic
Address: 275 Thomson Rd, #01-09 NOVENA REGENCY, Singapore 307645
Opening Hours: 11am to 8:30 pm every Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays
A lot of friends love this place. Personally, I'm not a fan of lechon, but I tried this place and it doesn't disappoint. It's very near the Novena Church, so if you're attending mass in Novena, make sure you drop by Lechon Republic for lunch or dinner.
4. La Cafe & Bar
Address: 103 Irrawaddy Rd, #01-06 Royal Square @ Novena, Singapore 329566
Opening Hours: 11:30am to 11:45pm daily
This is located in Novena, just a few steps away from the MRT. We went there one Saturday afternoon and it was still quiet. The food is okay. They have a wide range of cuisine offered, including Filipino cuisine. I liked their Tagalog bistek and sisig.
5. Kubo Woodfired Kitchen
Address: 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd, #01-12 The Pier at Robertson, Singapore 239013
Opening Hours: 5:30pm to 10pm on weekdays (closed on Mondays), 12pm to 3pm and 5:30pm to 10pm on weekends
This is a new addition to the list of Filipino food restaurants in Singapore. Located at The Pier at Robertson, it's ideal for your dates and gastronomic adventures. We got lost the first time we went as we just walked to the place. Best if you can take a cab to The Pier at Robertson so you won't get lost like we did.
The place was nicely decorated, with a lot of Filipino touches. The food is great, too. We had the tasting menu that time as we didn't know which to order, but it was delicious. We met the owner as well who's really friendly. You can also watch them prepare your food in their woodfired kitchen.
Filipino Grocery Stores and Supermarkets
Okay, maybe restaurants can be expensive and we want to cook our own Filipino meals at home. Don't worry as there are a lot of Filipino grocery stores and supermarkets in Singapore where you can stock up on your favorite Filipino ingredients:
Lucky Plaza: I've mentioned how Lucky Plaza is the "Little Manila" in Singapore, and this is because you can buy everything you need for your mini Filipino fiesta here. Need your always reliable Reno (liver spread)? Head to Lucky Plaza. Craving for Piattos or Nova? Or maybe you want to cook malunggay or maruya? You can find all these ingredients in Lucky Plaza. Of course, it's more expensive than if you buy them in the Philippines, but it's the best option you have thousands of miles away from home. You can visit the stores on Level 2 to 4 to find all these things. And don't forget to bring cash!
Sari-sari stores in your neighborhood: There are a few neighborhoods in Singapore that sell Filipino food. I saw one in Tampines, located beside the bus interchange, where they sell frozen processed meat like our favorite longganisa and even boneless bangus. They also have bread spread like Cheese Whiz and Lily's Peanut Butter, among other things you crave. Look around in your neighborhood and you might find a sari-sari store for your Filipino food cravings.
ValuDollar shop: You might have already heard about this shop. Yes, it's where we buy cheap chocolates for pasalubong. But did you know they have a lot of Filipino products, too, like Century Tuna, UFC Banana Ketchup, 555 Sardines, Graham Crackers, and Datu-Puti Soy Sauce and Vinegar. So that's another option for you. What's best is there's a shop in almost every neighborhood in Singapore, so it's accessible!
NTUC/Giant supermarkets: Yes, you read that right. You can find Filipino groceries at the popular supermarket chains in Singapore, too. In NTUC, they usually have an aisle labelled "International Food" and it's where you can find familiar Filipino brands like MY San Grahams, Silven Swan, Datu Puti, Century Tuna, Lily's, etc. They even have dried taro leaves for your laing recipe. They also have puto mix. In Giant supermarkets, Filipino brands are usually mixed with other local brands according to the category, but I usually find Datu Puti, Mang Tomas, UFC, Silver Swan, and Sinigang Mix at this supermarket.
Pro-Tip: Go to Facebook and join groups like Paluto sa SG as our kababayans sell food, ingredients, and other stuff as well.
Enjoy, and happy eating!
Cheers,
Your Filipina Ate in Singapore
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