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ASU, Dill, Keijo among Singapore's top-rated restaurants in 2025

ASU, Dill, Keijo among Singapore's top-rated restaurants in 2025

Business Times4 days ago

[SINGAPORE] With the proliferation of restaurants in Singapore, it's hard to decide which to choose, especially among the newer entrants to the dining scene.
Let The Business Times take away the guesswork with our guide to the best-rated eateries of 2025, all of which achieved a score of 7 and above in our Dining Out column. Do remember to check back regularly for new listings – and happy eating!
Note: This article was created with the help of AI summarisation tools. We've also included the links to the full reviews of each restaurant.
DILL
Wagyu onglet in tarragon sauce. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT
Cuisine: Scandinavian
What makes it special: Dill's Scandinavian fare surprises with its bold use of fermented, vegetal flavours and authentic ingredients, from brown cheese ice cream to pickled herring puffs. Chef Daniel's refined yet approachable take makes Nordic cuisine feel fresh and inviting – even to Singaporean palates.
Read the full review here.
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Don't forget to try: The waffles with loyrom – they're not the light and airy variety but made with potatoes for a satisfying chewiness, topped with fish roe mixed in cream.
Review rating: 7
Address: Dill 33 Duxton Road Singapore 089497 Tel: 8180-4414
Operating hours: Wed to Sat: 4 pm – 11 pm
MANSION 7
The Peking Duck at Mansion 7 is well-priced and definitely worth a try. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT
Caption: The Peking Duck at Mansion 7 is well-priced and definitely worth a try. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT
Cuisine: Chinese
What makes it special: Mansion 7 offers excellent value, along with warm and entertaining service from host Alex, who's part restaurant manager, part fastest tongue this side of Maxwell Food Centre. The confidently executed Chinese dishes and retro charm make it a surprising but enjoyable dining experience in Tanjong Pagar.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: The Peking duck, which is served with thin crepes instead of the usual flour pancakes.
Review rating: 7
Address: 30 Maxwell Road #01-03 Singapore 069114 Tel: 6038-0295
Operating hours: Mon to Fri: 11 am – 3 pm; 5.30 pm – 10 pm Sat and Sun: 9 am – 3 pm; 5.30 pm –10 pm
KEIJO
Aji, or horse mackerel sushi, at Keijo. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT
Cuisine: Japanese (sushi)
What makes it special: Keijo's sushi stands out for its warm, well-seasoned rice and precise balance with quality seafood. Chef Nakamura's nuanced touch and consistency make it a strong, value-conscious contender in Singapore's sushi scene.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: There's a S$98 lunch set, but you'll likely be tempted by the fancier (and pricier) options.
Review rating: 7
Address: 76 Bras Basah Road Singapore 189558 Tel: 6338-6131
Operating hours: Mon to Sat: 12 pm – 3 pm; 6 pm – 10.30 pm
BELIMBING
Clam chawanmushi laced with assam pedas and white pepper sauce. PHOTO: BELIMBING
Cuisine: Mod-Sin
What makes it special: Belimbing sets itself apart with chef Marcus Leow's inventive, fine-dining reinterpretations of Singaporean hawker flavours. Its signature dishes blend local ingredients with modern European touches, offering a thoughtful, genre-bending take on familiar tastes.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: The 'firefly' squid 'rojak', which features grilled local baby squid in an unlikely toss-up involving fried kailan, jambu, torch ginger and homemade hei-ko.
Review rating: 7
Address: 269A Beach Road Singapore 199546 Tel: 8869-7243 Operating hours: Tue to Sun (12 pm – 3.30 pm; 6 pm – 10.30 pm)
PULSII FRENCH BISTRO
Crispy, toasted brioche is topped with creamy chicken liver mousse. PHOTO: PULSII
Cuisine: Japanese-influenced French fare
What makes it special: Pulsii serves subtly inventive French fare with a Japanese touch, offering light, well-balanced dishes that quietly impress. Chef Daisuke Yoshikawa's understated style delivers flavour without heaviness, making the experience unexpectedly satisfying.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: The chicken liver mousse – a lively canape of crispy, toasted brioche topped with whipped faux foie gras cream and a sweet apple-raisin mixture spiked with whisky.
Review rating: 7
Address: 55 Tras Street Singapore 078994 Tel: 9689-8407
Operating hours: Mon to Sat (12 pm – 2.15 pm; 6 pm – 11 pm)
IMPERIAL TREASURE HUAIYANG CUISINE
Sweet-sour crispy deep-fried cod fillet (left) and turtle steamed in chicken oil. PHOTOS: IMPERIAL TREASURE
Cuisine: Chinese (Huaiyang)
What makes it special: Imperial Treasure Huaiyang Cuisine offers a refined, approachable take on one of China's great culinary traditions, featuring balanced flavours with dishes like shredded tofu and Angus beef in sour soup that feel both familiar and surprising.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: The turtle steamed in chicken oil, which has a saltiness (from Yunnan ham) that's evened out by an infusion of Chinese herbs and the sweetness of red dates.
Review rating: 7
Address: Imperial Treasure Huaiyang Cuisine #04-12A Ion Orchard 2 Orchard Turn Singapore 238801 Tel: 6636-9339
Operating hours: Mon to Fri (11.30 am – 3 pm; 6 pm – 11 pm) Sat (11 am – 3 pm; 6 pm – 11 pm)
SUGARRA
Roast suckling pig with roasted cherry apple. PHOTO: SUGARRA
Cuisine: Spanish
What makes it special: Sugarra stands out with chef Aitor Gonzalez's inventive yet balanced take on Spanish cuisine, pairing refined tapitas (small appetisers) and playful twists – like beetroot tartare and cod-filled doughnuts – with warm, personal hospitality that makes the trip to Sentosa worthwhile.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: The tasting menu, which comes in four-, six- and nine-course options. With these, you'll get a generous spread of tapitas that'll keep you fed and entertained until your main courses arrive.
Review rating: 7
Address: Sugarra Level 1, Hotel Michael Resorts World Sentosa 8 Sentosa Gateway Singapore 098269 Tel: 6577 6688
Operating hours: Daily (6 pm – 11 pm)
SPICY MOMENT
Fiery peppercorn chicken. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT
Cuisine: Chinese (Hunan)
What makes it special: Spicy Moment delivers fiery yet balanced Hunan dishes, using simple ingredients and seasoning mastery to craft deeply satisfying home-style flavours. Its addictive heat, nostalgic charm, and dishes like smoky century eggs and twice-cooked potatoes make this Duxton Hill eatery a standout for spice lovers.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: The peppercorn chicken (if you dare!), which arrives like a minefield of dried chillies that you have to navigate like Super Mario trying not to fall into a crater of doom.
Review rating: 7
Address: 5 Duxton Hill Singapore 089591 Tel: 8068 3598
Operating hours: Tues to Sun (12 pm – 3 pm; 5.30 pm – 11.30 pm)
YONGFU SINGAPORE
Swimmer crab marinated in yellow wine, ginger and chilli (left) and pickled winter melon in sesame oil. PHOTOS: JAIME EE, BT
Cuisine: Chinese (Ningbo)
What makes it special: YongFu showcases refined Ningbo cuisine with rare dishes like raw marinated crab, fish bone crackers and silky glutinous rice balls. Its subtle flavours, luxurious ingredients and meticulous technique offer a distinctive take on Chinese fine dining rarely seen in Singapore.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: The sea cucumber, which is perfectly braised in a subtly sweet, dark soy sauce with softened leeks and a bit of chewy glutinous rice.
Review rating: 7
Address: YongFu Singapore #01-444 Suntec City Mall 3 Temasek Boulevard Singapore 038983 Tel: 8900 8046
Operating hours: Daily (11.30 am – 2.30 pm; 5.30 pm – 9.30 pm)
LATIDO
Grilled hanger steak served with Andean potatoes (left) and braised rabbit on a cassava flatbread. PHOTOS: JAIME EE, BT
Cuisine: Colombian
What makes it special: Latido brings Colombian food to life with vibrant flavours, approachable pricing, and a relaxed vibe that avoids fine-dining pretension. Chef Arevalo finally hits his stride, delivering inventive yet familiar dishes rooted in heritage without alienating diners.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: The arepa de chocolo y huevo – a sweetcorn cake folded over egg and pork jowl, topped with spicy mayo.
Address: Latido 40 Tras Street Singapore 078979 Tel: 8961-8191
Operating hours: Tues to Sat (12 pm – 3 pm; 6 pm – 10 pm)
ASU
Cold noodles with local mussels in a savoury broth. PHOTO: ASU
Cuisine: Asian (modern/experimental)
What makes it special: ASU blends Chinese roots with Korean, Thai, and Japanese influences, resulting in original, flavour-driven dishes grounded in chef Ace Tan's personal journey. It's refined yet playful, deeply thoughtful but always delicious – a confident showcase of a Singaporean chef finally hitting his stride.
Read the full review here.
Don't forget to try: The orh luak 'crystal ball' – a glossy kuzu dumpling filled with oysters and packing a chilli-vinegar punch.
Review rating: 8
Address: ASU 30 Labrador Villa Road Singapore 119189 Tel: 8084 0660
Operating hours: Wed to Sun (6 pm – 11 pm)
Our ratings system
10: The ultimate dining experience
9-9.5: Sublime
8-8.5: Excellent
7-7.5: Good to very good
6-6.5: Promising
5-5.5: Average
Our review policy: The Business Times pays for all meals at restaurants reviewed on this page. Unless specified, the writer does not accept hosted meals prior to the review's publication.

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I think I danced like seven to 10 hours daily for the first two months of Chuang. Some days it was five, but I tried to occupy myself with as much dance as possible." [embed] Messing up on stage was the last thing he wanted, he said. The "bootcamp" lasted for three to four weeks, and the show aired its first episode on Feb 2, 2025, on WeTV. "When it first started, I was just scared to go home in the first round. I think Singaporeans just want results, and I really wanted results," he said. His confidence kicked in after he was put in the A class - the highest grade - in episode two, where he sung his original song Oh Krissy Baby while playing an electric guitar. The YouTube clip of his performance has received over 45,000 views. [embed] "I was surprised that guitar and singing could take me somewhere... I thought, 'You know what? Maybe this might be for me,' because I was doing something so different [from what I usually do], and I'm actually getting A class among all these other talented trainees," he recalled. 'If I didn't lose myself, I wouldn't have found myself' When asked about difficulties he experienced during the show, WhyLucas talked about having an image to keep up. "There are a lot of times when you have to present your best image. Even though you're not really yourself that day, or you're having a bad day, you still have to do so," he explained. "I think over the few months of doing that constantly - because there are cameras everywhere, even in your rooms - I felt like sometimes I was losing myself a bit. People also told me I'm not as bubbly and charismatic compared to when they first met me." He also mentioned how his "solo artist instincts" occasionally did not translate to group dynamics. As a solo artist, he could do things his way but, in a group, there are bound to be differing opinions and ideas. He brought up a question that one of the mentors on the show, The8 from the K-pop idol group Seventeen, asked. "The8 asked me, 'How do you feel about being in a boy group, because your personal shine might be tamed?' He told me how he sees that my style on the stage is pretty prominent and established. So if I join a boy group, everything has balance and is less dynamic. So how do I feel about that? "And I think that question, throughout the later part of the show, kept reverberating in my head." He then realised being in a boy group might not be the best calling for him. He learned later that "everything happens for a reason": "It's about balance because if I didn't lose myself, I probably wouldn't have found myself. I had to lose myself so that when I found myself, the comeback would be greater." The8's comment wasn't the one that lingered on his mind. He talked about more from two other celebrity mentors. @wetvsingapore Go crazy for WHYLUCAS! 🔥He just grabbed the LAST A for his GRAND AUDITION! Don't miss the judges' feedback and tune in to CHUANG Asia S2 on WeTV! 💫 📺 Watch #CHUANGAsiaS2 every Sunday at 5:50 PM on WeTV 🔗 🗳️ Vote for your favorite! 👉 #CHUANGAsia #WeTV #WeTVSG #WeTVSingapore #WeTVAlwaysMore ♬ original sound - WeTV Singapore In episode two, BamBam from the K-pop boy group Got7 cheekily said: "I now know why you're WhyLucas. Because dude, you're good man." WhyLucas said it was a compliment he'll "remember forever". "The fact that someone as established as BamBam said something like that about me, or just the fact that this panel of talented and established judges are caring about me, I think that was a win for me already." The other comment wasn't all positive, but it motivated him to improve himself. Chinese singer Tia Ray had remarked how she felt WhyLucas was "a little weak" when he performs without his guitar. 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Despite being countries apart now, he said he still keeps in contact with the friends he made on the show: "We occasionally still talk on WhatsApp, TikTok and Instagram. We join each other's livestreams, to catch up with one another. Sometimes we also plan content with each other." A touching fan letter From having fans book the same flight as him to the Malaysia fanmeet to others sending him off at the airport when he headed home, WhyLucas had some stories to tell about his encounters with his supporters. But one which touched him is a letter from an Indonesian fan that he has placed on his desk in his room. "This person said, 'No matter what happens, please remember you are never alone in this journey. Keep shining, keep making music, keep being the amazing artist that you are.' It's really heartwarming to know that someone actually treats me like an artist, and that's what I want for myself," he shared. He told us how he feels it's surreal that he's gained fans abroad. "If I had a gig before Chuang and I posted about it on my social media, I wouldn't have been sure how many, or if anyone, would come... It's a very enriching experience to know that, 'These are the people that can support me and will support me.'" 'I was a dude' [embed] Being styled and dressed well is a big part of being an idol, and WhyLucas admitted this was something he didn't pay attention to until joining Chuang. "I've learned to care more about the way I present myself. Before Chuang, I was very much a dude - I didn't care about the way I looked," he told us. He recalled being taken aback by his appearance after his first hair and make-up session: "I was like, damn, 'I can look like that.'" As there were occasional shoots with no hair and makeup provided, he gradually learned to carry himself differently. The professional setting, with training managers and structured plans, also led him to taking himself more seriously. "Especially in this journey as a professional musician that I want to walk on, I feel like I have to start viewing everything from a bigger scale of things and not just be trapped in a very close-minded and myopic view," he added. "Back then I was like, 'Oh, small problem, small problem. How do I fix this? How do I fix that?' But I think now, I learned that if you view everything from a top-down angle, and you have your angle in mind, you start to not get affected by small things." We asked if he would participate in a survival show again. "For now, I'm not close off to any options but I really have to evaluate the choices and see what's best for my next step. So, I haven't decided on anything," he said. So, with that comes the question: What's next for solo artiste WhyLucas? "I would love to have a break, but I don't think I would let myself do that because I have to release music as soon as possible as I don't want to let the fans down. So I am working on new stuff. They will be out very, very soon." WhyLucas has signed with Singapore music label Cross Ratio Entertainment and has just released his new single Tiara. He will be performing at the Skechers Sundown Festival on July 4 and Waterbomb Festival on Aug 30.

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