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Business Times
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Times
ASU, Dill, Keijo among Singapore's top-rated restaurants in 2025
[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. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up 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.
Business Times
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Times
Food review: Peking duck for S$9.90? Cheap and good Chinese food at Mansion 7
NEW RESTAURANT Mansion 7 30 Maxwell Road #01-03 Singapore 069114 Tel: 6038-0295 A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Open daily for lunch and dinner: 11am to 3pm; 5.30pm to 10 pm. (From 9 am on Sat & Sun) IF you had S$98 to spend on dinner for two, what would you choose? A few tapas in a sharing plates joint? Or a blow-out, one-for-one abalone set menu served with a side of Broadway Beng? You find the latter at Mansion 7, a strangely unlikely Chinese restaurant that we can't help but like. It's just six months old, but it feels as if it's been hidden in an obscure corner of Tanjong Pagar since 1987. Yet it's so unattractively retro, it would fail any audition to be the filming location of a period drama. You don't so much find as stumble into this nondescript low-rise, industrial-like block that houses Mansion 7 and a fitness equipment showroom. This is also where you'll run into Alex – part restaurant manager, part fastest tongue this side of Maxwell Food Centre. Ok, he's Beng without the Broadway, but just as entertaining, unleashing corny zingers as easily as he reels off the day's specials. 'Are you open?' We ask him tentatively, 20 minutes before opening time. 'For you, of course,' he deadpans without missing a beat. He's service in a no-nonsense way, letting us in and making us comfortable, needlessly apologising that the kitchen isn't open yet, while offering drinks as we wait. He works with an equally friendly and down-to-earth service team, immune to his constant ribbing. When it comes to the food, though, Alex knows his stuff, so just leave it to him to sort out your order. You know that business is on the slow side when you see one-for-one offers on the menu, but in this case, take advantage of it while you can, because it's a genuine steal. Pick from the lobster set menu at S$118 for two diners, or abalone for S$98. We decide on the latter, and, like a gift that keeps on giving, Alex says we can top up an extra $9.90 for an order of Peking duck. Mind you, this offer is only until the end of June, and who knows if there'll be similar deals after that? Even if not, the a la carte menu is priced quite sensibly, if not cheap. And it's reasonable for what you get – cooking that's confident and well-executed in a comforting and reliable way. Crispy deep-fried silver fish. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT For starters, we pick crispy fried silver fish (S$18) from the regular menu, and get a basket of deep-fried battered baby fish with a crunch that should humiliate a few tempura chefs. A little spice gives it a bit of kick. Artfully presented Peking duck for S$9.90 PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT The Peking duck comes next, and it's the best S$9.90 we've ever spent. Crisp duck skin, already sliced with some thin pieces of meat for contrast, is artfully presented on a ceramic platter encased in a wooden tray, with compartments for dipping sauce and condiments. Instead of flour pancakes, we get thin crepes to roll everything in. It's not stellar, but still enjoyable, especially when it's S$42 for half a duck on the regular menu. Char siew and salted egg-crusted abalone. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT The abalone set starts proper with two cubes of sticky-sweet, meaty char siew and a whole, smallish abalone crusted with a salted-egg coating. The abalone is tender and you cut through it with little effort. The salted egg isn't necessary, but adds some depth. While Roberta Flack kills us softly and painfully over the sound system, we focus on a thick fish broth packed with slices of grass carp that have been prepared in a way that gives them an almost crispy, cartilage-like texture. Unusual, but good. Golden crispy prawn ball is a reinterpreted cereal prawn. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT Cereal prawns are reinterpreted as large, bouncy specimens coated in a thick and sticky sauce with cornflakes only for decoration. It's a bit of an overkill, but the prawns are nice and juicy. There's also a decent-sized slab of foie gras, pan-fried till crisp around the edges and paired with a meaty dried mushroom in a brown sauce. Pan-fried foie gras with mushroom. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT You end off with truffle fried rice – fragrant with wok hei and studded with baby abalone, oily but well-fried with individual grains retaining their bite. And for a sweet finish, it's classic mango puree, with bits of pomelo and sago for a refreshing taste of nostalgia. Black truffle fried rice with abalone. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT Don't miss the Teochew yam paste (S$9), but order it early because it takes 30 minutes to prepare. The smooth cream has the distinctive aroma of lard, and it's surrounded by a sweet, creamy pistachio sauce which doesn't detract, but we prefer it without. Yes, we're won over by the set-menu pricing, and we're not sure if we would be as enamoured if we were paying full price. But with seasoned chefs in the kitchen and Alex's hospitality, we're betting that we will. Rating: 7 WHAT OUR RATINGS MEAN 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.
