Raffles Place food guide: 15 places for your workday meals

The Central Business District is the second home to many an office worker in Singapore, and we’re truly fortunate that the Raffles Place food options are endless.

A satisfying midday lunch or a mouth-watering dinner treat awaiting you after a long day’s work can truly turn some of the worst work days around. 

However, with so many places to choose from, how do you tell what’s really good and worthy of your time, money and tummy space? As frequent visitors to the CBD ourselves, we’ve done the legwork for you and identified some standout Raffles Place restaurants and eateries with a variety of cuisines and varying price ranges. 

Here is a list of 15 Raffles Place food places that you should visit for some satisfyingly good eats and hang outs, whether it’s with your coworkers or for that solo workday lunch. 

1. Golden Nur Nasi Briyani and Crispy Chicken Rice

86 Market Street, 03-11/12
Open: Monday to Friday (6:30am to 8pm)

Why visit? Kicking off this list is something that will warm your belly at a very affordable price — and is a true favourite among nasi briyani lovers. Golden Nur Nasi Briyani and Crispy Chicken Rice began its operations at the old Raffles Place hawker centre at Golden Shoe 40 years ago, but had to move when it was redeveloped. 

Its newest home is now on the third floor of the newly revamped Market Street Hawker Centre at CapitaSpring.

The briyani rice, made with the signature long-grained basmati rice, is soft and fluffy and cooked to the perfect texture and fragrance. Enjoy this alongside its aromatic curry and succulent fried chicken that’s crisped to perfection.  

Price range: $

Crowd favourites: It would have to be its crispy chicken briyani (S$6.50) for sure. Those who prefer other meats can also give its mutton briyani (S$7) a go. 

2. Haakon Superfoods and Juice

1 Raffles Place, 01-11/12
Open: Monday to Friday (9am to 7:30pm), Saturday (11am to 3:15pm)

Why visit? The food at Haakon is prepared for the busy, yet food-savvy individual who may have certain dietary preferences or restrictions. If you are on the hunt for healthy food in Raffles Place, this is it. 

It has options that are paleo, vegetarian, gluten-free, or diabetes-friendly, among others. As an added bonus, they have also somehow managed to make healthy foods taste and look extremely good.

What people like the most about Hakkon is the option to customise your own bowl — poke bowls, grain bowls, salad bowls, and acai bowls — from a selection of fresh and tasty ingredients. Every bowl, with its own burst of colours, is uniquely and beautifully plated. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The various bowls here can range from approximately S$12 to S$20 depending on what you order. You can never go wrong with a simple but classic grilled chicken salad (S$13.20) or a refreshing mentaiko salmon poke bowl (S$14.90), but customising your own bowl is always fun and satisfying.

3. Waa Cow!

30 Raffles Place, 01-23/24
Open: Monday to Friday (11:30am to 10:30pm), closed on Monday

Why visit? Just alighted from the MRT and feeling hungry? A short distance away from Exit A is a bustling spot at Change Alley Mall, where you can find delectable donburis that are sure to tingle your tastebuds. 

As its name Waa Cow! suggests, beef is one of the top items on the menu. Here, you can find melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef that wouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket. If beef is not your thing, there are salmon, chirashi (raw fish), butadon (pork slices) and chicken options as well.

The dons here are flame-torched to perfection and feature premium variations like mentaiko, truffle or even foie gras add-ons. The portions here are not the biggest, but we can guarantee that you will not be disappointed by the flavours packed in each bowl. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Its signature original wagyu beef bowl (S$22.90) is the go-to for many, but if you prefer another protein, its mentaiko salmon (S20.90) and chirashi bowls (S$19.90) are also hot favourites.

4. Uptown Nasi Lemak

121 Telok Ayer Street, 01-01, Stall 6
Open: Monday to Saturday (10am to 2:30pm)

Why visit? The debate rages on: Who does nasi lemak better, Malaysia or Singapore? At the halal-certified Uptown Nasi Lemak, you get to enjoy the best of both worlds — Malaysia-styled nasi lemak in the heart of Singapore and at reasonable prices, too. 

The options here are simple — fragrant coconut rice with your choice of meat and the standard side dishes of half a boiled egg, achar (pickled vegetables), ikan bilis (anchovies), peanuts, and cucumbers, rounded off with a generous dollop of its sambal chilli. The chilli is to-die-for and really brings the entire dish of nasi lemak together — perfect for any spice lover! 

For the meats, you can choose from the following: Ayam goreng berempah (fried chicken), beef rendang, curry kapitan chicken, sambal sotong (cuttlefish), sambal petai prawn or sambal fish. 

Price range: $

Crowd favourite: The favourite here would be the nasi lemak with ayam goreng berempah (S$8.70 for a whole leg or S$6.80 for a choice of drumstick or thigh) — crispy on the outside, tender and succulent on the inside. However, if you’d like something more out-of-the-box, we’d suggest you go for the nasi lemak with sambal sotong (S$7.60).

5. Soupcup

Hong Leong Building, B1-26, 16 Raffles Quay
Open: Monday and Friday (9am to 3:30pm), Tuesday to Thursday (9am to 7pm)

Why visit? Giving the more established Soup Spon or Souperstar brands a run for their money is the newer Soupcup, a soup-focused restaurant with an Asian twist. Fun fact: Soupcup was opened by MasterChef Singapore finalist Sharon Gonzago. 

Specialising in MSG-free, collagen-rich fish or seafood soups, the different soup variations here all get its au naturale flavours from its quality and abundant ingredients after eight hours of slow boiling. The end result is a rich, umami-laden broth with just the right amount of sweetness.

Depending on your order, you’d get a mix of fish, clams, prawns, squid or pork, and a serving of vegetables and tofu. The soup and accompanying liao (ingredients) are best enjoyed with its special homemade chilli that’s really shiok. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: We like our carbs so the top choice would be the signature seafood paofan (S$13.50) that offers a taste of everything, with crispy rice soaking the soup up to perfection.

6. Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant

1 UOB Plaza, 60-01, 80 Raffles Place
Open: Monday to Sunday (11:30am to 2:30pm, 6:30pm to 10:30pm)

Why visit? Serving up delicious Sichuan cuisine with spectacular views 60 floors atop UOB Plaza Tower 1, Si Chuan Dou Hua is a well-loved, premier fine dining restaurant that naturally comes at a high price point as well. However, the quality and authenticity of its dishes, as well as the ambience and service, certainly make it worth the buck.

It’s a great place for large group or family gatherings. The restaurant is spacious, comfortable enough and its food offerings cater to people of all ages. Think glorious roast suckling pig, nutritious double boiled soups, all kinds of protein and seafood prepared in various styles, exquisite dim sum, and most notably, Sichuan mala specialties such as la zi ji (firecracker chicken) and mapo tofu.

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourite: The menu here is extensive, but some dishes of note would be its deep-fried prawns in passion fruit sauce (from S$30), Chong Qing diced chicken with dried chilli or la zi ji (from S$26). The dou hua dish or beancurd which is the restaurant’s namesake — homemade fine beancurd in syrup (S$4.50 per order) deserves a mention too. 

7. Izakaya Shindo

62 Boat Quay
Open: Monday to Friday (11:30am to 2pm, 5:30pm to 10:30pm), Saturday (5:30pm to 10:30pm) 

Why visit? A favourite after-work happy hour spot, Izakaya Shindo is a cozy gem tucked away in Boat Quay that has everything you need to chill out after a long day’s work. Just take note — happy hour lasts till 8.30pm and you get to wind down with some alcohol and Japanese small plates. 

The ambience here is on point with a beautiful view of the Singapore river and a fantastic Japanese chef and service crew. They serve up a range of Japanese appetisers and bites like yakitori, takoyaki, tamago, and grilled fish. This also includes sashimi of various toppings and cuts that are not only delish, but also well-priced. Izakaya Shindo also has special promotions for some star dishes, such as freshly shucked oysters, every now and then. 

Most importantly, its food is authentic and oh-so-fresh! We can safely say that this place is up there in the list of Raffles Place Japanese food must-tries.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: First, get yourself a cup of sake (S$7.90) or half a pint of Sapporo draft beer (S$7.90). Once your thirst is quenched, consider its food options. Special mention goes to its grilled mackerel (from S$13.90) and exceptionally fresh sushi (S$29.90 for a platter). We love ourselves a good sushi roll, too (from S$10.90).

8. Josephine

97 Amoy Street
Open: Monday to Saturday (11:45am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 11pm)

Why visit? Josephine is a French restaurant and wine bar located at the heart of the very vibrant Amoy Street. While it may be situated closer to Telok Ayer MRT, it’s still within a very reasonable walking distance from Raffles Place MRT and deserves a spot on this list. 

The restaurant itself has a warm and inviting atmosphere that will put you immediately at ease and features a range of traditional French classics. Expect elegantly plated dishes that are unique in flavours — think escargots, French onion soup, duck confit or rillette, just to name a few. There’s also high-quality French wine and decadent French desserts.

For those who love themselves some bubbly and oysters, Josephine even offers a Saturday brunch buffet (from S$25) with free-flow oysters and champagne or cocktails. It can’t get any better than that!

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourites: This is a charming place for a lunch with business associates or colleagues. Its set lunch prices start from a very reasonable S$28, and can run to S$44 depending on your selection. The dinner menu is a la carte, but for a restaurant located in this area that specialises in French cuisine, we’d say that its prices are very fair. 

9. Gin Khao

One Raffles Place, 04-29/30, 1 Raffles Place
Open: Monday to Friday (11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 9pm)

Why visit? There is no lack of options when it comes to One Raffles Place’s restaurants, but if you are craving Thai food, we’d say Gin Khao is one of the best options in the vicinity. It prides itself in serving up an extensive selection of modern Thai cuisine that retain the tastes of Thailand through the use of quality ingredients and herbs. 

Staying true to its roots, Gin Khao ensures that the food here is delightfully packed with flavours and spices. Additionally, with an entire vegetarian menu comprising options such as phad thai veggies and glass noodles with mushroom pot, the eatery is also a popular spot for vegetarians and vegans. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Gin Khao’s khao phat daeng moe or watermelon fried rice served in a watermelon bowl (S$14.80 for one pax, S$25.80 for two pax) is a unique dish that is a must-try. The Thais do their fish so well and here you can also get a full deep-fried seabass with Thai special sauce (S$19.90) for sharing.

10. Gochi-So Shokudo

One Raffles Place, B1-30, 1 Raffles Place
Open: Monday to Friday (11:30am to 9:30pm), Saturday to Sunday (11:30am to 9pm)

Asia Square Tower 2, 02-10, 2 Marina View
Open: Monday to Saturday (11am to 9pm)

Why visit? Fancy yourself some good ol’ tonkatsu and donburis at rather reasonable prices? Gochi-So Shokudo is a casual Japanese restaurant with a number of outlets all around Singapore. With outlets in both One Raffles Place and Asia Square, they have now joined the ranks of the Raffles Place’s Japanese restaurants as a great spot for a lunch with colleagues or office get-togethers.

The star protein here is its iberico pork which is prepared in various cuts and cooked in different variations. The restaurant also often has seasonal specials and promotions as well, so you definitely will not get bored of this place anytime soon.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Its signature dishes are the iberico tenderloin katsu set (S$18.80) which comes with white rice, salad and miso soup, as well as the iberico pork jowl don (S$14.45). However, if you prefer other proteins, there are options for everyone.

11. Omma Korean Charcoal BBQ

126 Telok Ayer Street
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 11pm)

Why visit? Korean food can very easily be found in the CBD, with many serving up simple lunch sets that cater to the fast-moving crowd. 

While Omma, too, has lunch sets, we were drawn to its specialty Korean barbecue, which they are widely known for — the restaurant uses wood charcoal to fire up its grill, adding a lovely smokiness to its delicious meats. The charcoal is also special in that it is smokeless, making for a great dining experience.

To top it off, the food is fantastic and the service impeccable, with attentive and capable staff grilling your order. In case you didn’t know, the four-storey restaurant itself is an entertainment facility that has its own karaoke system and games room — making it the perfect spot for a post-workday team dinner. 

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourites: Start off with one of its barbecue sets (from S$55) so that you get to try a little of everything and indulge in your favourite meats and cuts of choice with the perfect amount of char.

12. Miss G’s Grill & Bar

44 / 45 Pekin Street
Open: Monday to Thursday (11:30am to 11pm), Friday (11:30am to 12am), Saturday (5pm to 12am)

Why visit? Miss G’s Grill & Bar is a Japanese fusion eatery that serves up comfort food by day and bar grub by night. Its lunch menu starts from only S$7.90 and comprises raw bowls, hot bowls or the option to make-your-own-bowl. 

Portions are decent and its small bowls are generally sufficient for a regular eater. Its dinner menu is truly spectacular, offering such a variety of food that you’d definitely find something that suits your palate, whether it be bar snacks, raw dishes or entrees. 

With such a wide selection of tasty food and refreshing drinks, this versatile place is perfect for either a clean, fuss-free lunch or a fun night out with friends without breaking the bank.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The cold truffle somen with hotate (S$14.90) that’s available for both lunch and dinner is superb. Besides that, the fried chicken skin (S$8) and a pint of Suntory beer (S$8.50) pair really well together.

13. Arcade Fish Soup (Hup Lee Cafeteria)

The Arcade, 01-35, 11 Collyer Quay
Open: Monday to Friday (11am to 3:30pm)

Why visit? This is the OG and holy grail of all fish soups in the CBD. Ask any office worker walking along the streets and chances are, they’ve heard of this place. The location is nothing fancy — the seats are cramped, the place stuffy from the heat generated by the literal flames from the stove, pots of boiling soup, and don’t even get us started on the queues. Yet, diners cannot — and will not — keep away from this old-school establishment.

And here’s why: Its ordinary looking bowl of soup is incredibly flavourful and so ridiculously good that the first taste will leave you wide-eyed. The broth is savoury with a tinge of sweetness from the cabbage, tomato, and egg tofu, alongside its special ingredient — preserved Sichuan vegetable — that really adds a depth of layer to it. You can choose to have it with milk or without, garnish it with a spoonful of crispy fried garlic, then settle down to enjoy it with its zesty chilli.  

They’ve since branched out and opened more swanky outlets in the newer malls in Raffles Place, but nothing is better than the OG outlet, really.

Price range: $

Crowd favourites: Making a choice between fried fish or sliced fish is difficult, so thankfully there’s the option of a mixed fish soup (S$7.50), where you can enjoy both types. The best thing? They do not charge you extra. You’d need to top up S$0.50 for either rice or beehoon to go with your fish soup, though.

14. Healthy Soba Iki

One Raffles Place, 04-47, 1 Raffles Place
Open: Monday to Saturday (11am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 9pm)

Why visit? Here’s another healthy Raffles Place food option for those who prefer something less heavy. Healthy Soba Iki prides itself on serving nourishing food that does not compromise on taste. The restaurant is a strong proponent of the health benefits of soba noodles, such that the soba it makes uses organic buckwheat powder imported directly from Japan. Each serving is prepared fresh to order so that nothing but the best is served.

This might explain the slightly higher price point, as compared to other soba places, but the authenticity, quality and texture of its soba speaks for itself. You can enjoy the soba either with hot soup or with a cold dipping sauce, accompanied by different toppings and sides.  

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: For a wholesome and delicious meal, get one of its lunch set menu options that is available between 11am to 3pm. Ranging from S$17 to S$19, you can choose between a hot kake soba or cold mori soba with a mini rice bowl or salad of your choice. This also comes with refillable hot green tea.

15. Rokus AGB

Lau Pa Sat, 01-24, 18 Raffles Quay
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10:30pm)

Why visit? The tagline on its storefront at Lau Pa Sat is “creative Korean burger” and the seemingly random combination of letters in its name, AGB, is short for “artisan gourmet burger”. The burgers at Rokus are exactly as promised — a range of Korean-Western fusion burgers that have incorporated the beloved seasonings and textures of gochujang, kimchi and tteokbokki. 

We say get ready for a party of flavours in your mouth. All its burgers are prepared with soft, buttered brioche buns, served alongside a good portion of hand-cut fries. The beef burgers here are made with Australian grass-fed patties that are thick, juicy and delicious. Besides burgers, they have rice bowls and ramyeon options as well. If you love Korean food, this is a place you should check out. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The unique Korean-inspired gochujang (S$12.90), tteokbokki (S$13.90) and kimchi burger burgers (S$13.90) are definitely the must-tries here.

For the latest on the food scene, check out the Tomyum Mama pop-up at Hue restaurant and JJ Lin’s newest cafe at the ArtScience museum. 

Haakon, Waa Cow, Uptown Nasi Lemak, Soupcup, Josephine, Gin Khao, Arcade Fish Soup are are on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited. 

Do explore the new GrabFood Dine-in service for awesome deals.

Alternatively, you can book a ride to these Raffles Place food spots.