Kampong Gelam is known for being a halal food hotspot that serves up cuisines from around the world. To help you with your food search, we have rounded up a list of restaurants that will leave your tastebuds in your debt.

Bhai Sarbat

No trip to Kampong Gelam is complete without drinking the famous teh tarik from Bhai Sarbat. Located just a minute away from Masjid Sultan, long queues are often seen at the stall that promises the best-pulled tea in the area. Catch the tea-master and owner Mohammad Asgar in action as he pours frothy pulled tea from one cup to another in mid-air. Having taken over the reins from his uncle who retired in the 1990s, Asgar continues its thriving business of serving kopi, teh halia, and teh tarik and has even expanded its brand with a new restaurant down the road from the original stall.

Simply named Bhai Sarbat Restaurant, traditional Indian dishes such as dum biryani, korma, tikka, kebabs and butter chicken are served in a cosy, air-conditioned restaurant. End your delicious meal with their well-loved teh masala and you will leave with your tummies warmed and satisfied!

Bhai Sarbat
21 Bussorah Street, Tel: +65 8347 5559
Opening hours: 24 hours daily

Bhai Sarbat Restaurant
73 Bussorah Street, Tel: +65 8263 4142
Opening hours: 6:30am – 12:30am daily

Chef Lam Malay Seafood Restoran

Craving for some halal tze char (local home-cooked meal)? Chef Lam Malay Seafood Restoran at Sultan Gate serves up mouth-watering dishes like seafood crispy noodle, chilli crab, butter squid, cereal prawns. The restaurant is Muslim-owned and helmed by Chef Lam, who used to be the head chef at Hotel Jen; expect high-quality dishes that will be sure to sate your appetite.

43 Sultan Gate, +65 8291 8889
Operating hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 10:30pm; Tue 9pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 10:30pm; Sat & Sun 1pm – 10pm; Closed on Thursday

FatPapas 

The brainchild of celebrity couple Sheikh Haikel and Anna Belle Francis – FatPapas takes their burgers and milkshakes seriously. The burger menu here is extensive and a burger lover’s dream. Chow down on chicken burgers, Australian chunk beef burgers and even lamb burgers before washing it all down with one of their famous milkshakes.

17 Bali Lane, +65 6291 8028
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 12pm – 9.30pm; Fri-Sun 11am – 9:30pm

Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro

When most locals think of Swedish meatballs, the first place that comes to mind is Ikea. Give Ikea a miss and head on over to Fika Swedish Cafe, which serves an equally great (if not better) meatball dish with baby potatoes, cream sauce, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumbers on the side. The menu also features a good selection of Swedish classic dishes and desserts.

257 Beach Road, Tel: +65 6396 9096
Opening hours: Mon-Thu & Sun 11am – 10pm; Fri & Sat 11am – 11pm 

Grill Ninety Nine

Want to impress a meat lover? Bring them to Grill Ninety Nine! This restaurant serves up all sorts of halal Western fare that are grilled to perfection. The juicy steaks, tantalising Angus beef ribs and lamb shanks make this place a must-visit for any meat lover.

142 Arab Street, +65 9731 2902
Opening hours: 12pm – 10pm, daily

Indobowl

If you think that instant noodles are bad and cannot possibly make for a good meal, wait till you experience the magic at Indobowl. Indobowl has taken the humble Indomie, Indonesia’s most popular brand of instant noodles and transformed it into a restaurant-quality meal. Tuck into the Indomie Dendeng (cooked with spicy beef jerky and topped with a sunny side up) and get ready for your taste buds to be blown away.

39 Sultan Gate, +65 6291 7152
Opening hours: 12pm – 4pm, 5pm – 10pm daily

Islamic Restaurant Singapore

This 100-year old eatery serves North Indian cuisine and is most well known for their Nasi Biryani, a delicious saffron rice dish that is served with chicken, mutton or fish. Today, the restaurant is being managed by the third generation of the family. Fans of their legendary Biryani include the Brunei royalties and dignitaries from Singapore and Malaysia.

745 North Bridge Road #01-01, Tel: +65 6298 7563
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm daily

Jason Niang Dou Fu

Giving a twist to the traditional Hakka dish, Jason Niang Dou Fu created one-of-a-kind sauces and soups that sets them apart from other Yong Tau Foo stalls. From their famous chye poh (dried preserved turnip) sauce and laksa soup to local mee rebus, tom yam and satay sauces, you will find the perfect choice to enjoy with your bowl of assorted tofu items.

321 Beach Road, Tel: +65 8288 2008
Operating hours: 9am – 9pm daily

Kampong Glam Cafe

For affordable delicious local fare, head to Kampong Glam Cafe, a no-frills eatery where tables are set up by the roadside. Join the ever-present queue and be sure to order one of the many traditional Malay dishes such as Gado-Gado, Soto Ayam and Tahu Goreng. This eatery might not be the most glamorous in the area, but the food served here is definitely worth the queue!

17 Bussorah Street, +65 6294 1697
Operating hours: Tue-Sun 7:30am – 2am; Closed on Monday

Lina’s Cafe

Lina’s Cafe dishes out homestyle Mee Rebus and Mee Siam that will warm your hearts but the heartwarming story of how this cafe was conceptualised was what struck us. Parent to an autistic child, the owner wanted to provide a safe haven for families with autistic members and hopes to spread awareness of autism. Together with an old friend, who whips up sweet delights like Pandan Mille Crepe and Ondeh Ondeh cake, this unpretentious halal cafe is visited by many who come by to enjoy wonderful meals and to share their stories and experiences.

7 Jalan Pisang, Tel: +65 9187 2094
Opening hours: Mon 11am – 7.30pm; Tue-Sat 11am – 8.30pm; Closed on Sunday

Royz Et Vous

A restaurant that does Halal fusion western food right, Royz Et Vous plates up dishes that are sure to leave you coming back for more. Indulge in dishes such as the smoked duck, spicy beef or the signature prawn and crayfish pasta before finishing off the meal with one of their speciality coffees.

37 Sultan Gate, +65 6291 7153
Opening hours: 12pm – 4pm; 5pm -10pm daily

Sticky Rice

Sticky Rice is a halal-certified restaurant serving up no-frills, affordable and authentic Thai food. The absolute must-try here is the classic seafood tom yum soup; the soup itself is sour and spicy but does not overpower the taste of the seafood and it comes with a generous portion of prawns. For something a little more filling, order their basil rice set served with minced chicken, before finishing off the meal with the crowd favourite mango sticky rice.

23 Bali Lane, +65 6294 0118
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9:30pm

The Dim Sum Place

Halal Chinese Dim Sum anyone? The team at the halal-certified Dim Sum Place has been serving up their own rendition of the Cantonese style cuisine to popular acclaim. Tuck into unique dishes such as the vermicelli roll with lamb rendang, beef short rib with black pepper, salted egg custard bun and traditional egg tarts that come served in an oriental looking basket.

791 North Bridge Rd, +65 6655 8787
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm; Fri & Eve of PH 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 2am; Sat 11am – 2am; Sun 11am – 11pm

The Ramen Stall

If ramen is your food of love, you will not be disappointed at The Ramen Stall. The rich milky broth of their signature ramen is prepared by boiling meat and bones for over 30 hours. Side dishes like Torched Beef Sushi and Teppanyaki Beef with Black Pepper are also must-try dishes and are reasons why this halal joint enjoys a steady stream of new and returning customers.

787 North Bridge Road, Tel: +65 6655 0800
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11am – 3pm, 5pm-11pm; Fri 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 2am; Sat 11am – 2am; Sun 11am – 11pm

Waku Waku Yakiniku

Touted as Singapore’s first Halal Japanese BBQ shop, Waku Waku Yakiniku is not only memorable for their name that rolls off the tongue, but also for the amazing cuts of meat that they serve here. With cuts of wagyu beef ranging from prime short ribs to rump and even Gyutan – beef tongue, this place is top of the list to visit if you want to savour the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of premium grilled meat.

27 Bali Lane, +65 6291 6891
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5pm – 9.30pm; Fri-Sun 4pm – 9.30pm

Featured image credit: Islamic Restaurant Singapore