Eight Awesome Lunch Deals You HAVE To Check Out at Esplanade Mall!

With an exciting array of cultural activities, Esplanade – Theatres on the bay is a popular hangout during the weekends. Besides being a performing arts centre, do you know that Esplanade is home to a multitude of dining destinations too? We have sussed out eight restaurants and eateries that are offering WORTH-IT lunch promotions at Esplanade Mall. Now, you have an extra reason to visit the ‘Durian’ even on weekdays!

No Signboard Seafood

No Signboard is no stranger to seafood-loving Singaporeans and remains a crowd favourite even after nearly forty years. At the Esplanade outlet, you get to savour fresh seafood while enjoying a panoramic view of the bayfront!

No Signboard is currently offering a Super Value Set Lunch ($20++ for 1pax/ $35++ for 2pax/ $51++ for 3pax) on weekdays. There are two tasty sets to choose from! We tried Set A, which consists of the Signature Onion & Garlic Egg Fried Rice, Vegetarian ‘Abalone’ with Chinese Spinach and Deep-Fried Butter Chicken. Rest assured that No Signboard maintains high standards with its experienced chefs executing the menu with finesse – the much sought after wok hei can be found in every dish!

If you are feeling super hungry, don’t forget to give their signature White Pepper Crab a try! We chose the Canada Dungeness crab ($128/each) as its meat was more moist, and sweeter as compared to the usual Sri Lankan breed. Their white pepper crab is savoury, with a subtle peppery fragrance, and indescribably shiok!

Tomo Izakaya

For all you Japanese fans who need your bento fix, Tomo Izakaya is the answer for you. Their Don and Bento Set Lunch starts from $12 and what’s more, get FREE flow rice and miso soup with every order of the set lunch!

The Mixed Fry Bento Set comes with an assorted mix of breaded fry. I appreciate how attentive the chefs were in providing a good variety of fry – from ebi, calamari, to even salmon! The deep golden hues of the fry were enticing, but they were not the only goodies in the bento. Look forward to quintessential Japanese side dishes and even a portion of sashimi!

We were extremely hungry after trudging around the mall all day and so we ordered a few ala carte dishes to share. My favourite was the Gyuniku Nira Itama ($17.50), or teppanyaki style stir-fried beef with bean sprouts and chives. The stir-fried beef was extremely tender and flavourful, and I can imagine how easily one could polish off the beef with a bowl of rice! Other signatures from Tomo Izakaya include the Buta Soki Nitsuke or stewed tender pork ($16.50), and Sashimi Moriwase or assorted sashimi ($25/ 3 kinds).

The relaxed environment also makes Tomo Izakaya the perfect place for you to unwind with your colleagues over some much-needed sake after work. Kanpai!

Gajalee

It was my first time at Indian seafood restaurant Gajalee, and boy did it blow my mind! Renowned for its use of exotic spices, Gajalee specialises in traditional cuisine that’s found along the western coastal regions of India.

Their $11 Weekday Lunch Set comes with a hearty main and choice of drink. The mains change regularly so do check with the servers before you place your order. The mains for the day were Fried Chicken Masala and Fried Fish Masala. Both were well-marinated and fried till perfection. The briyani rice at Gajalee was stellar as well – moist, aromatic and intense!

Another must-try would be Gajalee’s famous Tandoori Crab. The spicier-than-usual masala spices are repeatedly brushed onto the crabs while they are being grilled over charcoal. The result is a dynamic explosion of flavours in the crabs which is enhanced by the smokiness from the charcoal. I dare say that you can’t find such well-executed tandoori crabs elsewhere!

Barossa

Need an alfresco dining experience to destress on weekdays? Checked. Australian-inspired Barossa boasts an airy, laid-back, and rustic interior. The view of the bay will chase your work blues away. Their 2-Course Set Lunch is also one of the best lunch deals you can find, with prices starting from just $13.90. All set lunches come with a choice of soup, salad or dessert, so rest assured that it will be one filling lunch! Cocktails and wines are also available for a more indulgent treat.

If you are on a diet, the Spicy Pasta Primavera (which is also a vegan-friendly option) from the Healthier Set Lunch ($16.90) is the one to get. The spaghetti is real effective in whetting one’s appetite, being tangy and spicy all at once. It is also jam-packed with nutritious vegetables such as green asparagus, vine tomato and forest mushroom.

For those looking for something more substantial or a protein option, the Toowoomba Black Striploin in the Gourmet Set ($18.90) is the perfect option. The slab of steak came nicely grilled all around, with a pink centre. Don’t forget to dip your steak into the béarnaise and peppercorn brown sauce!

Alter Ego

Poke bowls are still a hot favourite among Instagrammers – they look pretty, are made with healthy ingredients, and taste good! Alter Ego has both an ‘angelic’ side of clean food, and a ‘devilish’ section of sinful indulgences. Their Weekday Set Lunch ($12.90 onwards) consists of a Sashimi Poke Bowl, and a drink. We chose the Original Poke Shaker for our poke bowl, and as always, it didn’t disappoint. Being a huge sashimi fan, the highlight for me was definitely the shoyu salmon while the tasty lime avocado, spiced roasted cashews, tobiko and other healthy ingredients made dieting a tad less sad.

Should you feel the urge to break your diet, Alter Ego has got you covered as well. The Chili Cheeseburger Fries ($16) is the epitome of indulgence. Think cheeseburger, but on fries! The chili con carne, three-cheese sauce and nacho cheese on fries definitely made this a real greasy messy goodness. If you prefer something more bite-sized, the Poke Kueh Pie Tee ($12) is sure to delight. I love how Alter Ego reinvented this beloved Peranakan snack by adding a Hawaiian twist! Expect chunks of shoyu salmon along with other goodies in these tiny golden tarts that will leave you begging for more.

Wah Kee

Wah Kee needs no further introduction as many would be familiar with its humble beginnings in Pek Kio. Wah Kee uses fresh, deep sea prawns and their prawn broth is brewed for 2.5 hours using purely seafood. The quality of prawns are thoroughly checked daily and the HUGE sizes of their prawns will put the prawns we normally eat to shame!

Wah Kee offers the Buddy Meal ($40++) as well as the Lunch Special ($15++) on weekdays. The Buddy Meal comes with extra-large prawns, two bowls of noodles and one medium wu xiang platter for sharing. The Lunch Special sees a bowl of noodles with medium-sized prawns, a choice of kai lan or fried prawn wanton, and a drink.

I prefer the dry version of the prawn noodles as the mee kia is al dente and springy! Wah Kee is also extremely generous with their pork lard – you can find these tiny morsels of gems all over your noodles! And the star of Wah Kee – the prawns and prawn broth – really lived up to their reputation. The extra-large prawns are extremely meaty and filled with roe, guaranteeing happiness on the first bite. The prawn broth is robust, and has a subtle spiciness which harmonizes with the sweet tones of the soup. A weekday lunch at Wah Kee is both comforting and satisfying!

Harry’s

Harry’s is the go-to place for late-night drinks, but do you know they serve delectable lunches as well? The Harry’s 1-for-1 Lunch Special (from $19 onwards) is available from Sunday to Thursday. Diners can choose from a selection of Asian dishes, mains and pastas. Top up $3 for soft drinks or juices to complete your meal, or $5 for a half pint of Carlsberg if you are in the celebratory mood!

We had the Prawn and Seaweed Aglio Olio ($25), an Asian-inspired Harry’s pasta. The tiger prawns used were crunchy, fresh, and served in generous portions as well. The addition of seaweed was certainly interesting, and the aglio olio was overall very commendable. However, my heart lies with the Harry’s Jazz Burger ($22), which was an ala carte order. The burger was massive, messy and extremely fun to eat! The wagyu beef patty was juicy while the double cheese and bacon injected an addictive saltiness. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty when you are having this, because that is all part of the fun!

Besides serving good food, Harry’s also has a variety of draught beers for you to just chill out with your mates. Sounds like my kind of afternoon!

Jiak Modern Tzechar

Jiak Modern Tzechar is the newest kid on the block, but they are no stranger to the F&B scene. Jiak is a family friendly, halal Chinese tzechar restaurant that started out at HillV2 in Bukit Timah. Their new outlet at Esplanade is modern, jazzy and cosy, which makes tucking into tzechar a more inviting and comfortable experience.

Jiak Modern Tzechar is having their opening promotion where the signature Curry Fish Head is going for $15! (usual price: $26) For those with a low spice tolerance, don’t worry about the curry fish head being too spicy. Jiak Modern Tzechar’s rendition is on the milkier side and it is not very spicy so the whole family gets to enjoy! What’s more, crab dishes are going at $38 as well (usual price: $46)! The Steamed Crab with Black Bee Hoon is a must-try! The use of claypot allows the strong charred fragrance to be well imbued in the beehoon. Definitely ho jiak!

Jiak Modern Tzechar also offers the Buddy Set ($22) if you and your best friend have some serious tzechar cravings. The set comes with their signature Curry Fish Head, as well as your choice of either Sambal Kangkong or Claypot Beancurd. I personally preferred the kangkong as the belacan was potent and spicy. I am sure that this buddy set will make your tummies happy!

What’s more, we have an exclusive promo code for your Grab rides so there is absolutely no excuse for you to not visit!

Click here for more information on the awesome lunch promotions at Esplanade. With all these mouth-watering deals lined up, you know where I will be headed for weekday lunches in the CBD!

*T&Cs: Available from 11am to 3pm daily.

This post was brought to you by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.