ION Orchard – 8 Best Eats in Singapore’s Food Haven!

Food is a national obsession here in Singapore. This is what makes ION Orchard a must-visit — whether you’re craving for a piping hot bowl of Japanese Udon or a hearty plate of Singapore Chilli Crab, ION Orchard has got you covered with its plethora of dining options.

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Since the annual ION Orchard Culinary Creations is just around the corner, allow us to introduce you to 8 of the best eats in Singapore’s most iconic shopping mall!

Marugame Udon & Tempura

Marugame Seimen, a renowned Japanese restaurant chain which specializes in Sanuki Udon, has finally opened its first Singapore store right here in ION Orchard! Expect more than ten types of udon options, such as the Original Udon w/ Bonito Soy Sauce Dipping (Regular $6.50, Large $7.90). Adhering strictly to their principles of “Freshly Make, Immediately Boil, Instantly Serve”, each udon portion is made fresh upon order. After a series of presses and rolls, each udon portion undergoes a series of skilful boiling and blanching before being served. We can expect to slurp on remarkably smooth udon, which is elevated with the accompanying bonito soy sauce.

Our favourite pick was the Clam Udon in Bonito Broth (Regular $11.90, Large $12.90). The combination of clams, seaweed, as well as clam broth worked harmoniously to deliver a delicate and sweet clear broth which is enjoyable at any time of the day. For the full Sanuki udon experience, we urge you to opt for the Udon w/ seasoned Cod Roe & Half Boiled Egg (Regular $11.90, Large $12.90). We can’t promise you wouldn’t salivate from the combination of umami cod roe, eggy and silky smooth udon after mixing it up and finishing off with a splash of soy sauce.

Awfully Chocolate

Awfully Chocolate is proud to introduce an all-new chocolate gifting range in their newly launched concept store here in ION Orchard! Exclusive to the new concept store is their Elegant Fruit & Nut Chocolate Bars, which is available in four different flavours ($8.80 per bar). Fancy a bitter sweet profile for your chocolate? You’ll fall head over heels in love with the 60% with Fig & Pistachio and the 70% with Orange, Almond & Cranberry. Sweet-toothed chocoholics can indulge in either the Caramelised White with Apricot, Walnut & Cranberry, or the Caramelised White with Apple, Walnut & Cinnamon. Get your chocolate fix and savour a Cookie Chip Chocolate ($16.80) which is a cheeky take on an actual chocolate chip cookie. Awfully Chocolate has also launched a series of Chocolate Batons ($10.80) and flavoured Chocolate Tins ($11.80).

As part of the flavoured chocolate tin series, Awfully Chocolate @ ION Orchard will be offering three unique flavours which pay tribute to our local palates and are exclusively available only in the new concept store – the Roasted Black Glutinous Rice, Baked Almond Streusel and Roasted Salted Cashews. Getting a gift for that special someone (or for yourself)? The Chocolate Gift Sets ($38 – $68), which features an assortment of chocolate options from the Chocolate gifting range, is the perfect gift. Besides, these chocolates are handcrafted without the use of any commercial preservatives, artificial colouring or fat substitutes.

Food Opera

Food Opera @ ION Orchard houses an impressive array of local and international cuisines, which means that there is something for everyone! If you’re craving for affordable Singaporean cuisine, look no further. With many years of experience in preparing Nyonya Laksa, East Coast Lagoon does an excellent bowl of authentic Nyonya Laksa (w/sliced prawns $6.90, w/ king prawns $8.90, w/ jumbo prawns $11.90). Look forward to a medley of blood cockles, tau pok, prawns, fish cake and noodles of your choice steeped in luscious laksa broth, I guarantee you that every spoonful is phenomenal.

The Chilli Crab (Seasonal Price) at Ah Wok Singapore Zi Char is impeccable. A perfectly succulent crab is drenched in a tangy and eggy sauce, and I promise you that you’ll be mesmerized. Once you’ve devoured the whole crab, polish off the remaining sauce with fluffy mantous ($3.60/6 pieces). You wouldn’t regret it!

PUTIEN

PUTIEN brings to the table heart-warming and tasty comfort food that we can all look forward to.

Exclusive to ION Orchard only, PUTIEN has prepared the Lotus Leaf Steamed Crab with Vermicelli ($7.90++ per 100g) as an ode to Singaporean flavours. The crab is steamed for exactly 10 minutes to achieve a sublime texture. The tenderness of the crab paired perfectly with the firm and stringy vermicelli, which carried a distinctly herbaceous aroma. Staying true to its roots in Fujian, China, PUTIEN also offers timeless dishes such as their PUTIEN Lor Mee (Small $9.50, Medium $19.00, Large $28.50).

PUTIEN also offers tantalizing side dishes such as traditional Stir-fried Yam (Small $13.50, Medium $20.20, Large $27.00) as well as the Braised Bean Curd with Chinese Cabbage (Small $18.90, Medium $28.20, Large $37.80). The former uses premium yam which are fried to create a sweet and crisp exterior while retaining a light and fluffy mash within. For a healthier pick, go for the ‘100–second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker ($13.80), which is stewed with ginger for exactly 100 seconds. The result? A well-executed and flawless fish that will win your heart.

Huo Yan Shai Zi Niu (火炎骰子牛)

Flamed diced beef cubes is a Taiwanese street food that is rapidly growing in popularity. Back before Huoyanshaiziniu (火炎骰子牛) was in the picture, you would have to travel to Taiwan to get a taste of this. Now, you can find this trendy dish right here in ION Orchard!

We highly recommend trying out their Beef Rice Box Set ($8/ $10), which comes with a serving of draft beer! Be enchanted by their theatrical display as they cook your beef cubes before your very eyes. The chunks of Australian ribeye are cooked on a flat iron griddle and are torched to perfection. Then, a convenient takeout box is filled with sticky white rice before being topped with the beef cubes. Just before serving, yakiniku sauce is added, along with a sprinkling of seaweed strips. We recommend getting the larger $10 version, as it’s definitely value-for-money. The flaming of the beef cubes adds a subtle crust and a delicious smoky flavour. The beef is well-seasoned, and contains juicy fat that just melts in your mouth. Needless to say, meat-lovers should not miss out on this authentic re-creation of the famous Taiwanese street dish.

Samjin Amook

Famous Korean fishcake chain, Samjin Amook, opened its first international outlet last year right here in Singapore. Located in Basement 4 of ION Orchard, this bakery-style establishment offers an array of mouth-watering fishcake delights. Their fishcakes are also directly imported from Busan, South Korea to ensure quality and deliver authenticity to Singaporeans. Customers simply have to walk in, pick and choose fishcakes out of Samjin Amook’s vast selection on display, then make payment at the counter!

You’ll be spoilt for choice as Samjin Amook offers a whopping seven varieties of croquettes – Cheese, Shrimp, Chilli Pepper, Curry, Potato, Sweet Potato and even Bakkwa! Each of these toothsome ingots are actually fishcakes that have been filled and deep fried until crispy and golden brown. You should definitely try out their ever-popular Cheese Croquette ($2.30), which is filled with an oozing mixture of mozzarella and cheddar cheese! If cheese isn’t your thing, I highly recommend you try their Bakkwa Croquette ($2.80). It has the perfect combination of flavours – the springy and savoury fishcake, and the warm and sweet premium Bakkwa filling.

If you’d like a bit of spice in your life, go for the Fried Chilli Pepper ($3.50). This fried snack contains Korean Imported Whole Green Chilli Pepper encased in fishcake. It packs a spicy kick without being mouth-numbing. You’ll be going for bite after bite with this crunchy and flavourful treat. It’s no wonder that this one of Samjin Amook’s best selling items!

Taste Paradise

With its lavish interior and its luxurious food items on offer, Taste Paradise has cemented itself as one of the best restaurants in Singapore for Cantonese and contemporary Chinese cuisine. Plus, this is the only outlet in Singapore and exclusive to ION Orchard! Stepping foot into Taste Paradise is reminiscent of taking a stroll through ancient China – a collective gasp could be heard as we gazed at its breath-taking décor.

Have a taste of Taste Paradise’s succulent Char-grilled Spare Ribs with Sweet Plum Sauce ($12/ pax)! The exquisite edible gold flakes that sat atop the ribs caught our attention immediately. The heavenly meat was heart-stoppingly delicious. The plum sauce adds a sweetness and an acidic tang which lifts the flavour of the dish.

Order the Baked Cod Fillet with Miso Sauce ($18/ pax) for a classic fish dish with a Japanese twist. This dish features a fillet of cod with a creamy miso glaze slathered on. Each bite of the dish will have you enjoying the textures of the sweet and thick miso together with the delicately-cooked fish. I can’t name a more delicious combination!

A meal wouldn’t be complete without a hearty carb dish. The Stir-fried Ramen with Lobster in XO Sauce ($28/ pax) has the ideal balance of flavours. The fresh and sweet lobster goes exceptionally well with the robust and savoury flavours of the XO sauce. The ramen is also thoroughly coated in the sauce and makes for an immensely satisfying eating experience.

LeTAO

If you are a cheesecake lover, you have to visit LeTAO! Hailing from beautiful Hokkaido, LeTAO is a popular dessert chain that is famous for its signature Double Fromage Cheesecake ($28). Not only does LeTAO use high quality ingredients from Hokkaido, they also source their mascarpone from the Lombardy region in Northern Italy. You can’t get this kind of quality anywhere else!

Over the past 20 years, LeTAO has consistently tweaked and refined their recipes. As its name implies, the Double Fromage Cheesecake ($28) is a two-layered cake comprising a whipped mascarpone cream upper layer and a baked base layer. This provides a delightful contrast of textures — the whipped mascarpone is light and fluffy, while the denser baked base is rich and creamy. You must not miss out the seasonal items like the Berry Fromage, Matcha Fromage and Chocolat Double. Have a taste of this intricate creation and enjoy a melt-in-your mouth experience!

Looking for a more cooling and refreshing option? Try LeTAO’s Sablé Glacés ($5.50) which comprises of exciting flavours such as Crème Brulee, Chocolat, Matcha and Café Au Lait, available only at the Culinary Creations 2018: Football Fiesta event! This delectable dessert comes wrapped in elegant and attractive packaging. Unwrapping it reveals a layer of vanilla ice-cream sandwiched between two biscuits. Take a bite and tantalise your taste buds with the sweet treat mixed into the ice-cream.

ABOUT CULINARY CREATIONS 2018

In addition, the first 400 ION+ Rewards Members or American Express Card Members who spend at least $50 at ION Orchard’s Dining & Gourmet stores weekly are eligible to receive an exclusive complimentary transparent tote with vintage rooster motifs! Shoppers are entitled to redeem it at the Level 4 concierge counter from 25 June to 15 July, while stocks last.

The first 150 shoppers who spend a minimum of $30 at ION Orchard Culinary Creations 2018: Football Fiesta daily are also eligible to receive a complimentary transparent black tote with vintage rooster motifs. Redeem at B4 ION Station from 13 to 15 July.

With an extraordinary range of culinary options to suit every taste and budget, ION Orchard definitely deserves praise as a food haven. So what are you waiting for? Head down to ION Orchard now!

This post was brought to you by ION Orchard.