Japanese sandos seem to be in vogue these days, with cafes and restaurants alike offering their take on the popular convenience store snack. One such place, Hello Arigato, recently opened its doors along Upper Thomson Road.
Opened by the team behind hipster stalwart The Refinery, Hello Arigato is already seeing snaking queues for its thick sandos and Japanese-inspired treats.
Weekends are for sleeping in and flipping through your favourite book while armed with a cup of hot chocolate. And when it comes to hot chocolate, nothing tops it better than a couple of marshmallows for that added sweetness!
Korean brand, Mitte, is selling adorable marshmallows shaped like sloths, bunnies, and pandas with its instant Hot Choco Original ($15.80 for 1 box) to help you add a touch of kawaii to your cuppa.
Renowned Chinese hotpot restaurant, Li Ji Chuan Chuan Xiang 李记串串香 has launched its second outlet in Jalan Besar. Originally from China, the restaurant is one of the few places to serve Chinese skewer hotpot in Singapore.
Residents of Holland Close, Buona Vista can now savour the taste of Thailand minutes from their doorstep. Kin Hoi, whose name literally translates to “eat cockles” in Thai, is a stall specializing in Thai shellfish and other authentic dishes from the Land of a Thousand Smiles.
Helmed by a couple of former media executives who took a brave plunge into the world of F&B, Kin Hoi is also staffed with Thai cooks and servers, so its fare it as close as you can get to the real deal in the heartlands.
Every so often, you’ll stumble on a hidden gem that you would want to keep to yourself, as your secret go-to spot for your favourite food or drink. While I was admittedly a little hesitant to put this accidental new find of mine in the spotlight, sharing is caring.
So without further ado, let me introduce you to my new favourite Japanese izakaya in Singapore: Dosukoi x Donpachi.
Tucked away in the basement of Cuppage Plaza (also affectionately known as Little Japan), away from the hustle and bustle of Orchard Road, Dosukoi x Donpachi is a cozy hangout spot that looks to be run by a husband-and-wife team. The izakaya is home to an extensive line of homemade umeshu that is prominently displayed at the counter.
Update 19 Jan 2025: Little Rogue Coffee has moved to Yong Siak Street.
Tanjong Katong has become somewhat one of Singapore’s meccas for cafe-hopping, with hipster hangout spots and coffee joints aplenty. And with dine-in restrictions easing *once more*, there’s no better time to head out and explore than now!
Little Rogue Coffee is a Melbourne-inspired cafe that recently opened its doors on Tanjong Katong Road. Helmed by a husband-and-wife team, the cafe took inspiration for its name from the cheeky and playful nature of the owners’ children. You can apparently even donate or exchange books at the cafe’s community library!
Tampines’ cafe and desserts scene just got a little busier – hooray! – with the arrival of Around Cafe’s second outpost in the east. Occupying a gorgeous glasshouse outside The Alps, a condominium situated a bus ride away from Tampines West MRT Station, Around Cafe is fast becoming a crowd favourite with its light-filled vicinity and overseas cafe vibes.
Chue On It 