VivoCity food guide: 15 eateries to check out

Walking around Singapore’s largest shopping mall and not quite sure where to start with all the VivoCity food options in front of you? 

VivoCity is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike — especially with its close proximity to Sentosa island. With more than 140 food and beverage options at VivoCity, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding what to eat. From high-end restaurants to casual dining and everything in between, there’s no shortage of nice food at VivoCity. 

Here are HungryGoWhere’s top picks on the best VivoCity food to try.

1. Jelebu Dry Laksa

VivoCity, 02-48, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11.30am to 10pm)

Why visit? If there is one good thing that emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s probably this Vivocity restaurant, Jelebu Dry Laksa, which chef Renee Tang created from her home kitchen in 2020. Having built a loyal fan base, she went into partnership with Tipsy Collective and set up shop in VivoCity in 2022. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The signature dish at Jelebu Dry Laksa is — you guessed it — the dry laksa, which features springy rice noodles simmered in a housemade prawn-based laksa broth. 

Available in several variations — Kosong (S$12), grilled tiger prawn (S$18), and butter-poached lobster (S$38 for half and S$58 for a whole crustacean) – the laksa is perfectly complemented by other ingredients such as taupok, fish cake and cockles. 

Other must-try dishes include the duck confit Teochew risotto (S$26) and the Assam barramundi (S$32).

2. Alijiang

VivoCity, 03-11, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm)

Why visit? Focusing on Northern Chinese cuisine, Alijiang serves food from the places along the ancient Silk Road. Festooned with traditional artwork, intricate tapestries and lanterns, this restaurant is perfect for family celebrations or a unique date night. 

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourites: Popular items include the Xinjiang fried roasted beef (S$28), where thinly sliced beef and vegetables are presented on a hot grill; as well as the braised diced lamb (S$38.50), where tender pieces of lamb infused with aromatic spices are served with naan. 

For sides, try the moreish Kazakh baked potato (S$17.30) or the organic cauliflower (S$17.30).

3. The Queen & Mangosteen 

VivoCity, 01-106/107, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Monday to Thursday (12pm to 10.30pm); Friday and Saturday (12pm to 11.30pm); Sunday (11am to 10.30pm)

Why visit? The Queen & Mangosteen has been a mainstay at VivoCity since 2009, serving up traditional British pub grub with a twist, as well as a tantalising selection of draft beers, wines, ciders and the classic British cocktail — Pimm’s Cup. The gourmet pub also has an enviable waterfront location, so you can enjoy your meal while drinking in the scenic views. 

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourites: British food is synonymous with fish and chips (S$32), so you have to try the version at The Queen & Mangosteen. It comes with beer-battered snapper fish, which pairs perfectly with the housemade curry tartare sauce. 

If you’re feeling particularly ravenous, order The Queen’s English Breakfast (S$30), a hearty platter of back bacon, pork sausage, fried eggs, roasted tomatoes, mushy peas and haggis (a savoury Scottish pudding).

4. Tajimaya Yakiniku 

VivoCity, 01-102/103, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Monday to Thursday (11.30am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm); Friday to Sunday (11.30am to 10pm)

Why visit? If you’re scouring VivoCity for Japanese food, look no further than Tajimaya Yakiniku for an authentic Japanese charcoal grill experience. 

This restaurant offers a “hands-on” cooking experience where you can grill your own meats at your table, adding to the lively, convivial atmosphere. There’s also a wide selection of sake and shochu to complement your feast. 

Price range: $$$$

Crowd favourites: Meat lovers should not miss out on the Tajimaya Yakiniku Platter (S$228.80 for a two-person set), which comes with premium A5 Miyazaki Striploin, A5 Kagoshima Sasabara Flank and Japanese Kurobuta Pork Belly, among others. 

You can also choose to have an all-beef set (A5 Kagoshima Karubi Set, S$238.80 for a two-person set) or an all-pork set (Japanese Kurobuta Set, S$118.80 for a two-person set), or order from the a-la-carte menu.

5. Dancing Crab

VivoCity, 03-10, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11.30am to 3pm; 5.30pm to 10pm)

Why visit? As part of the Tung Lok Group, Dancing Crab is an American-style eatery known for its fresh, top-grade seafood. However, unlike the other more formal restaurants in the restaurant group, Dancing Crab offers a playful dining experience where the food is heaped onto your table and you dig in with your hands. Yum! 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: You can’t go wrong with the live crab combo with its lip-smackingly delicious Cajun sauce (S$112) — this seafood feast includes one Sri Lanka crab, a generous serving of prawns, flower clams, oysters and corn as well as chicken sausages. Mop up all that delicious sauce with its fluffy homemade brioche roll (S$3.10).

If you’re there at lunchtime (11.30am to 2.30pm), try its lunch sets such as the poached rice in lobster bisque soup (S$19) or the white pepper seafood and mushroom spaghetti (S$18.50). All the sets come with a fizzy lemonade and ice cream.

6. Una Una 

VivoCity, 02-94, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11am to 10pm)

Why visit? Una Una is the VivoCity food spot to enjoy authentic and delicious grilled unagi minus the typically hefty price tag. Serving unagi hitsumabushi, which is a Nagoya style of cooking freshwater eel, the eel is slathered with an in-house tare (a sweet, savoury and sticky sauce made with shoyu, mirin and sugar) before being grilled over hot charcoal, chopped and served on a bed of fluffy Hokkaido rice. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The classic unagi hitsumabushi (S$12.80) is a great Vivocity dining option. It comes with a wonderfully fragrant unagi that is crisp on the outside but tender on the inside, and is accompanied by condiments such as nori, wasabi and spring onions. 

While you might be tempted to gobble up the entire bowl in one sitting, the restaurant recommends dividing your portion into four so you can savour the unagi rice in four different ways — as it is, with the condiments, with the soup (ochazuke-style) and freestyle.

7. Burgs By Project Warung

VivoCity, B2-29A, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11am to 9pm)

Why visit? Run by two former restaurant chefs, Burgs by Project Warung is a great choice if you’re looking for VivoCity halal food options. The beloved halal burger chain that serves up scrumptious gourmet burgers at prices that won’t break the bank. Made using premium ingredients and handcrafted with care, think of Burgs as elevated fast food. 

Price range: $

Crowd favourites: Purists would go for the beef bacon cheese burger (S$8.50 for a single, S$12.50 for a double), which comes with smoky black pepper beef bacon atop the scratch-made beef patty, while those looking for alternatives can go for the hot & spicy chicken burger (S$7.90 for a single, S$11.90 for a double) or the crispy fish burger (S$8.90 for a single, S$12.90 for a double). 

Vegetarians won’t go hungry either with the vege burger (S$6.90 for a single, S$10.90 for a double) — made with a purple sweet potato and onion croquette, and a mixed vegetable caponata.

8. Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice

VivoCity, B2-30, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11am to 10pm)

Why visit? With a history that dates back to 1960, Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice started as a humble food stall selling Hainanese chicken rice in the Pratunam district of Bangkok. Gaining a loyal following over the decades, Go-Ang was elevated to superstar status when it was featured in the inaugural Bangkok edition of the Michelin Guide, and soon expanded overseas — landing on Singapore shores in 2018. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: While chicken rice may be a staple for many Singaporeans, this Thai-Hainanese chicken rice (S$5.50/single portion) offers subtle differences that make it a wholly unique dish. For example, the sauce served with the chicken rice is a secret blend of fermented chilli, fermented bean paste and ginger chunks, which pairs beautifully with the poached chicken and fragrant rice. 

9. Barossa Steak & Grill

VivoCity, 01-161/162, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Monday to Thursday (12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 10.30pm); Friday (12 to 3pm, 5 to 11pm); Saturday (12pm to 11pm); Sunday (12pm to 10.30pm)

Why visit? Inspired by hearty Australian cuisine, Barossa Steak & Grill serves high-quality Aussie cuisine in a warm and inviting setting. As its name suggests, Barossa Steak & Grill prides itself on its dry-aged Australian beef and other Josper grilled dishes. Diners also get to enjoy live music performances from Thursday to Saturday evenings. 

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourites: If you’re dining in a group, go for the carnivore platter (S$98), a mouthwatering selection of roasted spatchcock, red wine beef cheeks, pork and lamb sausages, and pork ribs. 

For something off the Josper grill, try the Australia grass-fed beef tenderloin (S$42) or indulge in the Sanchoku F1 Australia wagyu coulotte steak (S$58).

10. Yao Yao Sauerkraut Fish

VivoCity, 02-145/146, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11.30am to 2pm, 5pm to 9pm)

Why visit? Singapore’s love for all things spicy and numbing continues with Yao Yao Sauerkraut Fish, which hails from Shenzhen. Rated among China’s top 10 pickled fish brands, Yao Yao Sauerkraut Fish definitely delivers in terms of flavour and value for money. Apart from its signature pickled fish dish, it also serves Peking duck (S$45 for half, S$90 for whole). 

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourites: If you’re the sort who can never decide what to order, you’ll be pleased to know that Yao Yao Sauerkraut Fish offers a Yao Yao Super Combination (from S$53), which allows you to mix and match flavoured fish dishes. 

Of course, the signature item here is the Yao Yao Sauerkraut Fish (S$48 for two persons, S$68 for three to four persons, S$88 for five to six persons), where fresh California white sea bass is cooked alongside sauerkraut that has been fermented for 24 days. The pickled cabbage provided a refreshing contrast to the richness of the fish, while the spice-laden broth packs a solid punch.

11. Mamma Mia! Trattoria E Caffe 

VivoCity, 01-116, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11.30am to 10pm)

Why visit? Mamma Mia! Trattoria E Caffe is a halal-certified Italian restaurant serving up a wide variety of unpretentious but consistently delicious Italian dishes. With its pastel-coloured interiors and relaxed vibe, this is a great VivoCity food choice for date night or a catch-up with friends.   

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The pastas here are handcrafted with fresh ingredients and cooked à la minute, with hot favourites being the spaghetti with crab meat and burrata sauce (S$18.50) and the tortiglioni with beef oxtail bolognese (S$18.50).

Save some space for desserts — the classic tiramisu (S$5) and the caramel panna cotta (S$3.50) are worth all the extra calories.

12. Nakiryu

VivoCity, 01-167, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11.30am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 9pm)

Why visit? While Singapore has no dearth of ramen joints, few can claim to have a Michelin star and still be family-run. Nakiryu is one such restaurant. Hailing from the Otsuba neighbourhood in Tokyo, Nakiryu specialises in tan tan men, which is a type of ramen with a creamy, semi-spicy sesame-based broth and topped with ground meat.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The tan tan men (S$15.90) is a popular option at Nakiryu, with its rich and flavourful broth. Made with a medley of ingredients and spices — beef bones, chicken, oyster and kombu — and simmered for hours, the broth is full of umami. 

At the VivoCity branch of Nakiryu, you’ll also find new menu items created by the brand’s founder specially for this outlet. This includes the intriguing cappuccino miso tan tan men (S$14.90) and the egg toji hot and sour soup ramen (S$16.90).

13. Ayam Penyet President

VivoCity, B2-23F, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Monday to Thursday (11.30am to 9pm); Friday (12pm to 9.30pm); Saturday (11am to 9.30pm); Sunday (11am to 9pm)

Why visit? If you’re looking for a fuss-free and delicious meal, Ayam Penyet President checks all the boxes. Serving authentic Indonesian fare in a cheap and cheerful environment, Ayam Penyet President is a must-go for its signature smashed fried chicken dish. 

Price range: $

Crowd favourites: The ayam penyet (S$7.90) comes with a golden-brown fried chicken thigh that is incredibly crispy on the outside, yet tender and juicy on the inside. Paired with the fiery chilli paste, it’s easy to see why Ayam Penyet President is so popular. 

Other must-try items on the menu include the ikan pesmol (S$15.90), where Sundanese fish is slathered in a spicy gravy, and the ayam serundeng (S$7.90), where fried chicken is served with grated coconut and onion chilli.

14. Kyoto Shokudo Cafe & Udon

VivoCity, 01-100/101, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11.30am to 9.45pm)

Why visit? Kyoto Shokudo Cafe & Udon is a halal-certified VivoCity dessert spot that serves a range of matcha desserts and udon dishes. Whether you have a sweet tooth or you prefer something savoury, there’s something for everyone here. 

Price range: $

Crowd favourites: Matcha fans will have a field day choosing from the wide variety of green tea desserts, including matcha parfait (S$8.90), matcha tiramisu (S$6.90) and a Kyoto-style toasted matcha pancake (S$10.90). 

If you are looking for a heartier meal, why not try the matcha carbonara smoked duck (S$12.90) or the gyu yakiniku loco moco (S$15.90)?

15. Fruit Paradise

VivoCity, 01-59, 1 HarbourFront Walk
Open: Daily (11.30am to 9.30pm)

Why visit? It’s hard to walk by Fruit Paradise and not be tempted by the gorgeous fruit tarts and cakes on display. Made fresh daily using only the freshest fruits, each confection is made with only lightly sweetened cream so that the flavour of the fruits can truly shine through. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The strawberry tiramisu (S$58.85 for 19cm and S$90.95 for 23cm) is a luscious creation of fresh strawberries packed on top of cheese cream.

Alternatively, go for the mixed berries chocolate (S$58.85 for 19cm and S$90.95 for 23cm), an indulgent dessert with raspberries, blueberries and strawberries atop a rich chocolate cream that is perfect for a celebration — or just a special treat for yourself!

Still on the hunt for great grub? Read our stories on the must-try stalls at East Coast Lagoon Food Village or hidden rooftop cafe, Soll Cafe.

 Barossa Steak & Grill, Ayam Penyet President, Burgs by Project Warung, Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice, Tajimaya Yakiniku, Mamma Mia! Trattoria E Caffe, Una Una, Kyoto Shokudo, Dancing Crab, Alijiang Silk Road Cuisine, Nakiryu, Fruit Paradise 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. 

You can also book a ride to VivoCity.