21 places for food in Orchard Central for any occasion
If you’ve ever tried to head to Orchard Central for food before, you’ll know that the mall can seem a tad overwhelming, with 12 floors above ground and two below. In fact, with its many floors, there are even inconspicuous eateries that you’ve not even heard about or seen.
Whether you’re spending a weekend out with family in Orchard, going for a workday lunch break or catching up with an old friend, we have a curated list of places you can head to for food in Orchard Central.
From group-style seafood buckets to dessert cafes — we’ve got you covered:
Cafes in Orchard Central
1. Equate Coffee — Orchard Central
Orchard Central, 01-17A, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (9am to 9.30pm)
Why visit? Coffee fanatics may have heard of Equate Coffee’s first outlet in Tanjong Pagar — its coffee and food is made even more accessible with a second outlet right here in Orchard Central.
Boasting a more extensive menu than its first, Equate at Orchard Central offers a wide range of pastries, sandos, mains, and even desserts and its renowned coffee-based drinks.
With a creatively juxtaposed backdrop of trees and plants within a shopping mall, you can also snap aesthetic shots here to your heart’s content, in-between sips of a freshly brewed cuppa.
Crowd favourites: Brought over from its Tanjong Pagar outlet, its pastries are just as good. For example, the classic pain au chocolat (S$5.80) is a well-laminated bake filled with molten chocolate.
Give the baked eggs (S$14.80) a try if you’re in the mood for a savoury dish. Dip the accompanying toasted sourdough into the poached eggs for extra satisfaction.
Don’t miss out on its selection of espresso-based coffee concoctions, too. For those keen to try something more creative, the 50’s brew (S$7) is a glass of earl grey lavender tea and black cold brew topped with a layer of fragrant earl grey-infused cream foam.
2. Walking on Sunshine
Orchard Central, 03-07, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (10am to 8pm)
Why visit? You might’ve heard about Walking on Sunshine for its free-flow croffle (or croissant-waffle) buffets, but this cafe in a hair salon offers so much more. Serving up Korean-fusion dishes, it has everything from Korean-inspired pizzas and pasta, to souffle pancakes.
Besides its aesthetic dishes, you can also enjoy your meal surrounded by draped plants and flowers, thanks to its beautiful botanic-themed decor. Or even swing by next door for a hair cut or hair spa treatment at the salon located right within the cafe’s premises!
Crowd favourites: The truffle salmon angel hair pasta (S$27) is one of its bestsellers, and for good reason. The grilled salmon is soft and fork-tender, pairing well with delicate, thin strands of angel hair pasta coated in truffle oil.
The beef bulgogi fries (S$19) are a hearty serving of fries loaded with sweet beef strips, onions, creamy bulgogi mayo, and sour cream, that are great for sharing.
For dessert, don’t miss out on the signature souffle pancake (S$22), a no-frills, simple rendition of the Japanese classic. Paired with classic toppings such as mixed nuts, fruits and cream, it proves to be a light and satisfying end to the meal.
3. FYP Cafe
Orchard Central, 04-22, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Thursday (12pm to 9.30pm), Friday (12pm to 10.30pm), Saturday (11am to 10.30pm), Sunday (11am to 9.30pm)
Why visit? For You People (FYP) Cafe may not ring a bell, but the brands behind this concept might — is a collaboration between familiar, well-loved names Whiskdom and and the now-defunct Big Big Fries. The cafe serves up items you’d find at these places, too: XXL fries, bagels and lava cookies, along with new menu additions, such as grain bowls and pasta.
For those who love camping-themed spaces, the space features unique camping chairs and low tables, perfect for a quiet and quick respite after a day in town.
Crowd favourites: You can’t visit FYP Cafe without getting at least one of Whiskdom’s variety of cookies or brownies, and we hear the dark cocoa speculoos cookie (S$6.50) slaps. A rich, dark chocolate cookie dough filled with molten lotus biscoff? Sign us up!
If you need more than a snack, try the mentaiko salmon grain bowl (S$16.90). It features cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, corn, and an onsen egg atop a bed of fluffy Japanese rice. If you’re looking for something to share, mentaiko Bomb (S$11.90) features a generous portion of crisp popcorn coated with torched mentaiko mayo.
Buffets at Orchard Central
4. Kiseki Japanese Buffet Restaurant
Orchard Central, 08-01 to 03, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm)
Why visit? Hidden in the upper floors of Orchard Central, Kiseki Japanese Buffet Restaurant is a family-friendly, value-for-money buffet option that offers a variety of Japanese fare, from sashimi to even shabu-shabu.
A less talked-about perk of this location is that its high-floor location allows diners to enjoy food in Orchard Central with views of the Orchard skyline, made even better with breezy outdoor seating.
Crowd favourites: The sashimi here is fresh and served in thick slices, promising a silky, tender bite. Go crazy with the crab legs, which are kept fresh while chilled on ice. If you still can’t resist carbs here, we hear the garlic fried rice is a flavour bomb.
Its lunch buffet goes for S$29.90 per adult, while dinner goes for S$49.90, before GST and service charge — do note these are regular, non-festive prices.
5. K Cook Korean BBQ Buffet
Orchard Central, 07-01, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Thursday (11.30am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm), Friday (11.30am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm) Saturday and Sunday (11.30am to 10pm)
Why visit? K Cook Korean BBQ and Buffet is a Korean barbecue spot in Orchard Central where you can catch up with friends, cold drink in hand and meat sizzling on the grill. With so many different meats and marinades to choose from, your meat cravings will surely be satisfied.
Want more than just proteins? K Cook also offers an extensive range of Korean cooked food, including japchae and Korean pancakes, and of course, a free-flow kimchi bar.
Crowd favourites: Its buffet prices start at S$18.90 and S$28.90 for lunch and dinner respectively on weekdays — a huge bargain considering the variety of items and its central location in town.
Pork lovers will enjoy its thick cuts of melt-in-your-mouth pork belly. If you want even more variety beyond its buffet spread, K.Cook also offers a la carte dishes such as gamjatang (S$30 for a medium-sized portion), a spicy and flavourful soup.
Affordable eats at Orchard Central
6. Cafe One O
Orchard Central, 10-01, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11am to 6pm), Saturday (11am to 4pm)
Why visit? Cafe One O is a Thai-western option tucked away on the tenth floor of the mall. Here, you can get Thai-style dishes with a western twist from its affordable all-day lunch menu.
Given its slightly more obscure spot, Cafe One O is also perfect for catching up on work or reading a good book. If you need more reason to head down, it’s also a social enterprise where all of its net proceeds go to The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BTBAF), which makes the arts accessible for children and youths from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Crowd favourites: All its lunch sets cost S$14.90 each and includes soup and a drink along with your main course. If you’re spoilt for choice, we’d recommend the tangy, creamy red curry prawns with a fried egg on top of rice, while the spaghetti with prawns in tomato basil sauce is a straightforward yet delicious pasta dish.
There’s also light bites, such as ebi fry (S$7.90) and Thai fish cake (S$5.90), if you prefer something smaller.
7. Nothing But Cheeseburger (NBCB) — Orchard Central
Orchard Central, 04-23, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 9pm)
Why visit? Other than its eye-catching name, Nothing But Cheeseburger (NBCB) also happens to also serve some of the best cheeseburgers in town. This proudly Singaporean-owed brand incorporates local flavours such as prawn-paste chicken into its burgers.
Just when you think that’s local enough, there’s even burgers with fried fish slices and soft shell crab. Like any regular burger joint it also serves a slew of milkshakes, including locally inspired flavours such as Horlicks and pandan coco (S$6 each).
Crowd favourites: Nothing beats a classic cheeseburger, which NBCB offers in the form of its NBCB (S$11.90). It includes a succulent beef patty, a cheese slice, tomato, lettuce, and the essential “secret sauce” stacked between two fluffy brioche buns.
There’s also an option to double your burger with an extra patty for those feeling more than hungry. While the joint is well-known for its beef burgers, we hear the CCB (S$9.90), a fried boneless chicken leg burger, is a strong contender.
End your meal with a milkshake with the Milo milkshake (S$6), featuring a heap of Milo powder atop a thick malt milkshake.
8. Tenya Orchard Central
Orchard Central, B1-01, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9.30pm)
Why visit? Hailing from the streets of Asakusa, Tokyo, Tenya is a top tendon (tempura rice bowl) chain in Japan that prides itself on its fast and casual dining concept, which makes it more affordable than other tendon eateries.
Its Orchard Central shop features the same casual dining concept and same comforting tendon bowls. At Tenya, all of its set meals come with rice and a choice of hot or cold soba or udon. Additionally, it offers other items such as unagi and salmon dons as well.
Crowd favourites: Get the most bang for your buck with the Premium tendon rice bowl (S$14.10), which comes with two tempura prawns, squid, crab stick, and assorted tempura vegetables. The tempura ingredients are deep-fried to order, so be sure to eat them while they’re still hot and crispy.
For noodles, we hear the spicy cold udon (additional S$7 for a small bowl) is also a hit. Still feeling peckish? If you’d like more tempura, the tempura moriawase platter (S$18.90) is an assortment of its best tempura, including three tempura prawns, scallops and oysters, though it is only available on weekdays.
9. Real Food — Orchard Central
Orchard Central, 02-16 to 19, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)
Why visit? Real Food is a vegetarian restaurant that challenges your perception of vegetarian fare with its many dishes from all-day breakfast to burgers.
The health-centered restaurant is focused on ensuring everything that goes into the dish is traceable, nutritious and fresh, making it a great option for healthy food in Orchard Central. Its dishes are highly customisable upon request — you can opt for gluten-free or vegan, too, if that’s what you’re after.
The cherry on top? Prices for mains start at S$10.80, for a wallet-friendly, healthy meal.
Crowd favourites: Loaded with sauteed vegetables, the Genovese pesto pasta (S$16.80) is a nutritious yet tasty dish. The pasta is coated with housemade pesto sauce and topped with crumbled feta for extra creaminess.
The steamed dumplings (S$10.80) come in a set of eight that’s ideal for sharing. We love how silky and soft the dumpling skin is, and how its stuffed to the brim with juicy vegetable mince filling.
10. Nantsuttei
Orchard Central, 07-12/13, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Saturday (11am to 9.30pm), Sunday (11am to 2.45pm, 5.30pm to 9pm)
Why visit? With an abundance of ramen eateries in Singapore, it’s not difficult to find good ramen in Singapore. But great ramen? That’s not always the case. Hidden away inconspicuously on the seventh floor of Orchard Central is hidden gem Nantsuttei, award-winning ramen bar with one of the most flavourful tonkotsu broths we’ve tasted.
What differentiates Nantsuttei is its black mayu, or roasted garlic oil, which its founder, Ichiro Furuya, created himself. He uses garlic which has been slow-fried seven times to elevate the soup to a level of umami beyond your typical pork bone broth.
Crowd favourites: The Nantsuttei tonkotsu ramen (S$12.90) is a must-try while you’re here. The richness of the thick tonkotsu broth is subdued by the zesty yet smoky garlic oil, keeping you coming back for more with each mouthful.
If you’re looking for even more spices in your bowl, the Dragon ramen (S$16) has the same flavourful soup base with the addition of spicy ground meat.
11. Hokkaido Marche
Orchard Central, B2-11 to 29, 44 to 48, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)
Why visit? Featuring some of the most well-loved dishes of Hokkaido, Hokkaido Marche is a marketplace-style food court serving a wide variety of Hokkaido delights — from tonkatsu to teppanyaki.
It’s an affordable option, too, with many of its stalls offering set meals in addition to a la carte items.
Crowd favourites: With so many choices available, it’s almost impossible to narrow down to just a few good dishes. But if you must have us pick for you, we’d suggest the grilled chicken or pork belly set (S$11.50) from the teppanyaki stall, Teppan Do. Each set comes with rice, miso soup and vegetable teppanyaki with your grilled meats.
The pork katsu curry (S$13.50) from Tonkatsu Maruya is another highlight — the crisp, juicy pork cutlet, together with the sweet, tangy Japanese curry, makes for the perfect bite.
12. Soi47 Thai Food — Orchard Central
Orchard Central, 04-08, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Saturday to Thursday (11.30am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm), Friday (12pm to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm)
Why visit? With multiple outlets in Singapore, Thai food brand Soi47 Thai Food might ring a bell, especially with its iconic neon lit interiors. Like its other outlets, its Orchard Central food options are just as extensive and make this the perfect spot for gatherings, especially among Thai food-loving friends.
While portion sizes here can be modest, the prices are reasonable. The flavours make up for it, though, with plenty of options for spicy, sweet-sour, and savoury dishes.
Crowd favourites: Among the array of fish dishes, the steamed sea bass with Thai lime sauce (S$26) is a hit. Served on a stove-heated plate, this whole sea bass is an economical option for sharing. For curries, the green curry with seafood (S$10) is creamy and spicy, just the way we like it.
Feel like having a snack on the side? The crispy chicken skin (S$8) makes the perfect crunchy side for your meal.
Where to dine at Orchard Central for special occasions
13. Tanuki Raw — Orchard Central
Orchard Central, 04-01, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 10pm)
Why visit? Since its opening in 2012, Tanuki Raw has become one of the most well-known names in Singapore serving modern Japanese rice bowls. Besides mastering the modern donburi, it’s also known for its raw oyster bars and happy-hour promotions.
With an al fresco section overlooking Orchard Road, the Orchard Central outlet is perfect for date night or an intimate group celebration. If you fancy a tipple or two, it serves an extensive drinks menu featuring sakes, cocktails, and Japanese whiskey.
Don’t miss out on the happy-hour promotion from 3pm to 8pm, when oysters and salmon sashimi go for half-off.
Crowd favourites: The chirashi rice bowl (S$24.90) is filled with a healthy mix of tuna, torched salmon belly, scallops, white tuna, yellow tail, and ikura. If you prefer your red meats, the truffle yakiniku rice bowl (S$22.90) is a crowd-pleaser thanks to the tender short rib that melts in your mouth, as well as the flavourful rice.
Just there for a quick bite? The mentaiko lobster salad twister fries (S$17.90) features a generous scoop of chunky lobster salad, beer cheese and umami mentaiko mayo that’ll hit the spot.
14. Kimchi Dining
Orchard Central, 06-10, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm), Saturday to Sunday (11.30am to 10pm)
Why visit? Kimchi Dining serves tasty and authentic Korean food, with a focus on Korea’s staple food, kimchi, serving a grand total of six different types there.
Besides serving up great Korean fare, it’s also the perfect choice for Korean food in Orchard Central, with a dining space that’s aesthetically decorated with tasteful wooden furniture and potted plants. There’s also plenty of natural light at its spacious sixth floor outlet to help you capture the best photos.
Crowd favourites: Trust us and get the makgeolli bread (S$6), served with white bean butter — the steamed bread is a crowd favourite, well loved for its subtle rice wine scent and soft texture.
For something more substantial, try its kurobuta pork collar gui (S$36), a plate of tender, marinated, grilled pork collar.
For large gatherings
15. Dancing Crab
Orchard Central, 07-14/15, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm)
Why visit? Founded by the same group behind the Chinese seafood concept, Tung Lok Seafood, Dancing Crab is its take on American-style seafood. Specialising in seafood buckets, this is the perfect place to gather your family and friends and get your hands dirty. It serves an entire array of crustaceans, from clams to prawns to lobsters — you name it.
Besides serving up finger-licking-worthy seafood, its lively atmosphere with preppy music and attentive staff also adds to the experience.
Crowd favourites: To cater to big groups, it offers a Sri Lankan crab family feast bundle (S$178) that comes with a live crab boil, sambal grilled fish, crab fried rice, and other sides for sharing.
But if you prefer going a la carte, you can pick from its various options or even opt to build your own seafood combo (starting at S$11.90 for 100g of crab), where you can choose your preferred seafood items.
16. Armoury Steaks and Craft Beer
Orchard Central, 11-03/04, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Sunday to Tuesday (11.30am to 10pm), Wednesday to Thursday (11.30am to 10.30pm), Friday and Saturday (11.30am to 11pm)
Why visit? Armoury Steaks and Craft Beer is the place to be for anyone who loves their steaks. But don’t go thinking it’s going to look like an old-school steakhouse with dim lights and velvet furnishings. Instead this spot at the mall’s 11th floor is brightly lit, spacious and filled with neon lights, giving it a subtle futuristic vibe.
Focusing primarily on steaks, it offers a range of cuts, different sauces and numerous sides to pair with your meat — there’s something for every steak lover, for sure.
Crowd favourites: The Japan A3/4 Hokkaido F1 Wagyu (from S$120) features 500g of either sirloin or ribeye with a choice of two sides. Prefer your meats with buns? It also serves burgers such as the Armoury wagyu burger (S$24) or the crispy chicken pita burger (S$22).
17. Tung Lok Peking Duck — Orchard Central
Orchard Central, 07-07 to 09, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm)
Why visit? If you have a special occasion coming up with the fam, then look no further than Tung Lok Peking Duck. Aside from being the first brand to bring Silver Hill Irish duck to Singapore — the most coveted duck breed for Peking-style roast duck — it also serves up the a pretty solid rendition of Peking duck with crackle-worthy crispy skin and smoky, tender meat.
Beyond roast duck, Tung Lok Peking Duck offers other meat, seafood and vegetable dishes, and its spacious round tables make dining in big groups a breeze.
Crowd favourites: When you come to Tung Lok Peking Duck, you must try its Peking duck (S$98 for a whole duck), which comes with an assortment of condiments such as hoisin sauce, honey mustard, leeks, and cucumber.
Want something to wash it all down with? Its double-boiled sakura chicken soup (S$56.80) is a nourishing yet flavourful option.
Orchard Central dessert cafes
18. Lady M — Orchard Central
Orchard Central, 01-27 and 02-07, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10pm)
Why visit? Known for its mille crepe cakes and beautiful minimalist interiors, Lady M is no stranger to the field of fine desserts. Hailing from the Upper East Side of New York City, Lady M currently has five outlets in Singapore, each with a slightly different atmosphere.
At its Orchard Central outlet, it retains the same chic marbled tiles its other outlets possess, but with the added beauty of floor-length windows. The space is filled with natural light, making it a calming stop for afternoon tea.
Crowd favourites: We recommend the green tea mille crepe (S$12 per slice). Paper thin crepes are layered atop one another with a light green tea pastry cream, making for a light dessert that’s not too sweet.
It also serves a Checkers cake (S$12 per slice), made of a chocolate and vanilla sponge with a rich chocolate ganache.
19. Henri Charpentier — Orchard Central
Orchard Central, 01-18, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (10am to 10pm)
Why visit? While it is named after the renowned French chef who created the crepes suzette (crepes with a sauce of caramelised sugar and butter, orange juice, and orange liqueur), Henri Charpentier is actually a Japanese patisserie specialising in financiers and cakes. The sweet-toothed love it for its premium, intricately crafted desserts.
Its first-floor outlet at Orchard Central is most suitable for takeaway purchases, but it also has a small dedicated seating area for those who want to sit down and enjoy their sweets with a coffee.
Crowd favourites: You can’t miss out on the financiers (S$2.60 per piece), made using the highest-quality fermented butter from Hamanaka, Hokkaido. These small almond cakes are known for their moist, buttery goodness.
Henri Charpentier also sells strawberry shortcake (S$10.80 per slice), which features fresh cream and strawberries layered between fluffy sponge.
20. Overscoop — Orchard Central
Orchard Central, 02-12, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (12pm to 11pm)
Why visit? Overscoop had its beginnings during the Covid-19 pandemic when ice-cream sampling was not allowed — instead the shop would offer an “overscoop” or a free mini scoop of an additional flavour to your order. It hopes that by giving an overscoop or extra ice-cream, you’ll also leave with extra smiles.
Beyond ice cream scoops, the shop also serves up waffles and gelato we know and love, as well as croffles and acai bowls. Set on the second level in a cosy corner, Overscoop at Orchard Central perfect spot for relaxing or having a sweet treat.
Crowd favourites: A single scoop of gelato at Overscoop goes for S$5.20 for all the classic flavours.
Instead of going for plain waffles, we suggest you give the Orchard Central-exclusive mochi waffles ($8) a shot — crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, the waffle’s texture goes well with a scoop (or two) of creamy gelato.
21. Baker X
Orchard Central, 04-29, 181 Orchard Road
Open: Wednesday to Sunday (12pm to 7pm)
Why visit? One of the more underrated spots for sweet treats in Orchard Central, Baker X is a unique incubator-style project Far East Malls for home-based bakers to trial-run their concepts and see how they’d fare as a physical shop.
It has hosted brands such as Marymount Bakehouse and Love for Wagashi there. At the moment, Cassia Caneles is currently operating at the space till February 5, 2025. For the latest baker-in-residence, keep tabs on Far East Mall’s page.
Besides bakes, the space also holds Tea Ideas permanently, so you can enjoy your choice of sweets with a nice cuppa in a quiet setting.
Crowd favourites: Crowd favourites at Baker X vary according to the baker-in-residence, but if you manage to swing down when Cassia’s Canele’s is still there, try its Dubai kunafa canele, a take on the viral kunafa chocolate snack.
Large caneles go for S$5.50 each, or in a box of four, six and nine, while petite caneles can be purchased at eight for S$20.
For more delicious eats around town, check out Clayful Art Cafe for a unique experience, and 49 Seats for some hearty nosh.
All outlets — except Kiseki Japanese Buffet, K Cook Korean BBQ Buffet, Cafe One O, Nantsuttei, Kimchi Dining, Armoury Steaks and Craft Beer, Tung Lok Peking Duck, and Baker X — are on the GrabFood delivery service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited.
Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.
Alternatively, book a ride to these Orchard Central food spots.
