Ultimate Paya Lebar food guide: 32 places you’ll love

With Paya Lebar being an interchange to two MRT lines and lying in a sweet spot for those living in the east and north-east regions, you can bet the ’hood is a pretty happening one. And of course, there’s no shortage of Paya Lebar food options here.

Anyone looking for food at Paya Lebar can take their pick from Paya Lebar Square, Paya Lebar Quarter, SingPost Centre and the wider Paya Lebar area including Tai Seng and Guillemard! 

If you’re ever at a loss for what to eat at Paya Lebar, then start with our ultimate guide on 32 Paya Lebar food places to dine with your friends and family.

Paya Lebar Quarter food options 

1. Ajumma’s 

PLQ Mall, B2-26, 10 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 9.30pm) 

Why visit? Ajumma’s first store in Funan opened to much fanfare and the stall still draws crowds to this day for its authentic yet affordable and accessible Korean dishes. Its store at PLQ Mall is a welcome addition to Paya Lebar Korean food options, but you’ll still need to bear with the queue — they’re just that good. 

Those looking to dine alone will be pleased to find that a lot of its dishes, such as its army stew, are well-portioned for solo diners or any group wanting to order multiple dishes to share.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles, S$12.90), crispy samgyeopsal with creamy scrambled eggs and soy-yuja sauce (crispy pork belly on rice, S$14.90) 

2. Chimichanga

PLQ Mall, 01-37, 10 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Sunday to Thursday (12pm to 11pm), Friday and Saturday (12pm to 12am)

Why visit? Mexican places in the east are few and far between, and with Chimichanga now right in the heart of Paya Lebar adding to your PLQ mall food choices, those of you who are taco fans can have your taco and eat it (till late). 

With its alfresco seating, vibey beats and impeccable service, it’s the perfect spot for a breezy weekend lunch or a chill weekday post-work munch, accompanied by some booze (add this to your Paya Lebar drinks list!). Happy hour runs from 12pm to 7pm on weekdays, so make sure you grab some of its signature frozen lime margaritas to go with your tacos before 7! 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Loaded nachos with ancho beef (S$18), borracho fish tacos (beer battered white fish with mango salsa, pickled shallots, jalapeno mayo, crema, red cabbage on soft flour tortillas, S$18)

3. Fong Sheng Hao

PLQ Mall, B2-04, 10 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Friday (7.30am to 9pm), Saturday and Sunday (8am to 9pm)

Why visit? Originating from the famous Shilin Night Market in Taipei, Taiwan, Fong Sheng Hao is a popular spot for breakfast in Paya Lebar because of its charcoal toast and milk tea. It first arrived in Singapore in 2019 and has steadily been planting its roots in various heartland neighbourhoods. 

Its charcoal-grilled toast, which comes with assorted fillings, is known for its crispy and fluffy texture, a stark but welcome contrast to the kaya toasts we might be used to. Not a fan of toast? The cafe has other Taiwanese eats such as egg pancake and braised pork rice.

Price range: $

Crowd favourites: Pork and egg cheese sandwich (S$6.90), milk tea (S$3.30)

4. Rempapa

PLQ, Park Place, 01-01/02/03, 2 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11am to 3pm, 6pm to 10.30pm), Saturday and Sunday (10.30am to 10.30pm)

Why visit? If there’s one PLQ food spot that stands out in the PLQ food directory, it is without a doubt, the homegrown Rempapa. Rempapa is an all-day restaurant started by MasterChef Singapore judge Damian D’Silva, serving up flavours across Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, and Eurasian cuisines. 

Aside from familiar local delights, Rempapa also has dishes such as the Damian’s curry (S$36), a chef Damian signature which has Indian and Eurasian influences, and is served with mantou. The menu is also divided into brunch, afternoon tea and dinner, so you’ll have reason to head back if you intend to try more items. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Stir-fried chee cheong fun (S$16), buah keluak fried rice (S$28)

5. Tipsy Bird Gastrobar

PLQ 2, 01-08, 1 Paya Lebar Link
Open: Monday to Sunday (12pm to 1am)

Why visit? With a good mix of indoor and al fresco seating, local gastrobar Tipsy Bird makes for an ideal weekend Paya Lebar dinner spot with the family or for drinks with the colleagues after a long work day. Tipsy Bird’s menu comprises western and local dishes with a twist, such as its signature moonlight truffle beef hor fun (S$25). 

If you prefer something lighter, its small bites such as the Szechuan mala karaage are two for S$22, and can be enjoyed alongside the extensive drinks menu. The bar has live music bands and singers every day at dinnertime — so make your reservations there early ,especially on weekends, if you like music with your bites.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Moonlight truffle beef hor fun (S$25), XO white radish cake (S$14)

6. Yakiniku Like

PLQ Mall, B1-28, 10 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10pm)

Why visit? Yakiniku Like burst onto our shores early 2020, introducing the concept of solo dining for Japanese-style barbecue. The concept clearly took off, judging by its many outlets around Singapore now. But did you know the very first store was none other than Yakiniku Like Paya Lebar?

If you want some of that OG vibes, swing on down to Yakiniku Like at PLQ Mall. There’s always a queue, but you’ll be glad to know that the queue goes fast and so is its service. Prices are extremely affordable for the quality of meats served, and for those of you who love barbecue but have the appetite of a mouse, there are servings as small as 100g. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Karubi set (beef short plate, from S$10.90 nett for 100g), Like set (beef tongue, skirt steak and beef short plate, from S$16.90 for 150g). All sets come with rice, soup and a side of kimchi or salad. 

7. Wursthans Switzerland

PLQ Mall, 01-39, 10 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 3.30pm, 4.30pm to 9pm), Saturday and Sunday (11.30am to 9pm) 

Why visit? Affordable and authentic Swiss food almost sounds too good to be true, given how much food costs in Switzerland. Wursthans Switzerland, located prominently at the first storey of PLQ Mall, not only manages that, but also doles up generous portions of its signature rosti dish.

If you’re feeling creative, customise your own Swiss meal starting from S$16.90, choosing one main, two sides and one sauce. Prefer to let the experts do the combinations? That’s an option, too! 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Santis rosti (gruyere cheese, fried egg with rosti, S$12.90), monch (original Swiss veal bratwurst with caramelised onion and rosti, S$18.90) 

8. Zing by Xi Yan

PLQ, Park Place, 01-06/07/08, 2 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm) 

Why visit? Zing by Xi Yan, an offshoot of the popular Xi Yan Chinese restaurant, serves up contemporary Asian-Chinese food at Paya Lebar with a difference, focusing on the use of sustainable produce. It also hires members of disadvantaged communities. 

Don’t be too surprised to find pasta dishes and grain bowls in Zing’s menu. Have fun exploring Zing’s take on Chinese-Korean or even Chinese-Western style dishes, such as the bossam-style crispy pork strips (S$15) and sichuan beef linguine (S$20). 

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourites: Hakka abacus (yam abacus seeds with pork mince, mushroom, black fungus and dried shrimp, S$18 for a small portion), fried XO radish cake (S$13 for a small portion) 

 Paya Lebar Square food places 

9. Saute Sushi 

Paya Lebar Square, B1-19, 60 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 9.30pm)

Why visit? Saute Sushi is the Saute Group’s offshoot in the east, serving up wholly plant-based sushi via toy trains on a conveyor belt, adding to the many options for Japanese food at Paya Lebar Square. 

On its menu, you’ll find plant-based meat alternatives such as Zalmon (made from konjac), CraDstick, Vnagi, and Abi, which not only look just like their seafood counterparts, but also taste like them. 

Saute Sushi’s menu does have eggs and dairy, however, so if you’re vegan and prefer purely vegan options, be sure to notify the staff when ordering. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Zalmon sushi (S$2.30), Abi avocado Saute special roll (S$12.90)

10. Qin Ji Rougamo 

Paya Lebar Square, B1-08, 60 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9.30pm) 

Why visit? Love burgers? How about trying crispy Chinese burgers — essentially Chinese pancakes stuffed with shredded meat — at Qin Ji Rouganmo? 

These burgers are known as rouganmo and are just as filling, if not more, than your regular burger. The store has multiple burger flavours — the original pork (S$5.80), black pepper beef (S$5.90), vegetable (S$5.50), or just plain (S$3). Non-burger fans can also opt for its addictive sour and spicy sweet potato noodles with minced pork (S$8.80). 

Price range: $

Crowd favourites: Qin Ji pork pancake (S$5.80), sour and spicy sweet potato noodles with minced pork (S$8.80)

11. 5 Little Bears

Paya Lebar Square, B1-09, 60 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 8.30pm) 

Why visit? You can easily find Taiwanese-inspired snacks in Singapore, but it’s rare to find a whole restaurant dedicated to Taiwanese favourites at affordable prices. Enter 5 Little Bears, a restaurant and a hidden Paya Lebar Square food find, so named because of the owners’ five children. 

Choose from familiar dishes such as the XL chicken chop (S$5.50), braised pork rice (S$5) and oyster meesua (S$5), or indulge in its super filling bento sets that come with slabs of meat, rice and side dishes. Want to bring home a slice of Taiwan? The shop also stocks popular snacks such as pineapple cakes and sun biscuits. 

Price range: $

Crowd favourites: XL chicken chop (S$5.50), braised pork rice (S$8)

12. Kajiken

Paya Lebar Square, 01-86, 60 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10pm) 

Why visit? Kajiken is a ramen shop specialising in dry spicy ramen or mazesoba, Originally found at Tanjong Pagar, it’s now an invaluable addition to the Paya Lebar Square food mix. 

Think springy ramen noodles combined with a spicy minced pork mix, topped with an onsen egg and generous servings of chives and spring onions.

The best part? You get refillable barley tea, plus an upsized noodle portion is completely free — a real budget hack. Remember to ask for rice at the end to soak up all of that saucy goodness. Yes, that’s free, too. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Taiwan mazesoba with karaage (S$16.80), Hokkaido mazesoba (non-spicy ramen served with salmon flakes, salmon roe and butter, S$17.30) 

13. Lotus Thai 

Paya Lebar Square, 02-13/14/K1, 60 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9.30pm) 

Why visit? If you’re one of those lusting after the famous Michelin-recognised Jay Fai crab omelette in Bangkok, you’d be glad to know that you needn’t travel too far for some of that eggy-crustacean-filled goodness. 

There’s Lotus Thai, a Thai restaurant at Paya Lebar Square, and it serves a mean lava egg crab meat fried rice (S$15), served with thick chunks of crab meat.

Service at Lotus Thai is warm and its dishes incredibly homely — you’ll feel like you’ve landed right in a small eatery in the Land of Smiles. Its prices are wallet-friendly, but if you’re feeling spendy, give its crab meat stewed vermicelli claypot (S$28), brimming with umami and wok hey goodness, a go. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Lava egg crab meat fried rice (S$15), crab meat stewed vermicelli claypot (S$28)

What to eat at SingPost Centre 

14. 8Bar Espresso 

SingPost Centre, 01-131, 10 Eunos Road
Open: Monday to Friday (10am to 9pm), Saturday and Sunday (9.30am to 9pm) 

Why visit? TCM or traditional-themed shops appear to be all the rage recently, and those in the east now have their own spot to explore. Opened by those behind the now-closed coffee kiosk Morphine Coffee, 8Bar Espresso is a TCM-hall-inspired cafe that serves up unique fusion dishes, artisanal breads and desserts.  

The cafe only serves up specialty graded 80+ pointer coffees and above, and promises food that is as good as its coffee, so that diners have a comprehensive dining experience. A unique option if you’re in search of more unconventional food in Paya Lebar.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Black mango toast (mangoes, black sesame spread, cream cheese, whipped cream and sesame crumbs, S$11), braised pork rice bowl (S$8.50) 

15. Issho Izakaya 

SingPost Centre, 03-103, 10 Eunos Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm), Saturday and Sunday (11am to 10pm)

Why visit? Issho Izakaya is an authentic Japanese dining spot that melds both traditional Japanese flavours with modern influences — this can also be seen from its aesthetic. The Japanese restaurant has affordable lunch options, and also makes for a great gathering spot as its name ‘issho’, which means together in Japanese, suggests.

Aside from the usual Japanese favourites such as dons and nigiri sushi, Issho also has chazuke sets, which is a dish that combines cooked rice with a broth made from green tea, dashi and hot water typically, and sushi tacos, which aren’t too commonly seen in Japanese restaurants here.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Salmon chazuke (S$25.90), unatama sushi taco (eel and tamago on tempura seaweed, S$6.80 each, minimum two pieces per order) 

16. Jai Siam

SingPost Centre, B1-147, 10 Eunos Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 8.30pm)

Why visit? If you’re searching for Paya Lebar halal food, Jai Siam’s one not to miss. Having served authentic Thai food since 1999, the Thai restaurant is dependable, delicious and very much value-for-money.

If you find the brand familiar, it’s because it has another branch in Purvis Street, though this is its only halal spot. To get the best value-for-money experience, order its various family sets, which come with favourites such as its heartwarming tom yum soup (from S$9) and deep-fried tilapia with tamarind sauce (S$22) among others. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Stuffed wings (two pieces for S$7.50), basil leaf chicken rice with egg (S$9.10) 

17. Grove

SingPost Centre, 01-151, 10 Eunos Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (8am to 9pm) 

Why visit? Keen on eating more veggies or perhaps looking for somewhere to dine for those meatless Mondays? Grove, which is part of the Elemen group, serves up nourishing meatless meals that not only look good, but taste just as good.  

Expect to find local favourites such as bak chor mee, rendang curry, and even Hainanese chicken rice, all sans meat. How? You’ll just have to swing by to find out. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Truffle la mian (S$10.80), rendang curry with blue pea nasi lemak (S$9.80) 

18. Salmon Warrior 

SingPost Centre, B1-165, 10 Eunos Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)

Why visit? If you’re one of those who love to spam salmon everytime you’re out having Japanese, do yourself a favour and just head to Salmon Warrior, where you get to dine your heart out of its menu of salmon-only dishes. 

Experience fresh Norwegian salmon in various permutations — over rice, topped with greens, grilled, raw, rolled up in a maki roll or in a soup. The store has a build-your-own-bowl option from S$12.90, but if you’re pressed for time and want a quick fuss-free lunch, just choose from its many pre-curated bowls. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Salmon mentaiko bowl (fresh salmon with torched mentaiko served on rice with tomatoes, onsen egg and ebiko, S$17.90), twin poke don bowl (salmon poke, mala poke with avocado, cherry tomatoes and hanjuku egg, S$20.90)

What to eat at Kinex (Formerly known as One KM)

19. 800 Degrees Woodfired Pizza 

Kinex, 01-52/53, 11 Tanjong Katong Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9.30pm)

Why visit? 800 Degrees Woodfired Pizza is a local offshoot of a popular US pizza chain brought to you by the same people behind Fatburger in Singapore. 

Watch your Neapolitan-style pizza get made live in front of you, right from the kneading of the pizza dough. All pizzas are made to order, and fired fresh in its wood-fired oven that goes up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit. You can even DIY your own selection of toppings (starting from S$12 for a 10” pizza). 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Tartufo pizza — vegetarian pizza with mushroom, Parmesan, arugula on a mushroom truffle base (S$22 for a 10” pizza), BBQ chicken pizza (S$16 for a 10” pizza) 

Want more pizza? Here are some artisanal pizza joints you can explore around town.

20. Sizzle Whizzle

Kinex, B1-31, 11 Tanjong Katong Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 8pm)

Why visit? Priding itself on serving up Indonesian food in Paya Lebar with a twist, Sizzle Whizzle’s menu has a mix of familiar favourites such as bee hoon bakso (meatballs in soup with beehoon, S$8.90) and more inventive dishes such as fried chicken indomie goreng bowl (S$9.90). 

Taking its chilli very seriously, it serves up three types of sambal — sambal bawang (onion), sambal teri (anchovy) and sambal merah (red) — great for any spice or sambal fans. We say, order the fried dishes such as its fried chicken (S$6.90) and crispy chicken skin (S$4.90) to enjoy its various sambal sauces at their best.  

Crowd favourites: Chilli chicken liver + gizzard and petai or stink beans (S$8.90), beehoon bakso (S$8.90)

21. Soul Coffee

Kinex, 02-16, 11 Tanjong Katong Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10pm) 

Why visit? You’d probably have seen Soul Coffee pop up on your Instagram or TikTok feed for its ethereal vibes and tarot and crystal reading services. Go if you’re a huge astrology fanatic or want your fortunes read.

You even get to choose from a menu of horoscope-inspired drinks and desserts. Not a horoscope fan? Don’t worry, you’ll enjoy the cafe’s chill vibes and pretty desserts. 

The cafe accepts walk-ins only, but you can book ahead for tarot and crystal readings. Both tarot and crystal readings come at an additional cost of S$55 nett and S$35 nett respectively with complimentary hot tea and cake of your choice. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Libra signature mocktail (aloe vera juice, wild mint, butterfly pea flower, S$8.50), chocolate banana dome cake (chocolate mousse, banana dark chocolate glaze, S$7.90)

22. Kucina Italian Restaurant

Kinex, B1-09/10, 11 Tanjong Katong Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (12pm to 10pm) 

Why visit? Head to Kucina Italian restaurant’s social media accounts and you’ll notice many videos of a particular personality. That’s none other than Chef Gero, an Italian who is a Muslim convert, and the head chef at Kucina.

The chef, who has two decades of Italian cooking under his belt, frequently interacts with his social media followers and talks about Italian cooking. The restaurant is extremely popular, owing to its authentic Italian flavours and the chef’s social media following, so reserve ahead if you’d like to head down!

Price range: $$$ 

Crowd favourites: Gnocchi al salmone (homemade potato dumplings with grilled salmon, S$31.90), Tiramisu (S$10.90)

23. Chu Yi Jia

Kinex, B1-K22, 11 Tanjong Katong Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (10am to 9pm) 

Why visit? Chu Yi Jia is a quaint eatery at KINEX serving up local zi char favourites such as crayfish prawn hor fun (S$12.90) and salted egg chicken rice (S$8.90). 

Some might baulk at the idea of paying slightly elevated prices for zi char food, but for the comfort, convenience and portions served up by Chu Yi Jia, we can safely say it’s an extremely value-for-money option. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Crayfish prawn hor fun (S$12.90), salted egg chicken rice (S$8.90) 

Restaurants and food around Paya Lebar MRT 

24. Coexist Coffee 

Lifelong Learning Institute, 01-02, 11 Eunos Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (8.30am to 9pm) 

Why visit? It’s easy to write good-looking cafes off when it comes to food and drinks because, well, you can’t quite have it all. But at Coexist Coffee’s Lifelong Learning Institute offshoot, you can. Spread over a very spacious two storeys, the cafe serves up robust brews, unique and generously portioned dishes, and eye-catching desserts. 

It’s the perfect spot for anything from a morning coffee to dinner, if you work or live in the hood. Its minimalist, nature-inspired aesthetic also gives the cafe an outdoorsy-camping vibe, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’re in a Korean cafe for those few hours. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Carrot cake fries (S$12), pulled pork burger (S$21)

25. Honey Night

Grandlink Square, 01-08, 511 Guillemard Road
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday (11.30am to 11pm), Friday and Saturday (11.30am to 11.30pm) 

Why visit? Located on the ground floor of Grandlink Square — a short five-minute walk from Paya Lebar MRT station — Honey Night has been quietly drawing crowds with its homely vibes and hearty, affordable menu of Korean favourites. 

Unlike the usual Korean restaurants, which either specialise in barbecued meats or fried chicken, Honey Night does a bit of both, but without the smoke and grill — it barbecues them in the kitchen. 

Expect to also find the usuals of stews, ramyeon, Korean pancake, and fried snacks, all of which make for great accompaniments to the various Korean alcohols and New Zealand wines they serve. 

What to order: Spicy fire chicken with cheese (S$22), BBQ pork belly (S$13) 

26. Don Lechon

Grandlink Square, 01-52, 511 Guillemard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (12pm to 9.30pm)

Why visit? Round the corner from Honey Night at Grandlink Square, you’ll probably detect a faint aroma of roasted meats wafting in the air. That’s coming from Don Lechon, a quaint Filipino restaurant selling lechon in Paya Lebar, or charcoal roasted pork belly.

Lechon, which is Spanish for roast pork, is Don Lechon’s star dish, with the restaurant even customising a charcoal pit to spit-roast thick, high-quality cuts of pork belly in-house. The result of that is succulent, tender pork with crispy, paper-thin skin, enveloped with a smoky lemongrass taste. 

What to order: Lechon with rice ($10), lechon sisig (chopped pork, egg, onion, and chicken liver served on hotplate, S$14)

Craving for more lechon? Here are 8 places in Singapore to have it.

27. Little Vietnam 

Grandlink Square, 01-26, 511 Guillemard Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 10pm)

Why visit? We know it’s the third restaurant we’re recommending within this building, but trust us, if you’re already looking at restaurants near Paya Lebar, you might as well check Little Vietnam out. 

Little Vietnam, which has been around since 2007, is a quaint, homely joint tucked at the first floor of Grandlink Square. It has an extensive menu of Vietnamese favourites beyond the usual pho and spring rolls, with even items such as banh canh tom (sticky noodle soup with prawn, quail eggs and fish cake, S$9.50), on the menu.

Price range: $$ 

Crowd favourites: Mini banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese pancake, S$7), bun thit nuong (grilled pork chop, vegetables on rice vermicelli, S$8.50)

Heading to Vietnam? Read our articles on must-eats in Ho Chi Minh city and what to have in Hanoi.

28. Knots Cafe & Living

Orion @ Paya Lebar, 01-07, 160 Paya Lebar Road
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (9am to 9pm)

Why visit? A cross between a cafe and a home decor store, Knots Cafe & Living at Orion building makes for a cosy brunch spot complete with an Instagram-worthy aesthetic. The spaciousness and calm of the cafe, combined with the lush greenery all around, makes you feel like you’re in an idyllic little town, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday Singapore life. 

The cafe serves brunch till 6pm (great for those of us who love sleeping in!), but heartier lunch and dinner options such as chicken chop, beef burger and pasta are available after 11am. 

Price range: $$

What to order: Knots waffle brekkie (S$23.90), dirty chai latte (S$7) 

29. Le Cafe Vie5

151 Upper Paya Lebar Road
Open: Wednesday to Sunday (10am to 9pm)

Why visit? Tucked away quietly along Upper Paya Lebar Road, Le Cafe Vie5 is a Vietnamese cafe that specialises in self-sourced and freshly roasted beans in-house.

Having authentic, freshly roasted coffee for my ca phe sua da (iced Vietnamese coffee, S$4) brought pure bliss and made me feel like I was in Hanoi for a moment. Even better, this joint serves up egg coffee (S$6.50), a common drink in Hanoi but not easily found locally. 

Apart from coffee, you can also find homemade northern Vietnamese fare such as banh mi (from S$5.90), Haiphong prawn noodles (S$12), and beef au vin (beef stew in red wine sauce, S$15.50). 

Price range: $$

What to order: Egg coffee (S$6.50), prawn noodle soup (S$12) 

30. The Boneless Kitchen

Commerze @ Irving, 01-31,1 Irving Place
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (12pm to 8.30pm)

Why visit? At first glance, social enterprise The Boneless Kitchen seems like an anomaly as a vegetarian Korean restaurant, but as you dig into its familiar Korean dishes, you’ll hardly feel like you’re missing out.

Expect to find dishes such as stews, Korean pancake, and even kimbap (Korean-style sushi) cooked with meat alternatives that provide a similar bite and taste. 

This Tai Seng restaurant is also a social enterprise that is mindful of both its social and environmental responsibilities, hiring persons with special needs and serving dishes that do not rely on animal products. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Kimbap ($10), Korean army stew (S$11) 

31. DongMama Thai Izakaya

Kensington Square, 01-49, 2 Jalan Lokam
Open: Tuesday to Thursday (11am to 9pm), Friday to Sunday (11am to 9.30pm) 

Why visit? If you still prefer your meat fix, head on down to DongMama Thai Izakaya. The restaurant is great for a quick midday lunch or if you want to knock back some of those after-work pints if you’re in the area. 

DongMama serves up a generous portion of tom yum mama (S$24.90) — crowd-favourite instant noodles with tom yum soup and assorted seafood, which can feed about two to three people comfortably. 

Its grilled meats such as pork jowl (S$24.90) and moo ping (pork skewers) are also bestsellers. There’s even word that lots of people have been snapping up DongMama’s moo ping during organised group buys. But why settle for group buys when you can have the freshly grilled versions in-store? 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Grilled Thai pork jowl (S$24.90), tom yum mama (tom yum mama instant noodles with soup and assorted seafood, S$24.90)

32. 6 Letter Coffee at Beng Tong Mansion 

259 Tanjong Katong Road
Open: Sunday to Thursday (8am to 7pm); Friday and Saturday (8am to 8pm)

Why visit? Sitting along the busy Tanjong Katong Road stretch of eateries, 6 Letter Coffee stands out with its minimalist vibes and potted plants lining the entrance. The cafe serves all-day brunch and a good mix of rosti, pasta, burgers and western mains, so there’ll definitely be something for everyone.

In addition to its welcoming ambience, the crew at 6 Letter Coffee are also extremely friendly, and if you’re lucky, you might even get fancy latte art in the form of cute characters on your coffee. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Baby back ribs rosti (S$21), honey latte with espresso (S$7)

Looking for other east side eats or food near Paya Lebar? Try Joo Chiat Oyster House or Cheeky BeeHoon at Katong. 

All Paya Lebar food places featured here, except Don Lechon and Little Vietnam, are on the GrabFood delivery service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited. They can also be found on GrabFood Dine-in.

Alternatively, book a ride to these Paya Lebar food spots.