10 Suntec City dinner spots for every budget

It’s dinner time, and the most common conundrum of every Singaporean is: What should we eat?

If you’re working in town, there’s no doubt that Suntec City is a top choice when it comes to the variety of food options to celebrate the end of your work day. 

After all, as one of the largest (and most exciting) retail destinations in town, it boasts an abundance of retail and food options, with the latter especially promising a plethora of prominent eateries and varied cuisines for all tastes. In fact, you might be lost with the amount of choices you’d have to contend with.

If you’re feeling hungry after work, and are on the hunt for good food to satiate those hunger pangs but don’t want to think too hard on where to go, don’t fret — we’ve done the work for you.

We’ve come up with a list of dinner spots from high-end, fine-dining restaurants to snazzy bars, casual eateries and food courts for affordable eats. There’s an option that’ll please both the young and old. 

So round up your loved ones or colleagues and head to these 10 Suntec City dinner spots sorted according to budget — they have one thing in common, in that they all offer a fantastic time and an amazing meal.

Under S$15

1. Butahage

Suntec City Tower 3, 01-625/626, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10pm)

Why visit: Notable butadon restaurant Butahage made a return to our shores earlier this year, much to the delight of fans. 

Hailing from Obihiro, Hokkaido (the birthplace of pork rice bowls), the beloved establishment’s first comeback eatery is at Suntec City, and it now boasts an expanded menu with Singapore-exclusive dishes.

Butahage is best recognised for its indulgent pork donburi, also known as butadon. It’s a tasty rice dish touting short-grain Nanatsuboshi rice, succulent and tender grilled pork loin slices imported from Japan, as well as a sweet and savoury butadon no tare (sauce). The dressing is the brand’s claim to fame — it is simmered for hours in an old-school cauldron to produce a rich and aromatic flavour. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Savour the signature Obihiro Meibutsu Japanese Pork Loin Don (S$11.80 for regular, S$14.80 for large) and Obihiro Meibutsu Japanese Pork Belly Don (S$14.80) for an explosion of juicy, umami goodness with every bite. If you’re a seafood lover, the Tendon (S$9.50) is topped with prawns, crab sticks and veggies.

2. Eggslut

Suntec City Tower 3, 01-604, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Monday to Sunday (8am to 8.30pm)

Why visit: Egg lovers are certainly familiar with Eggslut, a well-loved American sandwich brand. It’s acclaimed for its loaded burgers that are chock-full of creamy scrambled eggs. 

Founded in 2011 by chef Alvin Cailan, the eatery initially started out as a humble food truck in Los Angeles. In the span of two years, his sandwiches gained immense popularity. The casual takeaway concept then launched its first brick-and-mortar location in New York. 

Today, the brand can be found across different parts of the globe, which span the likes of Japan, Korea and Singapore. The local outpost is brought in by SPC Group, a South Korean holding company that’s behind other big brands, such as Shake Shack and Paris Baguette. The Suntec City outlet is the brand’s second in Singapore.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The most iconic item on the menu is its Fairfax sandwich (S$12). Comprising cage-free scrambled eggs, caramelised onions and a whole lotta cheddar cheese, it’s a dinner option that all will enjoy. The bacon, egg and cheese sandwich (S$12) is another egg-cellent choice, with slices of applewood-smoked bacon and rich chipotle ketchup between two buns.

Under S$25

1. Tonkatsu ENbiton

Suntec City Fountain Court, B1-170/171, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10pm)

Why visit: Satiate your katsu cravings at Tonkatsu ENbiton, the purveyor of yuzu pork tonkatsu. The Japanese restaurant fries its cutlets to crisp perfection, resulting in a light, airy crumb that gives way to a tender body. 

For the uninitiated, yuzu pork refers to pigs bred in Kagoshima, Japan, which are fattened with feed containing yuzu fruits. This creates an excellent meat quality that’s richer in nutritional value, such as increased vitamin C, citric acid and fat with a higher melting point — thus leading to a better retention and amalgamation of flavours. 

Besides its renowned yuzu pork tonkatsu sets, this Suntec City dinner spot also offers a deluge of other Japanese dishes. Think an award-winning A4/A5 Miyazaki Gyukatsu (wagyu beef), sandos and ramen. 

Price range: $$ 

Crowd favourites: Those who prefer a leaner cut of pork should opt for the signature yuzu hire katsu set (S$23). Despite lacking a soft layer of marbled fat, the fillet bursts with umami and is incredibly succulent. If you’re not feeling pork, the Kaisen Mix Fry set (S$25) will please with its decadent seafood fare, boasting Japanese oysters, prawns, scallops and more.

2. Hoshino Coffee

Suntec City Tower 4, 01-651, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Monday to Friday (11am to 10pm), Saturday and Sunday (10am to 10pm)

Why visit: One of the stalwarts of affordable Japanese dining in Singapore is Hoshino Coffee, a speciality coffeehouse that has charmed the hearts of Singaporeans with its aromatic hand-drip brews and luscious souffle pancakes. 

Set foot into the restaurant, and it’s as if you’re transported into another land — the cosy joint is brimming with old-world charm, complete with a rustic setting, twinkling chandeliers and snazzy mahogany accents. 

The menu is a marriage of East meets West, with unique dishes incorporating both Japanese and Western flavours. You’ll be spoiled with the wide variety of mains available, which includes spaghetti, rice dishes and steak. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: The omu souffle curry rice (S$17.80) is our go-to order when we visit this joint. Mix the rice with the creamy curry dressing, and every bite guarantees utmost oishi-ness. For those looking to indulge, the Hoshino Angus beef steak plate (S$21.80) will satisfy meat lovers with its generous hunk of moreish beef.

3. Dookki

Suntec City Tower 4, B1-107, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Sunday to Thursday (11.30am to 10pm), Friday and Saturday (11.30am to 10.30pm)

Why visit: For families seeking a wallet-friendly, all-you-can-eat Suntec City dinner option, consider heading to Dookki — an authentic Korean topokki buffet restaurant tucked away in the basement of the shopping mall. 

Its witty namesake translates to “two meals” in Korean, which ties in with its enticing concept of allowing diners to tuck into two types of dishes in one sitting Korean topokki hotpot and kimchi fried rice. 

Here, the hotpot is the main attraction, where you can customise your sauce alongside a host of toppings. You’re also entitled to 1.5 hours of complimentary drinks and unlimited ingredients, chiefly the crowd-favourite topokki. You then get to end the meal with a serving of hearty kimchi fried rice.

Buffet prices here are unbeatable, as it only costs S$20.80++ per person for both weekdays and weekends. If you’re bringing a younger one along, the meal will set parents back at S$12.80++ per child between 110cm and 130cm. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: Definitely order the topokki, also fondly known as Korean rice cakes. They come in a slew of flavours, such as original, cheese and sweet potato. We suggest simmering the chewy morsels in the stock base, for it soaks up the savoury flavours of the rich broth perfectly.

4. Tempura Makino

Suntec City Atrium (Convention Centre), 02-305, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10pm)

Why visit: Originating in Japan, Tempura Makino is an acclaimed tempura speciality restaurant that crafts its crispy tempura “tsudoage-style”. This means that the tempura is made solely to order and served one by one. 

The dishes are prepared with premium ingredients, with the flour, dashi and dipping sauces specially imported from Japan. The batter of the tempura is also whipped with an Okinawan egg, which results in a light batter that has the right amount of airiness and crunch.

Bonus: The eatery doles out free-flow homemade yuzu daikon to go with your meal.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourites: We like the prawn and vegetable tempura set (S$18), which introduces a medley of well-loved veggies such as butternut pumpkin, eggplant, Maitake mushrooms and others. Those who enjoy donburis should get the unadon (S$23.90), which has crispy grilled eel atop a fluffy bed of rice.

Above S$25

1. Beautiful Lai Grilled Fish (Lai Meili)

Suntec City Fountain Court, B1-111, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 2pm, 5pm to 9pm), Saturday and Sunday (11.30am to 9pm)

Why visit: Most will be familiar with Tai Er, a reputed establishment widely recognised for its Chinese sauerkraut fish. However, its sister brand, Beautiful Lai Grilled Fish (Lai Meili),  deserves equal recognition.

While we’re no strangers to Chinese-style grilled fish dishes, what sets this Sichuan-style eatery apart from the rest is its signature green pepper grilled fish (from S$55). The drool-worthy platter features a tender and succulent Leiocassis fish as the base, which is sourced directly from the Yangtze River in China. 

The grilled fish is also prepared with freshly picked Sichuan pepper and peppercorns that elevate the flavours and robustness of the broths. Many praise the brand for getting the spice levels right, which has just the right balance of numbing spices. Each set also feeds up to three persons. 

Price range: $$$$

Crowd favourites: Besides the green pepper grilled fish, there are options for a cheese tomato (S$58) and crab roe and garlic (S$58) flavour. The creamy cheese tomato is a great choice for those who are unable to take spice, while the latter is pure savoury heaven.

2. Eat at Seven – Kuro Hanabi

Suntec City Tower 1, 03-316, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pm), Saturday and Sunday (11.30am to 10pm)

Why visit: Hotpot is always a fantastic idea when you’re dining with a larger group. And Hokkaido restaurant Eat at Seven – Kuro Hanabi is a head-turner when it comes to hotpot dishes with a twist. 

It’s known for its popular motsunabe, a stew in Japanese cuisine touting wagyu beef innards. Fret not, the dish isn’t as scary as it sounds — instead, the inclusion of offal presents enhanced textures and savouriness to the broth. It’s a delight for both adventurous eaters and gourmands alike. 

Feel free to order other motsu-based dishes on the menu to accompany the stew. Some favourites are the motsu okonomiyaki (S$19.80), wagyu motsu yakisoba (from S$15.80) and lamb tsukune (S$15.80), a burger-style patty made with minced lamb and nagaimo (Chinese yam). 

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourite: The main drawing factor is its Hokkaido motsu nabe (S$43). It’s a sharing pot bubbling with sesame miso soup. Give the cauldron a good stir, and you’ll uncover a plethora of ingredients consisting of enoki mushrooms, tofu, cabbage and beef intestines.

3. Peperoni Pizzeria

Suntec City Fountain Court, B1-130, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 3pm, 5pm to 9.30pm)

Why visit: Pizzas are great for sharing, and it helps that they typically boast a generous sprinkling of flavour-packed toppings and are decadent, cheese-filled triangles. The folks at Peperoni Pizzeria are all about churning out bigger (and better) wood-fired pizzas, hence its reputation for serving some of the largest slices in town. 

You heard us right, Peperoni Pizzeria has whopping XXL pizzas (measuring 21 inches) up for grabs! These colossal pizzas feed up to six persons, which certainly takes merrymaking to a whole ’nother level. There are classico and speciale flavours on the menu to choose from, but diners can also opt for a combination of two flavours (an additional S$4). 

Price range: $$$$

Crowd favourites: A headlining flavour in the classico section is the meatballs and brussels sprouts (white) XXL pizza (S$54), which sees a coalescence of pork meatballs, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and red onions. The chorizo and mushrooms XXL pizza (S$62) is a spicy speciale delight with spicy chorizos, Champignon mushrooms and more.

4. Shabu Sai

Suntec City Fountain Court, B1-133, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 10pm) 

Why visit: Another hotpot restaurant that tops our list of the best Suntec City dinner spots is Shabu Sai, a household name lauded among diners here for its wallet-friendly shabu shabu and sukiyaki buffet.

Despite rising costs of inflation, prices are kept lean, with adults paying from S$25.99++ for dinner, while children enjoy the meal from S$11.99++. It’s hard to find another hotpot concept with such bang for buck, especially when the all-you-can-eat promotion entails free-flow pork collar, beef and more. 

Choose two different soup bases to get your meal started. Options include sukiyaki, tonkotsu, seaweed and a monthly special of shiitake scallop soup. Then, go all out and pick as many veggies and side dishes as your heart desires. 

Price range: $$$

Crowd favourite: For a true-blue feast, opt for the wagyu beef buffet (S$39.99++ for adults, S$17.99++ for children). This deal comprises all the usual ingredients available in the free-flow buffet, with an additional inclusion of premium wagyu beef slices.

This article was written in partnership with Suntec City. 

For more ideas on what to eat at Suntec City, check out its must-try eateries and halal food places. 

Book a ride to Suntec City and swing by these top dining spots.