If there's one thing we did well this year, it was eating, and eating... and eating. We travelled to the West for banger pastries and Singapore's best bowl of noodles, forked out good money for experiences at up-and-coming restaurants, supported that small business owner who runs a takeaway kiosk near our house, and discovered vibey new spots in town. So when it was time to pick our favourite and most memorable dish of the year, we scratched our heads and agonised over our decisions. And finally, we landed on five that ultimately left a lasting impression on our editors and writers. Here are all the standout dishes that we absolutely loved this year, and exactly where you can find them in Singapore.
1. Fennel and sage sausage roll from Wheathead
We recently crowned this unassuming bakery our favourite in the West, and that's a big claim to make, considering a few flaws: its location, price, standing-only dining area and lack of freshly brewed coffee. Despite all that, something about Wheathead clearly won us over. And that something was its excellent pastries, from the divine banana cream pie ($14.50), which was crumbly and chunky in all the right places, to this flaky sausage roll ($18) that lives in our head rent-free.
"This caught me by surprise because I wasn't expecting much from a humble sausage roll. But the meat was super juicy and fragrant with herbs, with the most buttery crust you could hope for. Everytime I go back to Wheathead, I always keep my eyes peeled for this beauty. It comes in at quite a hefty price, but the roll is quite the big boy to match. Also, shoutout to my first Wheathead love, the banana cream pie."
– Cheryl Sekkappan, Editor, Singapore and Asia
2. Signature mee pok with prawn paste from Fan Ji Speciality Noodle
Everything changed when we discovered this glorious bowl of bak chor mee two years. No similar dish in 2025 has topped it since, which is why it deserves the honour of being on this list. The kopitiam stall is run by a young cook who was a former loyal customer and apprentice of the original owner. Fan Ji's mee pok (from $7) has a significantly denser and chewier bite, and the sauce is calibrated to a tee. Tip: Noodle portions are on the smaller side, but you can ask for a larger portion at no additional cost.
"I'm always finding the next opportunity to visit Fan Ji Speciality Noodle. It's deep within a residential estate in Clementi and the queues are notoriously long, averaging about an hour. But it's genuinely the best bak chor mee I've had, with No. 25 coming in second. The firm, bouncy noodles, punchy seasoning, sweet cabbage soup packed with ingredients, and homemade prawn paste make it well worth the journey."
– Adira Chow, Senior Food & Drink Writer
3. Clam custard from Belimbing
The Coconut Club welcomed its sister restaurant Belimbing above its Beach Road digs this year, championing a unique brand of 'new-gen' Singaporean cuisine. But don’t expect to see jazzed-up laksa, glorified chicken rice or anything of the sort. The kitchen works with disparate flavours, obscure and long-forgotten ingredients, and a whole lot of creativity to whip up dishes that are noticeably Singaporean yet delightfully foreign. Some of our favourites are the fragrant nasi ulam, firefly squid and clam custard.
"The clam custard was so good I ordered it twice on the spot. Silky egg custard, tangy assam pedas, and that white pepper sauce? Fantastic. I hope they never take it off the menu. Belimbing is also hands down my favourite new restaurant opening of the year. Local ingredients and flavours presented by a young and talented team at genuinely reasonable prices. We love to see it."
– Nicole-Marie Ng, Regional Content Director, APAC
4. Lamb shawarma from Damascus Delights
Shawarma, falafel, hummus and baklava are the stars at this takeaway kiosk at Tampines MRT Station. Syrian chef Abdulhadi Al Saadi's story is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring, having been forced to move out of Syria due to the civil conflict, first to Lebanon and finally to Singapore, where he met his wife. Damascus Delights serves a Middle Eastern version of Turkey's döner kebabs, but our pick is the lamb shawarma ($10.50), which is clearly handled well, since it's devoid of any gamey taste and succulent and juicy to the bite.
"Damascus Delights first popped up on my TikTok feed, and as Singapore’s first Syrian food stall – conveniently near my humble HQ – I had to try it. Damascus-born chef Hadi plates up a well-marinated lamb shawarma that’s juicy, with a chilli sauce that hits that spicy–tangy sweet spot and tahini that’s smooth enough to make you want more."
– Cam Khalid, Branded Content Editor
5. Yellow Crab Curry from Jungle
Jungle fits right into the cluster of late-night watering holes along Ann Siang Hill. As night falls, spot a warm glow emitting from a corner shophouse unit, where the atmosphere is abuzz with the sound of chatter and funk tunes in the background. The restaurant sports a snappy, no-nonsense one-pager of a menu – just the way we like it. The crab curry ($32) has been a mainstay since opening. It's a decent level of spicy while remaining manageable, and though the portion looks small, a little goes a long way, especially when dribbled over fragrant white rice.
"Since Jungle opened, it has become one of my favourite restaurants in Singapore, serving up refined Thai food in a lovely setting on Ann Siang Hill. It's difficult to choose an outstanding dish from their menu 'cause they all are equally good but this curry probably tops it all."
– Farah Adilah, Campaign Manager
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