Singapore's food scene never sits still. A fresh wave of openings has landed: a Korean BBQ chain with 300+ outlets back home, a halal Japanese yakiniku-bento spot, Hangzhou comfort food in Katong, and a brand new Toy Story high tea 70 floors up. Here are 7 new restaurants and cafés worth a trip in October 2026, with full addresses, opening hours and what to order.
Singapore's dining scene is on a roll: here are 7 new restaurants and cafés worth trying right now, from Korean BBQ to a brand new Toy Story high tea 70 floors up.
> Quick view: top pick Obongzip (Korean BBQ, The Star Vista) for the $28 XL Grilled Tteok. Cheapest: NiKU iKU halal bentos from $7.80. Range $5.80 to $78++. Catch: Planet Melmac shuts Mondays, and SKAI's high tea needs a booking.
A household name in Korea with over 300 outlets, Obongzip made its Singapore debut on Tanjong Pagar Road in January 2026 and opened this second outlet at The Star Vista in mid-May. Beyond the tabletop Korean BBQ, the showstopper is the XL Grilled Tteok ($28), a palm-sized Korean rice cake, crispy outside and soft and chewy within, dusted with injeolmi (roasted soybean) powder and served with a honey dip. The other signatures are the fire-grilled spicy octopus, bossam pork and spicy buckwheat noodles, all served with free-flow banchan; a group can get all three on the Obongzip Special platter ($108++). WHERE: 1 Vista Exchange Green, #01-43/K4 (tel 6262 0689), open Mon–Fri 11:30am–3:30pm and 5–11pm (note the afternoon break) and straight through 11:30am–11pm on Saturdays and Sundays.BEST FOR: a group K-BBQ night with a viral, shareable rice-cake centrepiece.
Photo: Obongzip official
A genuinely useful opening: NiKU iKU built its name as Singapore's first halal-certified Japanese takeaway kiosk, and Our Tampines Hub is one of its first two dine-in outlets (the other is at Lot One). We re-confirmed the certification on MUIS's own halal register on 13 October 2026: this outlet is listed at #B1-K10/K11, along with ten more NiKU iKU outlets and the brand's central food preparation area, so it is a brand-wide certification rather than a one-shop claim. Everything is grilled à la minute, with yakiniku (grilled) and nitsuke (simmered) dishes in its signature iKU-ben boxes from just $7.80, plus a premium Gobo rice option cooked with fresh burdock root and add-ons like tamagoyaki, onsen egg and king oyster mushroom. There's a live show kitchen, so you can watch your bento being assembled. Halal yakiniku is still relatively uncommon, so this is a welcome, wallet-friendly addition for the east side. WHERE: 1 Tampines Walk, #B1-K10/K11, open daily 11am–9:45pm.BEST FOR: an affordable, inclusive Japanese meal the whole family can share.
Casa Vostra's third outlet, and its first in the East, opened at Tampines Mall in May 2026, a 58-seater directly opposite Tampines MRT. The headline is a collaboration with Rome-based chef Luciano Monosilio, widely called Italy's 'King of Carbonara' and chef-owner of a Michelin Guide-listed restaurant there: his Carbonara Spaghetti ($21++) is the proper Roman version (egg, pecorino, guanciale, black pepper, no cream). Pasta is made fresh daily from Italian-milled durum wheat and the pizza dough gets a 36-hour cold ferment. Several dishes debut here before reaching the other outlets. WHERE: 4 Tampines Central 5, #01-33A, daily 11:30am–10pm.BEST FOR: a fuss-free Italian dinner or a weekend family pizza-and-pasta outing in the east.
Photo: Casa Vostra official
Hangzhou-style Chinese comfort food at i12 Katong, the Hangzhou brand's first outlet outside China, since joined by a second at Aperia Mall. Prices punch above their value: the Dongpo Pork, slow-braised pork belly, starts from just $8.80+, and the Youbu Chicken Rice Cake ($11.80+) is a hearty, homey signature. Dough is made fresh daily and fillings from scratch, and the eight-hour claypot chicken soup and crispy egg cakes are the dishes regulars come back for. Hang bang cai (杭帮菜) is one of China's eight major culinary traditions and rarely done properly here. WHERE: 112 East Coast Road, #02-13/14 & #02-26/27, daily 11am–9:30pm (per the brand's own 9 August post); about 5–8 minutes' walk from Marine Parade MRT.BEST FOR: a comforting, affordable Chinese meal in the east when you want something a little different from the usual zi char.
Photo: Pexels
A fun, space-themed American fried-chicken joint in the Haji Lane and Arab Street pocket, styled after the US chicken-finger chains. Meals run $9.90 (Solo Orbit) through $13.50 (Double Orbit) to $15.90 (Galactic Feast), with a Melmac Bucket from $22.90 and the house 'Cheesy Cosmos' sauce as the signature. Two fair warnings. It's the oldest entry on this list, opened in late 2025, so it's 'new' only relative to the crowd, and seating is limited (roughly eight seats), which suits a quick meal rather than a long sit-down.HALAL CHECK: it was written up at opening as being in the process of certification, but as of 13 October 2026 it still does not appear on MUIS's halal register under its name or its postal code, so don't assume it. WHERE: 23 Arab Street, Tue–Sun 11am–10pm; listings disagree on whether it opens Mondays, so check before a Monday trip. Also ignore Google Maps' permanently closed label: the shop's own Instagram account (@planetmelmacsg) was still posting daily up to 12 October 2026.BEST FOR: a casual, affordable fried-chicken fix while exploring Bugis and Haji Lane.
Photo: Planet Melmac official
The second outlet from a genuinely lovely local story: Freshio was started by Uncle KT (72) and Aunty Stephanie (75), who learnt to make gelato from scratch and built a cult following at their Bencoolen shop, which holds 4.9 stars across 1,500+ Google reviews. The Maxwell outpost sits on the ground floor of KADA, a restored 1920s former hospital, and churns 16 flavours in-house daily, plus durian desserts and newer yoghurt and açai bowls. The bestselling Sicilian Pistachio ($6.80) is the one to get, rich and nutty, with Turkish Hazelnut ($5.80) close behind, and the Pistachio Affogato ($12) pairs it with espresso for an afternoon pick-me-up. WHERE: 5 Kadayanallur Street, #01-07, daily 12pm–9pm, two minutes from Maxwell MRT.BEST FOR: a quality gelato break around Tanjong Pagar and Maxwell, or an after-lunch dessert in the CBD.
Photo: Freshio Gelato official
For a special-occasion treat, SKAI on Level 70 of Swissôtel The Stamford, the highest restaurant in Singapore, has just swapped its Winnie-the-Pooh high tea for a Disney and Pixar Toy Story one. 'You've Got A Friend In Me' runs 1 September to 30 November 2026 and reimagines Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Rex, Hamm, Lotso and the Aliens as handcrafted sweets and savouries by Director of Culinary Nicholas Issel and Executive Pastry Chef Yong Ming Choong, served with warm scones, Devonshire cream and a skyline view. The good news is the price: $78++ per adult and $39++ per child aged 6 to 12, and that is one flat daily rate. The Pooh tea it replaces charged $88++ and $44++ at weekends, so a Saturday visit is now meaningfully cheaper, and the rate includes a Toy Story alcohol-free cocktail, TWG Tea or gourmet coffee. Child and vegetarian menus are available.BOOKING: required. High tea runs 12pm to 5:30pm with seatings only between 12pm and 3:30pm and a 2-hour dining limit, so 5:30pm is when the room closes, not when you can still be seated. Reserve on skai.sg or at 6431 6156.BEST FOR: a birthday, a celebration, or a memorable parent-and-child afternoon up high.
Photo: SKAI, Swissôtel The Stamford
| New spot | Cuisine | Where | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obongzip | Korean BBQ | The Star Vista, #01-43/K4 | Mon–Fri 11:30am–3:30pm & 5–11pm; Sat–Sun 11:30am–11pm |
| NiKU iKU (halal) | Japanese grilled-meat bento | Our Tampines Hub, #B1-K10/K11 | Daily 11am–9:45pm |
| Casa Vostra | Italian pizza & pasta | Tampines Mall, #01-33A | Daily 11:30am–10pm |
| Nai Nai Flavor | Hangzhou Chinese | i12 Katong, #02-13/14 | Daily 11am–9:30pm |
| Planet Melmac | American fried chicken | 23 Arab Street | Tue–Sun 11am–10pm |
| Freshio Gelato | Italian gelato | KADA Maxwell, #01-07 | Daily 12pm–9pm |
| SKAI High Tea | Toy Story high tea | Swissôtel L70 | Seatings 12pm–3:30pm; 1 Sep–30 Nov |
> Also worth a detour, and big enough for its own write-up: Hikiniku to Come, Tokyo's viral charcoal-grilled hamburg, now at VivoCity for a single $27.90 set.
If you're planning a route rather than picking one place, the east is the easiest cluster: NiKU iKU (Our Tampines Hub) and Casa Vostra (Tampines Mall) are a short hop apart, and Nai Nai Flavor at i12 Katong is 5–8 minutes' walk from Marine Parade MRT. In town, Freshio Gelato (5 Kadayanallur Street) is two minutes from Maxwell MRT and works as dessert after a CBD lunch, while Planet Melmac (23 Arab Street) fits a Bugis and Haji Lane wander, with the caveat that it's listed as closed on Mondays. Obongzip sits at The Star Vista in Buona Vista, above Buona Vista MRT, and SKAI is on Level 70 of Swissôtel The Stamford at City Hall.
"New restaurants in Singapore 2026" covers a lot of ground, so here's how recent each opening actually is, worth knowing if you've already been to a few.
| New spot | When it opened |
|---|---|
| Obongzip (The Star Vista) | Mid-May 2026, second outlet; the brand's SG debut was Tanjong Pagar Road in Jan 2026 |
| NiKU iKU (Our Tampines Hub) | 15 May 2026, one of the brand's first two dine-in outlets |
| Casa Vostra (Tampines Mall) | 15 May 2026; the Chef Luciano collaboration dishes landed 26 May |
| Nai Nai Flavor (i12 Katong) | 2026, the Hangzhou brand's first outlet outside China |
| Freshio Gelato (KADA Maxwell) | April 2026, second outlet, after the original in Bencoolen |
| Planet Melmac (Arab Street) | Late 2025, the oldest entry here, still new to most people |
| SKAI 'You've Got A Friend In Me' | Started 1 September 2026, runs to 30 November 2026 |
In the CBD specifically, Freshio Gelato at KADA Maxwell is the pick of the 2025–2026 openings on this list; everything else clusters in the east or town.
Three newer openings, each with its own write-up:
*All seven spots were re-verified as still trading on 13 October 2026: CapitaLand's tenant directory for Casa Vostra, MUIS's halal register for NiKU iKU's Our Tampines Hub outlet, The Star Vista's directory for Obongzip, i12 Katong's store directory for Nai Nai Flavor, casavostra.sg for Casa Vostra's hours, freshiogelato.com for the KADA outlet's daily 12pm-9pm hours, Planet Melmac's own Instagram, and skai.sg for the high tea's dates, prices and seating times. Nai Nai Flavor's hours come from its own 9 August post and Freshio's April KADA opening from the brand's posts. The two halal claims were checked directly against MUIS's halal establishments register on 13 October 2026. Openings, menus, prices and hours are set by each venue and change often, so confirm current details on the restaurant's official channels before heading down. Details compiled from Eatbook, Daniel Food Diary, SG Food on Foot and official venue listings. Cover image: SKAI's official photo of its 'You've Got A Friend In Me' Toy Story-inspired high tea (skai.sg). Card photos are the venues' own: Obongzip and Planet Melmac from their Instagram accounts, Casa Vostra, Freshio Gelato and SKAI from their websites. The Nai Nai Flavor photo is an illustrative stock image (Pexels), not the restaurant's dish, and NiKU iKU has no photo because the brand publishes none usable at card size.*
A few stand out for families. NiKU iKU at Our Tampines Hub does affordable, MUIS-certified halal Japanese grilled-meat bentos (from $7.80), so the whole family, including Muslim friends, can eat, and Our Tampines Hub has plenty for kids. Casa Vostra at Tampines Mall is easy crowd-pleasing pizza and pasta. And for a special-occasion treat, SKAI's new Toy Story high tea, 'You've Got A Friend In Me', has a dedicated child price ($39++ for ages 6 to 12) and very photogenic plating, with a child menu and a vegetarian menu alongside the standard one. It runs 1 September to 30 November 2026, and the last seating each day is 3:30pm.
One is, and we checked the register rather than the marketing. NiKU iKU at Our Tampines Hub (#B1-K10/K11) appears on MUIS's halal establishments register, re-verified 13 October 2026, and so do ten of its other outlets plus its central food preparation area, so the certification is real and current. Planet Melmac Chick 'N Chips is the one to be careful about: it was written up at opening as being in the process of getting certified, but as of 13 October 2026 it still does not appear on the MUIS register under its name or its postal code (199722). Treat it as not certified, and ask the outlet directly if that matters for your group. The other five spots on this list (Korean BBQ, Italian, Hangzhou Chinese, gelato, hotel high tea) are not halal-certified.
Depends what you're after. For a fun, shareable group meal, Obongzip's viral XL Grilled Tteok ($28) at The Star Vista is the talking point. For everyday value, NiKU iKU's halal Japanese grilled-meat bentos start at just $7.80. And for a one-off treat, SKAI's Toy Story high tea 70 floors up is the most memorable. It's still premium at $78++ per adult, but it is now cheaper than the Winnie-the-Pooh tea it replaced: that one charged $88++ on weekends, while this one is one flat daily rate all week. Book ahead either way.
The east is especially well-served: NiKU iKU and Casa Vostra are both in Tampines (Our Tampines Hub and Tampines Mall), and Nai Nai Flavor is at i12 Katong. Elsewhere, Obongzip is at The Star Vista in Buona Vista, Planet Melmac is on Arab Street near Bugis, Freshio Gelato is at KADA Maxwell in the CBD, and SKAI's high tea is on Level 70 of Swissôtel The Stamford in the city centre.
Yes. We re-checked all seven on 13 October 2026 and every one is still trading. One false alarm to ignore: Google Maps currently labels Planet Melmac as permanently closed, but the shop's own Instagram account was still posting daily up to 12 October 2026. The one thing that changed is SKAI's high tea: the Winnie-the-Pooh version, 'Tea with a Little Hunny', finished its run on 31 August 2026 and has been replaced by a Toy Story tea, 'You've Got A Friend In Me', running 1 September to 30 November 2026. Two hours traps are worth knowing: Planet Melmac is listed as closed on Mondays, and Obongzip shuts between 3:30pm and 5pm on weekdays (it runs straight through 11:30am to 11pm on Saturdays and Sundays), so an afternoon walk-in on a Tuesday won't work. Everything else runs daily. Menus, prices and hours are set by the venues and do change, so it's still worth a quick check on their official channels before you head down.
For under $15 a head, NiKU iKU's halal iKU-ben boxes start at $7.80, Nai Nai Flavor's Dongpo Pork starts from $8.80+, Planet Melmac's meals run $9.90 to $15.90, and a scoop at Freshio Gelato is $5.80 to $6.80. Mid-range: Casa Vostra's Luciano carbonara is $21++ and Obongzip's XL Grilled Tteok is $28, with the sharing platter at $108++ for a group. SKAI's Toy Story high tea is the splurge at $78++ per adult, though that now includes a themed alcohol-free cocktail, TWG Tea or gourmet coffee. On booking: SKAI genuinely requires a reservation, since seatings are fixed and the last one is at 3:30pm with a 2-hour limit, and Obongzip and Casa Vostra are worth booking for weekend dinner. The rest are walk-in, though Planet Melmac has limited seating, so go off-peak.
Sushiro opened at Hougang Mall (#02-23/24) on 1 October, with a rotating 1-for-1 on one premium sushi at a time and the drinks bar at $1.50++ until 14 October. Molly Tea, the Shenzhen jasmine milk tea chain, soft-opened its third Singapore store at Hillion Mall on 6 October, its first in the West. Onggii's third outlet, a hanok-style gomtang house at Novena Square 2, opened in September and gives members 20% off every visit until 31 October. September's openings were Bari Bari Grand at The Capitol (1 Sep), Sushidan at Parkway Parade (5 Sep) and Elijah Pies' Joo Chiat flagship (12 Sep); their opening deals have ended. Each has its own write-up, linked in the sections below the list.
