Thai cuisine has earned a place in the Singapore dining scene. Whether preparing traditional Thai or applying a contemporary twist to it, the following establishments explore the multifaceted cuisine known for its melting pot of flavours with fusions of hot, tangy, salty, and sweet tastes. Gin hai aroy na (Thai for “enjoy your meal”)!
Jungle: Laid-back, unpretentious dining
Thai grill and bar Jungle at Ann Siang Hill is not your typical Thai restaurant. You won’t find standard fare here. It offers a laid-back yet well-crafted, unpretentious dining experience with an open-fire kitchen and classic funk and soul music inspired by Bangkok’s late-night drinking holes.
With carefully sourced ingredients, hand-pounded curry pastes, and sublime fire-glazed cooking, Jungle draws deeply from Thailand’s rich and extensive food culture for its reasonably-priced, distilled one-page menu.
The Pomelo-Lemongrass Salad ($18++), made with dried shrimp, homemade candied coconut, and Thai grapefruit, is light, refreshing, and tantalising, while herbs, spices, and chillies combine to make Northern Duck Laab ($20++), a rare find outside northern Thailand.
The grill section commands attention with dishes such as the Southern Style Charcoal Grilled Chicken ($17++), a slow-cooked version of Gai Golae (Coconut Grilled Chicken) skewers with a hand-pounded curry glaze. Infused with sweet, smoky, and umami flavours, Sugarcane Smoked Pork Jowl ($28++) is smoked with lychee wood and sugarcane before being grilled over charcoal.
Southern Crab Yellow Curry Wild Rice Shoots ($30) appears to be one of the biggest crowd-pleasers at Jungle, which rotates its curry offerings periodically. The sweet finale is self-explanatory: Grilled Banana Cake, Gula Melaka Caramel, Coconut Ice Cream ($14++).
Jungle also offers handmade cocktails, a selection of low-intervention wines, and a growing choice of sakes and beers to complement the cooking.
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm till late, Jungle seats 40 inside and 10 outside. Make your reservations here.
Jungle is at 10 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069789.
Fi Woodfire Thai: Reimagining dishes with fire
Taking its name from the Thai word for “fire”, Fi Woodfire Thai offers modern culinary concepts with a wood-fired twist at Robertson Walk.
The 40-seater restaurant with rattan accents from Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market as part of its decor, features a double-insulated wood-fired oven capable of reaching temperatures of 450 degrees Celsius. As bincho-tan charcoal and aromatic lychee wood fuel the oven, many dishes have a smoky richness, which enhances their traditional flavours.
Fi’s (pronounced “Fai’s”) menu, conceived after the team spent several weeks immersing themselves in Bangkok’s food culture, pays tribute to the cuisine reimagined for Singaporeans.
A highlight is Charred Corn Som Tum ($14++), an innovative take on a traditional Thai salad that is less common here. Fi mixes beautifully charred corn with shredded papaya, cherry tomatoes, long beans, dried shrimp, onions, chilli padi, and garlic, then adds fish sauce, lime juice, and peanuts.
Seafood Pad Thai ($18++) with stir-fried shrimp, squid, egg, tofu, bean sprouts, chives, rice noodles, and crushed peanuts that’s finished in the wood fire oven is a surefire hit. Also consider “Moo Ping” Smoked Pork Ribs ($42++) with 500g of Spanish chestnut-fed Duroc bone-in pork ribs that are marinated, slow-cooked, and finished in the wood fire oven with Burnt Butter Cabbage ($14++).
Fi’s beverage list includes Thai Ice Milk Tea and Thai Ice Lemon Tea ($8++ each) along with Chang and Singha beers ($12++ per pint), and Spicy Mango Margarita ($20++) that blends sweet and spicy flavors. Enjoy selected beers and bar snacks for just $5 during its 5pm to 5.55pm Happy Hour.
Open Sunday to Thursday,11.30am to 3pm, and 5pm to 10pm; Friday, Saturday and eve of public holidays, 11.30am to 3pm, and 5pm to 11pm. Make your reservations here.
Fi Woodfire is at 11 Unity Street, #01-07 Robertson Walk, Singapore 237995.
Fourgather: Eclectic and welcoming
Fourgather is a vibrant and eclectic culinary haven with authentic and modern Thai street food, art, and music. It is named for the four friends who dreamed it up following their successful home-based food delivery service, Arai Gor Mee, during the circuit breaker.
Their vision was to create a relaxed, welcoming space with a Thai vibe where friends could relax and enjoy good food, art, and music while enjoying authentic street food. Located in the lobby of Amoy Hotel within Far East Square, Telok Ayer Street, its unique entrance via Fuk Tak Chi Museum pays homage to the building’s iconic heritage and architecture while infusing touches of Bangkok’s distinctive vibe.
Boasting a warm, colourful ambience with a main dining hall and a lounge, it is designed as a cafe by day and a buzzy space by night. Led by head chef-consultant May Chaya, the menu is based on her experience and knowledge from working in her mother’s papaya salad shop and her background in Thai street food.
From comforting soups and refreshing salads to flavourful curries, its lunch sets are great for those watching their time. Try Khao Khai Jiao (omelette with rice) ($9.90++) or rice with Stir-fried Basil Pork/Chicken and Scrambled Eggs ($12.90++) along with Thai milk tea ($4.50++) or Thai soya bean ( $4++).
The menu also offers dishes like Yum Puu Maa (Flower Crab Salad; $36.90++), Gaeng Som (Thai Assam Tamarind Soup; $20.90++), Fried Fish Miang ($44.90++) with herbs and vegetables, and fragrant Pok Pork Spicy Noodle (Thai Tom Yum) at $13.90++).
For dessert, there’s Khanom Thuai (Traditional Steam Coconut Pudding; $9.90), Coconut Ice Cream ($8.90), and classics like Look Choop (Fruit-Shaped Mung Bean Dessert; $9.90++).
Come nightfall, tune into vibey Thai music, grab a seat at the bar and treat yourself to Thai street food bar snacks and drinks, including beer, cocktails, and spirits.
Open Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 11.30pm. Make your reservations via WhatsApp at 80712946.
Fourgather is at 76 Telok Ayer Street #01-02 (lobby of Amoy Hotel within Far East Square) Singapore 048464.
