[SPONSORED] There are plenty of hot tables in Singapore with a strictly no-reservations policy. Those can be a pain to queue up for, no matter how delicious the payoff. However, there are also a bunch of places with deceivingly snaking queues, despite the fact that you can easily book a table and all it takes is a bit of planning ahead and a few clever clicks on Chope. We bet you didn’t know you could skip the line at these ridiculously popular spots:
FOC | Hongkong Street
FOC
If there’s one new restaurant that’s been snapping up the foodie headlines recently, it’s Michelin-starred Nandu Jubany’s gastronomic Spanish tapas resto-bar. They serve both classic Spanish tapas dishes and “with a twist” Asian small plates like scallops in dashi broth, but we say head straight for the Galician-style octopus and watermelon gazpacho. Most people stumble upon this place, so there’s always a bit of wait, especially for their counter seats with killer (and incredibly affordable) cocktails.
Book now!
Esquina | Jiak Chuan Road
Esquina
Peak hour wait time: 1 hour 15 mins
Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton needs no introduction. Pollen and The Study are both delish, but neither is quite as buzzing as this Spanish tapas place. Although the downstairs bar and counter seats are by walk-ins only (although if you book at 6:30pm, you can request downstairs counter seats), did you know they’ve taken over the second floor space, as well? If there’s ever a cheat sheet to navigating this hot ticket and its conceptual tapas dishes (don’t miss the onion bread with smoked bone marrow butter or the mini Spanish breakfast), this might be it.
Book now!
1 Market | Plaza Singapura
1Market by Chef Wan
Peak hour wait time: 45 mins
You can safely say that we’re a nation that likes its fair share of celeb chefs. This halal Asian buffet restaurant, helmed by Malaysian TV star Chef Wan, consistently has lines out the door, whether it’s for a quick weekday lunch or a weekend family dinner. There’s a huge spread including charcuterie, seafood, a Japanese section (think zucchini and prawn tempuras) and even an entire bar dedicated to Asian home cooking with favorites like gulai ayam and sambal stingray.
Book now!
Moosehead | Telok Ayer Street
Moosehead
Peak hour wait time: 1 hour 15 mins
This narrow Mediterranean restaurant in the middle of Telok Ayer is always packed to the brim with after-work execs, regulars and passers-by alike. There isn’t much wiggle room in there, but the dishes they serve are well worth the squeeze. Think bacon-wrapped dates and grilled asparagus with leeks and miso, but don’t forget to save room for their pineapple-chilli ice pop with gula Melaka foam for dessert. In this hip place, it’s definitely a safer bet to book ahead.
Book now!
Lime Deli | Telok Ayer Street
Lime Deli
Peak hour wait time: 30 mins
This is the more casual sister outlet of Jiak Chuan’s Caribbean resto Lime House, but this place isn’t just a grab-and-go deli. Sure they’ve got desk lunch-friendly food like jerk chicken sandwiches, but they’ve also got heartier dinner-focused like curried pumpkin soups, jerk beef burger, curry goat and catch of the Caribbean (all come with two side dishes like sweet potato mash and macaroni pie). Definitely dishes best enjoyed with friends at a proper table! Psst, did you know they have bottled rum punches, too?
Book now!
DIBS | Duxton Road
Dibs
Peak hour wait time: 45 mins
Everyone who comes here feels like a foodie insider with its unassuming décor and great food. The small space is usually packed to the seams with countless people spilling to the roadside in order to snap a table, especially on weekends. Chef Leong Khai Git serves up delicious off-cuts with dishes like pork rilettes made from pork shoulder; southern tartare with jerky, pickles and quail eggs; and the ever-popular chicken roll that’s a clever take on a national dish, chicken rice.
Book now!
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