If you’ve grown up eating Teochew porridge in Singapore, one mouthful of this comforting dish is all it takes for the precious childhood memories to come flooding back. And while its core ingredients have remained more or less the same since its birth over 3,000 years ago, every kitchen has its own spin on this dish.
Teochew porridge in Singapore is typically affordable and served alongside an array of side dishes including mainstays like fish, pork belly, and salted vegetables. The next time you want a banquet on a budget, check out these top Teochew porridge places and head down for a sumptuous meal.
01 • Choon Seng Teochew Porridge
Operating for over 90 years and counting, Choon Seng Teochew Porridge is a family-run business that’s survived 5 generations, 2 relocations, and even a world war. In that time, they’ve garnered a loyal cadre of devotees, some of whom have been dining at Choon Seng for more than 60 years!
The secret to their success lies in their perseverance and a willingness to change with the times. In its current form, Choon Seng exists as a unique spin on a typical cai fan (mixed vegetable rice) store, with Teochew porridge replacing rice as the base.
To complement their porridge, Choon Seng offers several cai fan staples, such as braised beancurd, prawn fried egg, and mixed cauliflower. But the real star of the show is their selection of fresh fish. While the lineup varies by the day depending on what’s available, long-time fans of Choon Seng swear by the humpback grouper, which has a uniquely tender, bouncy flesh that’s perfect for absorbing the savoury sauces.
📍 Address: 43 Cambridge Road, Block 43, Singapore 210043
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Thu, 10am – 2pm, 5pm – 8pm | Fri and Sat, 10am – 2pm
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: facebook.com/p/Choon-Seng-Teochew-Porridge-100077581937184
02 • White House Teochew Porridge
Since taking over the business from his father, Darryl Peh has put his all into preserving the heartwarming flavours White House has become renowned for. While the restaurant’s repertoire has expanded in recent years to include fish soup and braised duck, the new additions slot naturally into White House’s range of nourishing dishes.
Many of White House’s sides are still made using the same recipes from Peh’s father. They include the braised pork belly, the steamed threadfin, and mustard vegetables. The otah, which has a jaw-droppingly huge appearance to go with its sharp flavour, continues to draw crowds as it used to. In an effort to make this Teochew porridge place in Singapore appeal to younger crowds, Peh has even included something special to entice even the most stubborn doubters: rice, for those who can’t stand the sight of porridge.
📍 Address: 1096 Serangoon Road, Singapore 328193
⏰ Opening hours: 11am – 11pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: teochewmuay.com
03 • Joo Seng Teochew Porridge
In the cold of the night, nothing warms the heart like a bowl of Teochew porridge. Rain or shine, Joo Seng Teochew Porridge keeps its doors open until 4am daily, offering to all who come a selection of rich, hearty sides.
Dishes include pig’s intestine, tau pok (fried beancurd puffs), and the classic pork belly. But what really puts Joo Seng on the map is its braised duck leg, which is, quite literally fall-off-the-bone tender and drenched in sweet soya sauce. At around $10 per person, it’s one of the best places to satisfy your late-night craving for Teochew porridge in Singapore. Supper, anyone? 😋
📍 Address: 14 Cheong Chin Nam Road, Singapore 599738
⏰ Opening hours: 9:30am – 4am daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: teochewmuay.com
04 • Ye Lai Xiang Teochew Porridge
Long opening hours, a convenient central location, and tons of parking space make Ye Lai Xiang a hotspot for taxi uncles. But when a Teochew porridge spot is so affordable and has this many sides, there’s no reason why anyone shouldn’t help themselves to this longstanding fave.
Even though prices may vary based on various factors, you can easily order 10 dishes here without breaking the $25 barrier. For your money, you’ll get your pick of braised duck, preserved radish omelette, stuffed tofu, minced pork patty, and whatever Ye Lai Xiang’s 10-strong army has whipped up for the day. Forking out just a little more gets you the Nan Ru pork belly, which has a light beancurd flavour and velvety texture that seriously punches above its weight. And all of this can feed your entire squad — now, that’s a win!
📍 Address: 116 Bukit Merah View, #01-217, Singapore 151116
⏰ Opening hours: 10am – 4am daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: foodpanda.sg/restaurant/f0yw/ye-lai-xiang-teochew-porridge-ye-lai-xiang-chao-zhou-zhou-bukit-merah
05 • Heng Long Teochew Porridge
Wherever you are, there’s a Heng Long near you. This no-frills Teochew porridge stall has outlets throughout Singapore, all of which serve their signature porridge, tinged with just a whisper of sweetness. And as if that weren’t enough, each stall packs over 50 side dish options. Fatty braised pork, clams, Chinese sausages, chilli lala, and more await all who enter, even at the wee hours of the night.
📍 Address: Multiple outlets
⏰ Opening hours: 10am – 5pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: https://www.facebook.com/HengLongTeochewPorridge
06 • Ann Hoo Teochew Porridge
What’s the secret to becoming the highest-rated Teochew porridge in Singapore? Perhaps, you might find the answer in Ann Hoo’s old-school approach to cooking and steamed fish to die for. Even the prices at this humble stall will remind you of the good ol’ days. For less than $25, you could feed a family of 4 here and give them a generous serving of fish.
Just about everything here is a winner — from the sweet and sour chai buey (mustard greens stew) to the lightly-dressed steamed squid. Whatever you have, though, be sure to save some space for some pek tor he (rabbitfish), known for its moist flesh.
📍 Address: 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, #01-126/127 Cheng San Market & Cooked Food Centre, Singapore 560527
⏰ Opening hours: Tue to Sun, 11am – 9pm
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
07 • Sin Chao Gardens
An air-conditioned dining hall and ample free parking make Sin Chao Gardens a rare place for Teochew porridge in Singapore. Yet, to any diners visiting this heritage establishment, this restaurant offers all that and more.
While many restaurants for Teochew porridge in Singapore typically cook their sides in the morning, Sin Chao Gardens keeps multiple woks hot and busy at all times. This gives you the perfect opportunity to try out your favourite Teochew porridge sides fresher, and at a higher fidelity than some of its competitors. Some of their bestsellers include the braised duck, the iconic Teochew fish cake, and the preserved radish omelette.
As a testament to their Teochew-ness, Sin Chao Gardens also takes pride in their pomfret. Caught wild from the seas of Surabaya, the fish is served steaming fresh and contains a delightful surprise — look under it when you’re done eating to find some sliced pork.
📍 Address: 297 River Valley Road, Singapore 238338
⏰ Opening hours: 11am – 3:30pm, 5pm – 10pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: facebook.com/sinchaogardens
08 • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Novena
Ever since revamping its signature buffet, Express Cafe has become the go-to place for anyone looking for a unique way to enjoy Teochew porridge in Singapore. From just $6.40 for children and $11.40 for adults, it’s a great way to load up on free-flow Teochew porridge and Holiday Inn’s generous selection of classic sides.
The buffet includes over 20 sides including Teochew fishcakes, bittergourd scrambled eggs, lor bak (braised pork belly), and more. They’ve even dipped their toes into Cantonese cuisine to offer steamed minced pork with salted egg, so there’s very little here to stop you from assembling your ultimate feast.
If you need any more convincing, why not check out our review of Holiday Inn’s Teochew porridge buffet?
📍 Address: 201 Balestier Road, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Lobby Level, Singapore 329926
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Fri, 11:30am – 10pm | Sat and Sun, 11:30am – 12am
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: chope.co/singapore-restaurants/restaurant/express-cafe-bar
09 • 554 Teochew Curry Rice/Porridge
A nostalgic family-run joint that’s been running since the 80s, 554 Teochew Curry Rice/Porridge takes pride in its light yet flavourful approach to Teochew comfort food. While its curry rice is a crowd-pleaser, the porridge is the unsung hero — paired with its many homely sides, of course.
Sides include fresh Teochew-style steamed bass, otah, and minced pork. Staying true to the traditional style, this restaurant keeps its seasoning light to emphasise the freshness of the ingredients. But if you’re in need of a strong hit of flavour, go for the ikan bilis tossed in a special sweet and sour sauce. For a budget-friendly meal (around S$7 per person), this spot is a must-visit if you’re willing to brave the occasional peak hour queue.
📍 Address: 554 MacPherson Road, Singapore 368230
⏰ Opening hours: 10:30am – 8:30pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: teochewporridge.sg
10 • Zui Yu Xuan
Nestled in a heritage building in Far East Square, Zui Yu Xuan offers an atas version of Teochew porridge in Singapore. From Teochew-style Pomfret ($98) to Threadfin with Aged Chai Poh ($9.80), Zui Yu Xuan offers an intriguing peek into the more bougie side of Teochew culinary history.
The restaurant also carries the honour of being one of the few places to still make its beancurd and chicken ferment (only available in the lunch sets) with Puning beans, known for the contrast between their mellow flavour and coarse texture. Even the porridge ($1.20) has that extra bit of oomph to it, as it comes with no less than 5 condiments sourced directly from Chaoshan, the native land of the Teochew.
📍 Address: 130/131 Amoy Street, Far East Square, Singapore 049959
⏰ Opening hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 11pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: zuiyuxuan.zui-teochewcuisine.com
(Featured photo: Eatbook)
