China Square Central — the Cross Street Exchange retail podium at 18 Cross Street plus the Nankin Row shophouse stretch on Pickering Street — sits on the Telok Ayer/Chinatown edge of the CBD, one of Singapore's densest dining precincts and a few minutes' walk from Telok Ayer, Chinatown and Raffles Place MRT. The line-up leans heavily on Japanese ramen and yakitori and a wave of Korean specialists, rounded out by Spanish tapas, Neapolitan pizza, cafes and hawker-priced noodles. This guide covers standout eateries inside China Square Central itself alongside the best of the immediately walkable Amoy Street, Club Street, Stanley Street and Telok Ayer Street cluster.
Last verified: September 2026. Hours and prices can change — we re-check our guides regularly, but do confirm before a special trip.
The list
Mashi No Mashi Japanese (Wagyu ramen) · $$
Wagyumafia collective's ramen bar in China Square Central's Nankin Row, built on a 100% wagyu bone broth using Ozaki beef.
- Cuisine: Japanese (Wagyu ramen)
- Price: $$ · Ramen ~$18.80–$23.80
- Must-try: Ultra Wagyu Ramen, Wagyu Tsukemen, Wagyu Gyoza
- Where: 3 Pickering Street, #01-42 Nankin Row, Singapore 048660
- Area: China Square Central
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Sat 11am–3pm, 5:30pm–10pm; closed Sun
- Halal: No
JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang SBCD Korean (herbal chicken soup) · $$
Korea-founded herbal ginseng-chicken soup specialist (est. 1991) inside Cross Street Exchange, serving whole young chicken in cloudy hanbang broth.
- Cuisine: Korean (herbal chicken soup)
- Price: $$ · Samgyetang ~$29.80–$32.80
- Must-try: Healthy Samgyetang, Black Garlic Samgyetang, Hot Stone Bibimbap
- Where: 18 Cross Street, #B1-01, Singapore 048423
- Area: China Square Central
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Fri 11am–3pm, 5pm–10pm; Sat–Sun 11:30am–10pm
Beppu Menkan Japanese (Kyushu ramen) · $$
Long-running Kyushu-style ramen shop (20-plus years) tucked inside China Square Central, a reliable CBD lunch stalwart.
- Cuisine: Japanese (Kyushu ramen)
- Price: $$ · Ramen ~$14.80–$15.80++
- Must-try: Beef Char Siew Ramen, Tori Curry Ramen
- Where: 3 Pickering Street, #01-32/33, China Square Central, Singapore 048660
- Area: China Square Central
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30am–3pm, 6pm–10pm; Sat 11:30am–10pm; closed Sun
- Halal: No
Kulto Spanish (tapas & paella) · $$$
Shophouse Spanish specialist a short walk from China Square Central, known for Iberico croquettes and generous seafood paella.
- Cuisine: Spanish (tapas & paella)
- Price: $$$ · Tapas from ~$16++; paella from ~$58++
- Must-try: Jamon Iberico Croquettes, Seafood Paella
- Where: 87 Amoy Street
- Area: Amoy Street
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Sat 12pm–2:30pm, 5:30pm–10:30pm
- Halal: No
L'antica Pizzeria da Michele Italian (Neapolitan pizza) · $$
Southeast Asian outlet of the storied Naples pizzeria, turning out blistered Neapolitan pies minutes from China Square Central.
- Cuisine: Italian (Neapolitan pizza)
- Price: $$ · Pizza ~$28–$34++
- Must-try: Margherita, Cetara
- Where: 8 Club Street, #01-08
- Area: Club Street
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Sat 12pm–3pm, 6pm–11pm; Sun 12pm–3pm, 6pm–10pm
Song Gye Ok Korean (chicken BBQ) · $$$
First overseas outpost of the Korean chain, grilling chicken cuts (neck, gizzard, softbone, thigh) in a Seoul-style room; no reservations, QR-code queue.
- Cuisine: Korean (chicken BBQ)
- Price: $$$ · Signature grill platter ~$98++
- Must-try: Signature Grill Platter, Uiseong Garlic Fried Rice, SGO Signature Doenjang Stew
- Where: 113 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068582
- Area: Telok Ayer
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Sun–Thu 11am–3pm, 5pm–10pm; Fri–Sat 11am–3pm, 5pm–11pm
Morita Unigoro Japanese (uni omakase) · $$$$
Osaka-rooted omakase built around sea urchin, a special-occasion splurge in the shophouses beside China Square Central.
- Cuisine: Japanese (uni omakase)
- Price: $$$$ · Course from ~$168++
- Must-try: Uni Hotpot, Uni omakase course
- Where: 10 Stanley Street, #01-01
- Area: Stanley Street
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon, Thu–Fri 12pm–2:30pm, 6pm–10:30pm; Tue–Wed 6pm–10:30pm; Sat 12pm–2pm, 6pm–10:30pm
Torikizoku Japanese (yakitori izakaya) · $
Famous Japanese yakitori chain with a flat $3.90++ price on every plate, opened inside Cross Street Exchange.
- Cuisine: Japanese (yakitori izakaya)
- Price: $ · All food items $3.90++; drinks ~$9.90++
- Must-try: Signature Kizokuyaki skewers, Chicken skewers (salt/sauce)
- Where: 18 Cross Street
- Area: China Square Central
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Sat 11am–3pm, 5pm–10pm; closed Sun
- Halal: No
Um Yong Baek Korean (Busan pork soup) · $$
Busan-style dwaeji-gukbap (pork soup rice) specialist a block from China Square Central, popular at lunch.
- Cuisine: Korean (Busan pork soup)
- Price: $$ · Pork soup rice ~$22++
- Must-try: UYB Clear Daejigukbab
- Where: 27 Boon Tat Street
- Area: Telok Ayer
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Daily 11am–3:30pm, 5:30pm–10pm
- Halal: No
Elaine Bakery & Cafe Cafe (chiffon cakes) · $
Compact CBD cake cafe inside Cross Street Exchange serving Japanese-inspired fresh-cream chiffon cakes that rotate daily.
- Cuisine: Cafe (chiffon cakes)
- Price: $ · Cakes ~$11–$12; coffee from $4
- Must-try: Lychee Lumiere chiffon, Pandan Eclat chiffon, Matcha Yuzu Reverie
- Where: 18 Cross Street, #01-14, Singapore 048423
- Area: China Square Central
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Sat 9:30am–6:30pm; closed Sun
Kimpson's Table Korean (home-style) · $
Home-style Korean spot at Far East Square with lightly seasoned kalguksu, samgyetang and hansang sets mostly under $20.
- Cuisine: Korean (home-style)
- Price: $ · Sets & soups ~$15–$18
- Must-try: Samgyetang, Chicken Kalguksu, Beef Bulgogi Hansang
- Where: 134 Amoy Street, Far East Square, #01-01, Singapore 049963
- Area: Far East Square
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Fri 11am–3pm, 5:30pm–9pm; Sat 12pm–7pm; closed Sun
- Halal: No
Thachang Thai (boat noodles) · $
Thai boat-noodle specialist (relocated from Golden Mile) serving richly spiced pork and beef bowls in the Telok Ayer stretch.
- Cuisine: Thai (boat noodles)
- Price: $ · Boat noodles ~$10.90–$11.90++
- Must-try: Special Pork Boat Noodle, Beef Boat Noodle
- Where: 171 Telok Ayer Street
- Area: Telok Ayer
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Sat 11:30am–10pm
- Halal: No
Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen Malaysian (yong tau foo) · $
Ampang-style deep-fried yong tau foo doused in gravy, served bar-style near China Square Central.
- Cuisine: Malaysian (yong tau foo)
- Price: $ · YTF pieces a la carte
- Must-try: Ampang-style yong tau foo
- Where: 127 Telok Ayer Street
- Area: Telok Ayer
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–12am; Fri 11am–1am; Sat 4pm–11pm
Leshan Cafe Peranakan / laksa · $$
Peranakan-leaning cafe set inside the historic Thian Hock Keng Temple, known for its laksa a few minutes from China Square Central.
- Cuisine: Peranakan / laksa
- Price: $$ · Laksa from ~$13.60
- Must-try: Sing Laksa, Laksa Ramen
- Where: 168 Telok Ayer Street (within Thian Hock Keng Temple)
- Area: Telok Ayer
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Sat 11:30am–4:30pm
Kamal's Restaurant Indian-Muslim (biryani) · $
Muslim-owned mamak-style eatery near China Square Central specialising in fried chicken briyani; halal per ownership, confirm certification on visit.
- Cuisine: Indian-Muslim (biryani)
- Price: $ · Fried chicken briyani ~$8
- Must-try: Fried Chicken Briyani
- Where: 7 Stanley Street
- Area: Stanley Street
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Fri 7am–6pm; Sat 7am–3pm
- Halal: Halal
Plain Vanilla Cafe / bakery · $
Long-standing neighbourhood cafe and bakery on Telok Ayer Street, good for coffee, cupcakes and casual bites near China Square Central.
- Cuisine: Cafe / bakery
- Price: $ · Sandwiches ~$10++; cupcakes ~$4.80++
- Must-try: PBJ sandwich, Earl Grey Lavender Cupcake
- Where: 134 Telok Ayer Street
- Area: Telok Ayer
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
- Hours: Mon–Sat 7:30am–7pm; Sun 7:30am–5pm
At a glance: compare every spot
| Spot | Cuisine | Price | Area | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mashi No Mashi | Japanese (Wagyu ramen) | $$ | China Square Central | No |
| JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang SBCD | Korean (herbal chicken soup) | $$ | China Square Central | — |
| Beppu Menkan | Japanese (Kyushu ramen) | $$ | China Square Central | No |
| Kulto | Spanish (tapas & paella) | $$$ | Amoy Street | No |
| L'antica Pizzeria da Michele | Italian (Neapolitan pizza) | $$ | Club Street | — |
| Song Gye Ok | Korean (chicken BBQ) | $$$ | Telok Ayer | — |
| Morita Unigoro | Japanese (uni omakase) | $$$$ | Stanley Street | — |
| Torikizoku | Japanese (yakitori izakaya) | $ | China Square Central | No |
| Um Yong Baek | Korean (Busan pork soup) | $$ | Telok Ayer | No |
| Elaine Bakery & Cafe | Cafe (chiffon cakes) | $ | China Square Central | — |
| Kimpson's Table | Korean (home-style) | $ | Far East Square | No |
| Thachang | Thai (boat noodles) | $ | Telok Ayer | No |
| Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen | Malaysian (yong tau foo) | $ | Telok Ayer | — |
| Leshan Cafe | Peranakan / laksa | $$ | Telok Ayer | — |
| Kamal's Restaurant | Indian-Muslim (biryani) | $ | Stanley Street | Halal |
| Plain Vanilla | Cafe / bakery | $ | Telok Ayer | — |
Your questions answered
What kind of food is China Square Central known for?
The precinct skews strongly Japanese and Korean — ramen, yakitori, Korean BBQ and samgyetang dominate — alongside Spanish tapas, Neapolitan pizza, cafes and hawker-priced noodles. Inside China Square Central itself (18 Cross Street and the Nankin Row shophouses on Pickering Street) you'll find spots like Mashi No Mashi, JIHO samgyetang, Beppu Menkan and Torikizoku, with more variety across the adjoining Amoy, Club and Telok Ayer streets.
What's the nearest MRT to China Square Central?
Telok Ayer station on the Downtown Line is closest, roughly a two-to-five-minute walk. Chinatown (Downtown/North East lines) and Raffles Place (East-West/North-South lines) are also within easy walking distance, which is handy at busy weekday lunch hours.
How much should I budget to eat here?
There’s a wide range. Hawker-priced rice rolls and briyani sit around $6–$11, mid-range ramen and Korean soups run roughly $15–$32, and premium options like Song Gye Ok’s grill platter (~$98++) or Morita Unigoro’s uni omakase (from ~$168++) go significantly higher. Note that ++ prices add service charge and GST.
Are there halal options at China Square Central?
Halal-certified choices are limited in this precinct. Kamal's Restaurant on nearby Stanley Street is Muslim-owned and serves briyani, but many of the Japanese and Korean venues serve pork and alcohol and are not halal. Always verify a venue's current halal status before you go if this matters to you.
Do I need reservations, and are there queues?
Weekday lunch (roughly 12–1:30pm) is peak given the surrounding offices, so popular ramen and Korean spots can see queues. Several, such as Song Gye Ok, don't take reservations and use a QR-code waitlist instead, while sit-down dinner venues and omakase counters are best booked ahead. Opening hours and rest days shift, so confirm before heading down.