Best Casual Restaurants in Singapore
Discover Top Casual Restaurant in Singapore that Offers Comfort Food, Chill Vibes and Good Time
Not every dining needs to be a candlelit, 10-course tasting menu with foam and a wine pairing. Sometimes, you just want a plate of really good fried chicken, a saucy bowl of pasta, or Thai green curry that makes you sweat a little all while wearing sneakers.
This casual list is your go-to guide to the best casual dining spots in Singapore. These are the places we keep coming back to when we’re off the clock, hungry, and craving comfort food with good vibes. It’s all about laid-back, delicious, and easy to love. And if you’re planning to dine and don’t feel like overthinking it? Bookmark this page. You’ll thank us later.
What Is Casual Dining? And Why It’s Perfect for Friends, Families & Everyone in Between
Sometimes, what we crave is a space that feels relaxed but still gets the flavours and vibes just right. That’s where casual dining comes in.
Casual dining is perfect if you're rounding up friends for a Friday night catch-up. Planning a laid-back family weekday dinner, or just looking for a dining experience that doesn't require dressing up. Think good food without the stress, great ambience without the pressure.
💡 So, What Is Casual Dining?
Casual dining refers to restaurants that strike a balance between fast food and simple dining. The main goal? Comfort and approachability without sacrificing quality. These places usually offer table service, mid-range prices, and a menu filled with familiar favorites, from international cuisine to classic Singaporean staples.
The setting is relaxed, the service is friendly, and the mood is always welcoming. It's where a weekday diner can easily become your go-to hangout.
Who Is It Best For?
Casual dining works for just about everyone:
Families looking for a low-stress night out
Groups of friends wanting a lively and casual and fun place to hang
Couples enjoying date night without the hefty splurge
Solo diners looking for comfort food and a cozy corner
The best spot for this dining type is boast of menus that cater to all tastes. Often have vegetarian, kid-friendly, or international options all served in an inviting dining hall or stylish interior.
What Makes It So Popular?
People love casual dining experience because it feels easy but still special. The best casual restaurants in Singapore deliver not just great plates but a welcoming ambience you can actually relax in.
Many of these restaurants have become popular spots thanks to their consistent service, stylish interiors and menus that highlight bold flavour and comfort food classics. You get all the satisfaction of a nice dining restaurant, but without any pretentiousness.
The 9 Best Restaurant with Casual Dining Experience in Singapore
Casual dining is where the real fun happens. Here's Creative eateries top restaurant with flavor comes first, the ambience is easygoing, and the only rule is: bring an appetite. Come for the food, stay for the vibes.
1. Tanglin Cookhouse
Tanglin Mall and Paya Lebar Quarter 3
British-Inspired Colonial Cuisine
Near Orchard Road
Perfect For: Leisurely Brunch place, lunches, Group Dinners
At Tanglin Cookhouse, British-inspired fare gets a local twist in a breezy, colonial-themed space that feels both elegant and inviting. Think vintage rattan chairs, warm lighting, and dishes like Hainanese Pork Chop that spark conversation. The ambience is refined but never rigid, which makes it ideal for casual catch-ups that stretch into long meals. Private rooms are available, and the space boasts a dining hall perfect for intimate celebrations or low-key gatherings.
Recommended: Lunch and Dinner Sets, Gin & Tonics, Fish & Chips, Wellingtons (Beef and Salmon) Danish pastries, specialty coffee and more...
👉 Reserve your seats here, talk to us via concierge
2. Barossa Steak & Grill
1 HarbourFront Walk, #01-161/162, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Australian-Inspired Grill & Bar
Harbourfront Vivocity with Water front Views
Perfect For: Wine and Dine, Steak night with friends, Live music
Barossa isn’t your usual steakhouse. It's casual, cool, and made for those who like their meat grilled and their evenings lively. Josper-grilled steaks meet live band energy, turning your dining into an experience. This casual and fun spot draws locals and tourists alike, with its relaxed layout and food pack of flavour punch. Come for the juicy steaks, stay for the live tunes from Thursday to Saturday.
Recommended: Kujukushima Bay Oyster Platter, Wagyu Beef Bolognese Pasta, 36hrs Slow Cooked Australia Angus Beef Cheek, sticky date pudding and more..
👉 Book a table here, talk to us via concierge
3. Vineyard at HortPark
33 Hyderabad Rd, #02-02 HortPark, Singapore 119578
French-Inspired Garden Bistro
Serene Garden Restaurant setting
Perfect For: Garden dates, Group dinners, Wine & dine evenings
Located in the lush greenery of HortPark, Vineyard delivers rustic French European charm and a tranquil setting that instantly makes you slow down. It’s a casual dining experience where clinking glasses and good food are the main events. With its indoor dining hall and breezy outdoor patio to mingle ad take photos. Vineyard’s setting transforms weekday meals into something you’ll want to linger over. Bonus: their wine list is a real treat.
Recommended: Zucchini Croquette with Chilli Dijonnaise, Pan-seared Scallops, French Onion Soup, Iberian Pork Tenderloin, selection of Wines (red or white) and more..
👉Book a table here, talk to us via concierge
4. Tajimaya Yakiniku
Vivocity and Great World City
Japanese Charcoal BBQ Grill
Harbourfront / Great World
Perfect For: Birthday dinners, Group BBQs, People who love Asian cuisine Japanese grilling
This is hands-on dining at its best. At Tajimaya Yakiniku, you grill top-tier Japanese Wagyu right at your table minus the smoke, thanks to their smart exhaust system. It’s relaxed, interactive, and ideal for bringing people together. Private rooms are available, and the restaurant also offers stunning waterfront views that make it a popular spot for both celebrations and weeknight hangouts.
Recommended: Premium wagyu buffet, Ala carte sets like yakiniku Platter, Japanese desserts, Sake, Shochu, and more..
👉Book your table here, talk to us via concierge
5. Suki-Ya
Multiple Locations: Bugis+, VivoCity, Plaza Singapura, etc.
Japanese Hotpot Buffet
Islandwide
Perfect For: Casual hangouts, Communal dining, Affordable indulgence
Hotpot just hits different when you’re gathered around a bubbling broth with friends. Suki-Ya nails that homey, casual dining experience with unlimited thin-sliced meats. With a vibrant veggie bar, and an easygoing atmosphere that makes it easy to relax. It’s one of the best casual restaurants in Singapore for a weekday lunch or a no-pressure dinner plan that doesn’t skimp on good food. Plaza Singapura outlet has chocolate fountain dessert station fyi!
Recommended: Mala soup base, Sukiyaki, butaniku, paired with beef chuck roll, pork and chicken slices and more..
👉Reserve a table here, talk to us via concierge
6. Typhoon Café
Plaza Singapura, Kallang Wave Mall
Taiwanese-Inspired Dining Space
With outlet near Ion Orchard
Perfect For: Afternoon tea, Desserts & quick bites, A chill weekday wind-down
This restaurant offer a unique bright, playful café boasts best tasting artisan teas, fluffy pancakes, and Taiwan-style comfort food with flair. The ambience is cool and calming, like a cozy Taipei café dropped right in the heart of Singapore. If you’re craving casual yet elegant dining spaces, Typhoon Café serves up comfort with a side of Instagram appeal.
Recommended: Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, Crispy Chicken Cutlet with Typhoon Egg Fried Rice, Claypot Sanbei Chicken, desserts, Taiwanese drinks and more..
👉Reserve a table here, talk to us via concierge
7. Suki-Suki Hotpot
2 Yishun Walk, #04-01, HomeTeamNS Khatib, Singapore 767944
Halal Asian Hotpot Buffet
Yishun
Perfect For: Group feasts, Family-friendly meals, Halal gatherings
Affordable yet delicious casual hotpot house with over 40 ingredients and seven soup bases, Suki Suki delivers gastronomic value without the splurge. Designed for affordable Asian hotpot group dining. It offers a fun and casual atmosphere where the only thing serious is your appetite. Halal-certified and spacious, it's a fuss-free dining restaurant perfect for friends, families, and everyone in between.
Recommended: Singapore Lemak Laksa, Mala soup base, Sukiyaki (newly release broth), more types of soup bases, wide variety of fresh meat slices and more..
👉Reserve a table here, talk to us via concierge
8. Bangkok Jam
1 Kim Seng Promenade, #01-114, Great World, Singapore 237994
Modern Thai Cuisine with Plant-based Thai Options
Near River Valley
Perfect For: Thai cravings, Plant-based plates, Weekend dinner runs
At Bangkok Jam, your classic Thai cuisine gets a fun city upgrade. Worth a trip with menu that is bold, fresh, and sustainably-minded. With plenty of flavor-packed best dishes that aren’t shy on spice or creativity. The restaurant features a warm, modern interior where you can just kick back, share a platter, and sip on Thai milk tea while the world rushes by outside.
Recommended: Bangkok set (lunch set), Thai appetizers and desserts, Stir-Fried Prawns and more..
👉Book your table here, talk to us via concierge
How to Choose the Best Casual Restaurant That Suits You
You’re not into fine dining restaurant or open kitchen today, this guide is for you. You’re looking for a place where the food shows up warm, the people are easy, and maybe the music is a little too good for how casual it feels. Here’s how to figure out which casual restaurant is known for being exactly your kind of place.
1. Go Where the Tables Suites your Comfort
Some places have that kind of quiet buzz. The kind that makes it feel okay to linger for hours or stop by in gym clothes. That’s what you want. A spot that offers food in a relaxed setting, where the lighting’s warm. The chairs aren’t trying too hard, and the playlist makes you wonder if someone behind the counter used to DJ in Berlin.
2. You Want Options, But Not a Phonebook Menu
There should be enough on the menu to feel like you’re not locked in but not so much that it feels like a food court. Look for a restaurant that offers real range stuff to pick at, stuff to devour, and dishes to share if the table’s feeling generous. Especially if it offers a wide range of small plates or carb-heavy things meant for everyone to dip in.
3. Trust the One-Dish Hype
A good casual place has a sleeper hit. Something that shows up at every table whether you asked or not. The favourite dish of the night is rarely labeled that way, but it’s always there. Something soft and tender, or charred just right, that people start missing before they’ve finished. That’s what you want to order.
4. Think About Where You’ll Be Afterwards
If you’re going to walk it off, wander around, or grab a nightcap. Then the restaurant is located somewhere that makes sense. Maybe it’s located in the heart of a buzzy neighbourhood like Marina Bay. Or maybe it’s a little out of the way, but you get that 'hidden gem' serotonin boost for finding it.
5. It Has to Match the Moment
Casual doesn't mean lazy. If you’re looking for a place to have a chill birthday, or sneak in a weekday lunch set between meetings, you want a place that gets it. You don’t want a server pushing you out the door before dessert. You want the perfect spot to enjoy something small and perfect or unexpectedly indulgent.
6. A Drink That Feels Like a Treat
The places that care about flavour usually care about what’s in your glass, too. A place with a selection of natural wines, a good ginger soda, or something spritzed and herbal says a lot about what’s going on in the kitchen. Good food and drink options go hand-in-hand to settle for a dinner with a friend.
7. Reserve or Risk It
The only thing worse than a 45-minute wait is realizing the table next to you booked your table online. If you’re looking for the best casual spots, just reserve a table ahead. It’s still casual you’re just prepared.
8. Local Hands, Local Taste
There’s something comforting about eating at a spot built by Singapore hands. Chefs who know how to balance heat, herbs, rendang and nostalgia. The casual scene here is a snapshot of South East Asia on a plate. You’ll experience the unique with every bite, even when it looks deceptively simple.
9. Let the Food Speak
The dish that wins you over might be the one that never makes it to Instagram. Something that delivers a full explosion of flavours in three bites. The kind of food that reminds you why food in Singapore is always a little competitive in the best way. These places are why the city is easily one of Asia’s best for casual eating.
10. Make It Worth the Forkfuls
There’s a difference between a place that serves casual food and one that offers a unique culinary experience or spot to unwind without charging like it’s fine dining. If it’s worth the trip, it usually means the food’s thoughtful, the crowd’s a mix of regulars and newcomers, and it’s the kind of place you tell your friends about after.
The Simple Joy of Good Food, Done Well Casual Feels
The next time you're looking for where to grab dinner with a friend, skip the endless scroll. Just go with the spot that knows what it’s doing. The one that shows up with your favourite beetroot salad or a grilled sandwich so perfectly crisp, it's sure to make your night.
We’ve rounded up places that find the best version of themselves daily some of the best in Singapore, and all offering dishes to satisfy without needing to find cheap thrills. Because good casual dining doesn’t need frills. Just heart, flavour, and a little love for the rich and diverse world of food done simply right.
📍 Location: Indoor Area (PLQ3)
Tanglin Cookhouse, a spacious dining area, serves as a hub where innovative culinary experts come together to craft delectable interpretations of British cuisine. Set in a lush British colonial-style environment, it pays homage to its heritage with a blend of old-world charm and modern opulence in its furnishings.