Food Opera, the ION Orchard food court has reopened with a refreshed 20,000 sq ft space and seating for 600 diners. Run by Food Republic, Food Opera, located at Basement 4 of ION Orchard, is a premium food atrium concept. It now has 18 new brands, including award-winning brands as well as iconic heritage hawker names – one of which brings more than 90 years of history in the hands of a new generation.
ION Orchard’s Food Opera
Food Opera’s makeover turns back the clock to Old Orchard Road. The updated decor takes cues from the intrigue of a speakeasy and unfolds into an unexpected reimagining of Old Orchard Road’s shopping streets in the 1970s.
This means food stalls set within nostalgic shopfronts inspired by the era’s iconic trades such as barber shops, beauty salons, bookstores and photo studios.
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Food Opera has also introduced the Orchid Gallery. This is a dedicated retail and lifestyle concept within the food hall that allows customers to bring a taste of Singapore back home – great for overseas visitors who are looking to pick up something to bring home with them.
Toast Box also has its first-ever outlet with live roasting at Food Opera at ION Orchard.
There is also Treasure Bakery – a new bakery concept inspired by British-Nanyang heritage and infused with the soul of Singapore.
Highlights at ION Orchard Food Court: Food Opera
The refreshed Food Opera also has ten heritage brands (with several making their debut in a food atrium) to ensure that longstanding recipes, techniques and flavours continue to have a place in Singapore’s evolving dining landscape.
Highlights include:
- 93-year-old Ming Chung White Lor Mee – known for its signature Henghua braised noodles in a rich gravy and well-loved by many local personalities, marks its food hall debut helmed by its fourth-generation owner;
- Hillman Restaurant, a longstanding Cantonese dining institution known for its traditional claypot cooking and paper-wrapped chicken, with recipes passed down across three generations since 1963;
- Hakka Bond Express, carrying the traditions of Hakka cuisine forward with comforting classics like Herbal Multi-Grain Thunder Tea Rice and Yong Tau Foo; and
- First Street Fried Prawn Noodles, a fried Hokkien mee brand helmed by the second-generation owner of the well-known First Street Teochew Fish Soup, carrying forward the family’s culinary legacy since 1988.
Three award-winning brands have also found their way to Food Opera:
- Berempah Bros, founded by Derek Cheong, winner of MasterChef Singapore Season 2, brings restaurant-calibre technique into its first food hall outlet, with bold and aromatic berempah dishes.
- Michelin-recognised Ah Er Herbal Soup is also located at Food Opera.
- MP Thai is another that has been conferred with the Michelin Bib Gourmand award for the third year.
Toast Box at Food Opera not only has live coffee roasting but is debuting Nanyang Supremo, a new house blend developed as a milder alternative to its Signature Blend. Combining Colombian Supremo (a grade distinguished by its larger Arabica beans) and Robusta beans.
These beans are slow-roasted in traditional Nanyang style with butter and sugar, Nanyang Supremo offers a smoother, mellower cup with notes of caramel and chocolate.
Food Stalls at Food Opera @ ION Orchard
Treasure Bakery
Treasure Bakery is a new bakery concept blending British baking traditions with Nanyang flavours. The five must-tries at Treasure Bakery are the Beef Shepherd’s Pie, Earl Grey Cranberry Roll, Sapphire Blueberry Tart, Strawberry Kugelhopf and Madame K’s Strawberry Rouland.
Lixin Teochew Fishball Noodle
Started from a humble pushcart in 1968, LiXin is known for its handmade fishballs made from 100% yellowtail fish, paired with noodles tossed in homemade chilli sauce and freshly fried pork lard.
Swee Choon Handmade Tim Sum
One of Singapore’s oldest dim sum establishment. Its stall at Food Opera looks like a traditional Chinese medicine shop.
Berempah Bros – Nasi Lemak & Ayam Berempah
Led by Derek Cheong, Winner of MasterChef Season 2, the stall serves bold and aromatic berempah dishes created using restaurant calibre culinary techniques.
Chep Lup Roasted Delights
A roast meat specialist with over 15 years of Cantonese roasting experience, and one of Singapore’s most talked-about roast meat stalls with snaking queues at the Golden Mile stall.
Parkson Klang Bak Kut Teh
This homegrown brand specialises in authentic Klang-style Herbal Bak Kut Teh and Teochew-style Bak Kut Teh with a robust Sarawak white pepper broth.
Wah Eng Beef Noodles
Previously serving its signature Hainanese dry beef noodles served with a rich, thick beef gravy in world-class hotels such as Shangri-La, this marks the brand’s first standalone store.
MP Thai
A family-run Thai concept known for its secret homemade sauces and chicken-broth-based dishes.
Padang Padang Indonesian Cuisine
Authentic Indonesian Nasi Padang, best known for its signature beef rendang slow-cooked for six hours
Ye Lai Xiang Curry & Mixed Rice
Created by the team behind the iconic Ye Lai Xiang Teochew Porridge, one of Singapore’s best-loved Teochew porridge institutions.
Today Hainanese Chicken Rice
Tracing its roots to the famed Sergeant Chicken Rice, established in 2005, the brand serves one of Singapore’s most beloved local dishes, Hainanese chicken rice.
First Street Fried Prawn Noodles
The brand has been around since 1988 and is known for its signature fried noodles, cooked in a robust prawn broth simmered for over six hours.
Hakka Bond Authentic Hakka Cuisine
This brand is popular for their traditional Hakka dishes like Thunder Tea Rice, Hakka Yong Tau Foo and lesser-known dishes like Hairy Fig Steamed Chicken. This is their debut in a food hall.
Ah Er Herbal Soup
Known for its nourishing double-boiled soups slow-brewed from scratch for four hours daily using quality ingredients and thoughtfully selected herbs.
Wang Hah Ha Prawn Mee Laksa
Originally known as the Original Beo Crescent Market Big Prawn Noodle, the brand serves hearty prawn noodles with a rich, umami-packed broth simmered for 7 to 8 hours using pork ribs, prawn heads and clams.
Ming Chung White Lor Mee
Around since 1933, the brand is known for its signature white lor mee – a white-broth, wok-cooked braised noodle. This is its debut in a food hall.
Ai Shan Claypot Rice
A Hong Kong-based concept that brings together the flavours of Hunan cuisine and the texture and character of Hong Kong-style claypot rice..
Royal Haylam Western Cuisine
Serving signature homemade Hainanese-style sweet and sour sauce, blending local Singaporean flavours with classic Western grilled dishes.
Fried Shou Yi Fritters
The brand has been around since 1920 and has been serving old-school snacks like its signature You Tiao, Butterfly Bun, Salted Bun and Fried Banana Fritters using the finest flour in its dough.
Toast Box
First outlet with live coffee roasting and an exclusive Nanyang Supremo blend.
Chow Zan Oriental Dessert
Established in 2021, the brand brings together traditional Chinese desserts and modern dessert creations.
Apa Rojak
With 52 years of heritage, the brand is known for their authentic Malaysian-style rojak tossed in a homemade rojak sauce.
Sunny Island Bar Beverages
A modern Nanyang drink bar inspired by Singapore’s vibrant island spirit, serving up traditional coffee, tea, colourful mocktails and refreshing tropical slushies.
Food Opera at ION Orchard
Where: 2 Orchard Turn, B4-04 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 10 am to 10 pm, daily
Website: Food Opera ION Orchard
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