In food paradise Singapore, Chinese eateries get a taste for expansion in bid to go global

As Chinese tourists – and migrants – flock to Singapore, restaurants are capitalising on the city’s diverse palate and culinary openness

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Dishes at Chinese restaurant Xiao Long Kan Hotpot in Singapore. Photo: Facebook/Xiao Long Kan Hotpot

Published: 2:00pm, 4 Sep 2024Updated: 2:09pm, 4 Sep 2024

Singapore’s culinary landscape is undergoing a transformation as a new wave of Chinese food-and-beverage chains make their mark on the city state. With a diverse array of offerings – from spicy Sichuan hotpot and grilled fish to hearty beef noodles – the new restaurants promise to tantalise local palates.

This culinary boom is no coincidence. While Singapore’s Chinese-majority population makes it a natural fit for these businesses, experts point to other driving forces including an influx of Chinese tourists and the global expansion of Chinese companies.

“Chinese F&B companies are looking to further expand globally, particularly in areas that are culturally and culinarily close such as Singapore and Thailand,” said Mark Greeven, a professor of innovation and strategy at IMD Business School and director of its China initiative.

“The trend underscores the industry’s stance in preparing for the future and part of that trend is also a transformation into becoming more global organisations.”

A 2023 study by Singapore’s Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao found that the number of China-based restaurant chains in the country had risen annually since 2014.

Chinese tourists pose for photos at Marina Bay in Singapore last year. Photo: Reuters

Following pandemic-related disruptions, the number of new outlets doubled in 2021, with two restaurants making their debut that year. By the end of June, there were around 184 outlets operated by 32 Chinese F&B brands in Singapore, according to local newspaper The Business Times.