Best bak kut teh in Singapore
Bak kut teh literally translates to “pork bone tea”, but you won’t find any tea in this soup dish. Instead, its broth is made with pork ribs, herbs, and spices, while actual tea is enjoyed alongside bak kut teh to cut through the heaviness of the meat.
There are so many different versions of the dish to explore. While I grew up eating the peppery, Teochew-style bak kut teh, I have also come to enjoy the Hokkien style, which tastes more herbaceous. There’s even dry BKT, with ribs tossed in a dark sauce, commonly found in Malaysia. Our list rounds these different types up with 20 best bak kut teh in Singapore, including dry Klang BKT, 80-year-old Hokkien BKT and more.
1. Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh
West-siders may be familiar with Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh, a Teochew-style BKT stall in Jurong East. It’s run by second-generation hawker Mr Chua, who previously worked as a risk analyst. Their current menu sees family recipes fine-tuned over the years.
We enjoyed their Prime Ribs Bak Kut Teh ($8.50) which comes with two tender prime ribs, steeped in a garlicky, peppery broth. Double the meaty goodness with their Pig Trotters ($5.50), cooked in an aromatic sauce. We recommend getting Youtiao ($1) on the side, so you can mop up every bit of the soup and gravy.
Check out our Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh review!
Address: Blk 349 Jurong East Avenue 1, #01-1215, Kai Xiang Food Centre, Singapore 600349
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 8am to 7:15pm
Tel: 9111 8129
Website
Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh Review: Peppery Teochew-Style Bak Kut Teh With Over 30 Years Of History
2. Nanjing Street Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: Jaclyn
Nanjing Street Bak Kut Teh has over 80 years of heritage, as the owner is an ex-employee of the now-defunct Ong Say Bak Kut Teh, formerly the oldest BKT restaurant in Singapore. This stall uses Ong Say’s original recipes, so you can enjoy Hokkien BKT that is as authentic as it gets.
Their Bak Kut Teh (from $5) stars a dark herbal soup, made with the same dark soy sauce that Ong Say used. Apart from the standard BKT served with ribs, their Pig’s Kidney Soup (price TBD) is also a must-try, with firm kidney pieces cooked in their signature broth.
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-89, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 3pm
Nanjing Street Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
3. Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha
Image credit: @leeksk
Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha is owned by an ex-employee of Ng Ah Sio, another well-known bak kut teh brand in Singapore. Today, this humble stall has three outlets to its name, though I always frequent their flagship at Keppel Road. While their Spare Ribs Soup ($8.50+) is a must-order, they also do a great Fresh Fish Sliced Soup (from $9.20+), that gives most fish soup stalls a run for their money.
Be sure to try their premium tea selection, with the likes of tie guan yin and xiao yue gan available to elevate your bak kut teh experience.
Address: 7 Keppel Road, #01-05/07, Singapore 089053
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 7am to 11pm, Sun 7am to 10pm
Tel: 9224 8988
Website
Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha is not a halal-certified eatery.
4. Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh
Malaysian style bak kut teh isn’t as common here in Singapore, so we are thankful for Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh, where we can get our fix of herbal and dry klang BKT.
The soup version is priced at $8.80, and highlights an aromatic herbal broth, brimming over with pork ribs, lettuce, and the quintessential fried beancurd skin. Their Dry Bak Kut Teh ($12) is equally stellar, with pork ribs tossed in a savoury dark soya sauce. Get the Fried Chicken With Shrimp Paste ($8.80), as these make for moreish bites alongside your BKT.
Address: 251 Geylang Road, Singapore 389309
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 11:30pm
Tel: 8022 8888
Website
Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
5. Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh
Rangoon Road sees multiple BKT stalls lining its streets, and one of them is Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh, with origins dating back to the 1950s. It’s a well-known brand among Singaporeans, with over a million bowls sold since the move to their current location in 1988.
Their Premium Loin Ribs Soup ($11.80) comes highly recommended, which you can pair with rice or mee sua. This restaurant is also known for their Fish Maw Soup ($10.80) and Home-Made Ngoh Hiang ($10).
Read our Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh review.
Address: 208 Rangoon Road, Hong Building, Singapore 218453
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 9pm
Tel: 6291 4537
Website
Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh Review: Popular Teochew-Style Peppery Bak Kut Teh Since 1955
6. Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @i.makan.sg
Another Malaysian style bak kut teh in Singapore to visit is Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh, also located at Rangoon Road. Their signature Jia Bin Bak Kut Teh (from $9.90) boasts a herbaceous broth that’s been simmered with a variety of herbs and spices.
For dry style meats, consider both the Jia Bin Dry Bak Kut Teh (from $11.50) and Jia Bin Spicy Pork Belly (from $11.50), which are tossed in the same dark gravy, lightly spiced with dried chillies.
Address: 62 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218352
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10am to 3pm, 5pm to 9:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6900 7708
Website
Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
7. Balestier Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @merryberryland
Established in 1966 is Balestier Bak Kut Teh, which has seen three generations of owners taking charge of the stall’s operations. Apart from the usual Spare Ribs Soup ($7), their Red Wine Glutinous Wine Chicken ($6) is a must-try, as this traditional dish is hard to find in Singapore today. What’s more, the stall does zi char dishes such as Thai Style Squid ($16) and Cereal Prawns ($20) that are great to go with rice. Jio your supper kakis here as they are open for 24 hours!
Address: 365/369 Balestier Road, Singapore 329785
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours
Tel: 6951 4798
Website
Balestier Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
8. Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup
Image credit: @whattoeatagain
Ardent fans of Outram Park Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh will be happy to know about Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup. This stall is run by the Gwee siblings, whose father founded the popular BKT brand at Keppel.
The restaurant insists on using fresh meat, never frozen. This might explain why their Premium Spare Ribs Soup ($14++) is available in limited quantities. Other signature dishes include the Braised Pork Belly Bun ($18++) and Steamed Threadfin Fish Tail In Teochew Style, which is charged at seasonal prices.
Address: 127 Kim Tian Road, #01-01, Singapore 160127
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 6684 0123
Website
Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup is not a halal-certified eatery.
9. Heng Heng Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @joliehwee
Located at an unassuming coffee shop near Farrer Park is Heng Heng Bak Kut Teh, known for their claypot bak kut teh. A single portion of this flavourful soup with ribs starts at $8, which is said to be sweeter than the usual Teochew style BKT.
You’ll also spot their famous steamed threadfin on the menu, charged at seasonal prices. Otherwise, load on the meat with their Braised Trotters (from $6), with gelatinous skin and melt-in-the-mouth pork meat.
Address: 107 Owen Road, Singapore 218914
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 7:30am to 2:30pm
Tel: 6292 4913
Website
Heng Heng Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
10. Legendary Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @msjoyeh
Familial ties seem to be a recurring theme amongst bak kut teh eateries in Singapore, and we see it here as well in Legendary Bak Kut Teh. I’m sure most of us are well acquainted with Founder Bak Kut Teh. Legendary Bak Kut Teh is an extension of this business, owned by the founder’s daughter.
You can enjoy their Teochew Style Bak Kut Teh with normal, short, or prime ribs. These are priced from $8. Meanwhile, refresh your palate with their Salted Vegetables (from $5), between sips of heavily flavoured BKT soup. Finally, wash everything down with their Traditional Gong Fu Tea (price TBD).
Address: 154 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218431
Opening hours: Thus-Tue 11am to 10pm
Tel: 6292 0938
Website
Legendary Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
11. Old World Bak Kut Teh
Popular in the North is Old World Bak Kut Teh. Their Pork Ribs Soup ($7) is generously portioned for its price, and each bowl sports a light peppery broth. While they mainly sell bak kut teh, this stall is actually popularised by their Mixed Pig’s Organ Fried Porridge ($6), which is thoroughly infused with wok hei.
Other noteworthy dishes include their Mixed Pig’s Organ Braised Mee Sua ($6), and their Pig’s Liver Soup ($3.50).
Address: 732 Yishun Avenue 5, Singapore 760732
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 9:30am to 2:30pm, 4:30pm to 8pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am to 2:30pm, 4:30pm to 8:30 pm
Tel: 9388 5288
Website
Old World Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
12. Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh
Herbal and dry bak kut teh lovers should head down to Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh, which specialises in a Klang-style rendition of the dish. The Herbal Bak Kut Teh ($6.90) here comes with light, sweet herbal broth, and fall-off-the-bone tender pork ribs, great to enjoy with a bowl of rice or fried mee sua. Their Dry Bak Kut Teh ($7.90) is also worth the order, thanks to the caramelised, sticky sweet finish on the ribs. Another hot favourite here is the Vinegar Pig’s Trotter ($5.90), a confinement staple starring a really mouthwatering vinegar and dark soy broth, along with fatty pig’s trotter.
Website | Full list of outlets
Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
13. Rong Cheng Rou Gu Cha
Rong Cheng Rou Gu Cha has nearly five decades of history in Singapore. After a brief closure, the brand has recently relaunched with hawker stalls in heartland areas such as Bedok and Ang Mo Kio. Their Teochew style Pork Ribs Soup ($4.50) is prepared with just meat, pork, garlic, and pepper, boiled for a couple of hours. The result is a light, comforting bowlful that lets the tender loin ribs stay the star. Fun fact: Rong Cheng claims to be the first stall in Singapore to offer loin ribs with their BKT.
Address: Blk 505, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, #01-2688, Singapore 560505
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 8pm
Website
Rong Cheng Rou Gu Cha is not a halal-certified eatery.
14. Sing Heng Claypot Bak Koot Teh
Image credit: @rickloh
Sing Heng Claypot Bak Koot Teh has long been a bak kut teh institution in Joo Chiat. The restaurant hails back to 1981, and serves up both peppery and herbal style bak kut teh, prepared in a claypot. Prices start at $10 a pot, but portions are generous enough that you won’t mind the pinch. For carbs, they offer your standard you tiao and white rice, but also soup mee sua and yam rice, for a small top-up.
Address: 439 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427652
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10am to 11:30pm
Tel: 6345 8754
Website
Sing Heng Claypot Bak Koot Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
15. Lau Ah Tee Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @alanloveshisboys
Lau Ah Tee Bak Kut Teh draws long queues all day for their traditional Teochew dishes and BKT. They have been operating for over 30 years, with regular fans returning throughout their lifetime for the robust, pepper-rich broth, and tender pork ribs available here. Prices start at $6. You can get your BKT fix here with fresh-caught seafood, especially Teochew steamed fish. Fish are priced according to market rate.
Address: 34 Whampoa West, Singapore 330034
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 9pm
Tel: 8484 4334
Website
Lau Ah Tee Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
16. Founder Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: @_sijis_diary
Founder Bak Kut Teh is one of the OG names in Singapore, and an easy option to get your BKT fix thanks to their multiple outlets islandwide. They’ve been around for 40 years, and specialise in peppery bak kut teh. Their famed Founder Bak Kut Teh ($9.90) sees a mix of pork parts served with their signature soup. If you’re a loin or short ribs purist, you can get a serving with your preferred cut from $11.50.
Website | Full list of outlets
Founder Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
17. Ge Bi Lao Wang Bak Kut Teh
Even though it’s one of the newer stalls on this list, Ge Bi Lao Wang Bak Kut Teh can rival some of the OG herbal bak kut teh stalls. The Soup Claypot Bak Kut Teh ($7/$15) packs a flavourful punch, with strong herbal notes and an intense fragrance. Plus, the pork ribs in each pot are fall-off-the-bone tender and juicy. There’s also the option for Dry Claypot Bak Kut Teh ($8/$15) for those who prefer their ribs slathered in a rich dark sauce.
Read our Ge Bi Lao Wang Bak Kut Teh review.
Address: 121 Geylang East Central, #01-90, Singapore 380121
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 8:30pm
Tel: 9789 9523
Website
Ge Bi Lao Wang Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
Ge Bi Lao Wang Bak Kut Teh Review: Malaysian-Style Claypot BKT In Aljunied
18. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh is an obvious pick when it comes to bak kut teh, but that doesn’t make it any less worth having. The Michelin-approved eatery serves up a satisfying rendition of Pork Ribs Soup (from $8.30++), with excellent peppery soup and succulent ribs. If you’d like even better cuts of pork ribs, get the Prime Spare Ribs Soup ($11.50++). You can supplement your bak kut teh with sides such as Braised Pork Belly ($8.80++) or Braised Chicken Feet with Beancurd Skin (from $4.50++).
Website | Full list of outlets
Founder Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
19. Hong Ji Herbs Bak Kut Teh
Probably one of the most famous bak kut teh stalls in the North, Hong Ji Herbs Bak Kut Teh offers delectable herbal pork ribs soup. A pot of BKT here starts from $7, and is said to be packed with flavour and feature tender and juicy ribs. Add on Tofu Skin (from $1) and Enoki Mushroom (from $1) to make your pot even more delicious. Aside from BKT, the Braised Pig Trotter (from $6.50), Herbal Pork Liver ($7), and Braised Intestine ($6.50) are worth a shot.
Address: 19 Marsiling Lane, #01-329, Singapore 730019
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 9pm
Tel: 9799 2614
Hong Ji Herbs Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
20. KOON Bak Kut Teh
Image credit: pianized
KOON Bak Kut Teh started out as a nondescript hawker stall, but it has since become a spacious eatery that boasts delicious bak kut teh. Their Classic Bak Kut Teh ($6.50) is a no-frills rendition of the dish, with strong peppery notes and juicy pork ribs to satisfy your BKT cravings. For large, super succulent cuts of ribs, go for the Signature Dragon Ribs ($11.90). And if you’re in the mood for something chicken-based, there’s the Superior Chicken Stew ($8.90) to soothe the soul.
Address: 10 Cheong Chin Nam Road, Singapore 599735
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 12am
Tel: 6463 0111
KOON Bak Kut Teh is not a halal-certified eatery.
Where to eat bak kut teh in Singapore
We’ve rounded up a list of 20 best bak kut teh stalls to get your BKT fix, ranging from peppery Teochew style bak kut teh to Malaysian style dry klang BKT. For more heritage hawker dishes to try around our city, check out our guide to the best bak chor mee in Singapore. We also have a guide for the best Hokkien mee too.
10 Bak Chor Mee Stalls In Singapore You Must Try, Including Mala And Japanese-Inspired BCM
The post 20 Best Bak Kut Teh in Singapore, Including Dry Klang BKT, 80-Year-Old Hokkien BKT And More appeared first on EatBook.sg – Local Singapore Food Guide And Review Site.
