Emerging from its $50 million makeover as Singapore’s pioneering eco-mall, CDL’s City Square Mall has blossomed into a bustling food and lifestyle destination. It now houses a rich tapestry of flavours, ranging from Mediterranean homestyle bites to Korean pocha thrills to soufflé pancakes to Sichuan spice, all spread across different levels.
We were invited to go on a food trail to sample the mall’s newest eateries as well as refreshed favourites and what a treat it was!
We begun our gastronomic stroll just steps from Farrer Park MRT, heading to Pita & Olives (#B2-K5), whose name hints not so subtly at what awaits – Mediterranean food. The menu features crisp whole-wheat pita, luscious hummus in various renditions, tender chicken kebabs, baked falafel, shawarma and baba ganoush.
A few steps away, Towkay Fried Chicken (#B2-K3) serves up fried chicken in generous portions with local fragrance chicken rice. It is the kind of fried treat that makes you momentarily forget about your calories.
Sweet spots beckon next: Jie Traditional Bakery (#B2-K2) earns a nostalgic nod for its old-school rainbow bread and comforting pastries.
Turning heads just as much as your palate is the electrifying Hankang Pocha (#B1-04/5/6), presenting Koreans flavours through a three-in-one haven: dine-in Korean pocha-style street food restaurant with unlimited side dishes; a café serving frothy matcha lattes and caramel honeycomb-topped lattes; plus a “ramen library” where shelves overflow with Samyang hot chicken noodles, quirky local snacks, and even Korean banana milk for take-home treasures. It is a visual feast as much as a culinary one here.
We then headed to The Fat Sparrow (#02-57), a brand new modern-Australian styled café serving up beautifully balanced creations like their signature Duck Breast with Orange Szechuan sauce, Aburi salmon paired with crisp apple slices, and more.
Right next door, Daydream Desserts (#02-15A) tempts dessert-seekers with dreamy Japanese-inspired treats ranging from fluffy souffle pancakes to photogenic Kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) and honey-thick toasts and gelato.
Moving on to level 3, Lai Lai Taiwan Casual Dining (#03-39/40) serves up hearty Taiwanese street food such as Lu rou fan (braised pork rice), Taiwan vermicelli with braised pig intestine and Taiwan egg pancake.
Next on level 4, newly opened Xiao Jiao Tian Sichuan Cuisine (#04-37) brings a bold yet balanced concept – Fuzhou-style Sichuan that’s lighter on oil and spice. Highlights include their signature Bullfrog with Pickled Chilli that is tender, tangy, and surprisingly approachable; and their sweet-and-sour pork which swap lychee for sweet potato. For an extra S$3, you get to enjoy free-flow drinks, snacks, rice, and ice cream, making it a family-favourite.
Hot on its heels is Chickita (#04-33), the first Singapore outpost of Vietnam’s flame-grilled chicken chain. The signature chicken is grilled to smoky juiciness, served with six secret sauces, salads, crispy fries, and other sides.
Overall, regardless whether you are hunting for your next Instagram-famous bite, a family-friendly feast, or just something new, the refreshed F&B offerings at City Square Mall will have something for just about every taste buds.
