Guan Hoe Soon
POSTED ON Saturday, June 20, 2015 AT 6:16 PM \ leave a comment (0)
one of the oldest Peranakan restaurants serving Nonya classics in the Joo Chiat area, Guan Hoe Soon has come a long way to make themselves a local favourite for events and special occasions. venturing out to offer catering service as well, many have turned to Guan Hoe Soon for wedding receptions at home and also for house-warming parties.



the main restaurant itself is situated at a traditional conserved shophouse at Joo Chiat Place. known for being able to whip up many effervescent Peranakan dishes, the eatery with a history dating back to 1953 adds to the gourmet diversity that Joo Chiat already boasts. younger patrons like ourselves tend to be introduced to Guan Hoe Soon through positive experiences with their catering food first, and later on decided to visit the main store.



One of their most signature dishes is not even listed on the menu, and has to be ordered in advance. their Babi Pangang or roast pork is tender, juicy and carries a decent amount of fat. the meat is well marinated and grilled till the sides are slightly charred. unlike the crispy roast pork that some of us are familiar with, this one melts in your mouth.



another must-try famous dish is this Ayam Buah Keluak or chicken pieces, stuffed nuts and blended spices. it is served in a special peranakan sauce that is very robust in flavour and comes in generous servings. the "keluak" nuts are apparently very hard to prepare where they have to be soaked for a couple of days before they are stuffed with spices.



we accompanied our meal with other Nonya favourites such as Otak Otak, Ngoh Hiang and Nonya Chap Chye. we topped it off with some Kerpting soup and meatballs. Dessert is a curious affair as we decided to try some of their freshly made Nonya kuehs. the thick flavour of coconut and brown sugar is evident from this version as compared to those we typically get off the bakery rack. Guan Hoe Soon is certainly the real McCoy, and if you're thinking of impressing the Peranakan patriarch of your fiance or girlfriend, this is the place to visit.



Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant
38 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427762

Opening Hours
Open Daily from 11 am to 3 pm & 6 pm to 9.30 pm

The owners and chefs of this restaurant are interestingly not Peranakan