25 Bak Kut Teh in Singapore For A Hearty, Comforting Meal

One of the OG names when it comes to bak kut teh in Singapore, Founder Bak Kut Teh has been around for over 40 years, serving up sweat-inducing bowls of Teochew-style BKT. Founder’s founder was a pig farmer, who decided to formulate his own recipe – thus why the brand is named “Founder”. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy a mix of pork parts swimming in a clean, peppery broth. But if you’re a loin or short ribs fan, you can get a serving with your preferred cuts too!

Address: Multiple outlets

Hailing from Seremban in Malaysia, Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh serves a robust herbal BKT made according to a decade-old family recipe with 10 different herbs. The soup is sweet and savoury with being overwhelming, and the claypot is filled with ingredients like pork belly, pig's stomach, pork ribs, tofu puffs, and pig's intestines. Fans of dry-style BKT can consider the Jia Bin Dry Bak Kut Teh and Jia Bin Spicy Pork Belly, which is tossed in the same dark gravy and lightly spiced with dried chillies.

Address: 62 Rangoon Rd, Singapore 218352
Opening Hours: 11 am–3 pm, 5–9:30 pm Tues to Fri, 10:30 am–9:30 pm Sat & Sun. Closed on Mon

Starting out as a pushcart in 1967, Song Fa Bak Kut Teh has come a long way since. With several outlets across Asia and Michelin Bib Gourmand awards under its belt, the local eatery continues to serve up piping hot bowls bak kut teh. Its trademark clear peppery soup is made of high quality pork, carefully simmered with fresh garlic and white pepper for long hours. The pork ribs are perfectly fall-off-the-bone and pairs like a dream with some simple black sauce, chilli and white rice.

Address: Multiple outlets

Founded in 1973, Madam Gwee Peck Hua has worked tirelessly to perfect their Teochew-style bak kut teh recipe. Offering Teochew-style clear and peppery bak kut teh soup, this bak kut teh restaurant used to be a regular supper spot as diners gather here after a night of clubbing and drinking. They no longer operate till late, but a bowl of their classic bak kut teh is just as good in the middle of the day.

Address: Multiple outlets

What’s special about Sin Heng is that they serve both Teochew and Hokkien bak but teh, the former being more peppery and the latter being more herbal-based. The shop also operates until 12am so you can come late for their signature Special Bak Kut Teh, served in a claypot with pork spare ribs, innards, vegetables and mushrooms!

Address: 439 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427652
Opening Hours: 10 am–11:30 pm Tues to Sun. Closed on Mon

Established in 1977, Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh has welcomed many political dignitaries and celebrities through its doors. Today, the Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee is synonymous with delicious and authentic bak kut teh. The recipe remains unchanged from when the stall was just a streetside cart. The heritage dish is well-loved by many Singaporeans, and the brand has also released a Bak Kut Teh Spice pack so you can recreate it at home!

Address: Multiple outlets

Perhaps an unheard of brand for some Singaporeans, the soup Heng Heng serves is neither herbal nor peppery, offering a different approach to the usual bak kut tehs served everywhere else. It’s an old time favourite with a clear-tasting broth that some would say is an acquired taste. Heng Heng has its fair share of regulars who come for their unique bak kut teh as well as a steamed fish dish that they are equally known for!

Address: 107 Owen Rd, Singapore 218914
Opening Hours: 7:30 am–2:30 pm Wed to Mon. Closed on Tues

West-siders may be familiar with Joo Siah Bak Kut Teh and the traditional BKT that they have been serving for decades. The special family recipe calls for premium ingredients to create a flavourful soup and braised pork leg that constantly draw customers back for more. The savoury, umami peppery soup combined with tender pork ribs is a perfect company on any rainy day.

Address: 349 Jurong East Ave 1, #01-1215, Singapore 600349
Opening Hours: 8 am–7:15 pm Tues to Sun. Closed on Mon

Established in 1966 and now helmed by the third generation is Balestier Bak Kut Teh. What is special about them is that they use sugarcane to prepare their signature soup! The resulting soup is potent and bold, peppery and porky, with the sugarcane calming the savouriness. Apart from their bak kut teh, the stall also specialises in a variety of tze char dishes such as Cereal Prawns, Curry Fish Head and Salted Egg Squid. Best of all, they’re open 24 hours daily!

Address: 365 & 369 Balestier Rd, Singapore 329785
Opening Hours: 24 daily

Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh is perhaps the most well-known stall for Malaysian-style bak kut teh in Singapore. Expect a claypot full of pork ribs, liver, stomach, intestine, fried beancurd and vegetables soaked in a rich, cloudy, herbal broth. They also serve Dry Bak Kut Teh, with pork ribs tossed in a savoury dark soya sauce. And in case you’re not a fan of pork, Leong Kee also serves a Herbal Mutton Soup option!

Address: 251 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389309
Opening Hours: 11:30 am–11:30 pm daily

A fan of spicy, peppery broth? Look no further than Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh. The stall’s meaty ribs that have been cooked for hours, resulting in the meat that is tender and fall-off-the-bone. Most diners that come here also get an order of the mee sua as well as the homemade youtiao to soak up all that delicious broth. Each table also has its own heater by the side to brew your own Gongfu Tea – a nice traditional touch that is hard to find these days!

Address: 58 Seng Poh Rd, #01-31, Singapore 160058
Opening Hours: 7 am–9 pm Tues to Sun. Closed on Mon

Legendary Bak Kut Teh is an extension of Founder’s Bak Kut Teh, owned by the founder’s daughter. Spiced with Sarawak peppercorn, the hearty broth here is made by boiling pork bones for hours, resulting in a rich, meaty, savoury-sweet and peppery soup. You can enjoy it with your choice of normal, short, or prime ribs. Cut through the grease and porkiness with some Salted Vegetables, and wash it all down with some Gongfu Tea!

Address: Multiple outlets

Does anyone remember the case of a man who broke his Stay Home Notice (SHN) for Xi Wang Bak Kut Teh during the height of Covid-19? The bak kut teh here is fragrant with the aroma of pepper, garlic and pork ribs. Served piping hot, the clear broth is peppery and creates a pleasantly warm sensation as it goes down. The pork ribs are tender enough to come off the bone easily and tasty in its simplicity. Apart from bak kut teh, the stall also serves other pig parts, braised duck parts, and noodles.

Address: 676B Woodlands Drive 71, #02-19, Singapore 732676
Opening Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm Tues to Sun. Closed on Mon

Familial ties seem to be a running theme amongst bak kut teh in Singapore, and it’s no different with Tuan Yuan Pork Ribs Soup. Founded by the children of Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha’s founders, the brand only uses fresh meat that’s never been frozen. The soup is rich and peppery, boasting equally quality ingredients like Sarawak white pepper and old garlic. Their Premium Spare Ribs Soup is available in limited quantities and wait times can get pretty long during the weekends, so do consider getting their app or calling ahead for reservations! 

Address: 127 Kim Tian Rd, #01-01, Singapore 160127
Opening Hours: 11 am–3 pm, 5–9:30 pm Tues to Sun. Closed on Mon

Another Malaysian-style bak kut teh, this one hailing from Kota Tinggi, Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh has its origins as a pushcart in Kampung Kelantan in the 1980s. The star is their tried-and-true soup, made with a four-decade old family recipe which features no less than 18 Chinese herbs with dark soy sauce. The Herbal Bak Kut Teh comes brimming with a variety of pork parts like pork belly, intestines and ribs, with the option to add on beancurd sheets and button mushrooms!

Address: 68 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555964
Opening Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm, 5–9:30 pm Mon to Fri, 11 am–10 pm Sat, 11 am–9:30 pm Sun

Opening in 2020, Old World Bak Kut Teh is one of the newer names in the BKT industry. The broth here is sweet, garlicky and slightly peppery, and swimming in the light, clear broth are big chunks of meat that are tender with layers of fats in between. While their bak kut teh is a showstopper, they are also known for their Mixed Pig’s Organ Fried Porridge.

Address: 732 Yishun Ave 5, #01-380, Singapore 760732
Opening Hours: 10 am–2:30 pm, 5–8 pm Tues to Fri, 8:30 am–2:30 pm, 5–8:30 pm Sat & Sun. Closed on Mon

A pioneer in Singapore’s hawker scene with nearly five decades of history, after a brief closure the founder of Rong Cheng Rou Gu Cha decided to come out of retirement and relaunch the business. It is said to be the first in Singapore to offer loin ribs, or dragon ribs, which are longer and meatier than normal pork ribs. Their soup is not the most peppery one you’ll find around, but it is pleasantly light which means you can keep downing it without getting overwhelmed!

Address: Multiple outlets

Another reliable spot to get a taste of Malaysia without having to cross the causeway, some 15 different herbs and spices go into making Feng Xiang’s signature broth, and the result is a deeply comforting soup that feels like a hug for the soul. Tinged with a slight sweetness and herbal notes, tender pork ribs complete the hometown dish. The Dry Bak Kut Teh) is worth a try too. The usual hot broth is replaced with an umami, slightly spicy dark sauce, coating every single pork rib.

Address: 144 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, #04-65, Singapore 588177
Opening Hours: 10:30 am–3 pm, 4:30–8 pm Mon to Fri. 9 am–3 pm, 4:30–8 pm Sat & Sun

Lau Ah Tee used to work for Ng Mui Song (father of Ng Ah Sio) in the 1950s, picking up the ropes of making BKT. He went on to start his own brand and they have been operating for over 30 years, with regular fans returning throughout their lifetime for the robust, peppery-rich broth and tender pork ribs. Besides BKT, Lau Ah Tee also serves Teochew classic dishes such as steamed fish and squid.

Address: 34 Whampoa West, #01-67, Singapore 330034
Opening Hours: 7 am–9 pm daily

Fancy Hokkien-style BKT? Head over to Leon Kee Claypot Pork Rib Soup, a Michelin Plate awardee. The soup is nicely full-bodied but isn't too intense, with a sweet and savoury flavour. It won’t make you sweat like the usual peppery ones, making it incredibly pleasant to down. The pork ribs are meaty and chunky with a slide-off-the-bone texture, but it is also slightly more firm than other places, retaining a good chew.

Address: 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-18, Singapore 150120
Opening Hours: 9 am–9 pm Thurs to Tues. Closed on Wed