Cai fan gets a wholesome makeover at these places that serve the best salad and grain bowls around Singapore.
At its heart, the grain bowl is a modern interpretation of the Chinese mixed rice and Nusantara nasi padang. It consists of a base starch such as brown rice or baked potato, accompanied by meat, seafood, and vegetables, garnished with herbs and seeds, and flavoured by sauces. Many places also offer preset and customisable bowls for those who have trouble deciding, as well as plant-based proteins for vegetarians and vegans.
With a focus on nutrition and convenience, grain bowls make for an easy grab-and-go lunch, especially among office workers. In Singapore’s Central Business District, diners can turn to favourites like The Daily Cut, Surrey Hills Deli, and Grain Traders, while Bamboo Bowls offer flavours created by renowned chefs. In the tech hub of Fusionopolis, Bowl Chap combines a cheeky name with Japanese- and Singapore-inspired items, while Da Paolo Gastronomia brings grain bowls with a Mediterranean bend. Check them out below.
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Whether you’re counting your macros or simply just want a healthy and easy meal, here’s where to get the best options in Singapore.
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9 best salad and grain bowls in Singapore today:
Bamboo Bowls focuses on healthy eating by using ingredients like monk fruit, or luo han guo, which becomes their no-calorie alternative sweetener. Created in collaboration with chefs like Damian D’Silva and Bjorn Shen, each of the eight customisable bowls is inspired by the flavours of a particular Asian city. Tokyo dresses miso eggplant, pickled kyuri, and an optional pork belly with sugar-free teriyaki sauce and vegan wasabi mayo, while Bangkok boasts a rich, red coconut curry served with cashew, sweet butternut pumpkin, and spiced mushrooms on brown rice. One of the newest flavours is Taipei, which has plant-based mince meat over pearl brown rice, soy-marinated egg, bok choy in garlic sauce, pickled cucumber, and braised pork belly as a meaty add-on.
(Image credit: Bamboo Bowls)
Despite its light-hearted name, Bowl Chap is serious about Japanese rice bowls with a local twist. The signature 12hrs braised five-spice apple pork bowl has tender pork belly with dashi-infused black fungus and carrot, and the equally-popular smoked paprika chicken katsu bowl sits tamagoyaki and roasted cauliflower and pumpkin in Japanese curry. Aburi sambal mayo salmon bowl comes with blow torched-salmon, spinach, onsen egg, and toasted kizami nori, while the miso glazed tofu bowl is a vegetarian option with Chinese kale and chia seed Goma sauce.
(Image credit: Bowl Chap / Facebook)
- Address Galaxis #01-25, 1 Fusionopolis Pl, Singapore 138522
google map - Website Website here
- Phone 9109 7929
The Italian cafe and restaurant add new items to their Greens & Grains range, which lets diners customise their grain bowls with different vegetables, grains, and proteins. The latest offerings include soy tempeh steak with arrabbiata, baked Moroccan eggplant, and roasted carrot and toasted dukkah, which join existing options such as spinach and leek frittata, cauliflower ‘rice,’ and other plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free ingredients. Available at all Da Paolo Gastronomia locations except Paragon.
(Image credit: Da Paolo Gastronomia)
Los Angeles-based Grain Traders composes bowls of whole grains, fresh vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins, which rotate according to the season. Currently on the menu is Hen’s Nest, which has sous-vide chicken breast with quinoa, and Upstream features donburi salmon with sriracha-flavoured charred broccoli and okra, ratatouille, kimchi, and coconut curry. Jackfruit is turned into ‘char siu’ in the vegetarian Tantrum, while Down Under features brown rice nasi lemak and steak parrillada.
(Image credit: Grain Traders / Facebook)
- Address 01/02/03, 138 Market St, #01 CapitaGreen, Singapore 048946
google map - Website Website here
- Phone 9776 8379
Haakon takes cues from the Scandinavian concept of hygge and wholesome ingredients to create their grain bowls. Core dishes range from tandoori fish rice to omu beef rice with brisket and scrambled eggs, while speciality items include masala cauliflower rice & fish, and a platter with 70g of protein. There is also a build-your-own bowl with a large variety of choices and a macro calculator and nutrition information for those hyper-focused on their diets.
(Image credit: Haakon Superfoods & Juice / Facebook)
Choose your own adventure at Harvest, which lets diners build their own bowls from a variety of proteins, vegetables, grains, and toppings. Meat and plant-based alternatives range from smoked duck to cauliflower steak, while sides include avocado, whole roasted garlic, and crumbled feta. Crown it with truffle parmesan shavings and hot & spicy sauce, then mix it with quinoa or baby spinach.
(Image credit: Harvest Salad & Protein Bowl / Facebook)
- Address 81 East Coast Road, #01-01, Singapore 428785
google map - Website Website here
- Phone 8842 4966
Surrey Hills Deli, the latest CBD location of Australian-inspired Surrey Hills Grocer, has three bowl-style meals in addition to their popular sandwiches. Grilled chicken pesto potato salad sees ingredients like roasted cauliflower, pine nuts, blueberry, and sous-vide chicken breast drizzled with pesto mayo and shaved parmesan cheese, while mortadella soba salad tops noodles with ham, boiled nuyolk egg, and sesame soy dressing. There is also Avo and fruits salad, which comes with avocado, ricotta, seasonal fruit, and chickpeas with balsamic vinaigrette.
(Image credit: Surrey Hills Grocer)
- Address 6 Battery Rd, #01-02, Singapore 049909
google map - Website Website here
- Phone 8063 7818
The Daily Cut helps diners get ripped with a customisable grain bowl and macro-calculator. The dish can be kitted out with a base of brown rice and cranberry quinoa, filled with chilli lime shrimp, supplemented with scrambled egg whites, topped with parmesan breadcrumbs, and dressed with curry leaf-infused olive oil.
(Image credit: The Daily Cut / Facebook)
This fast-casual concept offers diners and calorie counters the chance to customise their own grain bowls with carbs, meat, and sauces rich in Korean flavours. Start by opting for buckwheat noodles or five-grain rice, before you build your meal with Beef Bulgogi, Soy Citrus Salmon/Tuna, or Spicy Chicken. For a kick, smother your bowl with the savoury Soy Garlic Jang, or bring your tastebuds on an adventure with the tangy Apple Cider Gochujang. Either way, the bowls here are addictive, and make healthy-eating a tad easier.
- Address 6A Shenton Way, #01-44 OUE Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815
- Website Website here
- Phone +65 9232 0081
This story first appeared here.
(Hero and feature images credit: Bamboo Bowls)
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