ATASTE of HOME

Three of Singapore's newest modern Asian restaurants Hayop, Club Rangoon and Odem reveal what it means to explore heritage and connect a community through food.

- CHANDREYEE RAY, JESSLYN LYE and RENÉE CHONG

Hayop

Singapore’s vibrant multiculturalism is wonderful for many reasons, not the least of which is how it has shaped our food scene. With migrant populations from all over the world building their lives in our tiny city, our dining landscape is a delicious reflection of the various cultures that co-exist side by side.

Our neighbours from the Southeast Asian region are no exception to this. The Filipino embassy estimates that roughly 200,000 Filipinos live and work in Singapore. On the food front, there are a handful of small mum-and-pop restaurants studded around the island that serve authentic but fuss-free plates of Filipino staples, from adobo to sisig. This means that while we may have become somewhat familiar with these flavours, we hardly know anything about their origins or history.

If you’ve found yourself wanting to learn more about the many facets of Filipino cuisine, a new entrant will offer deep immersion into these rich culinary traditions. Founded by The Moment Group, an F&B powerhouse based in the Philippines, Hayop is a gorgeous, new fine-casual Filipino restaurant on Amoy Street.

Walk through the entrance and you’ll be greeted by the smiling faces of a diverse guest profile. Between young couples enjoying date night and executives clinking glasses of Hayop’s delectable (and spicy) signature cocktails, the groups that are most fun to people-watch are large, multigenerational Filipino families digging into a kaleidoscope of dishes spread across their table. The joy and excitement they emanate are reminders that this meal might be a rare taste of home.