Newly revamped Food Republic at City Square Mall takes on nostalgic 80s aesthetic with 12 dai pai dong-style stalls
Without a doubt, Food Republic is responsible for some of the most visually striking kopitiams peppered throughout the island. Well, they’ve proven their knack once again! The renowned food court chain is back and better than ever in City Square Mall.
This time, they’ve taken on a wonderful retro aesthetic that harkens back to the good ol’ 80s, the lively era of street-side hawker stalls and pushcarts.
Food Republic isn’t an entirely new presence in the popular Farrer Park mall. The food court’s previous space on the 4th floor had a similarly nostalgic shophouse theme, but ceased operations on 4 May 2024 to ready itself for its relocation and revamp.
The kopitiam, now nestled in Basement 3, opened on 15 May. According to a post on Reddit, the space was formerly part of the carpark on the same level. Fret not, though, it’s well-ventilated and air-conditioned.
With its ceiling painted to look like a clear blue sky dotted with clouds, the food court emulates a bustling open-air food street. The sprawling space is also brightly lit and furnished with a great number of street stall-style tables and stools to accommodate mealtime crowds.
Adding to the realism are several fixtures and photo spots that evoke the old-time street-side aesthetic.
Take these for example: on the left is an old-school taxi stand with a stone bench and yellowed signboard, while the corner on the right features a parked bicycle and a wall adorned with parking and ‘no smoking’ posters alongside various flyers, including one that jabs at the quirky 1960s campaign against males with long hair. Notice how there are even fallen leaves on the floor!
Tell me these don’t look like they belong in the National Museum! You really will feel as though you were whisked away to a bygone era.
Another notable corner features a colourful, movie poster-esque mural that pays tribute to City Square Mall’s location on the former grounds of the long-defunct New World Amusement Park. As someone who’s often fascinated by history and film, I really liked this one!
Now, onto the stalls. Food Republic City Square Mall houses a total of 12 stalls that take on the appearance of street vendors and carts, or rather, dai pai dong (open-air food stalls) like the food court is named (露天大排档, lu tian da pai dang). The staff that run the stalls even don straw hats and cloth headdresses — how cute!
From chicken rice, to Hokkien mee, dim sum, desserts and drinks, the sheer range of stalls alone will probably leave you spoilt for choice.
The first stall I gravitated towards was Gaga Roasted Delights. I mean, just take a look at that attention to detail — concrete bricks that hold the stall up and rubber tyres on the side.
And, of course, the captivating display of roast meats glistening behind the glass-fronted counter. This stall will definitely be on my roast meat-loving radar the next time I visit the food court.
The food court’s line-up also stars several widely-known names, such as the Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognised Li Xin Teochew Fishball Noodles. Needless to say, many made a beeline for the stall. You should as well, especially if you don’t know where to begin.
They’ve got a wide variety of delectable noodle dishes such as the popular The Folk’s Favourite (S$9.20), Soup/Dry Fishball Noodles (S$6.30) and the classic Laksa (S$7.80).
Credit – HJH MaimunahLoyal devotees to the food court, say hello again to HJH Maimunah Mini. This well-loved Malay and Indonesian cuisine specialist is back and here to stay! They boast a Michelin Bib Gourmand, so newcomers are more than welcome, too.
Tuck into a hearty plate of their nasi padang Set Meals (from S$5.50) or perhaps splurge on an Original Ambeng Platter (S$35) perfect for sharing with friends as you catch up while basking in the lively atmosphere.
I couldn’t help but also notice many slurping down Knife Shaven Noodles (S$7.50) from Taiwanese stall Formosa Delights. The thick, chewy knife-cut noodles are presented in traditional enamel bowls filled with a deep brown broth that looks like it could do only right on a cold, rainy day.
Plenty of other local delicacies await you. That includes Klang-style herbal bak kut teh from Fan Fan Herbal Bak Kut Teh, wok-kissed Hokkien mee and carrot cake from Thye Hong Hokkien Mee, and comforting fish soup from Halim’s Fish Soup. Oh, and who could forget chicken rice from Sumber Ayam?
Whatever I’ve listed is definitely not all there is to the freshly revamped Food Republic. All that’s left to do is swing by City Square Mall it check it all out for yourself!
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