Chinese fine dining finds its next course in Singapore

The city-state’s high spending power and big Chinese commune make it an ideal entry point in the Southeast Asian market.

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O nce dominated by casual Chinese eateries and cafés, Singapore's streets now feature a growing number of fine dining restaurants from the Mainland.

The opening of Yong Fu, Chamoon Hotpot, and Sushi Zen in 2024, along with KUN's debut in 2023, is a testament to the growing number of fine dining restaurants in Singapore.

Joceline Yong, a Singapore-based analyst at Canvas8, said the growth is tied to the drop in luxury spending in Mainland China.

"Luxury spending is on a downward trend in China, including in the fine dining sector," Yong noted.

The number of fancy restaurants in cities like Shanghai has been halved to 1,300, Yong said, as lacklustre job figures and a prolonged property crisis take their toll on consumer confidence.

"Chinese fine dining F&B brands are thus looking towards overseas expansion to offset the challenges they are facing in China's domestic market."

A more attractive market