8 of the best Ramadan buffets to check out during fasting month

Photo: Asian Market Cafe

One of the main aspects of Ramadan is bonding with family and friends while breaking fast and what better way to do this than over a luscious buffet dinner. Several hotels and restaurants in Singapore hold special Ramadan buffets, with a wide selection of appetising food, some featuring special dishes that are only available during the fasting month.

Make your reservations today, after reading what delightful treats eight of them have to offer. 

1. Hilton Singapore

Photo: Hilton Singapore

Pop-up restaurants have been gaining popularity in recent years and this hotel's offering during Ramadan last year was so popular that they've brought it back this year. There are over 90 dishes on offer, with six live stations too. 

You'll get a la minute specials such as Singapore laksa, mixed fruit rojak with a secret blend of sauce, and even the famous Ramly burger. Signature dishes make a return too – beef rendang, soup kambing, ayam masak merah and nasi goreng kampong, to name a few. Tantalising international dishes include chicken tagine with baby carrots and peas, sushi and dim sum. Don't miss the dessert station, with favourites like the popular Hilton cheesecake, a chocolate fountain and an assortment of Nonya kueh. 

Photo: Hilton Singapore

Hilton Singapore’s Halal-Certified Iftar Buffet Pop-Up Restaurant is situated on the hotel's 24th floor so you'll be able to enjoy beautiful sunset views from this rooftop venue while indulging in the food too.

16 May to 14 June; Level 24, Level 24 (Panorama Venue), Hilton Singapore, 581 Orchard Road; 

from $68++; for reservations, call 6737 2233 or email sinhi.f&b@hilton.com

ALSO READ: 10 FINE DINING RESTAURANTS WITH THE BEST VALUE-FOR-MONEY SET LUNCH DEALS

Asian Market Cafe

Photo: Asian Market Cafe

This restaurant at Fairmont Singapore already specialises in Asian cuisine so you know you'll get quality food for the month of Ramadan too. During the fasting month (and beyond), it'll serve a spread of well-loved Iftar specials, as well as live stations featuring regional and Middle Eastern favourites. Start with something from the cold selection such as smoked duck breasts, falafel or fruit rojak, then move on to whichever cuisine takes your fancy – the Japanese corner, Middle Eastern live station, old Asian corner, live prata stall, deep-fried corner, modern Asian corner, shawarma station and Singapore laksa.   

Photo: Asian Market Cafe

If that doesn't fill you up enough, head to the dessert station, with a mix of local delights like kueh lapis and assorted Malay kuehs, as well as other favourites such as red fruit mousse, dark chocolate ganache cake and walnut banana pudding. If you're a frequent diner here, you won't want to miss out on two Fairmont signature dishes – egg tart and durian pudding. Have them both if you like, it's a buffet after all. 

15 May to 2 July; Level 2, Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road; from $68++; for reservations, call 6431 6156, email dining.singapore@fairmont.com or book online at asianmarketcafe.com.sg

StraitsKitchen

Photo: Grand Hyatt Singapore

Head here to break fast with family and friends and you'll be greeted with a range of traditional dishes that are only prepared during Ramadan, including Baklava made with Filo pastry, mixed nuts and Arabic syrup, Basbousa prepared with Semolina flour, ghee, hazelnut and sugar, Ladida Coconut, and a selection of Kasih Halva’s Arabic syrup.

The best part about the food selection here is that it's refreshed every four days, so you can dine here more than once during Ramadan and try several different dishes. The cuisines featured include Malay and Nonya dishes, Chinese wok dishes, satay grill, Chinese noodles, and Indian tandoor dishes. 

Photo: Grand Hyatt Singapore

The main highlight here is the Date Bazaar, showcasing a variety of soft, moist and fully ripened dates such as ajwa, mabroum, sukkary al qasim from Saudi Arabia, degleet nour from Tunisia, amary from Egypt, medjoul from Palestine or South Africa, or kuma madu stuffed with roasted nuts and dried fruits.

And, if you prefer a get-together at home, order from StraitsKitchen's Ramadan Deliveroo menu (available from 15 May to 16 June), with items such as Mezzeh (served with freshly-baked Arabic breads, assorted olives & pickles) and Hyderabadi dhum biryani (braised lamb shank, long grain basmati rice). 

17 May to 16 June; Lobby Level, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Roaad; from $80++; for reservations, call 6732 1234, email straitskitchen.sg@hyatt.com or book online at www.singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/straitskitchen/ramadan-iftar-buffet-dinner-,promotions_viewItem_2321-en.html 

Carousel

Photo: Carousel Buffet

If you can't get enough of barbecued food, you'll love Carousel's Best of BBQ Ramadan buffet. The tantalising selection of barbecue favourites include highlights such as applewood smoked barbecue beef ribs, Chinese grilled stingray with sambal and chincalok, Thai barbecue stuffed squid with spicy dipping sauce, and traditional Malay boneless ayam percik (spiced chicken) marinated in turmeric and coriander.

Photo: Carousel Buffet

Don't miss the special Turkish spread of appetisers and desserts such as makarna salatası (macaroni salad), patlıcan salatası (eggplant with yoghurt), sütlaç (rice pudding) and baklava (pistachio puff), to name a few. 

17 May to 14 June; Lobby Level, Royal Plaza on Scotts, 25 Scotts Road; from $78++

For reservations, call 6589 7799, email carousel@royalplaza.com.sg or visit www.carouselbuffet.com.sg 

Azur

Photo: Crowne Plaza

With a name like the Sedap-licious Ramadan Buffet at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, you'd need to have very good self-control indeed, to not want to try this. Indulge in a range of succulent seafood delights, traditional Raya favourites and mouthwatering desserts inspired by local flavours. 

Its impressive selection of seafood on ice includes flower crabs, mussels, prawns and clams. Live stations feature an array of Asian and Western cuisine with highlights such as whole salmon with laksa gravy, seafood paella, barbecued spring chicken, and lamb slab biryani. Another must-try dish is its signature satay-marinated Australian beef short ribs, from the carving station.

Photo: Crowne Plaza

While it offers a delicious selection of desserts such as Nonya kueh, save space for unique desserts with a local twist – teh tarik tiramisu, chendol panna cotta and chilli crab ice cream (yes, you read this right).

7 May to 30 June; Level 2, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, 75 Airport Boulevard; from $68++; for reservations, call 6823-5354 or email azur.cpca@ihg.com. Log on to ChangiAirport.CrownePlaza.com for more information. 

Rumah Rasa

Photo: Rumah Rasa / Facebook

Translated to mean 'the house of taste', you're guaranteed fresh (and tasty) food at this Indonesian restaurant as it uses herbs from its own garden in its dishes. It also specialises in home-cooked Indonesian cuisine with a modern twist so here's your chance to sample some unique dishes.

Photo: Rumah Rasa / Facebook

Start with appetisers such as gado gado and soup, then move on to mains like Sayor Lemak Gudeg (young jackfruit braised in spicy coconut broth), Ayam Woku Belanga (red hot and spicy chicken flavor with pandan and kemanggi) and Rawon Sapi (braised beef in buah keluak). 

The dinner buffet here features a Live Station from Sunday to Thursday ($35++), featuring dishes like laksa assam and roti john), and a Live BBQ station on Friday, Saturday and eve of public holiday ($42++), where you can feast on flower crab, marinated sotong, and fresh tiger prawn, amongst others. 

16 May to 14 June; Level 1, Bay Hotel, 50 Telok Blangah Road; for reservations, call 6818 6681. 

Blue Jasmine

This halal Thai restaurant at Park Hotel Farrer Park has a very exciting menu during Ramadan as its buffet features a weekly rotating menu of BBQ Seafood Night, Thai Curry Night, Grill & Roast night, and Herbs & Spices night. Each themed buffet spread showcase delectable Thai and regional flavours.

Seafood Night features a medley of grilled crayfish, prawns, crab and squid, all grilled to perfection, as well as a live station of Lobster Kao Soi. Curry night is especially for fans of the dish, as you'll be able to try it in its various incarnations, including Singapore style crab meat laksa and curry station of beef rendang and lamb shank assam pedas.

Grill & Roast Night serves premium duck, lamb, ribeye and Thai satay, while Herb & Spices Night is when you should drop by to sample Tom Kar Gai, the classic spicy and sour chicken soup with a touch of coconut milk, amongst other delectable dishes.

17 May to 13 June; Level 5, Park Hotel Farrer Park, 10 Farrer Park Station Road; $58++; for reservations, call 6824 8851 or email hello@bluejasmine.com.sg 

Chef Wan's Kitchen

Photo: Chef Wan's Kitchen / Facebook

Chef Wan is a beloved TV personality known for his effervescent charm and he's an amazing cook too, with 35 years of experience. The dishes at his restaurant are lovingly crafted from recipes that have been passed down from his grandmother to his mother, to his aunt, then to him. You'll get a good mix of Peranakan, Javanese, Moroccan and even Spanish cuisine here.

For Ramadan, he'll be serving mainstays such as Chef Wan’s Selangor Beef Rendang and Ayam Lemak Chilli Padi, as well as favourites like Chicken Rendang, Javanese Beef Stew and Ayam Gulai Kawab. Don't miss the live stations, with laksa, mee soto and kambing soup, then wash it all down with some delicious homemade bandung and a selection of desserts.  

16 May to 14 June; #02-14 Esplanade Mall; $35+; for reservations, call 6397 4911 or email reservations@chefwanskitchen.com 

ALSO READ: 7 VALUE-FOR-MONEY STEAMBOATS UNDER APPROXIMATELY $30/PAX