Since it debuted its first outlet on Smith Street in 1991, Soup Restaurant has grown from strength to strength. It now has 14 outlets across Singapore, and has become 1synonymous with homestyle Chinese fare with a focus on heritage dishes from Singapore’s Chinatown.

A good way to start is with a creamy shark cartilage collagen soup or a nourishing double-boiled black chicken soup served in a coconut shell. Both are immensely comforting and flavourful. The star dish here is the samsui ginger chicken, with tender, poached chicken and smooth silky skin. It is served with a delicious ginger sauce you might be tempted to slurp by the spoonful—it’s a good thing then that you can buy it and take home.

Another satisfying choice is the braised pork belly served with preserved vegetables that help cut through the richness of the fatty meat. Wrap the meat and vegetables in a fluffy bun, take a bite, and it will be evident why this is a favourite among the restaurant’s regulars. Other hits at Soup Restaurant: the silky tofu and fresh prawns swathed in a robust, mildly piquant gravy made with eggs, tomatoes and chili sauce; sweetpotato leaves pimped up with scallops; and steamed minced pork spiked with salted fish.

Save space for the refreshing coconut pudding served in the fruit, a pleasing way to round up a comforting meal here.