Restaurant
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Bib Gourmand hawker stall at Maxwell Food Centre, serving Hainanese chicken rice with poached chicken, fragrant rice and house-made chilli since 1987.
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (New Bridge Road)
Bib Gourmand flagship of the bak kut teh brand that began as a pushcart in 1969, serving peppery Teochew-style pork rib soup by the river.
At a glance
- Type
- Teochew bak kut teh
- Area
- Clarke Quay, Singapore
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- songfa.com.sg
Good to know
- Bib Gourmand
Why we recommend it
Song Fa began in 1969 as a pushcart run by founder Yeo Eng Song, and it has since grown into one of Singapore's best-known names in bak kut teh, with several outlets in Singapore and abroad. The New Bridge Road shop near Clarke Quay is the flagship, and it holds a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Singapore. The dining room is styled like an old coffee shop, with marble-topped tables and wooden chairs.
Bak kut teh, literally meat bone tea, is a pork rib soup with several regional styles. Song Fa cooks the Teochew version: meaty pork ribs simmered in a clear broth heavy with garlic and white pepper, which gives it a clean, warming heat rather than the dark, herbal flavour of the Hokkien style. One of the pleasures of eating here is that staff go round topping up your bowl with hot soup, so you never run dry.
Build a meal around the ribs. Order steamed rice, braised peanuts, salted vegetables and youtiao, the fried dough sticks made for dunking in the soup, and add braised pork trotters or tofu puffs if you are hungry. Many diners finish with a pot of Chinese tea, which is traditionally drunk to cut through the richness of the meal. Prices are moderate and a full meal for two is easy to put together.
Queues build at lunchtime and on weekend evenings, though turnover is quick and the wait rarely lasts long. It suits families, solo travellers and anyone looking for a comforting local meal in the city centre, and it is a reliable choice in wet weather. The menu is short, so first-timers will find ordering easy, and the staff are used to explaining the dishes. The soup is peppery rather than fiery, so it is a gentle introduction to local food for children and anyone wary of chilli.
The shop is at 11 New Bridge Road, close to Clarke Quay MRT station, and it is a short walk from the Singapore River. After eating, walk along the riverside past Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, or head south into Chinatown. The Singapore River Cruise boards at Clarke Quay Jetty nearby, making it easy to combine dinner with an evening on the water.
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (New Bridge Road) FAQs
What is bak kut teh?
A pork rib soup; Song Fa serves the peppery, garlicky Teochew style.
Does this outlet have a MICHELIN distinction?
Yes, the New Bridge Road outlet holds a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Singapore.
What should I order with the soup?
Rice, braised peanuts, salted vegetables, youtiao fried dough sticks and Chinese tea.
Will they top up my soup?
Yes, staff refill bowls with hot broth during the meal.
How old is Song Fa?
It began as a pushcart in 1969.
Where is it?
At 11 New Bridge Road, #01-01, near Clarke Quay.
What is the nearest MRT station?
Clarke Quay station, a short walk away.
Is there usually a queue?
Queues form at lunchtime and on weekend evenings, but turnover is quick.