Gourmet grub on the go in S’pore: New fast-casual concepts churn out sandwiches, pizza, rice bowls

SINGAPORE – When wallet-friendly, quick and convenient food is the name of the game here, there is no stopping the proliferation of fast-casual concepts to feed the demand.

In May 2025, The Straits Times reported on how this sector is emerging as an attractive middle ground between hawker centres and full-service dining, with air-conditioned comfort and no compromise in the quality of food. 

Since then, more new-to-market brands have launched, banking on this business model for expansion.

This includes casual pizza joint rumeL at Bugis+, offering affordable sourdough pizzas from $6.80; and Middle Eastern concept WeWa at Orchard Gateway and Resorts World Sentosa, specialising in stuffed pita and shawarma. 

There is also Don’t Runaway, a concept looking to disrupt the food and beverage scene with a bold approach to introducing its latest pop-up in Joo Chiat. 

For the past three weekends, it has been giving away free gourmet sandwiches, drawing long lines outside a Joo Chiat shophouse. Customers just need to download its app and let the staff scan a QR code to redeem a sandwich. 

Ahead of its final pop-up for now – on the weekend of Sept 27 and 28 – there have already been more than 2,000 app downloads. 

“We’re taking everything we’ve learnt to fine-tune operations, sharpen the menu and get ready for a future store launch,” says Ms Hoh Loyi, 26, founder and creative director of The Platform Collective, which operates Don’t Runaway. She is best known as the founder of Champion Bolo Bun in Tanjong Pagar and Dickson Nasi Lemak, which she sold in 2024. 

Banking on this quick-service restaurant (QSR) direction, Ms Hoh says: “QSR feels especially relevant right now because diners want speed and accessibility, without giving up on quality or creativity. That’s the gap we see – to bring craft, culture and storytelling into the quick service space. 

“The long game is to build a concept that can scale without losing its soul.” 

Also focusing on sandwiches is Mamma Mia Focaccia, the first fast-casual concept by the folks behind Next Door Spanish Cafe in East Coast; Asador and 60ml in Joo Chiat; and Los Amigos in the Central Business District. 

Launching in Amoy Street on Oct 21, Mamma Mia Focaccia will operate as a grab-and-go sandwich deli by day and a champagne lounge by night. 

While the initial plan was to run a dine-in, full-service deli, its owner Houssein Haffian, 37, feels a fixed menu willl help expedite orders during the busy lunch service and solve manpower challenges.  

He says: “The champagne lounge allows for continuity of business well after the morning and lunchtime crowd is over, as we turn over for night-time business, allowing us to maximise the space.” 

After the launch, he is looking to expand and roll out more of such QSR concepts. 

So, before the likes of international establishments such as Chick-fil-A, Lotteria and Chipotle make their Singapore debuts, here are four new places to get your gourmet fast-food fix. 

Don’t Runaway 

What: For the past three weekends, long queues formed at 320 Joo Chiat Road for free sandwiches to mark the first pop-up of sandwich concept Don’t Runaway. 

The space used to house Dickson Nasi Lemak, the brainchild of Ms Hoh. 

The last pop-up – on the weekend of Sept 27 and 28 – features the Beef Me Up sandwich, stuffed with yakiniku-style beef brisket, creamy peanut butter and housemade tallow chilli crunch. 

After this, the same space will become an “experimental playground” for new ideas beyond sandwiches, collaborations and limited-edition creations. 

Look out for the next collaboration from Oct 17 to 19, and from Oct 23 to Nov 9, Thursdays to Sundays. The diner-style showcase features four exclusive sandwiches by Don’t Runaway inspired by home and decor company Stacked Store’s unique pieces.

Think mustard and ketchup shakers reimagined as a beef cheek sandwich, an eggplant utensil pot transformed into a tangy achar eggplant sandwich, and a banana vase turned into a banana-tiramisu-inspired sandwich. 

The fourth is the “Thicc Stack”, a loaded deli-style sandwich specially created for the collaboration. It includes smoky pork collar, sopressa, jicama remoulade and spicy tomato paste on sourdough. 

Following this, Don’t Runaway will evolve into a month-long grocer concept – from Nov 20 to Dec 21 – featuring artisanal brands, pantry staples and weekly chef collab sandwiches. 

All this leads up to a future bricks-and-mortar launch, which will offer flavour-packed sandwiches made with bagels and its signature potato buns. 

So far, Ms Hoh has received “encouraging” response from potential franchisees, but says she is taking her time to look for the right partners. 

She adds: “We’re building a space that’s intentional and welcoming – a spot where the food hits hard, the vibe feels right and every detail has been thoughtfully designed to bring the brand to life.”

Where: 320 Joo Chiat Road
When: Sept 27 and 28, 11.30am to 3pm or till sold out 
Info:

www.dontrunaway.com

 

rumeL

What: Yes, this is yet another new pizza place. But here, you can have a 10-inch sourdough pizza at under $15. 

RumeL – lemur spelled backwards – prides itself on being Singapore’s “cheapest sourdough Neapolitan pizza” baked on-site with 48-hour fermented dough. Mr Harry Chua, chairman of Hersing Culinary, decided to make the lemur the brand’s mascot after seeing one on a holiday to Madagascar.

The company is also behind Tim Ho Wan’s entrance into Singapore and Jurassic Nest food hall at Gardens by the Bay. More pizza flavours are in the pipeline and more outlets are slated to launch by end-2025 in the central and eastern parts of Singapore, says Mr Chua.

Selected Breakfast Pizza flavours, such as Kaya Butter and Chicken Floss, are priced at $5 from 8 to 11am, and from $6.80 after 11am. 

For all-day dining, a six-inch pizza is priced from $6.80 and a 10-inch pizza from $9.80. 

Flavours include Hot Honey Cheese, Smoky BBQ Chicken and Carbonara, complete with a runny yolk in the centre. 

Drinks are not an after-thought. Its coffee uses a house blend of beans from Ethiopia, Brazil, Kenya and Colombia, with prices starting at $2.80 for an espresso. The iced Brulee Brew ($5.80) comes with a torched layer of caramelised sugar. 

Where: 01-07 Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street
Open: 8am to 10pm daily 
Info:

www.rumel.co

 

WeWa 

What: Since making its debut in late June, Middle Eastern street-food concept WeWa has launched two outlets – at Resorts World Sentosa and Orchard Gateway. A third is opening on Oct 15 at Novena Square 2. 

The brand, founded in Dubai by a group of international investors and industry veterans, has chosen Singapore as the launch market for regional expansion. 

The menu is straightforward. Pick from falafel (deep-fried chickpea balls blended with spices), chicken shawarma, beef shawarma or prawn, then decide whether you want the ingredients in a junior pita ($6 to $8), pita, rice bowl or low-carb keto bowl with more proteins. Prices range from $11 to $14. 

The chicken and beef shawarma are marinated for over 12 hours in a blend of spices, then layered onto spits weighing up to 25kg and slow-roasted till tender and juicy. 

Each serving is loaded with toppings prepared in-house. These include fresh tomatoes, coriander, sumac onions and pickled cucumbers, along with housemade green chilli and red chilli harissa.

Every dish has a signature sauce – housemade tahini or tangy amba sauce, a mango chutney for a sour-spicy finish.

Party boxes will soon be available in-store and via delivery, to cater for larger groups. 

Where: 01-17 Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Road; 01-219/01-231 Weave at Resorts World Sentosa, 26 Sentosa Gateway
Open: 11am to 10pm daily (Orchard Gateway); 10am to 10pm daily (Weave)
Info:

www.wewantwewa.com

 

Mamma Mia Focaccia 

What: The humble focaccia is the hero of the menu at new grab-and-go deli Mamma Mia Focaccia. 

Assembled on-site, the long-fermented, olive oil-rich bread is paired with classic deli fillings such as mortadella, pastrami, stracciatella, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes and prosciutto. Prices range from $14 to $24 for a sandwich.

There are no seats, only standing tables for customers to await their orders. 

At night, its 40-seat speakeasy lounge The Champagnery beckons. Look for the hidden door beyond the deli counter that serves as the entrance. 

Where: 94 Amoy Street
Open: On Oct 21; Mamma Mia Focaccia: 8am to 5pm, weekdays only, closed on weekends; The Champagnery: 6pm to 3am (Tuesdays to Thursdays), 7pm to 4am (Fridays, Saturdays, eve of public holidays and public holidays), closed on Sundays and Mondays
Info: @mammamiafocaccia, @thechampagnery.sg on Instagram