1 HOTDOGS INC

Over the years, hotdog eateries have come and gone. The latest to put a twist on the common sausage in a bun combo is Hotdogs Inc, which used to run a takeaway stall in North Buona Vista and will open a dine-in place on Nov 18 at PoMo mall in Selegie Road.

Hotdog options include shrimp cocktail ($9) with tobiko, wild rocket, purple cabbage and lettuce; soft-shell crab ($9) with laksa mayonnaise; crabmeat remoulade ($9); and wagyu beef roll ($9). Other more traditional options include pork cheese sausage ($7.50); spicy Italian sausage ($7.50); chicken sausage ($7); and beef sausage in a sesame bun ($8.50).

Besides hotdogs, there are also side dishes such as Cheeky Spicy Wings ($5); premium squid balls ($4.50); and chicken poppers ($4.50), with salted egg yolk sauce. Where: 01-23 PoMo Mall, 1 Selegie Road Open: 8.30am to 9pm (Mondays to Saturdays), closed on Sundays Info: www.facebook.com/hotdogsincsg

2 CHALONG

This one is for carnivores. Located at the new Tanjong Pagar Centre, Chalong serves Japanese rice bowls topped with charcoal-grilled meats.

The signature item is the grass-fed black Angus striploin ($14, pictured), which is glazed with a French red wine sauce. Other options include the 18-hour sous vide pork jowl ($12), with housemade chilli sauce; and Thai basil grilled chicken ($9). Each rice bowl comes with a 63 deg C sous vide egg.

For additional greens, add $1 each for grilled asparagus or grilled vine cherry tomatoes. Where: B2-21 Tanjong Pagar Centre, 7 Wallich Street Open: 11.30am to 2pm, 5.30 to 7.30pm (weekdays), noon to 3pm (Saturdays), closed on Sundays Info: www.facebook.com/chalongsg

3 EPIPHYTE

This garden-themed cafe in Neil Road brings together food, art and nature in one place. And its dishes and desserts are eye-catching too.

The pink risotto ($22), for example, gets its pink hue from beetroot and is topped with scallops. Other dishes include chicken with Indonesian spices ($22); grilled striploin ($29), marinated in a galbi glaze and served with kimchi mash; and seafood cartoccio ($28), with a variety of shellfish in a laksa broth.

The Instagram-worthy desserts are Twilight ($12, pictured), which is galaxy mousse cake, with Cointreau orange curd and chocolate sponge; and Terrarium ($12, add $3 for a shot of rum) - a nod to the cafe's theme. The dessert is served in a whisky glass with moss-like green sponge cake, chocolate soil, mint custard and apple compote. Where: 47 Neil Road Open: 10am to 11pm (Mondays to Thursdays), 10 to 1am (Fridays and Saturdays), closed on Sundays Info: www.facebook.com/Epiphyte.sg

4 DAPUR MELAKA

This family-run business features a fusion of Chetti Melaka (Peranakan Indian) and Peranakan cuisine at its eatery in Sembawang.

Menu highlights include assam pedas fish/sotong ($7.40, small; $20.80 for whole fish); chicken, mutton or beef rendang ($6.80); ayam chemur buah keluak ($6.80); lemak nanas fish or prawns ($7.80), in coconut prawn paste with pineapple slices; ayam masak merah ($6.80); and crab ($30), with choices including black pepper, XO (pictured) and soup.

There is no pork or lard on the menu and the crab and fish are fresh from the family's farms in Kranji and off Pulau Ubin. Where: 01-01 Hong Heng Mansions, 56 Sembawang Road Open: 10.30am to 2.30pm, 5.30 to 9.30pm (Tuesdays to Sundays), closed on Mondays Info: Call 6455-0857 or go to www.facebook.com/dapurmelakasg