Lede: Singapore’s most inventive food festival, Jiak by the Quay, returns to CQ @ Clarke Quay’s Fountain Square on August 22 and 23, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering a weekend of boundary-pushing dishes that reimagine familiar local flavors through international cuisines. Organized by Capitaland, the event gathers homegrown brands and beloved restaurants for an experience that goes far beyond typical street food.
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This isn’t your average food market. At Jiak by the Quay, the rulebook is tossed aside: classic Singaporean dishes get a global makeover. Home Dawn & Dusk, for instance, will serve a laksa linguine, where velvety, spice-infused laksa sauce coats al dente Italian pasta. Hanjip, meanwhile, transforms chili crab into fiery tteokbokki, blending Korea’s beloved rice cakes with the nation’s most iconic seafood sauce.
The cross-cultural collisions continue at Mimi, where Peking duck appears as street-style tacos alongside satay shooters—a playful nod to Chinese flavors in handheld form. For those craving comfort with a French twist, The Plump Frenchman brings back its signature French onion soup with Gruyère crostini and introduces festival exclusives: a creamy salmon spread with cucumber acar, pork trotter toast with homemade chili sauce, and a pistachio mousse topped with Chantilly cream and nuts.
When the pace slows, Wildseed Café steps in with a lineup of mini cakes and specialty coffees. Standouts include a fragrant gula Melaka latte and a nostalgic kopi kaya latte—perfect mid-festival pick-me-ups.
For purists, familiar hits get a clever upgrade. Red House Seafood offers hand-peeled crab meat served with rich chili crab sauce and golden fried mantou—eliminating the mess without sacrificing flavor. Other hearty options include Geylang Claypot Rice’s beef and bone marrow fried rice and Milkfish & Broth’s grilled milkfish belly rice bowl.
Boozy Bites and Fresh Finds
For those looking to pair food with drinks, Level Up is dishing out Indomie toasties alongside refreshing Don Julio slushies. Chupitos brings its signature shooters inspired by childhood favorites like Milo, Bandung, and Paddle Pop.
Don’t miss the Rangu Pop-Up, marking the debut of Singapore’s newest Asian aperitif. Attendees can sample Rangu’s bright citrus flavors, purchase bottles before the official launch, and enjoy exclusive signature serves.
Beyond the Bites
Look out for festival-exclusive creations from homegrown names such as The East Social, Outback Haus, Hippopotato, and Sweedy. Between bites, take a breather with live entertainment or join a hands-on workshop: edible cookie painting (redeemable with a minimum $20 spend at CQ or any Jiak by the Quay booth), or receive a complimentary customized artwork of your favorite dish on canvas.
Broader Impact and Next Steps
While Jiak by the Quay runs only one weekend, the food adventure doesn’t have to end. Selected festival-exclusive menu items will remain available at participating CQ dining outlets through September 13. The Dining Table program also lets diners explore CQ’s scene with exclusive perks and eCapitaVoucher rewards at participating restaurants.
For more details, visit the Jiak by the Quay page here and The Dining Table page here.
Pro tip: Arrive hungry and bring friends—shared plates make the best memories.