Tepak Sireh Restaurant

On the grounds of the Istana Kampong Glam, this yellow mansion has been converted into the most elegant Malay restaurant in Singapore.

Meals are served buffet-style and are amazing value for the setting at $17 for lunch and $20 for dinner. The spread isn't quite fit for a sultan — expect about 8-10 dishes plus rice and desserts — but newbies to Malay food will appreciate high-quality renditions of classics like beef rendang, chilli crab, and sayur lodeh (vegetable stew with coconut milk). If you're lucky there may be a cultural performance. Reservations recommended for dinner.