Keto Diet 101: A Guide To Low-Carb Restaurants, Bakes, And Snacks In Singapore
PUBLISHED May 28th, 2021 06:00 am | UPDATED June 6th, 2021 08:18 pm
Who hasn’t heard of keto, the sexy fat-burning diet that’s been in the spotlight for a couple years? If you’re thinking of going strict keto or simply eating clean to detox, here’s a bite-sized primer on how it works, and what you should (and shouldn’t) be eating. For the experienced carb-ditchers among us, skip right down for keto-friendly food options in Singapore.
How Does The Keto Diet Work?
In a nutshell, the keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat eating plan for healthy weight loss. It may sound a little zany to burn fat by eating fat, but here’s how it works. Our bodies usually convert the unused sugar we consume into stored fat – cue those pesky love handles. By drastically cutting carbs, you induce your body to enter a state of ketosis, such that it burns fat – including stored fat – for energy in place of carbs.
Keto fans espouse this diet for its speedy and sustainable weight loss. Not only does reaching ketosis take a mere few days, the ketones produced in this state also suppress production of ghrelin, the hormone which signals hunger to your brain – that means fewer hunger pangs to test your resolve. Some studies have also shown possible links between the keto diet and healthier cholesterol levels.
What Do I Eat On A Keto Diet?
The keto meal plan is based around high-fat, protein-rich stuff like grass-fed meats, fatty fish, eggs, and nuts. You should get plenty of leafy green veggies on your keto plate, along with non-starchy veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers. Fat-rich dairy products like butter, cream, cheese, and yoghurt are also keto-approved.
On the other hand, these are what ketos veto: grains like rice, pasta, and bread, along with root vegetables like potatoes and carrots. Steer clear of beans, legumes, and most fruits, as well as alcohol. And it goes without saying that sugary stuff gets the axe too.
Keto-Friendly Food Options In Singapore
Carbs are everywhere, so dining out as a keto dieter can feel like picking through a minefield. Luckily for us, there’re more clean-eating concepts popping up, with well-labelled menus that take the guesswork out of keto eating. Here’s our roundup of the most wholesome keto-friendly restaurants, meal delivery services, bakeries, and even desserts in Singapore that’ll have you keeping up with ketosis.
Restaurants and Meal Boxes
Sofi Café Pizza
Pizzas are a slice of carb heaven that keto dieters might be hard-pressed to give up – but thankfully, there’re equally delish alternatives. The keto-friendly sister of Pasta Brava, Sofi Café Pizza dishes up an extensive menu of pastas and pizzas crafted with almond meal. Thin-crust and boosted with psyllium fiber, their gooey pies include Quattro Formaggi (S$28), Burrata (S$33), and the cheeky Chili Crab (S$35). Handmade with almond meal and egg yolk, their lasagna and gnocchi are just as indulgent – the Handcrafted Gnocchi with Roasted Pork Belly Steak (S$45) is a standout.
Sofi Café Pizza is located at 10 Craig Rd, Singapore 089670, p. +65 6222 0879. Open Mon-Fri 8.30am–10.30pm, Sat 9.30am–10pm, Sun 9.30am–9pm.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Sofi Café Pizza is available for takeaways and delivery via their ordering platform.
Persea
While more and more restaurants are rolling out keto choices these days, Persea might be the first to go fully low-carb from starters to tipples. The menu is heavy on Mediterranean seafood and Middle Eastern meats, helpfully labelled with the net carbs in each dish. Start off with fat bombs like the zero-carb Bone Marrow (S$24), then move on to elegant plates like Barramundi (S$30) in saffron beurre blanc and Pork Belly (S$24) with Moroccan curry. To pair, there’re carb-free cocktails like the Tzatziki Daiquiri (S$18) that don’t skimp on flavour. Oh, and they’ve got an adorable sausage dog roaming free too.
Persea is located at 23 Ann Siang Rd, Singapore 069703, p. +65 8138 3217. Open Tues-Fri 5.30pm–10.30pm, Sat 11am–2.30pm and 5.30pm–10.30pm, Sun 11am–2.30pm.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Persea is available for takeaways and delivery daily 11.30am–9pm via their ordering platform.
Gourmei
The fine-dining offshoot of subscription service Ketomei, Gourmei is a virtual restaurant delivering keto-friendly European plates to your doorstep. Meaty highlights include the salt-cured Gravlax Salmon (S$16), tender Duck Leg Confit (S$24), and Braised US Short Ribs (S$38) accompanied by silky cauliflower mash. If you’re having a keto feast for the fam, opt for the Gourmet Set (S$150) of six dishes. For dessert, snag the rich, fudgy Signature Valrhona Brownie (S$8.90) made with Valrhona’s Xocoline 65% Sugar-Free Chocolate.
Order Gourmei online here.
Kitchen by Food Rebel
Kitchen by Food Rebel prides themselves on using produce with no hidden sugar or preservatives – think fresh local greens, grass-fed meats, and organic nuts and seeds. For a breakfast of champions, check out the 3 Egg Omelette (S$6) or the Ultimate Breakfast (S$15) of beef, cage-free eggs, and avocado. And for a power-packed lunch, a Chicken Protein Bowl (S$19) or a Zoodle Bolognese (S$18) is just the ticket. Check out our review here.
Kitchen by Food Rebel is located at 28 Stanley Street, Singapore 068737, p. +65 6224 7088. Open Mon-Sat 8am–10.30pm. Closed Sun.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Kitchen by Food Rebel is available for takeaways and delivery Mon-Sat 9am–2.45pm via their ordering platform.
PrepBox
Going keto requires tons of prep and planning – not something we may have time for during the week. To take the fuss out of carb-cutting, PrepBox has our backs with meal plans ranging from five to ten meal boxes a week (from S$13 per meal), delivered chilled each weekend. Pop them into your microwave or steamer and dig into low-carb, high-fat delights like Chili Crab Shirataki Seafood Noodle, Baked Farmed Chicken Tikka Masala, and Hungarian Beef Goulash Stew. The menu switches up each week and spans a world of cuisines, so there’s no getting bored.
Order PrepBox online here.
The Living Café
Started by the folks behind holistic health centre Balanced Living, The Living Café offers a plethora of raw food goodness for the low-carb diner from meaty salads to lettuce buns. Keto-friendly picks on the menu include the Veggie Nori Roll (S$13.50) stuffed with crunchy greens and creamy avocado, and Spiced Chicken Burger (S$19) in a lettuce bun. For a lighter salad, the Roast Cauliflower, Almond & Herb Salad (S$22) is a Middle Eastern treat tossed with fresh herbs and pomegranate, while the Vietnamese Chicken Salad (S$21) packs on the proteins.
The Living Café is located at 779 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269758, p. +65 6468 4482. Open Tues-Fri 11am–6.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am–6.30pm. Closed Mon.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), The Living Café is available for takeaways and delivery Tues-Fri 11am–6.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am–6.30pm via their ordering platform.
Fresher
Healthy food delivery service Fresher serves up a gourmet array of blast-chilled, keto-friendly meals, which can be stored for up to a month sans preservatives. Carb-free nasi lemak might sound dubious, but the fluffy cauliflower rice in their ‘Nasi’ Lemak Cauliflower with Baked Ginger-Turmeric Chicken Leg (S$13.90) is an instant winner. Another remix of a local staple, the Housemade Sugar-Free Salmon Laksa (S$14.50) goes light with konjac noodles and olive oil. For comfort fuel, the Shrimp Cauliflower ‘Mac’ N Cheese (S$13.90) hits the spot too.
Order Fresher online here.
Afterglow
This Keong Saik eatery is big on clean, plant-based foods which give you that healthy afterglow. While you won’t get your meat fix here, you’ll find plenty of keto-friendly veggie options on the menu. The signature Afterglow Kimchi Avo Rolls (S$14) offers moreish mouthfuls of healthy fats like almond sushi ‘rice’ and avocado, while the Raw Crispy Lasagne (S$20) will satisfy all your carb-less pasta cravings with zucchini sheets lined with walnut minced meat and marinated spinach.
Afterglow is located at 24 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089131, p. +65 6224 8921. Open Mon-Sat 12pm–10pm. Closed Sun.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Afterglow is available for takeaways and delivery Mon-Sat 11.30am–8.30pm via their ordering platform.
Bakes and Snacks
Momolato
Who says going keto and having a sweet tooth are oxymorons? Crafted by award-winning gelato maker Sharon Tay, Momolato is sweetening our low-carb life with diabetic-friendly gelatos and popsicles, made with natural sweeteners like monkfruit extract. Think luscious Avocado Chocolate (S$21 per pint), Cookies & Cream (S$20 per pint) with crushed almond flour cookies, roasty Sicilian Pistachio (S$25), and Yuzu Lemon Cheesecake (S$20 per pint) bursting with organic yuzu juice. Their Merlion-shaped popsicles are a treat for the eyes as well.
Momolato is located at 34 Haji Lane, Singapore 189227. Open Sun-Thurs 12pm–11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm–2am.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Momolato is available for delivery via their ordering platform.
Seriously Keto
Singapore’s first full-fledged keto bakery, Seriously Keto, offers a wide range of delicious yet diet-friendly bakes, made with almond flour, Swerve sweetener, and French butter. The result is KetoBuns (S$8.90 for 2) with a perfectly pillowy texture, luscious zero-sugar cupcakes in flavours like red velvet and pandan, and even Thai Milk Tea Jelly (S$6.50) which hits the sweet spot. Their Lemon Meringue Tart (from S$7.80) is a beauty with coconut flour and a torched meringue top too.
Seriously Keto is located on 32 Seah Street, Singapore 188388, p. +65 9838 4047. Open daily 10.30am–6.30pm.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Seriously Keto is available for delivery via their ordering platform.
Delcie’s Desserts and Cakes
With Delcie’s keto-friendly sweet treats, you hardly need to mourn your former love affair with sugar. This confectionery whips up nutty, chocolatey cakes with a carb count of only 6g, such as the Opera (S$95) – a luxurious almond nut sponge cake soaked with coffee and chocolate cream. Alongside a scrumptious range of cookies and chocolate bars, Delcie’s even does a healthy interpretation of the beloved Ferrero Rocher with the Vegan Keto Rochers Chocolate Gianduja Balls (S$18 for four).
Delcie’s Desserts and Cakes is located at Blk 34 Whampoa West #01-83, Singapore 330038, p. +65 6282 2951. Open Mon 11am–6pm, Tues-Sun 11am–8pm.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Delcie’s Desserts and Cakes is available for delivery Tues-Sun 11am–8pm via their ordering platform.
Kekito Bakery
Recreating something as light and fluffy as Japanese cheesecake seems impossible without regular flour and sugar, but Kekito Bakery pulls off this feat perfectly. Its specialty Japanese Yuzu Cotton Cheesecake (S$32-S$95) is a featherlight concoction of low-carb flour and natural sugar substitutes, weighing in at only 1.3g net carbs per slice. It comes in matcha-flavoured and flower-topped yuzu versions as well. For a walk on the dark side, indulge in the heavier, creamier Chocolate Rare Cheesecake (S$46-S$85) or the sugarless Tiramisu (S$13.50-S$140).
Kekito Bakery is located at 3 Everton Park, #01-73, Singapore 080003, p. +65 8774 7237. Open daily Tues-Fri 2pm–7pm, Sat 11am–4pm, Sun 11am–2pm. Closed Mon.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Kekito Bakery is available for delivery Tues-Sun 12pm–6pm via their ordering platform.
Carbs For Keto
A one-stop online specialty store for all your snacking needs, Carbs For Keto curates low-carb savouries, sweets, and drinks from Australia and round the world. For the sugar cravings, look no further than xylitol-sweetened chocolate bars from revolutionary Australian brand Vitawerx, Locako’s chocolate chip cookie dough mixes, and buttery almond meal cookies. Savoury snacks span the healthy – Keto Naturals’ cauliflower crisps among them – and fatty bites like Keetos’ crunchy pork rinds.
Order Carbs For Keto online here.
Locaba
Need a bake for birthdays and celebrations? Locaba’s keto remixes of classic whole cakes have you covered. The Earl Grey Vanilla Low-Carb Cake (S$60++) features almond sponge that’s flawlessly fluffy, while the Blueberry Yoghurt Cake (S$52++) is a head-turner with its dreamy swirls of blue on white. We’re betting their latest offering, the vanilla-laced Low-Carb Basque Burnt Cheesecake (S$58) with no added sugar, will fast become a crowd favourite too. For smaller treats, they’ve got Vegan Tiramisu Jars (S$9.50) and surprisingly airy Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes (S$60 for 12).
Locaba is located at 2 Kallang Ave, 13 CT Hub 1, #01-08, Singapore 339407, p. +65 9793 6557. Open daily 9am–6pm.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Locaba is available for delivery daily 11am–7pm via their ordering platform.
SuperPopStore – The Good Fats Kitchen
SuperPopStore’s mission is to get you popping the good fats with their sprawling range of nutrient-dense, sugar-free snacks, breads, and desserts. Decadent delights include the Macademia Hazelnut & White Choc Cake (S$48) and Keto Kookies (from S$8.90) in kooky flavours like kaya lemongrass and ice-cream cheese. They’ve got plenty by way of savouries too, from Mozzarella Flatbread (S$9.90) made with almond flour to pizza classics like Supreme Meat Indulgence (S$21.90). Check out our interview with SuperPop founder Clara See here.
SuperPopStore – The Good Fats Kitchen is located at 5 Ridgewood Cl, Unit G1, Singapore 276696, p. +65 8182 2151. Open Mon 12pm–6pm, Tues-Sat 10am–8pm. Closed Sun.
**During Singapore’s Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Kekito Bakery is available for takeaways and delivery via their ordering platform.
Top Image: Delcie’s Desserts and Cakes
