Equatorial SG on Duxton Road offers one of the more exciting new takes on modern Asian dining in Singapore right now along with a wonderfully eclectic drinks list.
Pan-Asian cuisine has long been a catch-all label for restaurants riffing on flavours from across the region — sometimes all in the same dish. Think Tribal, where modern grill concept that leans into Japanese and regional Asian influences, or Jiak Kim House, with its contemporary stylings on Southeast Asian flavours. For some — particularly those fiercely protective of their culinary heritage — this dilution of distinct culinary history and identity can be anathema.
Then along comes Equatorial SG, a fresh addition to Duxton Road’s vibrant dining stretch — and a bold new player redefining what progressive pan-Asian cuisine can look like.
Founded by a powerhouse quartet of F&B entrepreneurs — Chef Caleb Ang, known for his sharp technique and nuanced palate; sake importer Adrian Goh, also Singapore’s first Sake Samurai; Justin Herson, co-founder of Lion City Meadery; and Stefan Koh, brewer and founder of homegrown craft beer brand District Brewers — Equatorial SG wants to put flavour first, even if it has to borrow culinary inspiration and cooking techniques from all over.
“Equatorial is about reinterpreting the familiar, respecting tradition while exploring new possibilities. It’s not about reinventing Pan-Asian cuisine; it’s about refining it, highlighting its essence through better ingredients and techniques,” Chef Caleb assures us.
Tucked away on an upper floor of a Duxton shophouse, the 30-seater space is intimate, stylishly understated, and full of buzz. An open-concept kitchen spans one side of the room — the best seats are at the bar counter, where you can watch the culinary action unfold. Prefer a quiet corner? A few tables at the back offer a more discreet perch.
The vibe is more elevated izakaya than the semi-fine dining concept it makes itself out to be, and its menu is designed for sharing and snacking while you drink.
Starters include the likes of The Ultimate Egg Mayo, which appears as an upscale version studded with ikura, tobiko and mentaiko that you’ll want to pile high on the accompanying biscuits, or Smashed Grilled Sheep Horn Pepper with Century Egg, a moreishly addictive dip — if you don’t mind the funkiness of century egg — you scoop up with belinjo crackers.
The dry-aged seafood here is shockingly good.
The Binchotan Grilled Madai Sashimi, aged and finished with garlic aioli and soy, is a gorgeous, umami-laced bite that’s a clear nod to Chef Caleb’s deep Japanese kitchen experience. But it’s the Seafood Yukhoe, a Korean-Japanese mashup of sashimi dressed in ssamjang and sesame oil, that’s proof of how confidently Equatorial SG blurs culinary borders.
Some items on the menu can sound a bit like a wild card, such as the signature Matcha Curry Grilled Masala Chicken, but somehow lands surprisingly well with the bitterness of Japanese green tea dancing in tandem with the earthy Indian spice on the palate. The Rendang Serundeng Beef is all crunch and comfort, an elevated take on the Nusantara classic of well-seasoned beef chunks of beef served atop salad greens.
The drinks programme at Equatorial SG is wild, wacky and wonderful, which is generally what happens when you bring together a sake distributor, a mead maker, a craft beer brewer, and a chef who loves his wine. Food and drinks pairing, they will tell you, is overrated — just eat and drink what you like.
In a dining scene that too often either tiptoes around reinvention or jumps in with playful abandon, Equatorial SG manages the rare feat of treading the fine line in between. Confident but not cocky, inventive without being irreverent, and respectful while reinventing, Equatorial’s take on modern pan-Asian cuisine is a welcome and exciting exploration of Asian flavours.
[Photo credits: Equatorial SG]
Equatorial SG
Address 60A Duxton Rd, #02-01, Singapore 089524 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 5.30pm to 10.30pm Thursdays to Mondays; closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Facebook equatorialpanasiancuisine
Instagram @equatorial_sg
Reservations book here
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