If your idea of a good time involves indulging in delicious food, dancing to live music, and snapping selfies at a retro diner photobooth, then you’re 100% GastroBeats material. Singapore’s biggest lifestyle and food festival is back for 2025, and it’s pulling out all the stops.
We’re talking loaded baked potatoes, a music time-machine, and American BBQ so good it might make you emotional. Come hungry, come curious, and slap on some sunscreen ‘cause the sun’s been burning. ☀️
Foodie must-tries at GastroBeats 2025
01 • What The Puff!
Meet What the Puff! — the bold new kid on the GastroBeats block, serving up curry puffs with fillings you’ve probably only dreamt of. We’re talking wild flavours like chilli crab, mentaiko tuna, and char siew, all wrapped up in golden, flaky goodness.
Don’t miss the truffle mushroom chicken for a rich umami hit, or the fan-fave 2 Cheesy 4 U puff, which comes with molten cheese and a drizzle of condensed milk topping that weirdly works. Plus, they’re also hosting an extreme cheese pull challenge, running daily with weekly prizes to be won.
02 • Slurp Your Oysters
Slurp Your Oysters is known for flying in some of the fattest, freshest, and juiciest oysters straight from Murotsu Bay in Japan. Their chilled raw oysters are full of briny flavours and are best eaten with mango salsa, Thai chilli, or Korean sauces.
Not a fan of raw seafood? No problem!
If raw oysters are not your thing, check out their grilled counterparts. My personal favourites are the mentaiko and cheese — both super-creamy and addictive. Another must-try is th negitoro pie-tee with ikura, which puts a modern spin on the traditional snack. It features silky minced tuna and wasabi cucumber, topped with glistening ikura pearls. You can count on these guys to satisfy your umami cravings.
There’s also a ton of grilled scallops, juicy mussels, and other seafood snacks waiting to be devoured here.
03 • The Meatmen
The Meatmen Channel is taking their viral recipes off-screen and into GastroBeats 2025. A popular dish is the Laksa Mac & Cheese that’s rich, creamy, and packs a spicy, sambal-laced punch.
A unique dish to add to your “must-try” list is the Rendang Mi Goreng Rolls. They’re stuffed with tender beef and Indomie, grilled till crisp, and dunked in a sweet-tangy tamarind sauce. You’ll also find the Iconic Sio Bak consisting of thick, juicy pork belly with skin that shatters on bite (ASMR-worthy stuff).
Then, there’s the Abalone Truffle XO Fried Rice. It’s packed with baby abalone and topped with a drizzle of truffle oil for that extra oomph. I paired it with the Hawker BBQ Chicken Thigh and went straight to the gates of food heaven. The smoky and juicy meat came with a punchy garlic chilli sauce and calamansi aioli that further elevated the taste of the fried rice.
04 • Warabimochi Kamakura
If you have a sweet tooth, you won’t be able to resist Warabimochi Kamakura’s magnetic pull. This viral Japanese dessert brand is back at GastroBeats with its signature melt-in-your-mouth mochi treats. Special shoutout to the Black Sesame Warabimochi. Each soft and jiggly piece was coated in a nutty, aromatic black sesame powder that kept me going back for more.
The drinks were no less fantastic. For instance, the Kinako Strawberry Royale, a creamy Hokkaido milk blend with chewy chunks of strawberry warabimochi in every sip, gave me an instant dopamine rush. Crowd-fave Matcha Strawberry Warabimochi Drink also makes a return, and is ready to cool you down and sweeten things up.
05 • Tato Thoughts
I’m a fiend for anything potato-related, so when I spotted Tato Thoughts at GastroBeats, I made a beeline for it. These aren’t your average spuds, though. Expect to be served fully loaded baked potatoes stacked with generous toppings. Another dish I was obsessed with was the Tato Breakfast. This brunchy banger came with scrambled eggs, shiitake mushrooms, hot dog slices, and a creamy mentaiko drizzle over a piping hot potato. Pure comfort in a box!
Also on the menu were the spicy Tato Mala Chicken and the luxe Tato Smoked Salmon, topped with silky salmon and fluffy eggs. It’s honestly a carb lover’s paradise.
06 • Jett Barbeque
This homegrown BBQ gem has been a friendly face at GastroBeats since 2023, thanks to their finger-lickin’ good beef ribs. The signature Dino Ribs are an absolute beast — imagine 600g of smoky, fall-off-the-bone beef that’s been slow-smoked for over 10 hours using a special kind of wood flown in from the US.
Rich, tender, and packed with deep BBQ flavour, it’s the kind of dish that makes you rethink everything you know about ribs. Pair the meat with their Signature Mashed Potatoes for a meal that’ll tick all your boxes. The mashed potatoes are creamy, buttery, and ridiculously good at soaking up all that meaty goodness.
Activities to explore at GastroBeats 2025
07 • Solace Diner
Solace Studios has just debuted their latest photobooth at GastroBeats 2025, and it’s as extravagant as you’d expect. This brand-new, American diner-inspired booth is the first of its kind in Singapore — and it’s available exclusively at GastroBeats 2025.
Step into a time machine of bold red, white, and blue, checkered floors, vinyl booths, neon signs, a jukebox, and even a shiny disco ball. There’s no way you can be at GastroBeats and miss this nostalgic photo spot, which serves up vintage vibes perfect for your next Instagram post.
08 • Live DJ
What’s a feast without a soundtrack? One of the highlights of GastroBeats is the live music that keeps the party vibes going all day and night long. This year’s lineup includes local talents like Murphy, known for his smooth vocals, the genre-bending Jean Kai & The Way Out, the punchy and upbeat TheAfterParty, and Sarah Syazlina & Band’s soulful tunes. Plus, keep an ear out for fresh faces like Alwine & Co.
09 • Games and Booths
Another important element of a festival is games, and GastroBeats doesn’t disappoint. Try your hand at the array of games, from claw machines galore to basketball hoops and nostalgic arcade hits.
10 • The Wicker Club
Step into The Wicker Club at GastroBeats and treat your senses to candles and perfumes that smell out of this world. Don’t be fooled by the humorous names, as these are luxe, toxic-free scents inspired by unforgettable moments. The candles are the real deal. They’re all handcrafted with 100% natural coconut wax and organic extracts. You’ll love that they’re eco-friendly, vegan, and made to burn clean. 🍀
Whether you’re gift hunting, treating yourself or window shopping, just know that the scents here linger long after the party’s over and are low-key irresistible.
11 • Rewind. Replay. Remix: Singapore Edition
This immersive art exhibit is your backstage pass to a full-blown time warp. Check out cabaret charm, tea house tunes, and radio hits from the '50s and '60s that your ah ma probably slow-danced to (and maybe still does). 😉
As you walk through the different zones, you’ll be transported to the 70s and 80s, where the backdrop is fitted with sparkly disco balls, neon dreams, and synth bops that'll make you gasp in awe. There are also retro arcade games, photobooths, and their very own boutique BARRR for a drink on the house — because going back in time is more worth it when there’s something to sip on.
💡Pro tip: Remember to ditch the wheels if you’re planning to consume alcohol.
(Featured photo adapted from: What The Puff!, EatBook, and TimeOut)
