Best Middle Eastern and Turkish Food in Kampong Glam

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The best Middle Eastern and Turkish food in Kampong Glam runs from a Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen to a shisha lounge on Haji Lane, and all three of the district’s standouts sit within a few minutes’ walk of Sultan Mosque.

Alaturka: A Michelin Bib Gourmand Since 2005

Alaturka, at 15 Bussorah Street, has run as an independent East Mediterranean kitchen since 2005 and earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2016. Everything is made from scratch, including hand-ground meat blends, smoked eggplant and daily yogurt. The meze tabagi shares hummus, babaganoush, cacik, muhammara, feta and olives across one platter, the supreme sampler mixes charcoal-grilled bonfillet, lamb chops and Adana kebab, and the kunefe, crisp pastry over melted cheese in sweet syrup, is the dessert worth saving room for.

Anatolia: Halal Turkish and Lebanese, Chef-Led

Anatolia, at 58 Arab Street, is fully halal-certified and run by executive chef Sinan, who brings over 30 years of kitchen experience from Istanbul. Testi kebab, cooked and served in a sealed clay pot, is the dish that draws repeat visits, alongside Adana lamb, lamb chops and fresh-baked pide. It also runs a Turkish breakfast menu, unusual among the district’s dinner-focused restaurants.

Altazzag: Egyptian Food and Shisha on Haji Lane

Altazzag, at 24 Haji Lane, is the district’s Egyptian option and its most atmospheric: a two-storey shophouse with hookahs for shisha, street-side tables on the ground floor and floor seating with cushions upstairs by reservation. The Altazzag Super Special mixes grilled chicken, fish, lamb and beef under a white cream sauce, and the Turkish coffee, thick, foamy and served with visible sediment, is strong enough to justify ordering on its own. The restaurant charges no service fee or GST on top of menu prices.

Getting There and Practical Tips

All three restaurants sit inside Kampong Glam’s heritage core, a five-to-ten minute walk from Bugis MRT station (EW12/DT14). Alaturka and Anatolia both get busy for dinner on weekends, so reservations are worth making ahead; Altazzag’s upstairs floor seating specifically requires booking in advance. Shisha service at Altazzag runs into the early hours, well past when the neighbouring cafes close.

FAQ: Middle Eastern and Turkish Food in Kampong Glam

Which of these are halal-certified?
Anatolia is explicitly halal-certified; check directly with Alaturka and Altazzag if certification is a requirement for your group.

Is Alaturka worth the Michelin Bib Gourmand hype?
It’s held the award since 2016 on the strength of its from-scratch approach rather than a one-off review, which is a reasonable signal of consistency over a single visit.

Where’s the best spot for shisha specifically?
Altazzag is the district’s dedicated shisha venue among these three; its upstairs floor seating is built around lounging with a hookah rather than a quick meal.

Bottom Line: Best Middle Eastern and Turkish Food in Kampong Glam

Alaturka is the pick for a serious sit-down meal, Anatolia covers halal-certified Turkish reliably, and Altazzag is the one to choose for shisha and atmosphere over precision cooking. Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura’s halal certification directory is the place to double-check current status before you go. For dessert or a lighter stop afterward, see our guide to the best cafes on Haji Lane and Arab Street.

For more on the area, see our guides to Kampong Glam Travel Guide: Sultan Mosque and Arab Street and Haji Lane: Boutiques, Cafes and Street Art.