A Living Culinary Legacy: Singapore’s Last Russo-Hainanese Restaurant

Singapore’s culinary scene is packed with icons, but few tell a story as unique as Shashlik Restaurant.

Hidden inside the nostalgic halls of Far East Shopping Centre on Orchard Road, this old-school institution is Singapore’s last surviving Russo-Hainanese restaurant and a living piece of the nation’s multicultural heritage.

In recognition of its cultural significance and longstanding contribution to Singapore’s food scene, Shashlik has also been recognised under the National Heritage Board’s Heritage Business Scheme.

First inspired by the legendary Troika Restaurant in the 1960s, Russo-Hainanese cuisine was born when Hainanese chefs trained under a Russian chef known affectionately as “Mamochka” Liber.

They adapted hearty Eastern European recipes to suit Singapore’s tropical climate and local palate, creating a rare fusion cuisine found almost nowhere else in the world.

When Troika closed in 1985, nine former employees pooled their savings to open Shashlik Restaurant, preserving the cuisine for future generations.

Today, the restaurant remains family-run by brothers Alan and Derrick Tan, alongside long-time staff including beloved veteran waiter Uncle Foo.

Dining at Shashlik feels like stepping into another era. Bow-tied waiters wheel wooden service carts between tables while sizzling hotplates and flambé desserts light up the dining room.

Must-try dishes include:

• Borshch Soup — a lighter, tomato-based take on classic Russian beet soup, filled with tender beef brisket, cabbage, and potatoes.

• Signature Shashlik Beef Skewers — smoky beef served on a sizzling cast-iron plate with melting butter.

• Blue Fire Ribs — tender ribs flambéed tableside with rum for dramatic flair.

• Baked Alaska & Cherry Jubilee — classic flaming desserts prepared beside your table.

In a city constantly chasing the next food trend, Shashlik offers something rarer: authenticity, nostalgia and history served on a hot plate. For travelers looking to experience a different side of Singapore beyond hawker centers and rooftop bars, this hidden Orchard Road gem is well worth the detour.