1 Market by Chef Wan

Singapore-born Malaysian celebrity chef and prolific cookbook author Redzuawan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan, clearly doesn’t think small – his maiden Singapore venture is an ambitious 11,000 sq ft, 500-seater buffet arena called 1 Market (a play on his nickname Wan and in collaboration with food court chain Food Junction), located on the fourth floor of the newly expanded Plaza Singapura. The 54-year-old, who gave up an accounting career early in life, is certainly playing to his strengths, with the food bazaar-like space influenced by his travels around the ASEAN region (it’s also certified Halal). There’s a Nyonya Peranakan corner, a Vietnamese station and Sudanese and Minangkabau enclaves, as well as Malay favourites such as rojak, ayam penyet (Indonesian smashed chicken), nasi dagang (coconut rice in fish curry) and ulam ulam (traditional salad made with anchovies and shrimp paste) – just grab a dish and it’s all you-can-eat.

Cost: Lunch $21.80-$29.80 (adults), $12.80-$17.80 (children); Dinner $34.80- $38.80 (adults), $16.80- $19.80 (children).