SINGAPORE — Ramadan is a month-long observation of prayer and fasting for Muslims. And the meal to break a day of fasting is often marked by some exceptionally delicious fare, and expectedly so. Many restaurants go out of their way to make the meal that much more special.

“Some do go the extra mile, providing dates and cakes or (offering) special sets to cater to families,” said Waku Ghin’s new executive sous chef Sufian Zain, who prefers to head to his mother’s home for a family dinner on his days off. “Nothing beats mum’s cooking,” he proudly declared, but added how he also looks forward to foods that are “harder to get on normal days”.

These he said, include street foods such as dendeng (thinly-sliced dried meat), and ayam percik (grilled coconut spiced chicken). “Whenever I get the chance, I would head over to my mum’s place to break fast. But sometimes, if we have dinner outside, we head to Tang Tea House, a halal seafood place in Jurong West; my dad likes it there,” he shared.

Zain was also impressed with a little halal cafe on Telok Ayer Street he recently visited. “It’s called Royz et Vous and I’ve (dine there) twice. It’s a very casual place, and one of the things I look forward to when I go there is the short ribs, and my wife loves their duck.”

Baker Nursyazanna Syaira Md Suhimi, who owns the popular Fluff Bakery on Jalan Pisang, also likes a little variety. “It’s hard to find good halal Japanese foods,” she said, citing The Ramen Stall on North Bridge Road as one of her preferred places to have a meal. “The sashimi is fresh and it’s open until 6am.”

But that’s not to say she doesn’t look forward to the array of traditional festive fare — particularly the home-cooked versions, as some families, she shared, would go as far as to prepare a different dish for each of the 30 days of fasting. An easier alternative to whipping something up at home is to head to festive markets and grabbing your delicacies to go. “There’s usually one set up outside the Sultan Mosque (in Kampong Glam),” she said.

So would non-Muslims feel out of place if they wanted to take advantage of these seasonal offerings? “I don’t think so,” Zain posited. “After all, Ramadan is all about being tolerant and patient after fasting for a whole day, so I don’t think it’s an issue. Other races are more

than welcome.”

The other option, which is especially convenient if you’re looking to invite all your friends to dinner, is to head to the various buffets where a curated international spread — featuring dishes from Turkey to Thailand — awaits.

OUR PICK OF IFTAR BUFFETS

1. KATONG KITCHEN (25 MARINE PARADE ROAD, VILLAGE HOTEL KATONG, TEL: 6551 2141)

The option to order from an a la carte menu is still on the table, but why decide between a slow-roasted baby lamb that’s first marinated in Cajun spices and the restaurant’s signature ayam buah keluak when you can have both — and lots more? The specially curated buffet includes a myriad, from seafood on ice to sup kambing, braised oxtail and the chef’s special sugi nasi ulam — a staple rice dish mixed with herbs such as lemongrass, turmeric leaves and blue ginger. Desserts range from goreng pisang (banana fritters) to chempedak (like jackfruit) roll, pandan cheese cake and salted caramel sticky date pudding filled with pitted dates. Priced at S$48++ on weekdays and S$58++ on weekends. Available daily, 6.30pm to 10.30pm, from June 6 to July 5.

2. WINDOW ON THE PARK (LEVEL 2, HOLIDAY INN SINGAPORE ORCHARD CITY CENTRE, 11 CAVENAGH ROAD, TEL: 6733 8333)

Following last year’s debut, this especially affordable dinner buffet of Asian and local dishes is back with a wide array of seafood (from prawns and scallops to flower crabs and oysters) and local delights such as fried mee siam and laksa. Taking centre stage, though, are hearty savouries such as chicken and mutton satay, mutton korma (mildly-spiced and marinated in yoghurt), ayam masak merah (chicken in spicy tomato sauce), beef curry, and ayam panggang Jakarta (Jakarta-style grilled chicken). Dishes celebrating seafood include udang pedas nanas (spicy prawns cooked with pineapples) and ikan goreng assam manis (fried fish in sweet and sour sauce). Priced at S$76.50++ for two persons, Sunday to Thursday, and S$85.00++ for two persons, Friday and Saturday. Available from June 6 to July 10.

3. ASIAN MARKET CAFE (LEVEL 2, FAIRMONT SINGAPORE, TEL: 6431 6156)

This has long been a popular choice for local Malay and Indonesian delicacies, and this year’s Iftar dinner buffet looks to reinforce its reputation for halal-certified favourites, such as ayam masak merah, ayam penyet and roasted baby whole lamb done “Arabic-style”, as well as Thai green curry, nasi biryani and white pepper crab, among other Asian offerings. There are also a number of new additions to the menu — from beef rendang and ayam penyet to lamb shank masala raan, tandoori chicken puff and rojak bandung, to name a few. Priced at S$70++ per person. Available daily from June 6 to July 5.

4. CAROUSEL (LEVEL 1, ROYAL PLAZA ON SCOTTS, 25 SCOTTS ROAD, TEL: 6589 7799)

This stalwart’s famously international selection for this year’s dinner buffet include signature European dishes such as carrillada al-andalus (braised veal cheeks), paella mixta and saffron risotto with Balinese spicy scallops and organic asparagus. There are also stuffed meatballs and kara lahana dolmasi (stuffed collard greens) from Turkey. Highlights from Asia include Cantonese slow-braised spiced duck stuffed with “eight treasures” glutinous rice, Indian grilled masala-marinated lamb chop and Thai roasted duck in red curry. Choices for an aptly sweet end to the meal include Turkish baklava (pistachio puff pastry) and Spanish sesame seed tuile. Priced at S$86++ per adult. Available daily from June 6 to July 5.

5. TIFFANY CAFE & RESTAURANT (LEVEL 2, FURAMA CITY CENTRE, 60 EU TONG SEN STREET, TEL: 6531 5366)

This is another buffet option that aims to leave diners spoilt for choice with an international dinner spread that includes speciality Malay dishes such as kari kambing kerisik (braised mutton with dried coconut), ayam masak merah and cuttlefish with rojak dressing. Desserts range from a jackfruit creme brulee to assorted Malay kueh and sweet dates. Priced at S$65.80++ per person (a 1-for-1 dining promotion is available with selected credit cards). Available daily from June 6 to July 5.

6. STRAITSKITCHEN (LEVEL 1 GRAND HYATT SINGAPORE, 10 SCOTTS ROAD, TEL: 6732 1234)

This Iftar buffet dinner spread boasts dishes from Indonesia, India, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in addition to Singaporean favourites, topped with a notable mix of sustainable seafood on ice. Sustainably sourced seafood is also the highlight across the various theatre kitchens, in dishes such as Bengali fish curry, udang lemak nanas (Peranakan curry prawns) and Japanese maki rolls. If you have room for dessert, try a little fig, honey and walnut ice cream, or some Arabic coffee ice cream, while you pick on traditional Middle Eastern sweets such as umm ali (like a bread pudding), baklava and kunafa bil. Priced at S$78++ per person. Available daily from June 6 to July 6.

7. KINTAMANI INDONESIAN RESTAURANT (FURAMA RIVERFRONT, 405 HAVELOCK ROAD, TEL: 6739 6463)

Featuring authentic Balinese cuisine, the lunch and dinner Iftar buffet boasts a carving wagon that features daily specialties such as paha kambing bakar (grilled lamb leg) and kebab ayam (grilled chicken sharwama). Chef’s specialities such as roti jala kari ayam (net bread with chicken curry) and pisang epek (grilled banana with cheese) complement popular mains such as chilli crab and side dishes such as lemang, serunding and bubur surau. Priced at S$55++ per person for dinner. Alternatively, the nasi tumpeng set (S$48++, serves two, two-days advance order required) comes with dishes such as beef rendang, chicken and vegetables dishes, and a complimentary dessert buffet. Available daily from June 6 to July 6.