Mama Diam 妈妈店: Hidden restaurant and cocktail bar (Prinsep Street)

Had a really enjoyable dinner at Mama Diam with family. The food overall was very good, with a creative, modern take on local flavours. The Singapore corner shop theme is spot on, with a fun, nostalgic vibe that’s both stylish and playful without feeling overdone. It really adds to the whole dining experience. Standout dishes for us were the Singapore chilli soft shell crab bao, chicken curry kueh pie tee, and the crispy tiger prawn balls, all packed with flavour and nicely balanced. The tempura cauliflower was also excellent. The only dish that didn’t quite hit the mark for us was the bak chor “mee pok”. Cocktails were a highlight too, especially the green mango highball, mango sago, and the Peranakan negroni, all refreshing and well put together. Service was warm and attentive throughout, and we were very well looked after by Maria, Gayle and Precious, who made the experience even more enjoyable. Would happily come back to explore more of the menu.

Interesting place hidden behind a book shelf. The atmosphere is totally different from the vintage Mamadiam look at the front, more like a bar with fine dining vibe. Service is great here. Maria is our host. Gayle and Percious also did great to intro us to the menu. The food serve quickly. Overall food is of good quality and creative in the way they portray the local Hainanese dishes. We had the set menu that serve a platter of entre with hebihiam noodle, satay balls and chicken kueh paiteh. Then include also the 2 chilli crab bun. Our mains are the barramundi and chicken poach rice. Quite good overall. The poach rice is a bit underwhelming but the herbal soup is nice. Would recommend this place. Forgot to mention, they serve a great number of creative cocktails.

We found this gem right in the city, and it was such a delightful experience. The food features local cuisine with an elevated twist, making each dish feel both familiar and special. A standout for us was the soft shell crab bao appetizer—perfectly crunchy without being overly salty. The Hae Bee Hiam Mee and salted egg yolk lotus chips are also must-tries. We also ordered the Aged Pu Er Smoked Crispy Chicken, which was flavourful and great for sharing. What made the experience even more memorable was the service. Precious and Gayle were incredibly warm, attentive, and thoughtful throughout our meal. Their friendly and joyful personalities truly elevated the entire dining experience. Well done!

A Great Hang Out Place. If you are looking for a place with a nice atmosphere and food to match, Mama Diam at Prinsep is a great consideration. Tucked behind a nostalgic, old-school convenience store facade is a gorgeous, modern dining space. We came here with a big group, ordered through their menu, and were happy by both the ambience and the incredibly creative menu. We kicked things off with a spread of appetizers that set the bar high: * Singapore Chili Soft Shell Crab Bao: The perfect marriage of fluffy steamed buns and crispy crab, packed with that signature sweet-spicy chili crab flavor. * Salted Egg Yolk Lotus Chip: An absolutely addictive, crunchy snack that you can’t stop eating. * DIY Mama’s Wrap & Roast Duck Tarts: The wraps were a fun, interactive start, while the roast duck tarts were rich, savory, and beautifully presented in delicate pastry shells. The sharing plates here really showcase the kitchen's creativity with local ingredients: * Chicken Curry Kueh Pie Tee: A brilliant twist on the traditional turnip version. The curry packs a nice punch inside the crispy little cups. * Stuffed Seafood Lychee & Crispy Tiger Prawn Balls: The prawn balls were perfectly bouncy and golden, but the stuffed lychee was the surprise hit—a fantastic balance of savory seafood and sweet fruitiness. * PP Chicken: A super solid, flavorful bite to round out the starters. For the main courses, we covered a lot of ground, and every dish brought something different to the table: * 12-Hour Braised Beef Cheek: Utterly melt-in-the-mouth tender with a rich, deep flavor profile. * Aged Pu Er Smoked Crispy Chicken: The smokiness from the tea leaves really elevated the crispy chicken, making it incredibly aromatic. * Assam Pan Seared Barramundi & Hainanese Pork Chop: Two local classics done right. The fish had a great tangy kick, while the pork chop hit all the right nostalgic notes. * Chicken Poached Rice with Superior Broth: This was pure comfort food. The broth was incredibly rich and soothing—a must-order. The Sweet Stuff: East Meets West Even after all that food, you cannot skip dessert here: * Kaya Churros: A genius local spin on a Spanish classic. Crispy dough dipped in sweet, fragrant coconut jam. * Crispy 3-in-1 Nian Gao & Orh Nee Tartlet: These brought traditional Chinese dessert flavors into a modern format. The earthy yam of the Orh Nee and the sticky, crispy Nian Gao were the perfect ending to a heavy meal. The food here is undeniably nice, blending local heritage with modern culinary techniques. Combined with the hidden speakeasy vibe and comfortable setting, it’s a brilliant spot for group gatherings or a fun night out. Highly recommended if you want great ambience and familiar flavors with a twist.

We came here... through the secret door 🤫 🚪📚on our last night in town before flying home without a reservation and it was amazing. The staff were super friendly and helpful. I have this thing when I'm traveling, particularly in hot climates that at least once I have a blue drink...it just feels like holidays! 😬🤷🍹 So after checking their excellent cocktail list, there wasn't a blue one but our hostess checked with the expert bar crew who made an amazing bespoke blue cocktail that was so good I had two ! We were just after a light dinner, the food was absolutely first rate, fresh and so delicious, we had salted egg yolk lotus chips, crispy tiger prawn balls and tempura cauliflower with a mandarin orange creme brulee combined with the PB white rabbit sundae cocktail to finish. Then the staff gave us gifts at the end! Such a great experience all around, highly recommend, we'll definitely go back when next in Singapore. 😋♥️