October is a big month to be hungry in Singapore. A wave of new cafes and restaurants has just opened or is about to open across the island, and the line-up runs from a 24/7 matcha bar at Changi Airport to Seoul's most talked-about tonkatsu house making its first move outside Korea.

Start with the airport news: Thai specialty matcha cafe VE/LA has opened in Terminal 1's Arrivals Hall West, its first Singapore outlet after Bangkok and London. The Cloudy Matcha ($10) tops a frothy latte with soft cream, while the outlet-exclusive Kaya Toast Latte ($10) is a local breakfast in a cup. Note the fine print: the listing quotes daily hours of 7am-11pm despite the headline 24/7 billing, so late-night travellers should check ahead. It sits in the public area, so no boarding pass needed.

Dessert fans have options too. TOFU G, Singapore's first tofu-based gelato brand, has added outlets at Waterway Point and Suntec City — $8 for gelato plus $2 for an unlimited toppings bar with 12 choices, including injeolmi rice cake pieces and syrupy yakgwa. In Joo Chiat, homegrown favourite Elijah Pies has opened its biggest cafe yet inside a restored Peranakan shophouse, with the Nutella Pie from $9 a slice, a Black Truffle Mash Pie ($15) and flagship-only souffle and pizza pies.

Korean food is having a moment. Chef Min Yohan of Culinary Class Wars fame opens Sansok at Hougang Mall, serving Hansang sets from $12.90 with sotbap rice, daily soup and free-flow banchan — plus a $1 free-flow drinks and DIY bingsu promo until 31 October for social media followers. Over on Tanjong Pagar Road, Busan-born Dolpan Hwajoo does hot-stone dishes like Cheese Deunggalbi pork ribs ($48) and a fiery seafood-and-tripe Nakgopsae stew ($52). And Seoul's Ojeje has landed in the basement of Raffles City, its first international branch, pouring Pork Tenderloin Katsu ($28) and three Singapore-only dishes.

Two reopening-style stories are worth knowing. ION Orchard's Food Opera food hall is back after a three-month renovation with a 20,000sqft, 600-seat space dressed as 1970s shopfronts, 18 brand-new stalls among 24, including MasterChef winner Derek Cheong's Berempah Bros and a Toast Box with live coffee roasting. And Japanese tea house KOKO Kawane brings four centuries of Kawane tea heritage to The Star Vista, with matcha lattes from $8 and a $1 upgrade to watch your tencha leaves stone-ground on the spot.

Rounding things out: wellness cafe Shared Table in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park from former actress Jazreel Low (Nourish Plates from $21.90, pet-friendly); Seoul-style industrial bakery Soft Order near Henderson Waves; The CHOYA Ginza BAR at Millenia Walk with 12-plus umeshu drinks; Faber Side Cafe & Cellar doing breakfast-to-wine service in Bukit Batok; live-fire restaurant Tanica at The Singapore EDITION; and Spicy Hubby bringing Spicy Wife's nasi lemak to The Centrepoint by end of October.

If you're travelling to Singapore this month, this list basically writes your eating itinerary — plan meals around the mall you're already visiting.

Original source: The Smart Local