1 Market by Chef Wan [closed]

[closed] 1 Market by Chef Wan was a halal buffet restaurant located at Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road, Singapore, that operated from November 2012 until its closure due to declining business and rising operating costs. The restaurant was the brainchild of renowned Malaysian celebrity Chef Wan and was operated by Food Junction, offering a diverse buffet that showcased Southeast Asian cuisines inspired by Chef Wan's extensive travels and culinary expertise. The spacious venue accommodated 450 guests and was particularly popular during Ramadan, featuring special Iftar menus with dishes like Lebanese chicken rice and crab pilaf.

The menu featured an impressive array of international cuisines including local Singaporean favorites, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, and European dishes, with popular offerings including chili crab, beef rendang, various curries, skewered grilled prawns, sashimi, sushi, and diverse dessert selections. The restaurant was known for its tranquil setting and was suitable for both business gatherings and personal celebrations, offering lunch and dinner buffets at different price points (lunch starting from $23.80++ for adults and dinner from $35.80++). Despite its popularity, the restaurant faced challenges with food quality consistency and service that ultimately contributed to its closure.

Although 1 Market by Chef Wan is permanently closed, it represented an ambitious attempt to bring celebrity chef cuisine to the halal dining market in Singapore, showcasing the potential for high-end halal buffet experiences. The closure highlighted the challenges of maintaining quality and profitability in the competitive halal restaurant market, but also paved the way for other establishments to learn from its experiences and improve upon the concept of premium halal buffet dining in Singapore.