KuCina Italian Restaurant stands as Singapore's pioneering authentic halal-certified Italian dining destination, proudly holding the distinction of being the island's first fully Muslim-owned Italian restaurant. Founded in June 2016 by Chef Gero @ Omar, an Italian-Muslim revert with over 30 years of culinary expertise in Italian cuisine, KuCina brings genuine Italian flavors to Singapore's diverse halal dining scene with MUIS certification ensuring complete compliance with Islamic dietary requirements.
Located at KINEX (formerly One KM) at 11 Tanjong Katong Road (#B1-09/10), this intimate restaurant has garnered exceptional recognition, including multiple visits from President Halimah Yacob herself, testament to its outstanding quality and authentic approach to Italian gastronomy. Operating daily from 11:30am to 10pm (last order 9:30pm), KuCina provides a warm, welcoming atmosphere where traditional Italian hospitality meets halal dining standards.
The restaurant's menu showcases authentic Italian cuisine crafted with meticulous attention to traditional techniques and premium halal ingredients. Signature dishes include the extraordinary Funghi E Tartufo (7.90), a boat-shaped pizza featuring mozzarella, creamy mushroom sauce infused with black truffle pate, scamorza smoked cheese, and aromatic truffle oil that delivers restaurant-quality luxury. The Spaghetti con Porcini e Parmigiano (5) demonstrates Chef Omar's mastery of pasta preparation, combining earthy porcini mushrooms with aged Parmigiano in perfect harmony.
Appetizer selections feature classic Bruschetta varieties, including the fresh Bruschetta Pomodoro (.90) with ripe tomatoes and basil, and the sophisticated Bruschetta Salmone (2.90) showcasing premium salmon preparation. The affordable Pizza Bread Salvia (.80) provides an excellent introduction to the restaurant's bread-making expertise, while the full pizza menu offers both traditional and contemporary creations that honor Italian pizza-making traditions.
Understanding Singapore's diverse dietary needs, KuCina proudly offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, ensuring all diners can experience authentic Italian flavors regardless of dietary restrictions. This inclusive approach, combined with halal certification, makes KuCina unique in Singapore's Italian dining landscape.
Beyond the restaurant, KuCina has achieved remarkable digital success, generating over 40 million organic views across TikTok and Instagram through engaging cooking tutorial videos, with their Aglio Olio tutorial achieving viral status. This online presence has led to a thriving catering business serving major corporations including Netflix, Google, and Facebook. During challenging times, KuCina adapted by launching islandwide delivery service via Oddle with reasonable minimum orders and delivery fees, ensuring their exceptional Italian cuisine reaches customers throughout Singapore.
With a 4.4 rating on TripAdvisor and ranking #307 of 9,833 restaurants in Singapore, KuCina represents the perfect fusion of authentic Italian culinary traditions with halal dining requirements, making it an essential destination for anyone seeking genuine Italian flavors in a welcoming, culturally respectful environment.
Friendly service, decent Italian food. Came here with my husband for our wedding anniversary, was ex
Friendly service and decent Italian food. My husband and I came here for our wedding anniversary, expecting a nice ambience. However, we were seated near the entrance by a half wall, which was quite noisy. There was a much nicer room available, but when we asked to move inside, we were told there was a minimum spend requirement of S$80 per person. So, we stayed outside.
We ordered the calamari, crab cake, crab pasta, and pizza. My husband enjoyed the food. I found the crab cake a little salty. The pizza crust was crispy, but there was too little cheese. I ordered the strawberry peach cooler, but was disappointed as it was just syrup with a peach slice for S$12.90. Additionally, my first drink had a moldy strawberry, though the staff kindly replaced it for me.
I wouldn't recommend this place for a date night unless you can secure a table inside. However, it's a decent option for families and larger groups.
Aisyah Badrulhisham
Brought my family and in-laws to Kucina for an early dinner (4 adults and 2 kids). It was their firs
Brought my family and in-laws to Kucina for an early dinner (4 adults and 2 kids). It was their first time here, and they were truly impressed. The food was excellent — even my two picky eaters finished their pasta, which says a lot!
Service was fantastic as well. The crew were attentive, professional, and it really shows that they take pride in delivering top-notch service.
We'll definitely be coming back here again for future gatherings.
Aisha Rahman
The restaurant provides high-quality food and attentive service. A standout dish is the risotto, whi
The restaurant provides high-quality food and attentive service. A standout dish is the risotto, which a refreshing basil lime drink can complement. Both options are noteworthy and enhance the overall dining experience. Additionally, it's important to note that the restaurant is Halal-certified.
Chris Tan
Located in KINEX shopping mall city plaza area. Known for its pasta and pizza, quality ingredients a
Located in KINEX shopping mall, in the City Plaza area. Known for its pasta and pizza, using quality ingredients and praised for its staff attentiveness. It offers a cozy ambiance and can accommodate families and couples. It is also halal-certified, hence you will observe many Muslim diners frequenting the restaurant. The environment gives an Arab-Turkish feel. Bread and pasta sauces are also on sale if you wish to bring them home for cooking. The food is on the salty side, but it does taste tasty. Overall, good food and a nice dining environment, with average to high pricing.
Shahrina Z.
Came to Kucina for a farewell celebration and every dish was a party in our mouths — arancini, pizzo
Came to Kucina for a farewell celebration, and every dish was a party in our mouths. The arancini, pizzoto, choppino, and gnocchi al tartufo were full of flavor and beautifully done. The desserts (tiramisu, crème brûlée, molten chocolate cake with ice cream) were absolute standouts as well — rich and indulgent.
It reminded me of my Italy trip last year, but the best part is that everything is halal, and I could enjoy the full menu with no restrictions. The restaurant manager, Priya, was attentive, service was smooth, and food arrived quickly.
After five years away, I’m so happy to see Kucina still thriving.
Highly recommend — a 10/10 experience. Grazie mille, Kucina! ✨
