Watsub (closed)

WatSUB was a halal-certified eatery located at East Village that served Subway-style submarine sandwiches, offering customisable six-inch sandwiches where customers could select bread types, fillings, vegetables, and sauces to create personalised meals. The restaurant addressed a gap in Singapore's halal dining options by providing Muslim consumers with submarine sandwich experiences similar to international chains but with full halal certification, allowing them to enjoy customisable sub sandwiches without dietary concerns.

The signature offering was the Pulled Beef sandwich priced at .50, featuring generous portions of beef that had been marinated overnight, slow-cooked pot roast-style, and then shredded to create tender, flavourful meat. This preparation method demonstrated WatSUB's commitment to quality beyond simple assembly-line sandwiches, investing time in marinades and slow-cooking techniques that developed deeper flavours. The customisation model allowed customers to load up on vegetables and sauces according to personal preferences, mirroring the successful Subway format whilst maintaining halal compliance.

Unfortunately, WatSUB permanently closed, unable to sustain operations despite offering a popular product format with halal certification. The closure likely reflected challenges including competition from established submarine sandwich chains, high rental costs at East Village, and difficulties achieving the customer volume necessary to support labour-intensive preparation methods like overnight marination and slow-cooking. For Muslim diners who patronised WatSUB, the restaurant represented a welcome halal alternative to international sub sandwich chains, offering familiar formats with quality preparations that warranted premium pricing over fast-food competitors.