Xiao Ya Tou (meaning 'Little Rebel or Imp') is a modern Asian restaurant bar on Duxton Hill, rated 4.5 stars from 956 reviews. Standing out in Chinatown's nightlife, it serves modern Asian cuisine with a 'naughty touch,' transforming local flavours into innovative dishes and pairing them with curated cocktails.
A restaurant that refuses to play by the rules starts with cuisine: taking local flavours (mamak staples, Singapore classics) and transforming them represents philosophy, not just novelty. What matters is balance—the dishes must honour the original flavour, just reimagined. Cocktails become essential: a Milo Dinosaur is a decadent take on the mamak staple, a Duxton Sling a version of Singapore's famous cocktail, both showing the same rule-breaking approach. The Duxton Hill setting matters—the street's notorious past (brothels, opium rooms, gambling dens) gave it character, and a restaurant built on rebellious spirit should feel like convention doesn't apply. 'Eat Together' signals a social restaurant, not formal service. Regulars come for the attitude as much as the food: they want to be part of something pushing against convention.
Xiao Ya Tou on Duxton Hill brings that r