One man’s meat is another man’s poison. And when it comes to durians, there has never been a fruit this controversial and divisive, and downright smelly. While durian lovers would liken the creamy texture and pungent aroma to the highest graded blue cheese, haters say the durian typically smells like used gym socks!

Love it or hate it, the durian season is back in full swing and hot in demand. Not only are these spiky fruits exported at a premium to China (hey, great for the economy), but also to Singapore where durian cafés have mushroomed in recent years. We’re paying tribute to the king of fruits by listing five ways the durian can be turned into and eaten in Singapore, ranging from the weird to the wonderful in no particular order.

Created by Chef Deming who also owns the cafés, the Duriancanboleh even parodies the fancy-sounding creme brûlée with the fanciest durian type a.k.a. Musang King as its key ingredient. Crack open the caramelized crust and watch the creamy durian-infused custard oozing out from underneath. It’s wonderful in a weird kind of way.

Find it here:

The Quarters

Address: 16 Enggor St, #01-09 Icon Village, Singapore

Opening hours: 10.00am – 10.00pm (closed on Sunday)

Mao Shan Wang Cafe is a must-visit for all die hard durian fans if you want to try unusual durian delicacies. Start slow with chicken nuggets that comes with a durian dip or fries with a side of durian sauce. Then, try the charcoal pizza topped with durian flesh and mozzarella cheese which strangely sounds like a match made in heaven. After all that heartiness, wash it down with durian-infused coffee for a sweet and smelly ending.

Find it here:

Address: Mao Shan Wang Cafe By Four Seasons Durian

49 Temple Street, Singapore 058594

Opening hours: 1.30pm – 10pm (Mon-Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat)

There are grilled potatoes, then there are grilled durians. Wrapped in aluminium foil and grilled over charcoal for that smoky flavor, the durian flesh becomes so soft, it literally melts in your mouth! The smoky flavor complements the bittersweet taste of the Musang King durian, yet another precedent made in the world of durians! As it takes at least an hour to chargrill the durian, call in advance to make a booking. If barbecuing durian is not your thing, how about having it baked after deep-freezing it overnight? The caramelized Ying Yang Durian is bound to have you coming back for more!

Find it here:

Double Durian

8 Hamilton Rd, Singapore

Contact: +65-963 37 533

Opening hours: 5.00pm – 8.30pm (Mon), 11.30am – 9.30am (Tue-Sun)

According to the locals, this establishment has the best durian ice cream on the island. And it’s not just any ice cream, but FRIED durian ice cream. The creamy durian flesh is blended with milk, frozen, and wrapped in rice paper, then deep-fried to a golden brown. It’s hot and crispy on the outside but icy cold with creamy durian goodness on the inside… yummy! For S$12 per plate, the price is slightly steep but if you’re into durian ice cream, it’s so worth it!

Find it here:

Majestic Restaurant

5 Straits View, #04-01 Marina One, The Heart (East Tower), Singapore

Opening hours: 11.15am – 3.00pm (lunch), 5.45pm – 10.00pm (dinner)

Talk about the weirdest way to eat durian — in a hotpot! While durians are generally banned in enclosed areas including hotels and airports for its natural ability to “offend” people with its smell, at Jewel Changi Airport, you can have durian hotpot while waiting for your next flight out. For S$35, you’ll get a durian hotpot which has four chunky pieces of durian flesh bobbing on chicken soup. Throw in the hotpot ingredients such as seafood, vegetables, mushrooms and meat for a flavorful, durian laced stock!

Find it here:

Four Seasons Durians Restaurant

Address: Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard, #B2-227/228 , Singapore

Opening Hours: 11.00am – 11.00pm (Sun-Thurs), 11.00am – 2.00am (Fri & Sat)

With so many weirdly wonderful durian-based dishes waiting to be discovered, make these restaurants and cafés on top of your to-visit list when you’re in Singapore!

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