Chef Zor Tan Opens Michelin-Starred Born in Historic Singapore Landmark

Born, the contemporary fine-dining restaurant helmed by chef Zor Tan, has carved out a fast-lane reputation in Singapore’s competitive restaurant scene. Housed in the historic 1903 Jinrikisha Station at 1 Neil Road, the former rickshaw depot, the restaurant earned a Michelin star and was ranked #23 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2026, less than a year after its June 2022 opening.

The speed of that ascent matters in a city where new tasting-menu concepts open and close with startling regularity. Tan, a former protégé of André Chiang, built a 9-course menu that blends French gastronomic technique with Chinese culinary principles, guided by what the chef calls nine life-cycle themes: Birth, Roots, Memories, Craft, Relationship, Vicissitudes, Time, Progress, and Legacy.

Where and when to eat

Born is open Tuesday through Saturday from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. It is closed on Mondays and Sundays. The address is 1 Neil Road, #01-01, a short walk from the Telok Ayer MRT station and smack in the middle of the neighbourhood’s clutch of heritage shophouses and late-night cocktail bars. The building itself, a colonial-era structure originally built as a rickshaw station, gives the dining room a vaulted, industrial-heritage feel that contrasts with the precise plating coming out of the kitchen.

On the menu, signature dishes include aged wagyu tartare paired with oyster in fried bao, and monkfish with fermented capsicum. The tasting menu is the only option; no a la carte is available. Reservations are typically required weeks in advance, particularly for weekend slots.

What the rankings mean

Born’s #23 placement on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 puts it in the company of Tokyo, Bangkok, and Hong Kong heavyweights, a notable feat for a restaurant that had been open barely a year when the list was compiled. The Michelin star, awarded in the Singapore guide, further cemented Tan’s reputation as a chef who can translate personal narrative into a tasting menu without losing technical precision.

For diners, the practical takeaway: this is not a drop-in spot. Plan ahead. The 9-course format runs about three hours, and the kitchen’s emphasis on fermentation and aging means the menu shifts seasonally. The restaurant recommends notifying staff of dietary restrictions at the time of booking.

Note for travellers: Born is not related to the upscale steakhouse 'Born and Raised' in San Diego’s Little Italy district, that is a separate restaurant entirely.