Best places to satisfy your durian cravings in Singapore

Celebrate the King of fruits by getting your durian fix at these stalls, trusted by Singapore chefs as the best places to eat durian in Singapore.

Woo Wai Leong, MasterChef Asia winner and Chef/Owner of Restaurant Ibid

Most of the time, I get asked to follow groups of foodie friends on their durian-eating trips, or they bring some back for me as my time is almost always spent at Restaurant Ibid these days. If I do buy durians, I go to Combat Durian in Balestier (249 Balestier Road) for the great range of varieties.

Wilin Low, Chef/Owner of Wild Rocket

I love durian - it's the one fruit I never cook with because it's perfect as it is. Adding to, or subtracting anything from it, won't make it better. I like to get very bitter Mao Shan Wang durians from 717 Trading at Highland Centre (#01- 01, 22 Yio Chu Kang Rd). I've been buying durians there for years. The owner knows what I like and if they are not good, he refuses to sell them to me! The place is complete with tables and stools, and I go there to eat two durians by myself.

Pang Kok Keong, Chef/Owner of Antoinette

I buy durians from a store next to Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre (Kean Lye Fruit Trading, 766 Upper Serangoon Rd). The owner's name is Robin, and he will usually let his customers try before buying. I like Mao Shan Wang - it is an acquired taste and I love its complexity.

Emmanuel Stroobant, Chef/Owner of Saint Pierre

I surprise my wife and daughters by bringing home durians from a seller in Dempsey (Ah Di Dempsey Durian, 7 Dempsey Road). Then, it is a home affair - we like to eat our durians cold. We like those that are slightly sweeter and most importantly, it must be ripe to enjoy the creamy texture of the fruit.

Han Liguang, Chef/Owner of Labyrinth

My family buys durians from stalls at Dempsey, Katong or Toa Payoh. It is often down to convenience - we get them when we pass a durian shop and there is a craving. One of my favourite varieties? Perhaps the Black Pearl. I had it a couple of years back, and it left the strongest impression. I felt that it had a good balance and depth of flavours - a slight bitterness, a slight sweetness, and a good firmness.

David Yip, Owner of Circa 1912 & Food consultant

I usually go to Ah Seng Durian (20 Ghim Moh Rd) for my durians. The owner has strong connections with the Malaysian durian plantations, and carries top-quality cultivars of the fruit. The seller is so popular now, the queue for his stall literally snakes around the market. He may have been the first to vacuum-seal his fruit, and many Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese buy durians from him before heading to the airport. His Mao Shan Wang is superb, but I like the Golden Phoenix variety the most.

Edmond Ho, Food photographer

I like Black Torn durian from Penang as they are not too sweet and they have a unique flavour. I usually get them from Geylang (from random stalls), but Balestier has good durian stores, too.

Maddy Barber, Kiss 92 FM DJ

I order my durians online because my husband won't let me transport any in our car! I love all durians and am not fussy about variety. When I buy, I usually order the Mao Shan Wang. You can follow @sindurian (#01-15, 113 Aljunied Ave 2), recommended to me by my best friend - who is an even bigger durian eater than me. They are honest and reliable and when I have a craving, I text them. My youngest daughter is crazy about durians, and I often have to stop her from finishing them all!

Lynn Yeow-De Vito, PR guru and Restaurateur

I like wild kampong durians. I buy durians from Ah Di Dempsey Durian (7 Dempsey Road). I usually have a standing order with him to pick up 12 durians every Sunday. He packs them up for me and has them ready for me pick up. Each packet contains two durians, so I just have to take out one packet every day to eat.

Daniel Boey, Fashion consultant, Show producer and Director

My friends and I host durian parties regularly at our homes and we all have our different sources for durians. I tend to hit my neighbourhood for my durian fix - there is a fabulous durian store along East Coast Road (227 East Coast Rd), very close to Holy Family Church. It's no frills, but with friendly staff, an air-conditioned interior and a wide variety of durians.

This article was first published on Shape