A&W confirms return to Singapore in 2018; 3 outlets to get your root beer float fix

After exiting Singapore for 14 long years, American fast food chain A&W has confirmed it will return to the sunny shores next year.

According to a report by Yahoo!, A&W CEO Kevin Banner said that the company had set up an office in Singapore last year, and is currently looking for a retail space for its flagship store in Singapore which will open in 2018.

The flagship outlet will also serve as a training store for other Southeast Asian outlets, Yahoo reported.

A&W – which stands for Allen and Wright – also told Yahoo! that the company is on track to expand in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Fans can expect 30 to 40 A&W outlets to open between these four countries over a year.

Historical roots of A&W in Singapore

The American fast food chain opened its first outlet in Singapore in 1966 at Dunearn Road.

This helped paved the way for other fast food establishments to set up shops in Singapore with the first McDonald’s outlet in 1979 at Liat Towers on Orchard Road, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) opened in 1977 in Somerset and Burger King in 1982.

It is believed that A&W opened Singapore’s first drive-in fast food restaurant at Bukit Timah Road in 1970.

By 1982, A&W was facing stiff competition from its competitors and eventually closed down in 2003 in Singapore.

Here are four all-time favourites among A&W fans:

Root Beer Float

A frosty cold mug of world’s best A&W root beer topped with vanilla soft service. A real classic treat. According to its corporate information, it’s caffeine-free, made with real cane sugar and a proprietary blend of herbs, bark, spices and berries.

Curly Fries 

Coney Dogs 

A&W’s original all-beef hot dog topped with minced beef coney sauce and sweet onions. There’s also an all-chicken version in Malaysia which we hope will be on the menu in Singapore.

Waffle with ice cream 

The real deal #legit, before hipster waffles showed up in Singapore.

Until 2018, here are three A&W outlets closest to Singapore to get your root beer float fix:

A&W Bukit Indah 
Lot G17, AEON Bukit Indah
Shopping Centre, No. 8, Jalan Indah 15/2,
Taman Bukit Indah, 81200, Johor Bahru, Johor
Opens Monday to Friday from 10am to 10pm, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday from 10am to 10.30pm

A&W Wangsa Walk Mall

Lots G- 82 & G-83 and AG- 82 & AG 83 (alresco area)
Ground Floor Wangsa Walk Mall, Wangsa Avenue 9
N0. 9, Jalan Wangsa Perdana 1, Wangsa Maju, 53300 Kuala Lumpur
Opens Monday to Sunday from 10am to 10pm

A&W Batu Road

No. 118, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, City Centre
50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opens Monday to Sunday from 9am to 10pm.

Top image via Hiday St Cloud’s Facebook page.