On 23 June 2020, PM Lee made the announcement to dissolve the parliament. That started the ball rolling for not only an inundation of local political news, but also a flurry of well-timed memes. Singaporeans are now gearing up for General Elections 2020 (or GE2020), and the latest GRC to be shoved in the limelight for cringe-worthy reasons, is East Coast GRC.
By now, the internet is flooded with videos of Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat stumbling over his speech at St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School nomination centre.
He, along with his team, which consists of Maliki Osman, Cheryl Chan, Jessica Tan, and Tan Kiat How, will be standing their ground against Workers’ Party’s five-member team of Nicole Seah, Kenneth Foo, Dylan Ng, Terence Tan, and Abdul Shariff Aboo Kassim.
Jokes aside, GE2020 is looking to be a hot one, not just because the electoral boundaries have shifted slightly since the last election, but there will also be virtual rallies due to the on-going pandemic. With East Coast GRC boasting 121,772 voters, it’s only apt that we, at SethLui.com, do what we do best and suss out the 10 places you can kick off your East Coast GRC culinary journey and see the food options residents there get to enjoy!
1. The White Tiffin
Inspired by the look of the traditional metallic tingkat, The White Tiffin is a restaurant located on level one of Changi City Point. It serves nostalgic local delights, but most memorable will certainly be their XXL Nasi Lemak (S$49.90).
It features blue coconut rice with two whole lobster gratin cut into halves, a bowl of curry chicken and a battered fish fillet. To supplement this oversized platter are hard-boiled eggs, achar (South Asian pickles), ikan bilis, roasted peanuts, salted egg fish skin crackers, and papadums (thin, crisp, round flatbread from India).
The rice was rich, while our top pick has to be their curry chicken; the coconut milk used in the curry was cooked well, with the right amount of curry leaves and spices, resulting in a gravy that was rich and flavourful.
They also serve Black Vinegar Pork Trotters With Rice (S$8.90), Laksa With Prawns And Scallops (S$6.90), and you can also get Cendol Ice Cream (S$3.90) to round off the meal on a sweet note. With dishes great for sharing, The White Tiffin is a place you’ll want to come for an intimate celebration!
The White Tiffin: 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, Changi City Point, #01-44, Singapore 486038 | Opening Hours: 10am – 9.30pm (Daily) | Facebook | Instagram
2. The Coastal Settlement
The Coastal Settlement evokes a sense of nostalgia, with its decked-out walls and meticulous decorating. It’s easy to see why people from all around the island flock to the far East just to dine here—and I’m shamelessly one of them.
From sharing plates like Mala Fish Skin (S$15) to Pot Of Mussels And Clams (S$25), and even the ambience and location are prime for families with kids and the food is varied enough for even the most finicky palate. Indulge in a Ribeye Mac & Cheese (S$41) if you feel like spoiling yourself, or go Asian with their XO Prawn Aglio Olio (S$26).
Whatever you choose, you’re guaranteed a scrumptious meal, surrounded by vintage memorabilia and lush greenery that the area is famous for.
The Coastal Settlement: 200 Netheravon Road, Singapore 508529 | Tel: +65 6475 0200 | Opening Hours: 10.30am – 11pm (Mon to Fri), 8.30am – 11pm (Sat & Sun) | Facebook | Instagram | Website
3. Pranakorn Thai Food
You’d think that Pranakorn Thai Food is just another Thai eatery, but on their menu, they aim to offer a more than just the rudimentary pad thai and pineapple rice. They serve Stir-fried Prawns With Salted Egg (S$12), which isn’t something you see on many Thai restaurant menus.
They also offer a mouth-watering Stir-Fried Spicy Basil Leaf With Crispy Pork (S$10.80) that I’m sure you’ll want to order extra portions of, so you won’t need to share. They even have an entire Steamed Whole Seabass With Chilli Lime Dressing for just S$30!
Expand your Thai cuisine experience with Pranakorn Thai Food and I’m sure it’ll help tide over your wanderlust just a little bit until we can travel once again, to the Land of Smiles!
Pranakorn Thai Food: 4 Changi Village Road, #01-2086, Singapore 500004 | Tel: +65 6543 0883 | Opening Hours: 11.30am – 3pm & 5.30pm – 9.45pm (Tue to Fri), 11.30am – 9.45pm (Sat & Sun), Closed on Mon | Facebook
4. Makan Melaka
Specialising in just cendol, Makan Melaka has certainly earned its fame in Changi Village Road. With about eight types of cendol on its menu—ranging from Traditional, to Red Bean + Corn, to Durian + Glutinous Rice—you’ll want to ensure you save space after your meal if you’re around the area. The best part: one bowl starts from as low as S$2!
Apart from cendol, they also introduced Putu Piring Melaka, Curry Puffs and an assortment of kueh to their line-up, just to satisfy their customers’ munchies when they’re craving a snack on-the-go.
They’ve been featured several times in our local media and also provide catering for weddings and the like, so if you’re looking for a vendor to supply your sweets, you may want to consider them.
Makan Melaka: 1 Changi Village Road, #01-2046, Singapore 500001 | Tel: +65 6542 1246 | Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Sun to Fri), 8am – 11.30pm (Sat) | Facebook
5. 89.7 Supper Club
If you’re an avid cyclist or just a fan of traipsing to Changi, I’m sure you’ve swung by 89.7 Supper Club to refuel. Their menu is famously known for being quite extensive, so you can expect it to offer you anything from dim sum to Hokkien noodles, to fried rice, to Western dishes to even seafood.
Some notable dishes are Kampung Fried Rice (S$5.50/S$10/S$15) and Roasted/Steamed Chicken Rice (S$4). At such wallet-friendly prices, this humble coffeeshop sees throngs of hungry diners on weekends and especially for supper hours as it operates 24 hours (not during Phase 2, sadly).
Also, if there’s one unique drink that I recommend you to try, it would be their Wheatgrass Bandung (S$2.50). It’s less sweet than regular Bandung but still as creamy. Also, it has a slight bitterness so the flavours are more balanced.
89.7 Supper Club: 5 Changi Village Road, #01-2035, Singapore 500005 | Tel: +65 6214 1897 | Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily) | Facebook
6. The Burning Oak
Simpang Bedok isn’t only known for easy street food; head up to its food centre and The Burning Oak will greet you with its unmistakable smoky char.
Famous for their beef dons, the quality of their dishes can certainly match those of restaurants which serve similar dishes. However, here, you’ll only be forking out a fraction of the cost!
Take their Wagyu And Truffle Mince (S$16) for example; it comes with a runny onsen egg and the scent of truffle is potent. The portions are also perfect for one hungry diner, so no need to worry about having to order more just to fill your belly.
The Burning Oak: 348 Bedok Road, Simpang Bedok, #02-16, Singapore 469560 | Tel: +65 9873 6093 | Opening Hours: 11.30 – 2pm & 5.30pm – 9pm (Tue to Sun), Closed on Mon | Facebook
7. Yangzhou Fried Rice Restaurant 杨州炒饭饭店
Like any decent zi char place, you’ll want both quality and quantity. Well, at Yangzhou Fried Rice Restaurant 杨州炒饭饭店, you’ll definitely have the best of both worlds with delicious dishes and a wide variety of menu items. In fact, they’ve been featured in Burpple’s ‘10 Cheap and Good Meals Under S$10‘ list!
According to frequent visitors, their must-try dishes include their signature Yangzhou Fried Rice (S$3/S$5/S$8), Dry Fried Horfun (S$5/S$7/S$9), and Salted Egg Pork Rib King (S$12/S$16/S$20). With so many options to choose from, there will be no man left behind in your group.
Yangzhou Fried Rice Restaurant: 430 Upper Changi Road, East Village, #01-11, Singapore 487048 | Tel: +65 9106 1723 | Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Daily) | Facebook
8. Pizzeria Lucia
Located in the same area as our previous entry, Pizzeria Lucia serves as an ideal alternative if you’re craving Italian cuisine, instead of local delights. It’s a family-oriented cosy corner that serves classic 7-inch and 12-inch pizzas like Margherita (S$9.50/S$18), Calzone (S$11.50/S$22), and Pepperoni (S$14/S$25).
Want some pasta instead? No problem! Their Spaghetti Aglio Olio will only set you back by S$13 as will the Spaghetti Carbonara. With such modest price points, it’s no wonder families both big and small love to bring the lil’ ones here for a hearty meal.
And of course, you can’t leave a classic Italian restaurant without trying their Tiramisu (S$7). The next time you’re planning an Italian feast, consider Pizzeria Lucia.
Pizzeria Lucia: 430 Upper Changi Road, East Village, #01-05, Singapore 487048 | Tel: +65 63841101 | Opening Hours: 12pm – 10.30pm (Daily) | Facebook
9. ENG’S Char Siew Wantan Mee
It seems like East Village is a hotspot for some of the yummiest food in the East, however, ENG’S Char Siew Wantan Mee is the second outlet of their primary residence in Tanjong Katong.
No matter, loyal fans still flock to this outlet, given its rich history of over 70 years. It still remains a family business and clearly, its recipe is still attracting generations of wanton mee lovers from across the island.
One of their best-selling items is the Claypot Rice (S$7/S$13/S$23) that comes with an abundance of ingredients, including salted fish. The salted fish chunks aren’t deep-fried, so you can truly savour the salty-savour richness along with its irresistible char.
They are pretty proud of their history—and so are their regular customers—but like all families and their internal struggles, their business has seen a split in loyalties which has led to an unfortunate food feud.
ENG’S Char Siew Wantan Mee: 430 Upper Changi Road, East Village, #01-09, Singapore 487048 | Tel: +65 8798 6088 | Opening Hours: 10.30am – 9pm (Daily) | Facebook | Instagram
10. A&W Restaurant Singapore
We can’t possibly end this list without including at least one restaurant in JEWEL Changi Airport, and it has to be none other than A&W Restaurant Singapore. It seemed like it took forever for the fast-food chain to return to our shores, but when it did, boy, did we bite.
If you’re fickle and can’t decide what to order, go for their Mozza Burger (S$10.40 for combo); it’s originally a Canada-exclusive menu item, but we’re fortunate to see it here in Singapore. In place of cheddar, they’ve replaced it with mozzarella and added a layer of Mozza sauce. The tangy sauce held all the components in the burger together, making for an all-rounded bite, and with the addition of chicken crisps, it was a pleasure to munch on.
Of course, you can’t forget about the iconic Root Beer Float (S$3.50, +S$0.60 for one scoop of vanilla ice cream). Fizzy and creamy at the same time, this dessert soda brought back all sorts of warm, fuzzy, nostalgic feelings.
Once Phase 2 passes and F&B establishments can resume their regular (longer) hours, you can go back to having your A&W fix any time of the day!
A&W Restaurant Singapore: 78 Airport Boulevard, JEWEL Changi Airport, #B2-209, Singapore 819666 | Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily) | Facebook | Instagram | Website
This list is by no means exhaustive and there are tons of eateries that I’m sure many will argue deserved to be in this list. However, it is but a sneak-peak into all the delicious food that East Coast GRC-dwellers have access to, so perhaps it’s about time to pay their ‘hood a visit if you haven’t already.
Of course, always be mindful of safe-distancing measures and personal hygiene, but with Phase 2 allowing us to dine-out, there’s no better time to discover yummier parts of Singapore!
