Having stayed in Kovan 30 years of my life, I’ve come to love the fellow North-eastern neighbourhood of Hougang as if it were my own. Not only has the area grown with me, but it also accompanied me throughout my adolescence—those dark periods of defiance and rebelliousness.
Now, with an array of park connectors linking various public parks allowing access to a variety of outdoor activities, it’s no wonder the area of Hougang is becoming such a popular spot where Singaporean flock to over the weekends.
Whether you are hiking, cycling or just strolling past the neighbourhood, why not take a pit-stop and enjoy some munchies before you continue on your adventure? Without further ado, I present to you, 10 scrumptious Hougang food spots that will satisfy that belly of yours!
1. Sin Heng Kee Porridge
What better way is there to start your day than with a warm bowl of porridge alongside cubes of golden brown you tiao? With over 20 different varieties of Cantonese-style porridge to choose from, you will surely be able to find a bowl to your liking at Sin Heng Kee Porridge.
Can’t decide on which porridge to go for? Then give their Signature Porridge (S$6) a try. This delectable bowl of goodness is filled with treasures from both the land and sea as it includes a generous mix of pork slices, pig’s intestines, pork meatballs, cuttlefish slices, fish slices and century egg.
For added umaminess, don’t forget to include a raw egg into the porridge before giving it a good mix. My oh my, just visualising it in my mind got me drooling already!
685 Hougang Street 61, #01-150, Singapore 530685
+65 9118 1569
Daily: 7am – 8pm
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2. Hougang Oyster Omelette & Fried Kway Teow
To the residents of Hougang, Hougang Oyster Omelette & Fried Kway Teow needs no further introduction. Helmed by Mr Ong and his wife, this humble hawker stall started their journey in the F&B scene 30 years ago at a pasar malam stall, and have never stopped since.
Oyster lovers will relish in their Oyster Omelette (S$5/S$6), a plate of pan-fried egg and potato starch concoction served with oysters comparable to the size of a thumb. Cooked with the oil from chunky nuggets of pork lard, the plump oysters complement the omelette with its deep briny flavour and palatable creamy mouthfeel.
If you are here for a full meal, order a plate of Fried Kway Teow (S$3.50/S$4) to go with your Oyster Omelette. This hearty plate of kway teow will surely tickle your fancy with its aromatic wok hei and rich smoky flavours.
435A Hougang Avenue 8, Singapore 531435
Tue to Sat: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Sun: 11am – 8.15pm
Closed on Mon
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3. Tiew Mai Thai Boat Noodles
Brought to us by the same team behind the now-defunct Nung Len Thai Restaurant along Mackenzie Road, Tiew Mai Thai Boat Noodles serves up three types of noodle dishes: Thai Pork, Beef and Tom Yum priced at S$1.80 for a small bowl and S$6 for a regular bowl.
Like me, if you struggle with settling for just one thing on the menu, their tasting bowls will undoubtedly appeal as it will provide you with all the choices the restaurant has to offer.
Whilst the Beef Noodles features a bowl of rice noodles drenched in sweet-savoury broth, the Thai Pork Noodles had a stronger herbal taste reminiscent of bak kut teh. These mini bowls might not be substantial in quantity, but it sure allows you to get a taste of almost everything on their menu!
1187 Upper Serangoon Road, The Midtown, #01-22, Singapore 533971
+65 6238 0184
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Closed on Mon
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4. Lucky Cat Cafe
Revolutionise the way you consume vegetarian food at Lucky Cat Cafe, a humble eatery focusing on vegetarian Japanese fusion cuisine in the neighbourhood of Hougang.
A must-try here is their Tofunagi Maki (S$12), a sushi roll filled with sliced cucumbers and crispy tempura bits, topped with barbecued seafood tofu. Elevating the brilliance of this dish is a thin film of teriyaki sauce that added a touch of sweet-savouriness. Refreshing and light, these Tofunagi Maki are just as addictive as their meat counterparts.
Otherwise, go for their Japanese Katsu Curry Noodle (S$12). Smooth and slurpable, this dish is prepared with Korean noodles, making them more palatable and easier to digest, especially when eaten together with chunks of potatoes and carrots.
35 Hougang Avenue 3, Hougang Community Club, #01-02, Singapore 538840
Daily: 9am – 10pm
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5. Traditional Famous Prawn Mee
Probably one of our family’s favourite prawn noodle stalls in Singapore, Traditional Famous Prawn Mee won our hearts (and bellies) with their Prawn Noodles Dry (S$4).
Despite having to queue every time we visit, a mouthful of their yellow noodles enrobed in a mixture of sambal and tomato sauce just makes the trip oh-so-worth-it. Mouth-watering noodles aside, the accompanying bowl of prawn broth is by itself a masterpiece with its immaculate briny flavours.
Traditional Famous Prawn Mee also makes a stellar bowl of Fried Fish Lor Mee (S$4.50) so, don’t miss this eggy herbaceous bowl of delight during your visit!
21 Hougang Street 51, Food Loft 21, Singapore 538719
Daily: 8am – 2pm, or until sold out
6. Gimee Face Noodle House
For modernised bowls of bak chor mee, head to Gimee Face Noodle House. Located within Yi Huat Cafe & Eating House, this eatery is one that is not to be missed with its brightly illuminated storefront.
Treat yourself to a premium bowl of bak chor mee with their Abalone Pork Noodle (S$6.80), a luscious bowl of mee pok brimming with a bountiful mix of ingredients such as a Chinese abalone, pork slices and meatball together with a mixture of braised shiitake and button mushroom.
Adventurous foodies should jump right into Gimee Face Noodle House’s Spicy Volcano Mee Kia Soup (S$6.80) or Mala Spicy Pork Noodle ($4.80). Whilst the Spicy Volcano Mee Kia Soup will comfort you with its rich, milky flavours; the Mala Spicy Pork Noodle will definitely jolt you to your senses with its intense spice and numbness.
681 Hougang Avenue 8, Singapore 530681
+65 6755 6900
Daily: 5am – 9pm
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7. SOD Cafe
Singapore’s first-ever cafe which started from a modest bubble tea kiosk, SOD Cafe not only serves amazing cups of bubble tea, it also cooks up an array of affordable artisan bites curated to suit the taste buds of the heartland crowd.
Pair their Signature Milk Tea (S$4.50) with a plate of Smoked Duck Spaghetti (S$9.50), a crowd favourite prepared with smoky tender duck slices and lightly crisped bonito flakes, crowned with a poached egg.
Alternatively, the cafe’s Chicken Supreme (S$9.50) makes for a carb-less, protein-filled option that is sure to please with a succulent chicken thigh cooked with melted cheese and potato gratin.
51 Hougang Avenue 9, Ci Yuan Community Centre, #01-03, Singapore 538776
+65 6385 4026
Wed to Mon: 11am – 10pm
Closed on Tue
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8. Otoko
Don’t we all love the liberty of having to customise our very own meals? At Otoko, feel free to design a bowl of curry rice or curry udon to your liking with over 30 add-on items.
Priced from S$1.80 to S$3.80, Otoko has an array of vegetables and proteins prepared in various styles to cater to all our different palates. For a classic, never-go-wrong option, opt for their Chicken Cutlet Curry (S$5.60).
This dish comes with a serving of rice alongside Otoko’s house-made curry sauce and a slab of perfectly fried chicken cutlet that is not only affordable but satisfying at the same time.
Curry aside, the restaurant also has a selection of sides and Otoko Specials to complement your mains for a wholesome meal. Their Fresh Corn Tempura With Himalayan Pink Salt (S$8.80) might look like a simple dish, but they sure pack a punch of fresh flavours even when eaten alone.
1187 Upper Serangoon Road, Midtown Residences, #01-20, Singapore 534785
+65 9853 1444
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
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9. 5 Star Corner Western Food
Ask any resident of Hougang to recommend a cheap western food stall and 5 Star Corner Western Food will be your answer. After all, it has been in the neighbourhood for the past 20 years and is still going strong as attested by the long queues, especially during the weekends.
While my personal favourite is hands-down their crispy Fish & Chips (S$6), their Chicken Cutlet (S$6) is probably the most value-for-money dish on the menu. Just look at the sheer size of that fried chicken!
Fried dishes aside, 5 Star Corner Western Food is also known for their grilled and hot plate items. For just S$8, feast to your fill on their Black Pepper Chicken Chop—a sizzling hot plate of succulent chicken thighs topped with thick black pepper gravy and a side of baked potato and bread.
805 Hougang Central, Yong Soon Cafe, Singapore 530805
Daily: 11am – 10pm
10. Pasta Loft
Dining in fancy Italian restaurants rarely come cheap but at Pasta Loft, you can enjoy a plate of spaghetti at a price tag of under S$10.
Sink your teeth into the restaurant’s signature Carbonara (S$9.90), a crowd-favourite that comes dressed in heaps of grated parmesan, wood-smoked streaky bacon, all atop a bed of linguini bathed in a rich cream sauce.
Elsewhere, their Chicken Tikka Masala (S$9.90) comes as a playful option that promises a touch of spice and acidity, with penne bathed in a rich tikka masala gravy. This plate of Chicken Tikka Masala is certainly a new flavour combination that got me salivating just writing about it!
Furnished with red brick walls and wooden tabletops, Pasta Loft exudes a homely and warm vibe. So why not consider a trip to this restaurant for some casual Italian fare that doesn’t break the bank?
1187 Upper Serangoon Road, The Midtown, #01-19, Singapore 533971
Fri to Wed: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Closed on Thu
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Loving our area guides? Then check out these 12 food spots in Sengkang for more scrumdiddlyumptious options around the North-eastern part of Singapore!
