If you think the heartlands are boring, think again. Just dig a little deeper and you’ll find unexpected gems right in your backyard – or void deck to be precise.
Discover hipster cafes before they’re cool or go on hawker hunts for the best Bak Chor Mee and Lor Mee. Hougang has it all, so the next time your friends jio you to go cafe hopping around Tiong Bahru or Haji Lane, consider checking out a heartland like Hougang instead.
If you’re still not convinced, here’s a list of 10 delicious hangouts in Hougang, with options perfect for a family feast or quick bite before starting your day.
Hougang is famous for being a Teochew enclave. In the past, many Teochews made the “river’s end” (Au Kang) of Sungei Serangoon river their home. While Singaporeans of all dialects have moved into the area’s many housing developments, there are still Teochew restaurants that have been in business for many years, which serve the thriving community in Hougang.
As a Teochew girl myself, Teochew Porridge is the epitome of comfort food, especially when it tastes just like my Ah Gong’s cooking. The most important thing about the dishes that go with Teochew porridge is that they need to come with a super flavourful sauce to spice up the plain porridge, and the dishes at Soon Soon definitely deliver.
Address: 13 Simon Road, Singapore 545897
Source: aprilyap
Lola’s has been garnering a lot of hype on Instagram, and for good reason. If you’re a fan of brunch and breakfast food, head to Lola’s for a visit! Just don’t go during peak periods over the weekend, as we hear that you might end up waiting up to an hour for your food. Their Honey and Paprika Crispy Chicken Wings are also extremely addictive, and worth the extra side order.
Lola is a favourite among us and also made it to our list of 18 most delicious restaurants under $15.
Address: 5 Simon Rd, Singapore 545893
Soup Restaurant is my family’s favourite place for Chinese food because it’s so accessible. The food is also excellent, albeit pricey. Everyone who has been to Soup Restaurant can agree that the Samsui Chicken is their star dish. I love scooping piles of their ginger sauce onto my chicken as I wrap it in iceberg lettuce that is always crisp and fresh.
Other dishes that I always order are their Garlic Prawns, because I love drenching my rice in the sauce, and their Spinach with Three Types of Egg. Spinach with Three Types of Egg is a Zhi Char staple for me, and the one at Soup Restaurant is one of the best I’ve tried.
Address: #02-21, Hougang Mall, Singapore 538766
The people of Hougang are fortunate to have a huge food court at Hougang Mall run by the Kopitiam group. Mei Shi Mei Ke is different from your regular food court as they aim to showcase the best foods each dialect group in Singapore has to offer.
Source: tto177in
Popular stalls include Qiu Lian Ban Mian, Ma La Guo Xiang and the Yong Tau Foo stall. The food court is also home to Play Kitchen, a pasta shop owned by local celebrity Ben Yeo. Their pastas are not Italian by any means but cater more to local tastes.
Address: #04-10/10A/11, Hougang Mall, Singapore 538766
Located right outside Hougang Mall is Seng Huat Coffee House, a new coffee shop run by the people behind the famous Seng Huat Bak Chor Mee at North Bridge Road. Seng Huat has been selling Bak Chor Mee since the 1950s, and has earned the reputation of being one of Singapore’s best Bak Chor Mee stalls.
Aside from Bak Chor Mee, the coffee shop also offers Chicken Rice, Economical Noodles and these extremely adorable Pork Buns which you can get from the drink stall. They’re just too cute to eat!
Address: Blk 811 Hougang Central #01-206, Singapore 530811
Source: biteclubsg
Hougang Street 21 has seen lots of new dining establishments popping up over the years. The most popular by far is Nakhon Kitchen, a humble Thai restaurant. During dinner time, you may find yourself queuing for over half an hour! The food here tastes like authentic Bangkok street food, and most of the staff are Thai too.
I particularly enjoyed their Tom Kha Soup. It’s like Tom Yum Soup, just that coconut milk is added to make the soup more creamy and less sour. Stuffed Chicken Wings are also a staple order for me at any Thai restaurant, and Nakhon’s are always juicy and packed with flavour.
Address: 212 Hougang Street 21, Singapore 530212
Hatter Street is inspired by the whimsical tea party from Alice in Wonderland. This quaint cafe specializes in waffles and baked goods, but I would recommend trying their Whoaffles with Pandan Ice-Cream and Gula Melaka Sauce for a local twist on the classic waffle. The waffles are crispy on the outside but fluffy in the centre, an excellent after-dinner treat!
Source: sgfoodonfoot
Address: 212 Hougang Street 21, #01-333, Singapore 530212
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If you’re looking for something more substantial than waffles, you don’t have to go any further than Knuckles, which is just a few steps away. All their mains are just $8 nett, including their trademark German Pork Knuckle. They also have bottled beers going for as low as $5 per bottle to $10 for speciality beers like Bulmers.
Address: Blk 212 Hougang Street 21 #01-33 Singapore 530212
The Hainanese Village Food Centre might be a distance away from Hougang Central but with so many famous hawkers in one location, I had to include it in this list.
I’ll be honest and say that I hate Lor Mee. I haven’t eaten it since I was forced to in Primary School. However, everyone’s passion for Lorong Ah Soo Lor Mee has me intrigued, just to see why so many people would queue so long for a bowl. Maybe one day – with emphasis on the “maybe.”
Address: #02-51, Hainanese Village Centre, Blk 105 Hougang Ave 1
If you ever find yourself up early and craving Nasi Lemak, check out this place. Out of all the shops at Hainanese Village, Yi Liu Xiang boasts the longest queues. Sometimes queues can also be a good thing – it means that the various toppings are constantly being wiped clean and replenished, so you get piping hot fried omelette on a bed of fluffy coconut rice.
The queue also means that they sell out very quickly, and by the time you’re craving another plate of Nasi Lemak for lunch, it’s all gone.
Address: #02-30, Hainanese Village Centre, Blk 105 Hougang Ave 1
I hope this guide has opened your eyes to the plethora of dining options at Hougang. It proves that sometimes you don’t have to go far beyond your neighbourhood to find good eats. If you’re not from Hougang, I hope that this guide has inspired you to make a trip down to check out what this area has to offer.
With 3 of these places being around Hougang Mall, you may also want to consider checking out the events Hougang Mall runs regularly. Foodies will love the up-coming “cook-off” challenge where you can submit your own recipes. Not only will you win a place in their community cookbook, you also stand the chance to win close to $2,000 in shopping vouchers. Find out more here!
We enjoyed creating this heartland guide and we are considering turning this into a series on the best heartland eats from places all over Singapore. Whether you’re from Tampines, Woodlands or Clementi, I would love to hear your favourite place to eat in your neighbourhood.
Leave a comment below to let us know!
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This post was made possible thanks to Hougang Mall.
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