Bornga by Chef Paik Jong Won is closing its VivoCity outlet after 10 years.

Everyone should be familiar with Chef Paik Jong Won, the main host of the cooking television series Baek Jong-won’s Top 3 Chef King as well as Culinary Class Wars.

We checked with the staff at Bornga and they confirmed that Bornga will be closing for good and there are no plans to reopen elsewhere. Bornga has yet to decide on the official date for the last day of operation but they will be closing in March 2026.

Bornga is known for serving its Korean BBQ with a long tray of fresh vegetables as well as an array of banchan.

Their Kimchi-jjigae is authentic and it hits the spot, while you will not go wrong with their marinated beef galbi.

Drop by Bornga for a last hurray before they close for good in March next month.

Bornga
1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-123 /124, Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 8268

After more than five decades of hearty meals and cherished memories, Goldleaf Restaurant is closing its doors this week on 29 Jun 2025.

A beloved name since 1971, Goldleaf was a nostalgic favourite for generations of Singaporeans who grew up with its comforting spread of Taiwanese-style porridge, classic dishes like braised pork belly, Chai Poh omelette, Steamed Pork Patty with Salted Egg Yolk—all best enjoyed with a steaming bowl of porridge.

Prior to moving to its current location at 83 Geylang Road, Goldleaf Restaurant moved out of their former location at Katong Square back in Sep 2022 as they couldn’t reach an agreement with their landlord over the lease renewal.

We will go out on a limb to say that Goldleaf Restaurant has the best Chai Poh Omelette. No one else comes close to this.

Goldleaf Restaurant is a timeless dining institution that felt just like home and we are sad to hear that it is closing.

The owner is unsure if she will reopen Goldleaf Restaurant at a new location, but we can only hope that this old-school Taiwanese porridge restaurant will make a comeback in the near future.

Goldleaf Restaurant
83 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389200
Tel: +65 6016 1653

Two Bakers is closing down in mid-August after being in our F&B scene for 11 long years.

Some cafes excel at savoury dishes but fall short when it comes to desserts, while others whip up impressive sweets but aren’t exactly spots you’d visit for a proper meal.

Two Bakers, however, strikes the perfect balance. Tucked away along Horne Road, this French and Fusion-inspired patisserie and bakery cafe delivers on both fronts—serving up satisfying mains and equally stellar desserts.

Most cafes tend to get their desserts from central kitchens– which results in different cafes serving the same desserts – so we are impressed by Two Bakers’ commitment to bake their own desserts.

And it is more than just simple “rustic” cakes. Two Bakers’ pastry kitchen’s repertoire includes eclairs, tarts, strawberry shortcakes, and fancy mousse cakes.

And if you are a fan of Two Bakers, you can always visit their sister cafe Daily Ground near Coronation Shopping Plaza in Bukit Timah.

Cafe Gyoen is a Japanese-themed cafe with a train decor which opened in Serangoon Gardens a year ago and they have won over residents in the neighbourhood with their hearty and delicious Japanese Teishoku.

Unfortunately, their lease is ending in May 2025 and they will not be renewing it due to an increase in rent. Their last day of operations in Serangoon Gardens will be on 7 June so do drop by to enjoy their food and drinks before they move out of the area.

Fret not if you are a fan of Cafe Gyoen as it has opened a new outlet at 87 Club Street.

Cafe Gyoen went viral with its Japanese train-inspired decor when they first opened their outlet in Serangoon Gardens.

Cafe Gyoen serves all-day Teishoku (which means set menu in Japanese), donburi, curry rice and small Japanese bites.

Simple, hearty and delicious Japanese dishes that will not cost a bomb.

Cafe Gyoen
87 Club Street
Singapore 069455

The famous Blue Bottle Coffee is slated to open in Singapore in early 2025. This upscale American coffee roaster chain began in Oakland, California back in 2002. At its heart is a vow made by its founder to “only sell coffee less than 48 hours out of the roaster to [his] guests, so they may enjoy coffee at peak flavour.”

There is a dizzying array of coffees out there and if you are weary of the commercial coffee enterprise and stale, overly roasted beans, Blue Bottle Coffee is committed to serving cuppas with the absolute best flavour. In fact, they taste each coffee to determine the precise days on which it will achieve peak flavour.

After debuting in Singapore in August 2024 with a retail store and an exhibition at LUMINE SINGAPORE’s global flagship in Raffles City, this new opening marks the first full Blue Bottle experience in the city.

Their menu is simple with a small selection of coffees such as Espresso, Macchiato, Cappucino, Caffé Latte, Caffeé Mocha, as well as Single Origin choices, Brewed Coffees, and Cold Brewed Iced Coffees.

If you cannot be sure of what to settle on, Blue Bottle Coffee has a “find your coffee match” to help.

Blue Bottle Coffee evaluates deliciousness with blind taste tests at different days after their coffees are out of the roaster. Each time they change a component of one of Blue Bottle Coffee blends, they start over. Every time a new single origin is introduced, they go through the process anew.

With outlets across America and parts of Japan as well as in Seoul, we await for the day of Blue Bottle Coffee’s opening here in Singapore with much anticipation.

Blue Bottle Coffee Singapore
252 N Bridge Rd, #01-01 Raffles City
Singapore 179103

One of the most affordable Korean BBQ buffet restaurants in Singapore, K.COOK Korean BBQ Buffet is opening a new outlet at Woodleigh Mall.

Established in 2014, K.COOK Korean BBQ Buffet at Orchard Central is the go-to Korean BBQ buffet restaurant for many people who want an affordable Korean BBQ buffet without breaking the bank.

K.COOK Korean BBQ Buffet had another outlet at Westgate previously but it closed back in 2019.

The Korean BBQ buffet lunch starts from S$16.90++ while the buffet dinner is S$26.90++ during dinner.

During dinner, you can find a selection of meats like marinated pork collar, chicken, pork belly, spicy pork belly, bacon pork collar, marinated beef short rib, beef bulgogi, beef plate eye and marinated beef ribeye, while lunch has considerately lesser beef options.

It goes without saying that the quality and variety of meat are not the best, but there’s really nothing to pick on when the prices are so affordable.

K.COOK Korean BBQ Buffet
11 Bidadari Park Drive, Mall
#02-49/50 The Woodleigh, Singapore 367803

Wheeler’s Yard is a massive industrial warehouse of a bicycle-themed cafe and workshop where coffee, food, and all things vintage meet.

After being around for 10 years, Wheeler’s Yard will be calling it a day and the last day of operation is on 30 Sep 2023.

Recognized for its vintage style and signature blue warehouse entrances, the cafe drew both cycling aficionados and coffee enthusiasts over its decade-long presence.

Wheeler’s Yard is best recognized for its photogenic blue warehouse doors, which have been the backdrop for numerous pictures throughout the years.

Farewell, Wheeler’s Yard. Thank you for the memories!

Wheeler’s Yard
28 Lor Ampas
Singapore 328781

Established in Seattle in 1985, Cinnabon offers freshly baked, fragrant cinnamon rolls in various flavors, along with an assortment of other pastries and unique drinks & coffee.

Cinnabon arrived in Singapore with the first outpost at Raffles City back in Feb 2023 and it has just opened a new outlet at the basement of ION Orchard.

If you are not familiar with Cinnabon, it is renowned for its sticky, luscious cinnamon rolls topped with cream cheese icing and Makara® cinnamon sourced from the West Sumatran mountains.

All the cinnamon rolls at Cinnabon Singapore are made from scratch at the store by the staff who trained at Cinnabon’s training centre in Manila, Philippines.

Cinnabon Singapore’s new outlet at ION Orchard is located at basement 4 right next to Dunkin Donuts.

Cinnabon Singapore
B4-34 2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801

Known for their array of chocolate desserts, ice cream and waffles, Wimbly Lu first started off in a quaint neighbourhood at Jalan Riang near Serangoon Central.

Wimbly Lu has closed Tyrwhitt road outlet on 22 April 2023 and their original outlet at Jalan Riang on 30 April 2023.

Part of Wimbly Lu’s charm is that from the moment you walk in, it strikes you as a quaint, whimsical kind of place. It is ideal for whiling away a few hours with friends.

The dessert cafe has been around for many years and they have built up a following of loyal customers who love their cakes, desserts and coffee.

We will miss Wimbly Lu’s famous waffles and their root beer cake. As strange as “root beer cake” sounds, it works and Wimbly Lu absolutely nailed it.

Wimbly Lu
15-2 Jln Riang
Singapore 358987

Seoul Coffee is a popular and Instagrammable cafe that is tucked in one of the alleys in Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, a must-visit neighborhood in Seoul which is filled with many beautful cafes, local shops and underrated eateries.

A hanok-themed cafe, Seoul Coffee aims to create an atmosphere that is reminiscent of Seoul in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Step inside Seoul Coffee and you will be greeted by the scent of aromatic coffee and desserts.

Seoul Coffee is best known for its iconic butter loaf breads—available in two flavours: milk and squid ink—which come with two slabs of butter.

Other than that, they also have a selection of desserts (prices range from 4,500 to 7,500 won) including Chocolate Fudge Cake, Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Cube Ice Cream.

It goes without saying that Seoul Coffee serves excellent coffee. From hand drip coffee, to cold brew, and flat white, Seoul Coffee has got you covered with their quality brews (5,000 – 7,000 won).

You have to include Seoul Coffee in your list of cafes to visit in Ikseon-dong Hanok Village. It is one of our favourite cafes in Seoul to have a coffee and dessert while enjoying some time off.

Seoul Coffee
166-31 Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu
Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 2-6085-4890

Hello Arigato has become one of those top-of-mind cafes at Joo Chiat, and it is not difficult to understand why. We fell in love with the cosy small space even though there was nothing much to speak about, rest for a feature shelf with a display of Japanese and minimalistic knickknacks.

Hello Arigato is a lifestyle cafe with a Japanese-inspired menu, and it first gained popularity with its first outlet at Upper Thomson. We prefer the one at Joo Chiat, because Joo Chiat.

Step into Hello Arigato Joo Chiat and be greeted by a minimalistic white space. The cafe isn’t big – probably 30-seater – and you can see from front to end. Whilst it can get a tad cramped, it is still a cosy space for a meal and a drink.

You must try their Japanese-inspired sandos (sandwich, in case you didn’t get it). That was what got people’s attention when Hello Arigato first opened; people flocked to the first outlet at Upper Thomson for sandos.

There are quite a few variations, with the Gyu Sando (S$26) being their house specialty. While we thought it was very reasonably-priced for the generous portion, the wagyu didn’t hit the spot for us.

The Spam & Egg Sando (S$18), on the other hand, may sound simple but was way better. A thick slab of luncheon meat, lots of scrambled egg and American cheddar are enveloped in Japanese brioche, complete with spiced tomato jam. Gratifying with every bite, we’d say.

For all the sandos, you have the option of topping up with a side of curly fries at S$5, but we would say skip this and go for the a la carte Hello Twister Fries (S$13). A full portion of everyone’s favourite sinful fries is generously coated with a housemade Japanese curry and cheese sauce and topped with scallions – so damn shiok.

There is a Pasta and Brunch menu too, and while it is interesting to see they used Udon to whip up Japanese-styled pastas, we weren’t fans of it.

Oh, but we really loved the Iced Dirty Matcha (S$8) on the drinks menu and it is our must-order every time we dine at Hello Arigato. They also bake their own cookies which we have yet to try, but we will, soon!

Hello Arigato
227 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574359
Tel: +65 8772 3778

314 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427565
Tel: +65 8889 5657

Buttery, flaky and absolutely delicious, a good croissant is a real treat. This classic French pastry is easily one of the most recognizable symbols of France.

There are many excellent artisan bakeries which offer really good croissants in Singapore. It’s really nice that we don’t have to simply dream about heading to Paris for some really good pastries and croissants when there are such amazing options available in Singapore.

Now, make some time to try out these places. We hope you find your new favourites!

ALICE BOULANGERIE

Conveniently located in the Tanjong Pagar, Alice Boulangerie is a space which we would consider to be relatively Nordic and minimalistic, with simple wooden and rattan furniture and classy pendant lamps. No frills about its decor, but most definitely cosy enough for some quiet me-time, a simple lunch meeting, a date and a wonderful spot to simply lay back and relax. With an impressive culinary and baking team, you are set for great food and bakes.

From the classic plain Croissant, to Pain Au Chocolat, and their iconic bi-coloured croissants, it goes without saying that everyone comes to Alice Boulangerie for their famous croissants. You’d be sorry to leave without trying one!

Alice Boulangerie’s croissants come with the most gorgeous and on-point honeycomb structure. Absolutely stunning, flaky and buttery with every bite.

Alice Boulangerie
12 Gopeng St, #01-05/11 Icon Village
Singapore 078877
Tel: +65 8874 3300

BAKERY BRERA

Located just behind Empress Road Food Centre, Bakery Brera is one of the most popular bakeries in Singapore which is known for freshly-made bread, croissants, cruffins and burnt cheese cake.

Helmed by passionate owners Jacky Chan and his wife, Thrina, Bakery Brera revolutionises the concept of neighbourhood bakeries. Gone are the days of overly-sweet yet flavourless sliced cakes and Swiss rolls!

Bakery Brera
#01-05, 8 Empress Road
Singapore 260008
Tel: +65 6492 5428
Tue to Sun: 7am – 7pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Farrer Road

BAKER & COOK

The brainchild of famous baker, Dean Brettschneider, Baker & Cook is home to yummy buttery croissant, and pastries.

The crisp layers of this croissant flake away nicely as you bite into it and it tastes buttery without being overly greasy!

Baker & Cook has twelve outlets in Singapore and you can find them in many neighbourhoods in Singapore.

30C Loewen Rd, Singapore 248839
Tel: +65 6251 1098

BROTHERBIRD BAKEHOUSE

Popular croissant bakery, Brotherbird Bakehouse offers an array of beautiful croissants including Rocher Croissant, Mentaiko Prawn Twice-Baked, and Churros Croissant.

Crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, Brotherbird Bakehouse’s Croissants intrigue with their multi-flavoured creations.

Brotherbird Bakehouse
Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 179103
#B1-67
Daily: 11am – 9pm

Photo credit: Cedric Grolet

CÉDRIC GROLET

World-renowned pastry chef Cédric Grolet is opening his first patisserie in Asia and it will be located at Como Orchard.

You have probably seen Cédric Grolet’s legendary croissants on social media before. Queues outside the Cédric Grolet Opéra regularly last for hours and you are lucky if you can get your hands on the croissants and pastries.

Open for breakfast and afternoon tea, dine-in or takeaway, Cédric Grolet Singapore will be offering a range of desserts, pastries, sandwiches and Singapore exclusives including a special tea menu.

Cédric Grolet Singapore
COMO Orchard
Bideford Rd, Singapore 229922

CARPENTER & COOK

Located in a quiet street along Lorong Kilat, Carpenter & Cook is a friendly and homely neighbourhood bakery cafe which doles out some really delicious croissants. In particular, their Almond Croissant was an absolute delight to bite into with a crunchy, almond-topped exterior. Then when you hit the pastry, it’s so decadent and buttery that you just can’t stop eating!

They are one of the OG bakery cafes in Singapore and it’s not hard to figure out why they have been around for so many years.

Carpenter and Cook
19 Lorong Kilat
#01-06 Singapore

CROWN BAKERY & CAFE

Nestled amongst residences at Bukit Timah is Crown Bakery & Cafe. Established in 2015, Crown Bakery & Cafe offered bread and bakes made with the very best of ingredients from all around the globe. This includes Hokkaido Kitanokaori flour, German sourdough and the creamiest French butter; no artificial flavours or ingredients at all!

Despite it being but a plain pastry, Crown Bakery & Cafe’s Croissant is packed with the taste of fresh butter. The layers fall apart upon biting into it and it is deliciously flaky and flavourful.

Crown Bakery & Cafe
557 Bukit Timah Road
#01-03 Crown Centre
Singapore 269694
Tel: +65 6463 3066

ENJOUÉ BAKERY

Not to be confused with the infamous Euphorique Bakery that has been embroiled in countless sagas on the internet, this is the original Enjoué Bakery that serves amazing freshly baked bread, tarts and yes, croissants! The almond croissant from this under-the-radar bakery is sweet, super buttery and flaky—hallmarks of a great croissant.

Enjoué Bakery
29 International Business Park Road
#01-2a&2b, Acer Building
Tel: 9191 6145

KEONG SAIK BAKERY

Known for its amazing array of modern pastries and cakes with local flavours, Keong Saik Bakery has opened its second outlet at Chip Bee Gardens, next to RedMan Gourmand at the end of Jalan Merah Saga.

From the classic French Butter Croissant, to Black Sesame Croissant, Rocher Croissant and its crowd-pleaser Sor Hei pastry, you can certainly find something that suits your taste bud.

44 Jln Merah Saga, #01-42
Singapore 278116

LA LEVAIN

Located at 23 Hamilton Road near Jalan Besar and Lavender, La Levain is a new bakery cafe by pastry chef, Wythe Ng who used to work at Keong Saik Bakery & Bakery Brera.

Other than the classic bakes, La Levain also has an array of Double Baked Croissants such as Hojicha Mochi Croissant, Burnt Cheese Croissant as well as its signature Bo Bo Cha Cha Croissant.

La Levain
23 Hamilton Road
Singapore 209193

LE MATIN PATISSERIE

Helmed by Chef Mohamed Al-Matin who has previously worked at Noma, Restaurant Andre, Black Star Pastry, Zumbo, Le Matin Patisserie has recently opened a flagship outlet at ION Orchard.

Le Matin Patisserie serves top-notch French pastries including their signature croissants, Kougn Amann, and Pain Au Chocolat. Chocolate lovers will love the Pain Au Chocolat which was stuffed with Valrhona dark chocolate and came with a molten chocolatey center.

2 Orchard Turn, B2-49 ION ORCHARD
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 8030 7303

MOTHER DOUGH

This Muslim-run bakery serves one of the best croissants in Singapore. With a extra-crispy exterior, the inside of Mother Dough’s croissant is beautifully layered. It tastes distinctly of creamy butter with a hint of salt.

Mother Dough also serves delicious almond croissants such as their Almond Chocolate Croissant that is spiced with a bit of cinnamon. They’re super delicious and indulgent pastries you can’t resist sinking your teeth into!

Mother Dough
749 North Bridge Road #01-01
Singapore 198717

PATISSERIE G

Homegrown patisserie, Patisserie G is known for their stellar pastries, desserts as well as excellent cups of coffee. This flaky croissant is a picture-perfect rendition of this French classic.

Patisserie G
9 Raffles Boulevard
#01-40 Millenia Walk
Singapore 039596

PETIT PAIN

A small batch bakery in Joo Chiat, Petit Pain is quite possibly one of the most famous croissant shops in Singapore. There is a perpetual long queue outside the bakery every day for their croissants.

Petit Pain’s croissant is certainly a labour of love we enjoyed to the fullest. We love how the pastry had a slight saltiness from the sea salt added to it. It was certainly one of the best croissants we have ever tried in Singapore.

Petit Pain
315 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427566

SUGAR THIEVES

A hidden patisserie along Kreta Ayer, Sugar Thieves has been steadily growing its fanbase over the years, not just for its pretty cakes but their ever-changing seasonal mini croissant flavours. Think Houjicha, Hokkaido Milk, Mao Shan Wang Durian and even Truffle Parmesan Croissants.

Sugar Thieves
Blk 333, #01-23
Kreta Ayer Road
Singapore 080333

TIONG BAHRU BAKERY

A household name for croissants, viennoiserie, pastries, Tiong Bahru Bakery needs no introduction. Apart from their already sinful buttery plain croissant is their signature Kouign-amann. Just a bite will send you spiralling, craving for seconds (and thirds).

56 Eng Hoon St, #01-70
Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6220 3430

THE BREAD RACK

The Bread Rack is an artisan bakery cafe near Serangoon and Kovan which specialises in freshly-baked sourdough, croissants and baguette.

We had the Butter Croissant (S$3.8) and Almond Croissant (S$4.8). The crisp layers flaked away nicely as you bit into the super buttery and airy croissants.

The Bread Rack certainly has one of the best croissants you can get in Singapore.

The Bread Rack
9 Yio Chu Kang Rd
#01-55, Space@Kovan 545523
Tel: +65 8875 5407

THE LUNAR RABBIT BOULANGERIE

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie is a new French bakery which specialises in viennoiserie—the ‘bridge’ between pâtisserie and French bread.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie’s executive baker & owner, Elaine graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Tokyo and she worked in a French-Japanese bakery in Singapore before starting out The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie on her own.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie’s Classic French Croissant is excellent. It is light and airy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Definitely one of the best croissants we’ve had in Singapore. We also love their Almond Croissant and Kouign-amann.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie
16 Hamilton Road, #01-02
Singapore 209186

Popular cake shop, Cake Spade has just announced that it will be closing in a few months’ time. This news came as a surprise as it only opened its 2-Storey Flagship Cafe at Ann Siang Hill/Chinatown in April earlier this year.

Cake Spade started as a small cake shop at Orchid Hotel along Tras Link almost 10 years ago before moving to 83 Tanjong Pagar Road. They opened their Flagship Pink Cafe in a shop house at 283 South Bridge Road at Ann Siang Hill/Chinatown.

From Strawbery Tofu Cheesecake, Lychee Rose Cake, Red Velvet Cake to Hummingbird Cake, the cake selection at Cake Spade will make you go weak in the knees.

The team behind Cake Spade gave a teaser “Goodbyes are not forever” on their Instagram, so there is a possibility that they are looking to move to another location or rebrand to a new concept in the future.

Until then, you have a few more months to enjoy your favourite cakes at Cake Spade before they put up the shutters at their current location.

Cake Spade
283 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058832
Tel: +65 6444 3868

The first LINE FRIENDS pop-up café in Singapore and South East Asia featuring LINE FRIENDS and BT21 will start from 21 Oct 2022 for a limited time!

The LINE FRIENDS pop-up cafe in Singapore will be offering 6 snacks, 5 mains, 3 desserts and 10 drinks on the menu and the prices will range between S$11.90 to S$28.90.

And some of the highlights of the menu include Budae Jjgae, COOKY and SHOOKY Fried chicken burger and LINE FRIENDS pomodoro pasta with grilled salmon.

As with the other character-themed pop-up cafes at Kumoya previously, the cafe will be decorated with LINE FRIENDS and BT21 and you will be transported into a BT21 world complete with décor and characters including KOYA, RJ, SHOOKY, MANG, CHIMMY, TATA, COOKY, and VAN.

LINE FRIENDS, what are you waiting for? Don’t miss out on this chance to dine with your favourite LINE FRIENDS and BT21 characters!

Kumoya@Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central, #04-08
Singapore 238896
Daily: 11.00am – 9.30pm (last order at 8.30pm)

Boyutei is a new all-day dining Japanese Café at Ann Siang Hill by One-Michelin Starred Whitegrass and Hvala.

It has officially opened to the public on 1 June 2022.

Boyutei’s food menu is conceptualised by Whitegrass Head Chef Takuya Yamashita and they will be offering an array of salads, soups, Japanese sandos, rice, noodles and crepes (both sweet and savoury), while Hvala will be in charge of the dessert and beverage items.

Some of the dishes that you can look forward to include Cha Soba, Ebi Katsu Sando, Japanese Dry Beef Curry as well as crepes with Seafood Mentaiko and Okonomiyaki flavours.

Fans of Hvala’s matcha desserts and drinks will love their creations here.

With matcha farmed from Hvala’s exclusive partner tea garden in Kyoto, the Matcha Goma Garden comes with handmade matcha warabi mochi and matcha ice cream alongside a goma chocolate cookie.

There will also be an expansive tea selection at Boyutei which is brought in from Hvala’s exclusive partner farm.

Photos credit: Boyutei

Boyutei
28 Ann Siang Rd, #01-02
Singapore 069708

Ah Seah Teochew Porridge, a popular Teochew Porridge eatery at Teck Chye Terrace (near Serangoon and Kovan), is closing on 19 June 2022.

The founder, Ah Seah, first started his Teochew porridge stall at the now-defunct Lim Tua Tow market in the 1950s and they relocated several times over the years before settling at the current location at Teck Chye Terrace for the past 11 years.

Other than Ah Seah Teochew Porridge, there are also several eateries located along Tech Chye Terrace and they include 8 degrees Taiwanese cafe, Yaowarat Seafood, Jangsu Korean BBQ Restaurant and Amika Cafe.

Ah Seah Teochew Porridge offers more than 50 variety of dishes, including braised dishes, stir-fried vegetables and steamed fish. The signature dishes include minced pork, handmade fish cake, and stingray.

Photos credit: Ah Seah Teochew Porridge

It is such a shame that a traditional Teochew porridge eatery is closing down and we hope that they will consider to make a comeback in the near future. Meanwhile, you have until 19 June 2022 to try their popular Teochew porridge.

Ah Seah Teochew Porridge
31 Teck Chye Terrace, Singapore 545731
Tue to Sun: 11am – 10pm

Popular Korean BBQ restaurant, Wang Dae Bak has opened a new outlet in Holland Village. Located at level 2 of Holland Piazza, Wang Dae Bak Grill is the restaurant’s first outlet out of the central business district. They have three other outlets at Amoy Street and Cross Street.

For a quick and casual lunch, Wang Dae Bak Grill offers several set lunches starting from S$15. Options include Grilled Saba Set, Spicy Pork Belly with Vegetables Set and Pork Katsu Set.

We do recommend going for a good mixture of marinated and non-marinated meats to get a taste of their best offerings. If you cannot decide on the meats to get, go for their meat sets which come with a variety of meats. The KBBQ Prime Set (S$98) consists of US Prime Ribeye, Marinated Bone-in Prime Ribs, and Pork Tomohawk.

You can also get Wang Dae Bak’s signature dishes such as Spicy Pork Ribs Soup, Spicy Tofu Soup, Kimchi Stew with Pork Belly, Half Half Pancake.

Wang Dae Bak Grill
Holland Piazza #02-01, Singapore 277725

Famous Golden Mile Complex Mookata eatery, New Udon Mookata will be moving out of Golden Mile Complex around May or June 2023 as the building was sold en bloc to a consortium.

New Udon Mookata will be opening a new outlet at Foch Road next week as well as other outlets in the near future.

Golden Mile Complex or otherwise known fondly as “Little Thailand” to the locals and Thais living in Singapore is a mall that is always bustling with activity throughout the day. While most people would know the place for its pubs and drinking places, there are also many humble eateries and hidden restaurants inside that serve authentic Thai food.

Established in 2007, New Udon Mookata is arguably the most popular eatery in Golden Mile Complex and it is always packed with regulars.

In an interview with 8days, the daughter of New Udon Mookata’s founder says the restaurant is expected to move out of Golden Mile Complex around May or June in 2023, though it will remain open for now.

New Udon Mookata will be opening its second outlet at Foch Road next week, though there are no concrete details for now.

They also have plans to expand with more locations in Jurong West and Greenwood Avenue.

Fans of New Udon Mookata will be happy to know that the famous mookata eatery will have more outlets in Singapore and you can satisfy your Mookata cravings without going all the way to Golden Mile Complex.

New Udon Mookata
5001 Beach Rd, #01 66B, Singapore 199588
Tel: +65 8451 9973

Opened by two young second-generation of Bai Nian Niang Dou Foo, Nic & Tom Eatery is a casual eatery in Serangoon Gardens which serves affordable mains that are mostly priced under S$10 nett.

It has announced on its social media pages that it will be closing its eatery in Serangoon Gardens on 10 June 2022 as the landlord has decided to increase the rental.

Other than the signature Bai Nian Hakka Yong Tau Foo and fried chicken wings, Nic & Tom Eatery’s menu features an interesting range of mains including Seafood Cheese Beehoon, Long Jiang Pig Leg Rice, and Ee Foo Noodle.

Nic & Tom Eatery has mentioned that it is looking for a new location, but it has yet to find a suitable spot. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they will be able to reopen at another location soon.

Nic & Tom Eatery
55 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555951
Tel: +65 6789 9696

Read our Serangoon Garden food guide on the best food places to dine at.

Situated in north-east Singapore, Kovan is a neighbourhood which has plenty of great restaurants, cafes, eateries and hawker stalls. Here’s our pick of the food places in Kovan you need to try when you are in the area.

ALKOVE BISTRO

Alkove bistro is a new French-inspired bistro by Michelin-starred Chef Haikal Johari and Passion For Food, the group behind Chapter 55, Pietro Ristorante Italiano and the now-defunct Ice Edge. The bright and cheerful bistro serves casual and comforting French fare at reasonable prices and you can look forward to dishes such as Wagyu Onglet Steak, French Onion Soup as well as a selection of Viennoiserie and bakes.

2 Kovan Rd, #01-10 Simon Plaza
Singapore 548008

BEER BASKET KITCHEN & BAR

From bar bites, to burgers, pizza and beer, Beer Basket Kitchen & Bar is a place where you can chill out and have a drink with your friends during Happy Hour.

Beer Basket Kitchen & Bar
1010 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534748
Tel: +65 8821 3780

DING TE LE

With excellent Xiao Long Bao (XLB), Shanghainese Noodle, Fried Rice and Sheng Jian Bao, Ding Te Le is a humble eatery renowned for its excellent Shanghainese cuisine.

Their Shanghai Sheng Jian Bao is a must-try dish. Pan-fried to a beautiful golden brown shade, the Sheng Jian Bao is filled with pork filling and soup. We can easily finish a dozen Sheng Jian Bao at a go.

Ding Te Le
949 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534713
Tel: +65 6282 4380

FATCAT ICE CREAM & COFFEE BOUTIQUE

Known for its charcoal waffles with salted egg yolk sauce, FATCAT Ice Cream Bar is an ice cream shop in Bedok and it has opened a new outlet, FATCAT Ice Cream & Coffee Boutique, at 15 Simon Road.

The new outlet in Kovan is for takeaway only and there is no dine-in area. As such, they will not be serving their signature charcoal waffles here.

FATCAT Ice Cream & Coffee Boutique
15 Simon Road
Singapore 545900

GONPACHI RAMEN

Nestled in the heartland of Kovan along the same row as popular Thai eatery, Nakhon Kitchen is Gonpachi Ramen. At this humble ramen joint, you can expect gorgeous bowls of restaurant-standard ramen that will not cost you more than S$10.

Gonpachi Ramen
Blk 212 Hougang Street 21, #01-329
Singapore 530212
Tel: +65 6584 1943

HANSIK KOREAN RESTAURANT

Situated on level 2 of Heartland Mall is a small family restaurant that serves authentic Korean fare called Hansik Korean Restaurant. For a small eatery, their menu is pretty extensive; from stews to real-deal barbecue. Their seafood soybean paste stew is a must-try for first timers.

This is our go-to Korean restaurant whenever we want a hearty and comforting Korean meal.

Hansik Korean Restaurant
205 Hougang Street 21
Level 2, Heartland Mall
Tel: +65 6288 2448

HENG LONG TEOCHEW PORRIDGE

Heng Long Teochew Porridge is our favourite teochew porridge stall in Singapore. We frequent the stall at least twice a month and what we love about them is the wide selection of dishes. Our top picks include their braised duck, braised intestines, stir-fried bitter gourd with egg.

Heng Long Teochew Porridge
1012 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534750

IVINS PERANAKAN RESTAURANT

For folks living in the Kovan neighbourhood, you can head to IVINS Nyonya Specialties at Heartland Mall.

While IVINS Nyonya Specialties has received mixed reviews—the standard has dropped slightly over the years—it is still a place that we go to for affordable Peranakan food.

IVINS Peranakan Restaurant
205 Hougang Street 21
Level 2, Heartland Mall
Tel: +65 6288 7922

LOLA’S CAFE

Known for its brunch fare, coffee and cakes, Lola’s Cafe is one of the more popular cafes in Kovan. It is also one of the few dog-friendly places in the Kovan and Serangoon neighbourhoods.

We recommend their Miso Salmon Grain Bowl, Bacon & Mushroom Truffle Cream Linguine and Lola’s Chocolate Cake.

Lola’s Cafe
5 Simon Road
Singapore 545893
Tel: +65 6343 1808

MAISON KAYSER

Artisanal French Bakery Maison Kayser has opened its 6th Outlet at Stars of Kovan in the Kovan neighbourhood. The new outlet is at Stars of Kovan and it has taken over the former premise of Sugartree Gelato.

There are a few seats in the small bakery cafe and you can enjoy a cup of coffee/tea with your bread and pastries.

Maison Kayser
988 Upper Serangoon Rd
#01-28 Stars of Kovan
Singapore 534733
+65 9010 7389

NAKED ICE CREAM

Located along the same stretch as Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap, Punggol Nasi Lemak, Ding Te Le and Qi Wei Chicken Claypot, Naked Ice Cream is a new waffle and ice cream cafe in Kovan which opens until 2am daily.

Like most ice cream cafes in Singapore, you can have your ice cream in a cup, cone or with a waffle. There are two waffles to choose from—Plain Waffle (S$3.80), or Charcoal Waffle (S$4.80).

Naked Ice Cream
957 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534717

NAKHON KITCHEN

Admittedly one of the most well-known Thai eateries in Singapore, Nakhon Kitchen is a household name among the Singaporeans which serves affordable and decent Thai food.

The waiting time during dinner is usually at least 30 minutes. The food here tastes like Bangkok street food, and to further boost its authenticity of the eatery, most of the staff are Thai too.

Nakhon Kitchen
212 Hougang Street 21 #01-341
Singapore 530212
Tel: +65 6286 8785

PIZZAEXPRESS

UK pizza chain, PizzaExpress Singapore has a cloud kitchen at Stars Of Kovan.

The pizzas are all made from scratch in store with fresh ingredients. Besides pizzas, PizzaExpress also has a whole range of salads, pastas and bite-size snacks.

PizzaExpress Kovan
988 Upper Serangoon Road
#01-45 Stars Of Kovan
Tel: +65 6969 4358

PONGGOL NASI LEMAK

Ponggol Nasi Lemak needs no introduction. This legendary nasi lemak stall has fantastic Chinese-style Nasi Lemak and we love their super crispy chicken wings, luncheon meat, and fried egg.

There is a long snaking queue at the stall once they open for business during dinner. Pro tip: the queue starts forming after 5.30pm, you can avoid the crowd if you reach there by 5pm.

Ponggol Nasi Lemak
965 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534721
Tel: +65 6281 0020

QI WEI CHINA CLAYPOT CHICKEN

One of the most renowned chicken hotpot restaurants in Singapore, Qi Wei China Claypot Chicken is a no-frills eatery that specialises in Chinese-style chicken hot pot (Ji Gong Bao).

You can also add more ingredients such as crab meat, quail eggs, vegetables, mushroom and luncheon meat to the hotpot.

Qi Wei China Claypot Chicken is perpetually packed; we highly recommend to reach there before 6pm. Otherwise, you can always go there for supper. They open until 2am every night.

Qi Wei China Claypot Chicken
947 Upper Serangoon Road
Singapore 534712

QI XIANG CHICKEN POT

Another chicken hotpot eatery in Kovan is Qi Xiang Chicken Pot.

Located in the same coffee shop as Ponggol Nasi Lemak, this supper spot in Kovan opens until 2am daily and this is where you can try its unique dark sauce chicken hot pot which has been fine tuned to cater to the locals’ taste buds.

Qi Xiang Chicken Pot has also opened a flagship restaurant at The Chevrons and it can accommodate up to 200 persons.

Qi Xiang Chicken Pot
973 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534725

THE BREAD SHOP

Other than freshly-baked bread and pastries, The Bread Shop in Kovan serves up the usual brunch works, but of great quality at affordable prices. Most of the dishes on the menu are priced under S$16.

The Bread Shop
953 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534715
Tel: +65 6581 7461

SELEGIE SOYABEAN

Head to Selegie Soyabean for some snacks after your dinner. It opens until 10.45pm daily and you can get your favourite soyabean, soy milk and fried dough fritters (youtiao) here.

Selegie Soyabean
1002 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534740
Tel: +65 6281 0933

SIN CHIE TOKE HUAN

This traditional Hainanese curry rice stall near Kovan MRT Station is incredibly popular and the queue forms even before they start their operation at 5pm. To be honest, we’ve tried their curry png several times and we don’t get the hype over it even though we are huge fans of Hainanese curry rice.

If you are looking for a supper spot in Kovan, you can consider to drop by Sin Chie Toke Huan. It opens until 2.30am at night.

Sin Chie Toke Huan
1018 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534756
Tel: +65 9003 5337

SOON SOON TEOCHEW PORRIDGE

Other than Heng Long Teochew Porridge, Soon Soon Teochew Porridge is another teochew porridge stall in Kovan that is along the same stretch as Lola’s Cafe.

Soon Soon Teochew Porridge
13 Simon Rd, Singapore 545897
Tel: +65 6954 4151

THIAM YIAN CONFECTIONERY

A traditional confectionery which has been around since the 1980s, Thiam Yian Confectionery is the place to satisfy your cravings for old-school cream cakes, handmade kueh and buns.

Thiam Yian Confectionery
1004 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534742
Tel: +65 6458 1478

TIAN WAI TIAN FISH HEAD STEAMBOAT

Tian Wai Tian Fish Head Steamboat is a zichar stall that is known for their Fish Head Steamboat as well as a wide variety of zi char favourites such as their Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs and Prawn Paste Chicken. Unfortunately, the standard of the food at their Kovan outlet isn’t as good as the original outlet at 1383 Serangoon Road.

Tian Wai Tian Fish Head Steamboat
203 Hougang Street 21 #01-12
Singapore 530203

THE HUMBLE SCOOP

Known for its locally-inspired ice cream flavours including Orh Haw (hawthorn berry), Orh-Bee-Good (pulut hitam) and In-Kueh-Dible (salted coconut & gula melaka), The Humble Scoop has opened its second outlet at Stars of Kovan.

The new ice cream takeaway shop in Kovan prides themselves on locally inspired ice cream flavours and they do not use any colourings, flavourings or additive in the ice cream.

The Humble Scoop
988 Upper Serangoon Road
Stars of Kovan #01-02
Tel: +65 8803 5981

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/twocranes.sg/

TWO CRANES

For brunch and coffee with a Korean twist, Two Cranes is one to visit. This Korean-inspired cafe offers an eclectic mix of coffee beverages, savouries and desserts.

Some of the Korean mains you can try include Wonda Army Stew (S$16.90), Fu Bimbimbap (S$13.90), and Kimchi Fried Rice (S$12.90).

Two Cranes
Block 211, Hougang Street 21, #01-291
Singapore 530211
Tel: +65 8166 0140

WAN XIN MA LA XIANG GUO

Next to Beer Basket and Heng Long Teochew Porridge is Wan Xin Ma La Xiang Guo which opens until 3am daily. Other than their Ma La Xiang Guo, we also love their Chinese tomato stir-fry egg.

1006 Upper Serangoon Rd
Singapore 534744
Tel: +65 9887 3317

WENG FATT HONG KONG ROASTED SPECIALIST

This unassuming stall is our favourite roast meat stall in Kovan. Weng Fatt Hong Kong Roasted Specialist has excellent roast duck. Their char siew and roast pork are decent, though not as good as their roast duck.

Weng Fatt Hong Kong Roasted Specialist
210 Hougang Street 21
Singapore 530210

YAOWARAT THAI KWAY CHAP

Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap is a popular Thai eatery which is famous for their signature Thai-style kway chap.

It is a bowl of comforting goodness featuring deep-fried pork belly slices, beef slices, Thai fish sausages and offals together with their unique, rolled-up kway.

Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap
945 Upper Serangoon Road
Singapore 534711
Tel: +65 8822 5637

YI DIAN XIN HONG KONG DIM SUM

If you ask a resident of Kovan where you should head to for good dim sum without burning a hole in your pocket, Yi Dian Xin Hong Kong Dim Sum is the place to go.

Delicious and modest without being exorbitantly priced, Yi Dian Xin is where you can go to satiate your dim sum cravings without thinking twice about the price.

Yi Dian Xin Hong Kong Dim Sum
1012 Upper Serangoon Road
Teo Seng Eating House
Singapore 534750
Tel: +65 9168 5587

YAM MEE TEOCHEW FISHBALL NOODLES

There are three popular fishball stalls in Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre and one of them is Yam Mee Teochew Fishball Noodles. They have been selling their fish ball noodles—which feature bouncy fish balls, fish cake, minced pork, pork lard, mushroom, spring onions and springy noodles—to the residents in Kovan for decades.

You can also find Yam Mee Teochew Fishball Noodles at Yishun Park Hawker Centre and Kaki Bukit 511 Market And Food Centre.

209 Hougang Street 21, #01-35
Singapore 530209

YONG’S TEOCHEW KUEH

Established in 1998, Yong’s Teochew Kueh is a old-school kueh shop that specialises in traditional Teochew kueh including Png Kueh, Soon Kueh and Ku Chye (chives) Kueh.

4FINGERS CRISPY CHICKEN

Good news for those who are staying in Kovan and Hougang, the halal-certified chicken chain has an outlet in the neighbourhood.

4Fingers
Stars of Kovan #01-29
988 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534733

888 MOOKATA

Founded by local celebrities Chew Chor Meng and Zhou Chongqing in partnership with cousins Esmond and Ronnie, 888 Mookata is at the coffee shop in Blk 212 Hougang Street 21 and this is where you can get cheap and good mookata without denting a hole in your pocket.

888 Mookata
212 Hougang Street 21
Singapore 530212