Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionery is an institution which has been dishing out Singapore-style old-school breads—or better recognised as buns—for decades.

While everyone has their favourites (and there are only a handful of surviving traditional bakeries in Singapore), we grew up with Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionery at Serangoon Garden Market and it is our go-to place whenever we want to satisfy our craving for old-school buns.

“Zai Lai, Zai Lai!”

The daily fresh bakes from Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionery are a true testament to the standards of old-school local-style breads.

The stall occupies two units in the buzzing Serangoon Garden Food Centre & Market, and since young, we’ve watched the two uncles picking breads from the shelves and calculating the total sum in godlike speed.

Queues are often seen especially in the morning when trays after trays of freshly baked buns are put up, and during lunch hour. Very often, they sell out by 2pm.

Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionery has quite the selection of old-school buns. Pillowy soft with a brown skin and white interior, tears apart easily, and exudes a distinct fragrance that we grew up knowing.

The Butter Bun is probably the most famous one, while the Cheese Bun comes close in terms of popularity. The Hamburger is essentially chicken luncheon meat enveloped in soft bun, and the Kaya Peanut is our all-time favourite.

The aroma of the bakes often fill the market, and despite inflation and rising food costs, their prices remain low and the uncles are ever humble of their successes.

Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionery
49A Serangoon Garden Way
#01-45 Garden Market
Singapore 555945

Read our guide on the traditional bakeries in Singapore you should support.

Popular bakery chain, Tiong Bahru Bakery has officially opened its 9th outlet in the Serangoon Gardens neighbourhood on 20 December 2021.

Opened by the Spa Esprit Group which is behind other F&B concepts including Forty Hands, Common Man Coffee Roasters, boCHINche, and Noka, Tiong Bahru Bakery is one of the most popular bakeries in Singapore which is known for its croissants, kouign amann, and coffee.

You can also find Tiong Bahru Bakery at these locations—Tiong Bahru, Funan, Scotts Square, Safari (Minden Road), Chip Bee Gardens, Raffles City, and Tang Orchard.

Located at Maju Avenue along the same stretch as Oblong and Dan’s Steak, Tiong Bahru Bakery’s outlet at Serangoon Gardens is the chain’s first location outside of the central area and it is great news for fans of their croissants and bakes.

Tiong Bahru Bakery’s newest outlet at Serangoon Garden opens from 7.30am to 7pm daily.

Read: Guide to Serangoon Gardens restaurants, cafes and eateries.

As one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Singapore, Serangoon Gardens is a private residential area brimming with all sorts of F&B establishments—ranging from hawker centres to hipster cafes and fine restaurants.

Ask any local about the must-tries in Serangoon Gardens and no doubt many will point you to Chomp Chomp Food Centre. However, those who residinnd the area would know that there is more to the dining scene at Serangoon Gardens than just that.

Here are our top picks of hawker stalls, cafes, bars and eateries you have to visit at Serangoon Gardens.

AH SENG BRAISED DUCK RICE

A family-favourite at Serangoon Gardens Market & Food Centre, Ah Seng Braised Duck Rice became popular through word-of-mouth recommendations as their braised duck is considered to be one of the best in the area.

For S$3.50, diners get a portion of braised duck and white rice that is drizzled over with savoury soy sauce.

49A Serangoon Garden Way
#01-44, Serangoon Gardens Market & Food Centre
Singapore 555945
Tel: +65 9667 4860
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 7.30pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Serangoon

ALIFF NASI LEMAK

Ask anyone what you have to order at Serangoon Gardens Market & Food Centre and you will most likely get Aliff Nasi Lemak as the answer. This muslim-owned stall offers mouthwatering Nasi Lemak from S$3 and the secret to their success is the use of natural ingredients.

Complement the flavourful rice with ingredients such as deep-fried chicken wings, ikan bilis and otak otak.

49A Serangoon Garden Way
#01-27 Serangoon Garden Market
Singapore 555945
Tue to Thu, Sat & Sun: 7.30am – 2pm
Mon & Fri: Closed
Nearest Station: Serangoon

BOTTEGA

Takign over the former premise of Udders Ice Cream at myVillage, Bottega—an Italian grocer, bar and restaurant—imports their ingredients from trusted artisan suppliers for their Italian-inspired dishes. Their signature pizzas are made from Italian soft wheat blend, which is free from all sorts of preservatives.

Besides their range of pizzas, pastas and desserts, you can also purchase Italian groceries from them.

1 Maju Avenue
#01-11
Singapore 556679
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

GARDEN STREET KWAY CHAP

This family business has been around for years and they are still dedicated to serving hearty, comforting bowls of kway chap that start from S$4.50. Some of our favourites include pig intestines, pork slices, pig skin and salted vegetables.

49A Serangoon Garden Way
#01-21 Serangoon Garden Market
Singapore 555945
Tue to Sun: 8am – 3pm
Mon: Closed
Nearest Station: Serangoon

GEYLANG CLAYPOT RICE

Claypot rice is comfort food for us and if you are looking for a great option to look out for at Serangoon Gardens is Geylang Claypot Rice.

If you have time to spare, their claypot chicken rice is worth the 25-minute wait. In addition, the eatery also serves other classic zi char dishes too.

4 Maju Avenue
Singapore 556682
Mon to Wed, Fri to Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 11.30pm
Tel: +65 6816 2754
Nearest Station: Serangoon

HAJIME TONKATSU & RAMEN

Opened by Chef Tan-San—who was previously from Tonkichi and Tampopo—Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen is a casual eatery at myVillage which offers authentic tonkatsu and ramen at relatively affordable prices. Some of the recommended dishes include the Premium Pork Loin (S$21.90) and Miso Ramen (S$11.90).

1 Maju Avenue,
myVillage @ Serangoon Garden, #02-07/8/9
Singapore 556679
Tel: +65 6509 9952
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station:

HANWOORI KOREAN RESTAURANT

Hanwoori Korean Restaurant is one of those under-the-radar restaurants that only Korean food lovers in the know and residents will find their way here.

The owner is a jovial lady that is so passionate and hospitable, she makes you feel like you are dining in a hole-in-the-wall joint in Korea. We find ourselves returning so often for she serves very authentic Korean food.

76 Serangoon Garden Way
Tel: +65 6283 6339
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

LITTLE WIMBLY LU

Opened by the same folks behind Wimbly Lu, Little Wimbly Lu is a dessert cafe where you will find all the sweet tooths. You can expect a delicious offering of waffles, ice cream and cakes on the menu. Some noteworthy items include Nutella Chocolate Pie, Earl Grey White chocolate Mousse Cake and Salted Caramel Brownie.

1 Maju Avenue
#01-09/10 myVillage
Singapore 556679
Sun to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12 Midnight
Nearest Station: Serangoon

NUNSARAM

Step inside Nunsaram and cool off from the sweltering heat with a bowl of Korean bingsu. Located just beside Oblong, patrons can choose among 15 different bingsu flavours and crowd favourites include injeolmi and black sesame.

The best part? Nunsaram is opened till late at night so if you are looking for a late-night dessert spot in Serangoon Gardens, you know where to go.

12 Maju Avenue
Singapore 556690
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 12 Midnight
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Serangoon

PLONK

Australian bar Plonk has just the right ambience for after-work drinks with your colleagues and friends. Carrying wine from Australia and even Europe, go all out at their fully-stocked bar and Mediterranean food.

Highlights of their menu include Cape Grim Steak, Chicken Liver Pate and Plonk’s Own Deconstructed Steak Sandwich. Plonk also offers all-day brunch on the weekends.

7 Maju Avenue
Singapore 556685
Tel: +65 6286 4688
Mon to Fri: 11am – late
Sat & Sun: 9am – late
Nearest Station: Serangoon

POW SING RESTAURANT

Established in 1983, Pow Sing Restaurant at Serangoon Gardens is known for their traditional Hainanese Chicken Rice and Nyonya dishes including Ayam Buah Keluak and Kueh Pie Tee. We have been patronising Pow Sing Restaurant for years and the Chicken Rice is always very satisfying. We will go so far as to say that it is one of the best chicken rice restaurants in Singapore.

59 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555961
Tel: +65 6284 0800
Daily: 9.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

RK EATING HOUSE

Known for their gigantic tissue prata and teh tarik towers, RK Eating House is our favourite prata restaurant in Singapore. The prata place is open for 24 hours so you can get your prata fix at any time of the day. Besides prata, they also have other Indian-Muslim options such as murtabak and Indian rojak.

1A Kensington Park Road
Singapore 557253
Tel: +65 6289 5379
Daily: 24 Hours
Nearest Station: Serangoon

SOI THAI KITCHEN

Up for some spicy, sour and full-flavoured Thai cuisine? Make your way to Soi Thai Kitchen where you can feast on tom yum soup, basil pork and Thai fried rice to your heart’s content.

Dishes range from S$6 to S$10 and customers save on GST and service charges when they dine there.

58 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555954
Tel: +65 6282 3788
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 1.30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

SOON HUAT PIG’S ORGAN SOUP

A crowd favourite and one that sees insanely long queues on a regular basis, is Soon Huat Pig’s Organ Soup. We really adore their soup that boast a delicate flavour yet brims with a delightful pork and garlicky flavour.

Be sure to order up a side of their braised dishes as well—their braised pig trotters is a must, and you have the option of opting for extra lean or extra fatty.

51 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555947
Tue to Sun: 9.30am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

SRI SUN EXPRESS

A popular hangout spot among the young crowd, Sri Sun Express is a 24-hour eatery that serves up a smorgasbord of Indian supper favourites from the classic roti prata (done in possibly a hundred different ways), murtabak to even some innovative creations such as their masala tacos.

Another common sight here is their massive 3-litre drink towers.

56 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555952
Tel: +65 6282 2325
Daily: 24 Hours
Nearest Station: Serangoon

STAPLE FOOD

Staple Food in Serangoon Gardens aims to provide nutritious, yet gratifying meals that do not compromise on taste—using only fresh ingredients so from reliable suppliers. The cafe has a curated food menu but diners can customise their own bowl to suit their personal dietary needs.

Fans of salted egg yolk will not be disappointed with their Egg Yolk Soft Shell Crab (S$16) pasta.

1 Maju Avenue
#B1-23/24, myVillage
Singapore 556679
Tel: +65 6634 1181
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

STEAM BOX

A fairly current dining concept that fuses the idea of steaming raw food as opposed to the conventional hot pot or grill, Steam Box is an underrated restaurant in the Serangoon Gardens Estate that truly deserves a mention.

Their ingredients are fresh and prices are relatively affordable too, which make a great alternative for group dining if you are sick of hot pot.

68 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555962
Tel: +65 6281 6939
Tue to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 11pm
Mon: Closed

For more recommendations, read our guide on Chomp Chomp Food Centre—featuring the 8 best local food to try.

Serangoon Gardens is one of the oldest estates in Singapore with a history so rich. And it is home to some of the best restaurants and cafes, with household names such as Pow Sing Restaurant & Chomp Chomp Food Centre. But apart from the hoi polloi of barbecue seafood joints, Serangoon Gardens has so much more to offer.

It is a rather populated private residential estate, but the residents have it all because it is such a self-contained area when it comes to food. Whatever you have a taste for, we can be pretty sure you can have (most of) your cravings satisfied.

A recent round-up had us compiling this definitive guide to the restaurants, bars and cafes at Serangoon Gardens, and with this, you can start planning your gatherings and meals at the wondrous Serangoon Gardens enclave!

ARBITE

Opened by three secondary school friends, Arbite is a well-known name in the local cafe scene, serving exceptionally good cafe fare. We love that their thick-cut Truffle Fries comes in a generous portion that is perfect for sharing. Other than that, they have a pretty awesome pasta dishes too.

66A Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555962
Tel: +65 6287 0430
Mon to Fri: 11.30 am – 3.00 pm, 6.00pm – 10.30pm
Sat to Sun: 11.00 am – 10.30 pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon/Lorong Chuan

BAKERZIN

This quaint outlet sits at the foot of myVillage and it is somewhere you can enjoy a slice of cake and a drink. There is a also a wing for takeaway breads and cakes, and we love the artisanal range of fresh daily bakes.

1 Maju Ave
myVillage
Tel: +65 6634 5638
Singapore 556679
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Eve of PH: 10am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

DESSERT BOWL

The interior of Dessert Bowl will sweep you to Hong Kong as it was modelled after a typical Hong Kong dessert house. Durian Mousse and Mango Pomelo Sago are notably the popular choices.

80A Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555976
Tel: +65 6285 1278
Tue to Thu: 1pm – 10.30pm
Fri to Sun: 1pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

HANWOORI KOREAN RESTAURANT

Hanwoori is definitely the place to go to for inexpensive Korean fare. It is the residents’ favourite! Side dishes aplenty and a range of Korean dishes await. Their range of communal stews are the heartiest, and almost every table orders that! Go during lunch hours and you get simple S$10 fares that differs daily.

76 Serangoon Garden Way
Tel: +65 6283 6339
Singapore 555972
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

HAPPY DAZE POP CULTURE RETRO CAFE

Happy Daze is one of the longest standing tenants. People gather here for the familiarity, some come here to watch their matches, while most just love the laid-back vibes. Share some Chicken Wings or Cheesy Fries with your friends, before digging into their hearty mains that range from pastas and pizzas to Western classic like Crispy Pork Knuckle.

11 Maju Avenue
Serangoon Garden Estate
Singapore 556689
Tel: +65 6285 2885
Daily: 3pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

OBLONG

One of the signature waffles at Oblong is the Red Velvet Waffles and Ice Cream combination (S$11), with cream cheese sandwiched between two red velvet waffles and topped with an ice cream flavour of your choice.

10 Maju Avenue
Singapore 556688
Tel: +65 6858 2320
Thu to Sun: 12pm – 12am
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Serangoon/Lorong Chuan

ONE MAN COFFEE

This popular coffee joint has since expanded from their first outlet in Thomson, and now also sits inside myVillage at Serangoon Gardens. Coffee lovers will revel in the glory of their delicious blends from Axil Coffee Roasters in Melbourne and have it with a side of their menu items such as the French toast and Big Brekkie.

1 Maju Ave #B1-23/24
myVillage at Serangoon Gardens
Singapore 556679
Tel: +65 6636 7666
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

POW SING RESTAURANT

This restaurant has been in Serangoon Gardens for as long as we can remember, offering one of Singapore’s best Chicken Rice. Their food is always consistently good, and it is one place we’d never think twice to place our faith in. Besides chicken rice, Pow Sing also whips up amazing nonya dishes such as the deep-fried Golden Tofu, Babi Ponteh and Lemon Prawns.

65 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555961
Tel: +65 +65 6282 7972
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

RK EATING HOUSE

But of course, we all need prata in our lives, right? RK Eating House is always the most crowded outlet here at Serangoon Gardens. Its popularity is evident, and it is the residents’ favourite place for supper and weekend breakfasts.

And they deserve this popularity, for amidst the chaotic crowd, they always manage to keep their pratas crispy, warm and with just the right amount of oil. We will go so far as to say that RK Eating House has one of the best roti pratas in Singapore.

1 Kensington Park Road
Singapore 557253
Tel: +65 6289 5379
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

SUN RAY CAFE

Dog lovers will be familiar with this name as Sun Ray Cafe is one of the few dog-friendly cafes in Singapore. It is not exactly within Serangoon Gardens, but it is just farther up from the main area if you need somewhere to dine with your furry friends. Well, some have also boldly claimed that the coffee served here is one of the best!

79 Brighton Crescent
Serangoon Gardens
Singapore 559218
Tel: +65 6283 8700
Mon & Tue: 6pm – 11pm
Wed & Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri: 11am – 12am
Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

SUSHI TEI

Sushi Tei is not an unfamiliar name among Singaporeans and their Serangoon Gardens outlet is perpetually packed. Serving Japanese food at affordable prices, Sushi Tei is a convenient choice if you have a hankering for Japanese food when in Serangoon Gardens.

64-64A Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555960
Tel: +65 6283 7117
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

THE COFFEE DAILY

Also on Brighton Crescent – a short 2-minute drive from Serangoon Gardens – The Coffee Daily is a cosy space where you can have a cup of coffee and desserts. On the menu, they have sandwiches, waffles with ice cream, and a selection of desserts like Chocolate Lava Cake and Rainbow Cake.

75 Brighton Crescent
Tel: +65 6284 8894
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri: 12pm – 11.30pm
Sat: 9.30am – 11.30pm
Sun: 9.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

YOGIYO KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN

The Korean Fried Chicken trend is still going strong here in Singapore and Yogiyo Chicken brings to table authentic and affordable Korean fried chicken available in 5 different flavours – crispy, sweet, sweet soy, hot soy and fire soy.

1 Maju Avenue
#B1-K1, myVillage
Singapore 556679
Tel: +65 9617 9785
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

iSTEAKS DINER

Relocated last year to a unit on the second level of myVillage, iSteaks has been offering affordable steaks and Western staples since their Day One. From $14.50 onwards, you can enjoy a range of cuts of steak from Wagyu Ribeye and Australian Tenderloin to Porterhouse and New Zealand Ribeye.

1 Maju Avenue
#02-03 to 06, myVillage
Tel: +65 6285 8839
Singapore 556679
Mon – Thu, Sun: 110am – 11pm
Fri& Sat: 11am – 12pm
Nearest Station: Lorong Chuan/Serangoon

For more recommendations, read our guide to 16 charming cafes in Serangoon and Kovan.

Like Holland Village, Serangoon Gardens is a popular dining cluster in Singapore. Beyond the many restaurants and cafes there, the estate has two popular Food Centre: Chomp Chomp Hawker Centre and Serangoon Gardens Market & Food Centre.

I brought my overseas friends there and I realised that eating in Hawker Centres can be quite a daunting experience for visitors. It is easy for us as we are familiar with the Hawker Food. But overseas visitors usually do not know what to eat, and which stalls to order from.

If you are bringing overseas visitors to Serangoon Gardens Food Centre, here is a quick guide on what to eat there.

Amongst the stalls in Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre, Ah Seng Duck Rice and Soon Huat Pig’s Organ Soup have the longest queue. I had them previously, but we did not order them that day. This was our second stop of our food tour, and we did not want to spend too much time queuing up for food.

In any case, there were plenty of stalls to order from. We quickly filled the table with food: Rojak, Chwee Kueh, Popiah, Carrot Cake, Kway Chap, Ice Kachang, Wanton Mee, Oyster Omelette, and Curry Puff.

I think Popiah is a fantastic food. It is the kind of thing you can eat as an appetiser before setting for a heavier “main dish”. Otherwise, it makes a great snack in-between meal times. Popiah is an all-rounder, you can eat them anytime, anyday. The one that we had at Serangoon Gardens Food Centre was probably not the best, but still, it was quite satisfying.

The Fish & Chips stall PX Express (by the Mad Jack Cafe) at Serangoon Gardens Market, serves a competent Fish & Chips, and their cakes are pretty decent too.

Right at one end of Serangoon Gardens Food Centre is the famous Garden Street Kway Chap. This is what I want for breakfast on a Sunday morning. Braised pork, pig’s intestines, braised egg, tau pok, salted vegetables with flat rice noodles – this is unbeatable.

We also ordered Le Le’s Wanton Mee, but I was preoccupied with the Oyster Omelette. If you still have room, get the Curry Puffs from Rolina, and the ham & cheese bread from Serangoon Gardens Bakery & Confectionery.

Trying to decide between Serangoon Gardens Market & Food Centre and Chomp Chomp Hawker Centre? It’s a no brainer. For the best of both worlds, go to the former for breakfast/lunch and the latter for dinner/supper. Perfect.

Ah Seng Braised Duck Rice
49A Serangoon Garden Way Stall #44
Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre Singapore

Botanic Gardens Dessert Corner
49A Serangoon Garden Way Stall #17
Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre Singapore

Garden Street Kway Chap
49A Serangoon Garden Way Stall #21
Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre Singapore

Le Le Wanton
49A Serangoon Garden Way Stall #1
Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre Singapore

PK Express
49A Serangoon Garden Way Stall #23
Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre Singapore

Rolina Curry Puff
49A Serangoon Garden Way Stall #32
Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre Singapore

Selegie Soya Bean
49A Serangoon Garden Way Stall #24
Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre Singapore

Serangoon Gardens Bakery & Confectionery
49A Serangoon Garden Way Stall #46
Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre Singapore

Soon Huat Pig’s Organ
49A Serangoon Garden Way Stall #42
Serangoon Gardens Hawker Centre Singapore