Amika Cafe & Bar is the newest cafe to open in the Serangoon neighbourhood, taking over the space vacated by Two Bakers at 9 Teck Chye Terrace.

It opened on 8 May 2022 with a soft-launch menu serving all-day brunch, Asian-inspired mains and drinks.

On Amika Cafe & Bar’s menu, you can find the usual brunch fare including Eggs Benedict (S$22), Big Breakfast (S$20) and Breakfast French Toast (S$16.50).

Photos credit: Amika Cafe & Bar

It serves several interesting Asian-inspired mains and sides such as Laksa Pasta (S$18), Char Siu Pork Ribs (S$24), Chilli Crab Sauce with Mantou (S$R14) and Thai Moo-Ping (S$12).

For those of you who are staying in northeast Singapore, read our guide to cafes in Serangoon for brunch, savoury mains and desserts

Amika Cafe & Bar
9 Teck Chye Terrace
Singapore 545720

Tucked away at Upper Serangoon Road next to the old Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre is newly-opened, Amber Ember.

Exuding a simple yet charming vibe, the interior is decked out in marble and wooden furnishings that are neatly decorated with potted plants and paintings, making it a nice place to retreat to and a great place for photos too.

Here, they sell a variety of brunch-style fare such as jaffles (a type of toastie that bears no similarity to a waffle), scrambled eggs on toast and coffee, but with an added twist that differs slightly to your average cafe food.

Starting our cafe trip off on a proper note, we ordered ourselves the White (S$5)—which is essentially a flat white. Amber Ember uses coffee beans from Cata coffee, which are freshly roasted daily and pack a robust, chocolatey note that is both incredibly aromatic and well-balanced.

Having heard so much about their fried chicken, we decided to order up the Amber’s Fried Chicken (AFC) (S$10). The chicken was decently crispy, however, the meat lacked a certain succulence to it and the drums were not as meaty as we would’ve liked. The saving grace, however, was their house-made blue cheese sauce and sriracha.

We also tried their Asian ‘Risotto’ (S$10), which was pretty much a fancy bowl of Chinese porridge that had been embellished with a variety of ingredients. We really enjoyed this dish and found it really comforting and satisfying.

The risotto had bits of braised pulled pork, fried shallots, garlic and a runny egg. We were a tad bit disappointed with the runny egg, which did not turn out as runny as described on the menu.

When we heard that they had a dish called Fu Yong Eggs (S$11), we were expecting a  modern rendition of the popular zi char dish. However, to our surprise, it was simply scrambled eggs and sauteéd mushrooms on a piece of sourdough.

Finally, we had the main thing that we came here for—Jaffles!

Out of the many options they had, we opted for their K-Pork Jaffles (S$10). The pork in the jaffles was slightly tangy due to the gochujang sauce used, but what surprised us was the purple sweet potato mash that came with it that was both sweet and deliciously creamy.

Amber Ember
730 Upper Serangoon Road, #01-01
Singapore 534613
Mon, Wed & Fri: 8am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 6pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Inspired by their Melbourne travels, owners Januver and Chomel started Scissors Paper Stove to celebrate the diversity of Asian culinary techniques and our communal dining culture.

Their menu focuses on a neat range of tapas that are great for sharing among friends and family, as well as other homemade recipes and a small selection of desserts. The cheerful space is perfect for any occasion—whether you are in the mood for a morning pick-me-up or some booze to unwind after a long day.

While some may say that Asian fusion tapas served in colourful tingkats and Asian-inspired cocktails—think vodka with amaretto, milo and condensed milk—sound too much like a marketing gimmick, we applaud the team’s creativity in using familiar Asian flavours to create something new.

Scissors Paper Stove impresses at first sight with its funky outlook; the cafe has pastel chairs, a rainbow zig zag wall and neon lights that spell out the cafe’s name.

Since tapas (2 for S$20, 4 for S$36, 6 for S$48) is what the cafe is known for, we decided to pick two that caught our immediate attention—the Pork Belly and Beef Burger.

The cafe’s Pork Belly tapas dish is indeed unusual; what you get is chilled slow roasted pork belly that is paired with coriander, ginger sauce and caramelised shallots.

The Beef Burger is made up of a savoury beef patty, melted cheddar cheese and fresh vegetables which are sandwiched in between two hot buttered buns. The mini beef burgers came in perfect tapas sizes that make it easy for consumption and the patties had a great bite to them.

Other Asian fusion tapas include Beef Skewers, Chorizo Sausage, Pineapple Chicken, Baby Portobello Mushroom and Bruschetta.

If you happen to drop by in the afternoon, their affordable lunch sets are worth every penny. For S$12, you get the soup of the day, a main of your choice and a hot drink. We opted for the Baby Pork Rib which came with sweet and sticky barbecue sauce and coriander on the top for that umami explosion in your mouth.

Scissors Paper Stove is more selective when it comes to their array of desserts, with only four options on the menu. The Pandan Churros (S$5) had a crispy exterior that is coated with a thin layer of sugar for a nice crunch. The only downside was that the insides of the pandan-infused pastry was too soft for our liking. Dip it into gula melaka syrup for added sweetness and flavour.

Scissors Paper Stove
9 Teck Chye Terrace
Singapore 545720
Tel: +65 6242 0021
Daily: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Serangoon

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.

Serangoon and Kovan are both prime districts in the North-Eastern part of Singapore with a slew of famed establishments around the estates, mainly at Serangoon Gardens – fondly remembered as Ang Sar Lee with red brick rooftops and tiles adorning the estate in the early days.

Food, in particular, is not hard to find in these areas, and it is no wonder why so many Singaporeans love flocking to these two districts when they need to fill their tummies with a plethora of interesting gastronomical finds. The cafes found in these areas are usually well-packed with people on weekends, and reservations are a must to avoid any disappointments.

We have brought you countless of Area Guides, but we are not close to stopping. Here is a Guide to Charming Cafes in Serangoon and Kovan to prep you for your next food trail.

#1 ARBITE

Despite its obscure location at the 2nd level of a shophouse in Serangoon Gardens, Arbite is widely popular with the residents and visitors alike, and boasts a setting with abundant natural lighting streaming in; yes, you can be assured your photos will turn out fine.

Some of the dishes that we like include Arbite Breakfast (S$17), Banana & Caramel Pancakes (S$12), and Pappardelle with Serrano Ham (S$22).

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

#2 CIEL PATISSERIE

Hougang may seem like an unlikely place to find a French patisserie, but that is exactly where Ciel Patisserie is located. This small patisserie has a wholesome range of cakes (S$4.80 – S$5.80), and tarts (S$4.20). Some of the creations that you can look forward to are Lemon Meringue Tart, Chocolate Caramel Tart, Strawberry Shortcake, and Brownie.

124 Hougang Ave 1 #01-1444
Singapore 530124
Tel: +65 6383 0803
Tue to Thu: 11am – 8pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 9pm
Sun: 3pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Kovan/Serangoon

#3 HATTER STREET BAKEHOUSE & CAFE

This bakery cafe is designed with a Mad Hatter theme—a prime character from Alice In Wonderland. Adorned with a whimsical theme that is set to bring you on a trip to Wonderland itself, Hatter Street deserves a special mention for their Whoaffles (S8.90) with your preferred choice of ice cream and syrup.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Block 212, Hougang Street 21, #01-333
Singapore 530212
Tel: +65 6988 4591
Tues – Sun: 1PM – 10PM
Closed on Mon
Nearest Station: Kovan

#4 ICE EDGE CAFE

Located in the heart of Kovan—just a stone’s throw away from Kovan MRT Station—is Ice Edge Cafe.

The cafe-cum-restaurant has been around for a decade and has gained a huge following over the past years with its hearty savouries and stellar sweets. Dishes served here are very affordable and generously portioned; there is even a perpetual one-for-one lunch promotion* on weekdays
Ice Edge Cafe
2 Kovan Rise
Simon Plaza, #01-10
Singapore 548008
Tel: +65 6858 5729
Daily: 11.30am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Kovan

#5 KOOKS CREAMERY

You have seen molten lava cakes and molten cheese tarts, but have you tried Kooks Creamery’s exploding molten lava cookies?

This humble ice cream parlour in Serangoon got us all excited with homemade cookies that ooze out molten goodness, alongside a huge range of ice cream flavours that range from light and refreshing fruit sorbets to rich and creamy options.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 1 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

211 Serangoon Avenue 4
#01-02
Singapore 550211
Tel: +65 9006 8748
Tue to Thu, & Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Closed: Mon
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#6 LITTLE WIMBLY LU

Located at myVillage @ Serangoon Garden, Little Wimbly Lu  is a smaller version of popular dessert cafe Wimbly Lu (read #14 below) which serves desserts such as Waffle (S$4), Pancakes (S$3), Crepe (S$3), Sticky Date Pudding (S$5.30), and Brownie (S$4.80).

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

#7 LOLA’S CAFE

Pop by this cosy and unpretentious cafe for their finger-linking good Honey Paprika Wings (S$10), or their signature Avocado Eggs Benedict (S$15). Lola’s Cafe bakes pretty mean tarts too.

5 Simon Rd
Singapore 545893
Tel: +65 6284 0349
Tue to Thu, Sun: 10am – 11:30pm
Fri to Sat: 10am – 12am
Nearest Station: Kovan

#8 ONE MAN COFFEE

One Man Coffee opened its second outlet at myVillage (at Serangoon Gardens) and have garnered the central crowd to the humble cafe. Other than their famed 6-minute eggs, they have also taken it up a notch and introduced onsen eggs on sourdough that will prompt egg lovers to return for more.

myVillage @ Serangoon Garden
1 Maju Avenue, #B1-23/24
Singapore 556679
Tel: +65 6636 7666
Daily: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon/Lorong Chuan

#9 OBLONG

Oblong is one of the newer dessert hideouts at Serangoon Gardens, and be sure to expect a massive crowd during the weekends. One of the signature waffles 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

#10 SUNDAY MARKET

Before you step into Sunday Market, you will be greeted by a series of hanging potted plants right outside the cafe. They pride themselves in recreating local dishes with a unique western twist, such as the Beef Rendang Lasagne (S$15.90) with layers of beef briskets between pasta sheets and mozzarella cheese. Yum!

22 Lim Tua Tow Road
Singapore 547772
Tel: +65 6287 8880
Mon to Tue: 12pm – 10pm
Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat: 9:30am – 11pm
Sun: 9.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#11 SUNRAY CAFE

This pet-friendly cafe allows you to choose from two different dining areas – one with your pets and the other solely for the humans. Their coffee are specially roasted and brewed in house to obtain the best flavours, and diners can opt from their eclectic selection of mains; well, your furballs can eat too!

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 3 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

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

#12 THE COFFEE DAILY

All-day breakfast options are available at The Coffee Daily, and you can also enjoy their free-flow old school tidbits such as iced gem biscuits or animal crackers while you wait for your food orders. Their pretty rainbow cake is sold at S$10 a slice, which could be something for you to munch on while you sip on a cuppa!

75 Brighton Crescent
Singapore 559216
Tel: +65 6284 8894
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10:30pm
Fri: 12pm – 11:30pm
Sat to SUn: 9:30am – 23:30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#13 THE PLAIN JANE

Located just across the Serangoon Stadium, it is pretty easy to miss this quaint little cafe which just opened recently; it is unassuming, but definitely worth looking out for. The interior is filled with vintage items and collectibles, and how we love those hanging lightbulbs.

Jane, the lady boss (hence, the name of this cafe) shared about her daily fresh bakes with much enthusiasm. Do not expect rainbows cakes and bright bakes here, because Jane likes to keep everything simple. Well, The Plain Jane, right?

Blk 211 Serangoon Ave 4 #01-10
Singapore 550211
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#14 WIMBLY LU

Wimbly Lu Chocolates will be hard to miss with a red Beetle parked outside its shop front. The cafe is romantically embellished with brick walls and a courtyard with natural lighting that will make the perfect setting for a good photo. Known for their chocolate and waffles, their desserts are priced no more than S$7 which calls for a pocket-friendly meal.

15-2 Jalan Riang
Singapore 358987
Tel: +65 6289 1489
Tue to Thu: 12:30pm – 10:30pm
Fri: 12:30pm – 11pm
Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 10:30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon/Lorong Chuan

For more recommendations, read our guide to 9 Cafes in Toa Payoh.

Some months back, we visited Sunday Market at Lim Tua Tow Road located just off Upper Serangoon Road on a sleepy Sunday afternoon for brunch. We were not expecting much, but what greeted us was a wondrous entrance of plants and a red-and-white signboard that looks like something plucked off from the 80′s. The cafe may seem inconspicuous from the main road, but just look out a little and you will find the unit that sits right at the left hand corner.

Inside, it is a quirky space with brick walls in the prettiest hues of rust, spotting irregular display of paintings sporadic plant arrangements, and filled with chitters from a hippy crowd. We were awoken by the energetic vibe almost instantaneously.

Sunday Market serves a small but concise menu including toasts, pastas, duck dishes, salad and waffles — most dishes are reasonably-priced below S$15. The coffee was sadly run-of-the-mill, but we will come back again for the Savoury Pancakes with Roasted Duck and Garlic Hoisin (S$12.90) and the excellent Sirloin Rendang Toast (S$15.90).

Yes, a Rendang Toast is what you’d least expect for brunch, but the Straits-style item is a delightful twist to the usual toast. We had meant for that dish to be shared, but before we knew it, our friends polished them off. A stunning creation, indeed.

Waffles were sadly mediocre, too. We’d say to skip this, because we heard the Bangkok Toast (S$10.90) is quite a mean treat.

As you can tell by now, the food is hit-and-miss. We haven’t had the chance to try everything, but we might pop by again because of the quirky retro details of the decor and furnishing. And we hope that the next time we return, the ventilation issue would be solved and no one has to step out of the cafe all smoky and stinky.

Sunday Market
22 Lim Tua Tow Road
Mon to Fri: 1am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon