Those who do not go to the area often will think of Ubi as a very remote place with nothing more than just industrial buildings and perhaps a couple of coffee shops. It doesn’t help that its name is so similar to the word ‘ulu’.

However, though unexplored by many, the area has tons of hidden food gems serving the cheapest and most delicious food around. Here is our list of 7 places that you may wish to check out, no matter if you’re working around the area or not!

MR LORBAK

Helmed by a fourth-generation hawkerpreneur who gave up his white-collar profession to sell lu rou fan (braised pork rice), Mr Lorbak is a humble stall tucked away in a coffee shop in Ubi with just a handful of items on the menu.

Their signature Braised Pork Rice is priced at just S$3.50. Despite the affordability, they aren’t ones to skimp on quality nor quantity—the bowl came with a chunk of lor bak that was cut into bite-sized pieces, black fungus and two halves of a braised egg.

TAI SENG FISH SOUP

Spot the longest queue in Bing Garden Eating House—a coffee shop near Ubi MRT—during lunch hour and you’ll find Tai Seng Fish Soup.

From S$4.50 and up, you can get your fish soup fix with fried or boiled fish slices, or choose between seafood and tom yam soup. There’s porridge and yee mee, bee hoon, and mee sua too if you’re reconsidering having rice.

Tai Seng Fish Soup
3024 Ubi Road 3, #01-99
Singapore 408652
Tel: +65 9878 0817
Mon-Thu: 9am – 4pm
Fri: 9am – 3pm
Sat: 10.30am – 2.30pm
Nearest Station: Ubi

Photo Credit: hungryhedgey

CRISPY ROTI PRATA

Located in the same coffee shop as Mr Lorbak, this neighbouring stall serves one of the best (and cheapest) rendition of roti prata in Singapore.

As its name suggests, the prata served here are superbly crispy. The secret lies in the recipe of the dough, which is handmade from scratch daily at 4am and flipped and fried upon order. A piece of plain prata costs just S$0.80 while an egg prata costs S$1.30. However, do note that there is a minimum order of 2 plain prata—not that that is a concern anyway since its so delightful to eat!

Crispy Roti Prata
350 Ubi Avenue 1

Singapore 400350

Tue to Sun: 6am – 6.30pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Ubi

NIU ZOU LA MIAN

With the aim to bring Singaporeans—our Muslim friends in particular—an authentic taste of China, Musa, a Muslim from China, set up a humble hawker stall in the corner of Food Point coffee shop in Ubi, doling out halal la mian.

For just S$5, you can get yourself a huge bowl with a generous serving of noodles which are hand-stretched there and then upon ordering. With that in mind, do expect a short wait as his noodles are hand-pulled to order.

Niu Zou La Mian Muslim Food
325 Ubi Avenue 1
Food Point Food Court
Singapore 408325
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Ubi

WISHES CAFE

A hidden gem situated in the residential area of MacPherson is Wishes Cafe, selling creamy gelatos and fluffy waffles.

Their Matcha Gelato on Waffle Cone (S$4.50) was one that thoroughly impressed us. This flavour came with strong scents of roasted green tea and boasts a creamy, almost chewy texture. If you’re feeling peckish, we suggest pairing your gelato with a portion of buttermilk waffles for an additional S$5.

Wishes Cafe
Circuit Road
Block 36, #01-414
Singapore 370036
Tuesday to Sunday: 11am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: MacPherson

Photo Credit: lixuanpoh

THE BONELESS KITCHEN

Vegetarian options in the area are already as scarce as it is, let alone vegetarian Korean food choices. The Boneless Kitchen is a vegetarian Korean food eatery close to Tai Seng that also caters to vegans, offering plant-based dishes which makes it inclusive for many diets.

Their menu is what you can expect of a typical Korean restaurant, but cheaper and meatless. Some choices include the Budae Jjigae (S$9.90) and Dolsot Bimbibap (S$9.90).

The Boneless Kitchen
1 Irving Place
#01-31 Commerze @ Irving
Singapore 369546
Tel: +65 8457 6464
Daily: 12pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Tai Seng

Photo Credit: monamonaco

PONDOK PANTAI TIMUR

The famous ayam penyet stall previously located at Changi Village Hawker Centre has relocated to Ubi and they’ve worked their magic on the palates of those working in the area ever since.

It goes without saying that their Signature Ayam Penyet (S$5) is the best-seller and a must to order. Otherwise, you can consider getting the Ikan Penyet (S$5.50 – S$7 depending on the season and fish size) too!

Pondok Pantai Timur
301 Ubi Avenue 1
Yummy Food Point
Singapore 400301
Tel: +65 9476 0220
Mon to Fri: 8am – 8pm
(Closed on Sat & Sun)
Nearest Station: Ubi

KWAN’S WESTERN FOOD & DELIGHTS

Nestled within an unassuming coffeeshop in Ubi, Kwan’s Western Food & Delights serves straightforward Western dishes that are priced very affordably.

Opt for the classic Chicken Chop (S$5.50), which comes with a piece of buttered garlic bread, fries and baked beans. Other options include Chicken Cutlet (S$5.80), Grilled Fish (S$5.80) and Pork Chop (S$5.50).

Kwan’s Western Food & Delights
33 Ubi Ave 3
Singapore 408868
Tel: +65 9365 6543
Daily: 8am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Ubi

Located in Oxley Bizhub—just a short walk from Tai Seng MRT Station—Yamato Izakaya is a melting pot of three Japanese dining concepts under one roof! Featuring the likes of famous unagi restaurant, Man Man, Ramen Hitoyoshi and Tora Tora, this restaurant is on its way to becoming a stalwart for local Japanese dining in Singapore.

Beloved for their fresh and modern renditions (and generous portions) of grilled Japanese eel, Man Man’s unagi dishes is a definite must-try. But be sure to save room for Ramen Hitoyoshi’s signature ramen as well as the vast array of sushi and donburi options courtesy of Tora Tora.

Yamato Izakaya is no doubt one spot to visit should you find yourself hankering for authentic, rock-solid Japanese food. On Saturdays, parking on site is free so that’s another plus point if you’re thinking of paying this restaurant a visit for a hearty family lunch.

It’s pretty difficult to miss this restaurant because whether you are driving past, in or around Oxley Bizhub, chances are you’ll catch a glimpse of their massive signboard out front.

The restaurant itself can easily accommodate more than a hundred patrons given its huge space and the 3 kitchens all take on an open concept, meaning that you get to see the chefs at work while you wait for your food.

Man Man offers its famous unagi in three portions—Unatama (S$20.50++), medium (S$28.40++) and large (S$36.10++)

The Unatama (S$20.50++) is substantial enough to allow one to savour their prized dish without getting sick of it as well as to leave room to try the other offerings from Ramen Hitoyoshi and Tora Tora.

Tastewise, it was probably one of the best unagi dishes we have ever had in Singapore. Sweet, oily with a deeply charred flavour and texturally one of the most delicate pieces of fish around, take our word for it and order a bigger portion of this.

The rice bowl comes with 2 thick slices of tamago which do well to bolster the richness of the unagi as well.

Hitoyoshi Ramen delights diners with their wide array of ramen dishes that are all customisable depending on how distinct your palate is. We opted for the most basic, Tonkotsu Ramen (S$10.90) which came with a generous portion of ramen noodles, slices of pork and a beautifully seasoned egg.

The Tonkotsu broth was rich in flavour and brimming with porky goodness. The infusion of the black fungus really does give it a heightened umami taste and we particularly loved just how thick and concentrated the broth was.

If you’re ever unsure of what to order, especially given Tora Tora’s extensive range donburi offerings, consider their Futago Don which essentially is a pair of dons in one!

We got the Kaisen Don (S$7) along with the Ikura Don (S$7) which comprised a generous serving of diced up salmon, tuna, scallops, geoduck and a huge dollop of ikura over top. Salty, fresh and jam-packed with umami goodness, this is definitely something to opt for if you’re a sashimi fanatic.

Yamato Izakaya
65 Ubi Road 1, #01-92 Oxley Bizhub,
Singapore 408729
Tel: +65 6385 5273
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tai Seng