When in doubt, go to Serangoon Gardens. Whether you’re with a huge, boisterous group or looking for a quiet weekend brunch, there’s probably a restaurant here that fits the bill. Home to the famous Chomp Chomp and a growing number of delicious, affordable restaurants, this quiet neighbourhood hangout is now a foodie heaven. With options suitable for family days, large gatherings, cafe treats, supper, and sweets, Serangoon Gardens truly is the perfect choice for any occasion.
Family Friendly
Sun Ray Cafe
Cr: vanillapup.com
The perfect picture of a neighbourhood cafe, Sun Ray Cafe is quaint and understated. However, what the cafe lacks in fancy interior design it more than makes up for in substance. It may not look it, but behind the unassuming facade, you can find premium hand-brewed, hand-roasted coffees, meticulously-brewed teas, and even homemade bread and spreads. Each bite and sip is dripping with love and care to give you warm and fuzzy feelings all morning long.
Besides being a great place for true connoisseurs of coffee and tea, Sun Ray Cafe is also a great go-to for furkids and pet parents to spend some quality time together. There’s even a section of their menu dedicated to foods safe for your furry friends so they can enjoy a meal with you for once.
Find it at 79 Brighton Crescent, Singapore 559218.
Click here for more information on Sun Ray Cafe.
Hanwoori Korean Restaurant
Cr: sgcafehopping.com
If you want to know what it feels like to be a Korean child returning home for dinner, just have a meal at Hanwoori Korean Restaurant. Its bouncy and ebullient owner is the quintessential ahjumma, chatting with diners and making everyone feel at home.
Homestyle Korean comfort foods reign supreme at this bustling family restaurant, with favourites like Korean pancakes, spicy tofu stew, and kimchi hotpot. While everything here tastes amazing, the soups and stews steal the show with their homemade broths, which are made from scratch every morning. And let’s not forget the generous servings of free side dishes!
Find it at 76 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555972.
Click here for more information on Hanwoori Korean Restaurant.
Large groups
Steam Box
Cr: sgfoodonfoot.com
If there’s one type of food made for sharing with the gang, it’s steamboat. And unlike the traditional steamboat we know and love with its oily soup and overcooked ingredients, Steambox makes sure you can stick to your diet plans as well. That’s because, as the name suggests, you steam your food rather than boil it, so all the food retains all its delicious flavours and nutrients
Of course, the best part of any steamboat is the broth at the end – where’s that amazing broth? It’s in the congee they prepare at the start of the meal. All the drippings from the steaming rack above it go down into the rice. You can imagine how delicious the porridge must be once you’re done with all that seafood, meats, and veggies.
Find it at 68 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555962.
Click here for more information on Steam Box.
Hipster Cafe Food
Arbite
Cr: jacqsowhat.com
Local or Western breakfast? Sometimes, it’s impossible to decide. At Arbite, you can get the best of both worlds on one delicious plate. With a touch of creativity and lots of spices, Arbite gives typical Western cafe items a Singaporean upgrade. The result is an indulgent meal that’s as heartwarming as a classic brunch, punctuated with all the punchy local flavours we all adore.
Apart from the usual fries with tom yum or salted egg dip (calm yourself, they have that too), more adventurous dishes include a Beef Rendang Mac & Cheese, the Arbite Breakfast featuring kaya toast and pandan-infused Ngoh Hiang, and Breaded Mushrooms that come with curry and lime mayo. Essentially, they combine everyone’s favourite comfort foods from the two cuisines – in other words, the perfect start to the weekend.
Find it at 66 A Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555962.
Click here for more information on Arbite.
Artease
Cr: artease.sg
If you need a break from the daily grind, Artease is a sanctuary that would be perfect for you. They specialise in teas and grilled cheese, which is probably the most calming and comforting combo we know. Tea and grilled cheese sound simple, but they’ve come up with so many variations that these two timeless classics become exciting and new.
As if grilled cheese wasn’t already good enough, Artease also has options for different fillings – including a very tempting Extra Cheesy, as well as Chicken, Tuna, and Pesto. As for teas, they’ve got an absolutely delicious Salted Caramel Milk Tea – touted by fans as the best they’ve ever tasted.
Find it at 3 Phillip Street, #01-01, Singapore 048693.
Click here for more information on Artease.
Supper
Plonk on Maju
Get wine, cocktails, and fantastic food without the hefty price tag and uppity fuss. Plonk, aptly named after the Australian slang for affordable wine, is a friendly and casual spot that’s open from morning until past midnight, making it perfect for anything from breakfast to late night suppers. It’s also great for an impromptu drink, so you and your pals can grab some tipples and not worry about the dress code and the cost.
Have a full-bodied Argentinian Malbec, or be a little whimsical and try their Serangoon Sling. As for food, they’ve got an extensive menu of Mediterranean-inspired bites to go with their equally impressive alcohol selection. We especially love their creamy, tangy, and savoury Seared Halloumi, and the rich and piquant Dukkah Spiced Beer Battered Barramundi. For sharing, the pizzas range from classics like Margherita to curious dishes you can’t help but want to try, like Kalamata Olives & Irish Goat Cheese.
Find it at 7 Maju Avenue, Serangoon Gardens Estate, Singapore 556685.
Chomp Chomp Food Centre
Cr: singaporebestfoods.com
What’s Serangoon Gardens without Chomp Chomp? It’s the obvious choice for those craving some good old hawker fare like satay, carrot cake, and barbecued seafood. Affordable hawker centre prices don’t hurt either, making it great for supper on a budget.
Everyone familiar with Chomp Chomp will already have a favourite stall, but if you don’t frequent the north, here are some things you could start off with. Get your barbecue fix with a healthy serving of satay from Hong Sha Li Satay, chicken wings from Chong Pang Chicken Wings, and seafood from Hai Wei Yuan BBQ. Wash all that down with an impressively tall sugar cane tower from Ding Hao that just begs a spot on your Instagram.
Find it at 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269.
Sweets
Little Wimbly Lu
Cr: republicanpost.sg
A homey, albeit small offshoot of the beloved Wimbly Lu at Jalan Riang, Little Wimbly Lu is an easy go-to when your sweet cravings hit. The charming cafe offers a huge array of sweets, more than enough to make sure you’ll leave with your sweet tooth satisfied.
Their signature ice cream and waffles features rich ice cream on a bed of fluffy, crisp waffles – a staple that definitely won’t disappoint. You’ll find a selection of cakes, tarts, and other sweet treats too! If you need something more substantial, they’ve also got a savoury menu, comprising cafe staples like baked rice, pasta, and fries that everyone will love.
Find it at 1 Maju Ave, #01-09/10 myVillage, Singapore 556679.
Click here for more information on Little Wimbly Lu.
Dessert Bowl
Cr: eatbook.sg
Is your sweet tooth crying for Asian dessert instead? Then Dessert Bowl is the place for you – especially if you love durian. You can smell the durian in the air once you walk in! After all, durian desserts are their speciality.
A must-try here is the Durian Mousse. This signature dessert is what gives Dessert Bowl a bustling full house every night. The mousse is light and fluffy, and not at all cloying despite having the distinct aroma of durian. To top it all off, a small pile of fresh durian sits on top of the mousse. It’s exactly what you need to satisfy your durian cravings, no matter what time of the year it is.
Find it at 80 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555976.
Click here for more information on Dessert Bowl.
2 comments
[…] undecided on where to go this weekend? Our Serangoon Gardens guide have plenty of options for families, large gatherings and even your little furry […]
After so many years, Serangoon Gardens is still a haven of great food in Singapore. 🙂