Singapore is a foodie haven, and one unifying factor of our multi-cultural community is our undying love for food. Previously, we explored a list of hidden places and activities in the north that only residents of the area were privy to. (Read our curated list over here.) But our discoveries of the north did not end there! In this sequel, our team made some delectable finds scattered around the idyllic northern precincts.
Northerners often boast about amazing and affordable food options in Chong Pang. Hidden within the Chong Pang quarter is Fragrance, a traditional bak kwa store that sells biscuits that many of us are familiar with.
Relive your childhood with nostalgic local snacks
Fragrance at Chong Pang is a traditional Chinese store that sells a wide variety of dried plums and fruits, biscuits, chips, sweets and bak kwa (a Chinese salty-sweet barbequed meat that originated from Fujian, China). Many of the goodies are stored in clear containers with red lids and the snacks are created based on time-honoured recipes. These crowd-favourites are commonly stocked in Chinese-Singaporean homes during the Lunar New Year.
The store has never been renovated, and the angular gradient coloured tiles and rows of stacked red-lidded containers are reminiscent of old school features of shops in the past. Customers who patronise the stall, especially the older customers, feel a wave of nostalgia when they visit. Fragrance at Chong Pang is located at 106 Yishun Road, #01-153, Chong Pang Garden.
A food galore at the new Northpoint City
With the completion of Northpoint City’s Asset Enhancement Initiative (AEI) in Q4, visitors can look forward to more flavoursome delights within the development’s North and South retail wings.
Putien, a favourite among families, just opened its doors at Northpoint City’s North Wing in September, offering residents and visitors authentic home-style Fujianese cuisine.
Fans of authentic Chinese food who reside in the north of Singapore can look forward to enjoying gratifying delights such as the Mazu Mee Sua. The dish symbolises longevity and is a popular dish ordered at family birthday gatherings! (Image Source: http://www.putien.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/meesua2.jpg)
Craving for gastronomical homemade burgers? Homegrown burger joint Fat Boy’s will be bringing its halal outlet, FatPapas, to the North! Everything, from their buns to beef patties are made in-house to ensure the best quality.
You will get to sink your teeth into FatPapas juicy specialty burgers once they open their doors at #01-150 in Northpoint City’s South Wing!
A one-stop shop for hearty local delights
A familiar suburban haunt for convenient traditional dishes, EAT. is a one-stop food outlet serving comfort local fare including minced pork noodles with mushroom (bak chor mee), fishball noodles and laksa. EAT. is located at basement two of Northpoint City’s North Wing.
EAT. is a popular choice when busy commuters and shoppers are in search for an affordable and authentic bowl of laksa or fishball noodles.
Traditional desserts to satisfy any sweet tooth
Residents of the North with a sweet tooth will be overjoyed to have yet another dessert haunt at Northpoint City. Well-reviewed even by non-chendol fans, Penang Road Teochew Chendol hails from Georgetown, Penang, and will be opening its first store in Singapore at Northpoint City.
Chendol is a traditional popular icy dessert that contains coconut milk, chewy green pandan-flavoured jelly and coconut palm sugar syrup (gula). Red beans and grass jelly are sometimes added as additional toppings (Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/penangchendul/photos/a.10150294702089032.340943.352360519031/10154940591154032/?type=3&theater.)
This traditional and indulgent dessert will hit just the right note after an afternoon of shopping at Northpoint City! Penang Road Teochew Chendol will be located in the South Wing at #01-168/169.
Another shaved iced dessert contender will be arriving at Northpoint City’s South Wing soon. Patbingsoo Korean Dining House brings popular Korean shaved ice dessert, patbingsu to the northern community, along with savoury Korean fusion favourites such Cheese Tteokbokki and Rolling Cheese Chicken Wings.
K-pop fans will be spoilt for choice when snapping Insta-worthy Korean dishes and colourful patbingsu at the upcoming Patbingsoo Korean Dining in Northpoint City!
A sanctuary for those who love food and nature
ORTO, previously known as the Old Bottle Tree Park, offers diners respite from the city with delicious food offerings in a serene park.
Nature-lovers seeking a serene dining experience will find respite at ORTO, conveniently located near Khatib MRT. While families and friends can participate in bonding activities such as prawning, fishing and paintball, food-lovers are spoilt for choice with the various restaurants located here.
Among the restaurants at ORTO, Taste Garden is a Halal certified restaurant that whips up Western, European and Singaporean local cuisines (Source). This diner is conducive for large family gatherings, especially after a day of activities at ORTO.
Besides serving an array of cuisines, Taste Garden also offers exclusive bookings of the restaurants for wedding ceremonies.
Best of both worlds at ORTO: Diners can enjoy greenery and a wide array of food and drinks here.
For those seeking a laid-back time, Quench! Bistro & Bar is an open concept bar with indoor and alfresco seating – the ideal setting for a casual get-together with family and friends.
With a beer list of over 20 labels, Quench! Bistro & Bar will have something even for the pickiest drinker (Image Source: http://orto.sg/dining/quench-bistro-bar/#)
The bar also faces the main fishing pond, which allows patrons to indulge in the view with a drink in hand. The bar offers extended Happy Hours promotions and is open from 11AM – 3AM daily (Source).
There is still a long list of food finds in Yishun and the north of Singapore to uncover! Arm yourself with rumbling bellies and a thirst for adventure, and head out to the northern precincts and explore!