Update March 2023: Ramen King has moved to Canberra Plaza.
Japanese cuisine aficionados who fondly remember Hokkaido Ramen Santouka as the go-to place for authentic ramen, rejoice, for you can now indulge in the same goods at a fraction of the price. Ramen King, a hawker-based venture by ex-Santouka cooks, has set up shop at Tampines Street 81, bringing its mouthwatering recipe to the heartlands. (Double yay for this Eastie!)
Update 19 Jan 2025: Ishiro Rice Bowl Bedok has closed. Visit their other outlet at Timbre+ one-north.
These days when I find myself too busy to dip out for my daily lunch run, I find myself scrolling through food delivery apps to discover new eating spots. Ishiro Rice Bowl is one such eatery I stumbled upon when looking for a quick fix for my cravings for Japanese food.
With multiple outlets scattered across Singapore, Ishiro Rice Bowl has become well-known for its affordable Japanese-style rice bowls with runny onsen eggs and bold flavours. Upscaled, yet wallet-friendly Yoshinoya is how I would describe their delicious bowls!
Tipsy Penguin can be described as somewhat of a hidden gem in central Tampines. Since its opening some three years ago, it has been huddled between two bustling commercial centers, Our Tampines Hub and the trio of shopping malls around Tampines MRT station. Until the recent hiatus on live performances, Tipsy Penguin has served as a robust gathering place for residents and workers alike in the east.
Update 19 Jan 2025: Little Rogue Coffee has moved to Yong Siak Street.
Tanjong Katong has become somewhat one of Singapore’s meccas for cafe-hopping, with hipster hangout spots and coffee joints aplenty. And with dine-in restrictions easing *once more*, there’s no better time to head out and explore than now!
Little Rogue Coffee is a Melbourne-inspired cafe that recently opened its doors on Tanjong Katong Road. Helmed by a husband-and-wife team, the cafe took inspiration for its name from the cheeky and playful nature of the owners’ children. You can apparently even donate or exchange books at the cafe’s community library!
Tampines’ cafe and desserts scene just got a little busier – hooray! – with the arrival of Around Cafe’s second outpost in the east. Occupying a gorgeous glasshouse outside The Alps, a condominium situated a bus ride away from Tampines West MRT Station, Around Cafe is fast becoming a crowd favourite with its light-filled vicinity and overseas cafe vibes.
Update 19 Jan 2025: The Forage Cafe has closed.
Right before Phase 2 Heightened Alert kicked in in Singapore, I was able to squeeze in one last cafe visit at one of The Forage Cafe’s outlets in Pari Burong, near Simpang Bedok.
Taking over from now-defunct D’zerts Cafe, this bustling spot prides itself on its honey-themed menu, with cafe and brunch fare sweetened by a shot of honey. You can even shop from 13 Honey’s range from the cafe’s retail corner.
For all the quirks in its name, My Father’s Minced Meat Noodle means serious business – for noodles, that is. Helmed by a father-and-son team whose hawker heritage goes back at least three generations, this humble stall operates out of N4 Neighbourhood Centre in Tampines.
Chue On It 