The lesser-known neighbourhood of Singapore, Geylang might not have fancy restaurants or attractive shopping zones, but there’s plenty to look forward to in terms of street and hawker type food.
There is a plethora of street food and hole-in-the-wall restaurants serving uo great grub with much gusto. Whether you want a bowl of porridge, seafood, or beancurd, this area offers all this and so much more. Let’s explore! Image Credit: The Skewer Bar Facebook Page
Banh Mi Thit
Tuck into a delicious, meaty Banh Mi, a Vietnamese sandwich you’d love to devour. We love the ones at Banh Mi Thit because they make their own baguette to make these delicious sandwiches. You can pick a filling of beef, pork, chicken, or ham; we love and recommend going for their pork filling. This delicious banh mi comes with pork pate as well as sliced pork and a lip-smacking sauce to make every bite worthwhile. Image Credit: Misstamchiak.com
a. 543 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389498
JB Ah Meng
Relish smoky, zi char dishes packed with tantalizing Malaysian flavours at JB Ah Meng, a popular restaurant in Geylang. We recommend going for their delicious plate of JB San Lou Bee Hoon, or opt for their seafood specialties like White Pepper Crab, Salted Egg Prawn Roll, and Fried Garlic Chilli Clams. They also make smashing dishes like Deep-Fried Fermented Bean Paste Pork Belly and Snake Beans with Lotus Root. So good! Image Credit: JB Ah Meng Facebook Page
a. 534 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389490
s. www.facebook.com/JB-Ah-Meng-Restaurant-116866640219808/
L32 Handmade Noodles
A bowl of piping hot ban mian might be a common sight in Singapore, but if you’re looking for one of the best in the island, head to L32 Handmade Noodles. Not only are the noodles made fresh by the chefs each day, but they also brew the dry anchovy and pork broth for a good six hours. The chilli sauce they serve with the bowl packs a punch and gives just the right amount of heat to match the meaty broth. We also love the dry version served with an onsen egg and an egg drop soup. So soothing! Image Credit: L2 Handmade Noodles Facebook Page
Tanjong Rhu Pau & Confectionery
As you’re making your way to or from Geylang, take a slight detour to Guillemard Road to pick up some confectionery and relish some piping hot dim sum. Tanjong Rhu Pau & Confectionery make unbelievably delicious egg tarts and tasty treats like Char Siew Pau, Siew Mai, Seafood Roll, Pork Pastry, and Bo Lun Bun. Each dumpling here is full of flavour, and the coating steamed to perfection. Yum! Image Credit: Bestfoody Singapore Facebook Page
a. 389 Guillemard Rd, Singapore 399788
s. www.facebook.com/pages/Tanjong-Rhu-Pau-Confectionery/256903320991242
Mini Star (HK) Fermented Beancurd
Craving for some smelly tofu? Come down to Mini Star, one of the popular hubs of Geylang for delicious Fermented Beancurd. They have a simple beancurd, Malay-style, and their own Hong Kong-style recipe, which is also a must-try. We like how each plate has generous chunks of beancurd, making it a filling, protein-packed meal. They also make sumptuous dishes like Pig Ear with Cucumber, Sour Spicy Chicken Claw, and Fried Pig Intestines. Image Credit: Mini Star (HK) Fermented Beancurd Facebook Page
a. 795 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389678
e. ministar.hk.fermentedbeancurd@gmail.com
Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee
We believe Jalan Sultan is one of the best places on the island for a bowl of Prawn Mee soup. Go for their classic King Prawn Pork Rib Mee, the best of both their worlds. Enjoy a flavourful broth with noodles, a generous bite of prawn, and get a smashing punch of flavours from the rib. The chilli served on the side is a kick, so if you like a spicy soup, do not miss out on this dip. You can go for the dry version of the prawn noodles as they are also tasty or eliminate either pork or the prawn from the soup to customise it to your taste. Image Credit: Danielfooddiary.com
Hong Qin Fish and Duck Porridge
Comfort food at its best, Hong Qin serves up a delicious Fish Soup and a Duck Porridge. The soup comes with chunks of fish in a pork broth. This Teochew-style soup is made by brewing shank bones for a good four hours, and then fish bones are added before brewing some more. Served with chunky pieces of Batang fish, it is full of flavour and sings on your palate. The porridge is also made Teochew-style and is different from other hawker stalls. But it is a must-try as it's made with aromatic, herbal spices, with a generous helping of braised duck, ticking all the boxes. Image Credit: Hong Qin Fish and Duck Porridge Facebook Page
a. 134 Geylang East Ave 1, Singapore 380134
s. www.facebook.com/Hong-Qin-Fish-and-Duck-Porridge-103441614665349/
Geylang Lor 9
A legacy of 25 years, if there is one place nailing the recipe for a delicious and soothing Frog Porridge in Geylang, it is Geylang Lor 9. Their specialties also include Dry Chilli Frog Legs, Ginger Spring Onion Frog, and Fried Garlic Frog Legs. What keeps this place going is their flavour-packed dishes, each one cooked to perfection, be it a frog or other meats and seafood. You can also tuck into a simple porridge, Sambal Kang Kong, or Hotplate Oyster Omelette for a comfort meal. Image Credit: Geylang Lor 9 Frog Porridge Singapore Facebook Page
126 Dim Sum Wen Dao Shi
Craving dim sum in the middle of the night or an odd time in the day? 126 Dim Sum is open round the clock to supply you with delicious Hong Kong-style dim sum and other seafood treats from the region, which you’re sure to love. Coming back to the dumplings, we recommend their 3 Fried Prawn Dumplings, 76 Scallop Siew Mai, 44 Crystal Clear Shark’s Fin Soup Dumpling, and King Siew Mai. They’ve got a wide selection in their menu, but our picks include a Beef Kimchi Roll, Chilli Crab with Mantou, and Salt Baked Garlic Crab Tang Hoon. Image Credit: 126.com.sg
a. 126 Sims Ave, Singapore 387449
w. 126.com.sg/
The Skewer Bar
All you need after a tough week at work is to chill with your friends over drinks and succulent meats. What better than a delicious yakitori selection with some sake or even your favourite chilled beer? Get the best of skewered meats and even vegetables at The Skewer Bar. The cooks might take time, but each skewered meat is cooked to mouth-watering perfection. Choose from teriyaki chicken or pork, spicy lamb, fresh prawn, and shishamo with sea salt and teriyaki scallop and unagi. We also love their teriyaki shiitake mushroom and okra, as well as quail egg, enoki mushroom, and lychee - all three wrapped around bacon before getting skewered. Image Credit: The Skewer Bar Facebook Page
The Orientalist House
Using the intense, citrusy and sweet ingredients from Asia, The Orientalist Spirits creates magnificent spirits like vodka, gin and whisky. The founder, Michel Lu has taken the best of oriental ingredients and made them shine in the spirits he produces. Amongst their Origins Vodka, Gunpowder Gin and Dragon Whisky, the latter is the most interesting; blended in Japan, Taiwan and India, it is double wood matured in bourbon and sherry wood and has hints of figs, dried fruits and spice. Image Credit: The Orientalist House Facebook Page
a. 2 Lor 36 Geylang, Singapore 398137
w. www.theorientalisthouse.com/
s. www.facebook.com/theorientalisthouse
Eminent Frog Porridge & Seafood
Heart-warming food at its best, Eminent Frog Porridge & Seafood holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand accolade, and for a good reason. The porridge here is served with a generous ladle of fried frog cooked in sauces like Gong Bao, Chicken Essence, Special Homemade Chilli, and sauces made with ginger and spring onion, and garlic and white pepper. We highly recommend the Gong Bao sauce for it is tasty and goes beautifully with the simple, wholesome porridge. Image Credit: Danielfooddiary.com
a. 323 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389359
Swee Guan Hokkien Mee
Hokkien Mee is a much-loved street food of Singapore, and you’ll find a fair share of it at a plethora of hawker stands. Swee Guan Hokkien Mee stands out for its smoky flavour as the noodles are wok-tossed over a charcoal flame. The delicious coming together of two kinds of noodles, succulent prawn, a bite of squid, and pork lard, is enhanced by the smokiness of the charcoal. Mix it up with the chilli and squeeze a bit of lime before devouring this special treat. Image Credit: Swee Guan Hokkien Mee Facebook Page
a. 5 Lor 29 Geylang, Singapore 388060
s. www.facebook.com/pages/Swee-Guan-Hokkien-Mee/188813567824125
Sia Kee Duck Rice
A duck recipe passed down to the next generation, three brothers run the 40-year-old eatery, Sia Kee Duck Rice. The ducks here are braised fresh in the morning for a good six hours before being shredded and topped with a thick, delicious dark sauce before serving. The restaurant makes soya rice, noodles, and even porridge to go along with it. The latter is perfect for the day you need a bowl of comfort food. For tasting the best of the duck, order their platter featuring generous chunks of braised duck, braised egg, fish cakes, and braised tofu topped with the thick sauce. Yum! Image Credit: Misstamchiak.com
Tan Ser Seng Herbs
For the experimental taste buds you possess, we have a delightful soup to recommend - Claypot Turtle Soup. You might not find it elsewhere easily, but Tan Ser Seng Herbs makes it, and what a delight it is to savour. Made using Chinese herbs and filled with tantalizing spices which are playful and oh so new to your palate, this soup or its lighter version, Double Boiled Soup, are both a must-try. But let’s not stop there, for this restaurant also makes Yam Rice delicious soups like Ginseng Black Chicken Soup and Herbal Cordyceps Chicken Soup. Image Credit: Tan Ser Seng Herbs Restaurant Facebook Page
Leong Kee Bak Kut Teh
There’s the strong flavoured Bak Kut Teh available with street hawkers, and then there’s the hearty, wholesome, herbal version by Leong Kee. This soul-soothing Klang soup is popular because of the clever use of spices which enhance the flavour profile of the broth. The pork pieces are chunky, and the dish is filling, perfect for when you’re famished. We also enjoy their braised peanuts to start our meal and, in a group, like to chow down their Dry Chicken Pot, Fried Chicken with Shrimp, and Dry Bak Kut Teh. Image Credit: Leong Kee Bak Kut Teh - SG geylang Facebook Page
a. 251 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389309
s. www.facebook.com/Leong-Kee-Bak-Kut-Teh-SG-geylang-111714140489344/
Sean Kee Duck Rice
How cool would it be to actually find a place which specializes just in duck rice? There is something for loners as well as groups. People dining alone can order a plate of regular duck rice, but the more the merrier indeed! Come to Sean Kee Duck Rice with a big group and get treated to an entire platter which comprises a healthy portion of duck braised to perfection, tofu, eggs and delicious, crispy vegetables swimming in thick and luscious gravy. If this is not deep satisfaction, I don’t know what is! Image Credit: Misstamchiak.com
Sik Bao Sin
The people at Sik Bao Sin take food seriously. That is evident from the name itself which translates to Eat First in English. Not the most exhaustive of menus, the restaurant serves only as many as 13 delicacies but you will not go hungry from here on any account. The chef takes pride in each of these dishes which is prepared with absolute perfection. Order the collagen rich Steamed Fish Head accompanied with a healthy dollop of fermented bean paste, and lard and shallots on the side, or some other exciting signature dishes like the Tofu Prawns swimming in creamy, runny eggs which is a burst of flavours as soon as it hits the mouth. Doors for dinner open as early as 5.30 pm and for good reason. The place is infamous for swarming with people as soon as they open. Image Credit: Sik Bao Sin Eating House Facebook Page
a. 592 Geylang Rd, Lor 36 Geylang, Singapore 389531
s. www.facebook.com/Sik-Bao-Sin-Eating-House-653473831353641
