Tiong Bahru History Through Food: Discover The Neighbourhood With These 11 Hawker Stalls, Cafes And Restaurants
A jumble of timeless Art Deco buildings, plain HDB flats, and glamorous cafes, Tiong Bahru juxtaposes both the past and present. While the landscape will continue to evolve, I can only hope that the essence of Tiong Bahru remains the same.
Block 110 may have become part of Tiong Bahru’s forgotten past, but it will always be, home.
Just as I found comfort in this simple neighbourhood, I hope future generations will continue to find solace from the Bohemian cafes and timelessly beautiful buildings.
Hua Bee Restaurant
Image credit: @sghawkerspots Time seems to come to a standstill at Hua Bee Restaurant . Like their creaky wooden doors, the dishes haven’t changed much since this humble noodle house opened in the ’40s. Most regulars drop by for their time-tested Fishball Noodle ($4) . Whether it’s mee kia or mee pok, the noodles are cooked till al dente and will wow you with their springy bite. Address: 78 Moh Guan Terrace, #01-19, Singapore 162078 Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7:30am to 2:30pm Tel: 6438 4567
Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup
One of the earliest stalls to move into Seng Poh Road Market, Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup impresses with its full-bodied Pig’s Organ Soup ($4/$5) . Prepared from pork bones and offal, the broth brims with meaty richness. The preserved vegetables then take things up a notch, boosting the moreish soup with salty undertones. Make a beeline for the house-made Glutinous Rice Roll (from $3) as well! Featuring chestnut, pork belly, and glutinous rice stuffed in silky pig’s intestine, this Teochew classic is incredibly rare to find today. Address: 30 Seng Poh Road, #02-29, Tiong Bahru Market, Singapore 168898 Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8:30am to 3:30pm, 6pm to 8:30pm, Sun 8:30am to 3:30pm
Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow
Boasts an equally vivid history. The owner, Mr Tay Soo Lan, initially divested char kway teow at Kim Tian Road before settling down in Seng Poh Road Market. What fans love about their Fried Kway Teow ($3/$4) is its distinct wok hei. A smoky aroma permeates the noodles, enhancing the dish’s sweet and savoury flavours. Address: 30 Seng Poh Road, #02-11, Tiong Bahru Market, Singapore 168898 Opening hours: Thur-Tue 11am to 10:30pm
Beo Crescent Hainanese Curry Rice
Image credit: @tamago.insta With fans slowly revolving overhead and tables squeezed closely together, Beo Crescent Hainanese Curry Rice doesn’t provide a comfortable dining experience. Yet, dingy and rackety as it may be, this no-frills stall continues to garner snaking queues with their pork chops . Unlike the scrawny strips of pork fillet that we’re accustomed to, the dish here features thin but fatty rashers of meat that are deep-fried to a shattering crisp. Crunch down on their biscuit-like crust and a cohesive burst of savoury flavours greets your tongue. Sinful, yet addictive. Address: Blk 40 Beo Crescent, Singapore 160040 Opening hours: Thur-Tue 6:30am to 3pm
Forty Hands
One of the first cafes in Tiong Bahru, Forty Hands planted the seeds for a verdant cafe scene. Approaching its tenth birthday in 2019, this cosy hideaway has become a favourite with cafe-hoppers for its hearty Aussie-inspired selection. A standout is their Eggs Benedict ($18+) — the poached egg in this breakfast favourite melds the savoury bacon and earthy spinach together with its creamy yolk. Complete your brunch experience with a sip of their Flat White ($5.50+/$7+) . The smooth brew offers a light conclusion to a heavy meal. Address: 78 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 163078 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 6pm, Sat-Sun 7am to 7pm Tel: 6225 8545 Website Menu
Tiong Bahru Bakery
Image credit: @tiongbahrubakery We can’t talk about Tiong Bahru cafes without inevitably mentioning Tiong Bahru Bakery . A collaboration between celebrity chef Gontran Cherrier and the Spa Esprit Group, this much-feted pâtisserie pleases any dessert lover with a plentiful array of French pastries. Leading the line is their signature Almond Croissant ($3.80) . Moist and fluffy like a sponge cake, this decadent treat beckons enticingly with its buttery aroma– a prelude of the rich flavours to come. Address: 56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-70, Singapore 160056 Opening hours: Daily 8am to 8pm Tel: 6220 3430 Website Menu
TINOQ
Image credit: @1cattynapinch TINOQ best encapsulates Tiong Bahru’s makeover. Enamoured by the area’s rustic vibes, celebrity makeup artist Tinoq Russell Goh converted his two-room flat into a vibrant private diner. Behind his nondescript door lies a homely eight-course feast of Peranakan dishes . At $100 per person , this fancy selection is a marked change from economical hawker dishes. Yet , the experience is worth every dollar. Fill your bellies with their Butterfly Pea Flower Coconut Rice and Minangkabau Rendang, before ending your meal with a forkful of flavourful Ngoh Hiang.
Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee
Image credit: @gardengnome89 Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee needs no introduction, having received the Michelin Bib Gourmand for four consecutive years. Constant long queues here are an indicator of the quality, so trust it to set the bar high with its Hokkien Mee ($3) . Perfumed by a light smokiness, these noodles shine with an addictive garlicky tang. For a rounder taste, add a few drops of lime juice to let its citrusy notes lift the savoury noodles. Address: 30 Seng Poh Road, #02-01, Tiong Bahru Market, Singapore 168898 Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 3pm, 4:30pm to 7:30pm
Cheng’s @ 27
Image credit: @lappystarry Cheng’s @ 27 is a bonafide family business. Passed down in the Cheng family for three generations, it delights regulars with mouthwatering Hainanese fare. Regulars love its old-school Pig Trotters Bee Hoon ($20) , which warms the belly with umami-packed vermicelli. And thanks to a recent revamp, Cheng’s @ 27 is slowly garnering the attention of youths with their chic and classy decor. Address: 27 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168654 Opening hours: Wed-Mon 10:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 9:30pm Tel: 6223 7883 Website
Tiong Bahru Galicier Pastry Bakery
Image credit: @_zhihui.lim Block 55 – the first flat built at Tiong Bahru – is a worthy home for Tiong Bahru Galicier Pastry Bakery . Much like the historic building, this old-school confectionery has steadfastly stood by its traditional recipes, impressing fans with delightful Nonya kueh for the past 30 years. Sweet Potato Ondeh Ondeh ($0.60) is a particular fan-favourite; these soft and chewy orbs burst into a cascade of luscious brown sugar in your mouth. Similar to Cheng’s @ 27, Tiong Bahru Galicier Pastry Bakery has been passed on to third-generation owners. And hopefully, the legacy will live on. Address: Block 55 Tiong Bahru Road, #01-39, Singapore 160055 Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10am to 8:30pm Tel: 6324 1686
Bincho At Hua Bee
The last stop of our food trail and the latest chapter in Tiong Bahru’s history circles back to Hua Bee Restaurant or, as it’s known by its enigmatic alter-ego, Bincho at Hua Bee . The Bruce Wayne of Moh Guan Terrace, this modest mee pok stall transforms into a charming izakaya in the evening. As night falls, a special entrance opens at the back of the coffee shop, paving the way to overhung pendant lights and retro blue tiles. Treat yourself to a parade of Japanese dishes, beginning with an assortment of yakitori skewers, followed by their numerous signatures. The Hokkaido Pork Belly with Black Garlic ($45++) is a standout. Spiked with garlicky undertones, the tender and succulent meat shines with meaty and savoury accents. Address: 78 Moh Guan Terrace, #01-19, Singapore 162078 Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 12am Tel: 6438 4567 Website | Menus