While Boon Lay is more often associated with NTU or Malaysia than food, this ulu corner of Singapore actually has some pretty good stuff to eat. Whether you’re into restaurants, cafes or kopitiam stalls, you can definitely find some awesome eats to fill your tummy here. What’s more, you can easily do it without busting your budget!
The thing that can make or break a plate of fried hokkien mee is its broth. Ho Huat’s Fried Hokkien Mee ($4 to $8) comes with a thick and delicious broth that coats the generous amount of mixed noodles before you. Along with a dollop of sambal and a squeeze of lime, this is one awesome plate of hokkien mee to have.
Address: 221B Boon Lay Place, #01-135, Boon Lay Place Food Village, Singapore 642221
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 11:30pm
Tel: 6268 1033
Archipelago Creamery is a corner cafe tucked in Nanyang Community Club, close to NTU. While they are better known for their decadent Chocolate Banana Shibuya Toast ($14.80), they’ve also got waffles, pancakes and more recently, matcha rose tarts. Waffles go at half price on weekdays, 12pm to 6pm, so students who need a place to eat while mugging after school can consider this cosy spot!
Address: 60 Jurong West Street 91, #01-09, Nanyang Community Club, Singapore 649040
Opening hours: Daily 12pm – 12am
Tel: 9856 1234
Update: Iko Sushi has since closed down.
Formerly known as Pits and Pans, Iko Sushi is a new and re-branded Japanese restaurant located at Nanyang Community Club. Come here for a bowl of Chirashi Don ($12.80) that’s cheaper than what you’d find at most places elsewhere. It comes with generous chunks of salmon and tuna, as well as prawns and ikura. FYI, it’s opened by the same people behind Archipelago Creamery!
Address: 60 Jurong West Street 91, #01-04, Nanyang Community Club, Singapore 649040
If you want legit hawker food with aircon, Malaysia Boleh is it. This themed food court is located on the second floor of Jurong Point and is home to a large variety of Malaysian dishes such as Klang Bak Kut Teh ($5.50), KL Wonton Mee ($3.50), and Penang Road Cendol ($2). Even though food is a little pricier than at regular food courts, it’s really quite tasty considering it’s found within a shopping mall.
Address: 1 Jurong West Central 2, #03-28, Jurong Point Shopping Centre, Singapore 648886
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Famous for Spaghetti from Hell ($26++) that’s said to bring down even the most hardcore spicy food lovers, Southwest Tavern is definitely not a place for the weak at tummy. Polish off the entire dish in 10 minutes and win two towers of beer or a $100 dining voucher. For those who’d rather relax while eating, get Beer Butt Chicken ($32++) instead. And get ready to ‘gram it because it’s literally a whole roasted chicken that sits on a can of beer. The beer is said to make the chicken stay juicy and fragrant while allowing its skin to become crispy.
Address: 8 Boon Lay Way, #01-33, Tradehub21, Singapore 609964
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 12am
Tel: 6515 4303
Menu
Heng Huat Boon Lay Boneless Duck Noodles at Boon Lay Food Village has been around for almost three generations. The long queues daily are a testament to the quality of these Boneless Duck Noodles ($3.50) coated in a special dark sauce and topped with bean sprouts. The stall owners are known to serve very generous portions of bean sprouts with the noodles, so tau gay haters should speak up while ordering. Be sure to queue early, as the noodles are often sold out by lunch time.
Address: Blk 221B Boon Lay Place, #01-140, Boon Lay Place Food Village, Singapore 642221
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 5:45am to 10am, 4:45pm to 7pm, Sun 5:45am to 10am
Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak is one nasi lemak stall practically all NTU kids know and love. And for good reason, as every packet packs a punch and you can choose to have a little feast by ordering sides like rendang and sayur lodeh (vegetable curry). A standard set that includes their must-have fried chicken wing costs $3.
Address: Blk 221B Boon Lay Place, #01-106, Boon Lay Place Food Village, Singapore 642221
Opening hours: Mon 6pm to 4am, Tue-Sun 6am to 3pm, 6pm to 4am
Tel: 6266 4466
Most satay stalls sell only chicken and beef satay, but Boon Lay Satay sells pork satay too. At $0.60 per stick, the meat is chunky and pleasantly charred. The spicy peanut sauce is something you’ll wanna keep dipping your cucumber slices into as well. Some say they can finish selling by 9pm, so play safe by going there early to join the queue.
Address: Blk 221B Boon Lay Place, #01-146, Boon Lay Place Food Village, Singapore 642221
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12:30pm to 11pm, Sat-Sun 1:30pm to 11pm
Tel: 9695 9439
Spicy food lovers, make sure you order Hotplate Stingray ($8 onwards) from Sin Chew Huat (Mei Xiang) Hotplate Stingray at Boon Lay Market. The stingray comes sizzling in its juices and you’re bound to fall in love with the tasty and spicy sambal that tops it. Though the portion isn’t huge, the meat is succulent and thick.
Address: Blk 221B Boon Lay Place, #01-117, Boon Lay Place Food Village, Singapore 642221
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 12am
Those who want to have HTHT with friends over a meal can go to Kabe no Ana at Jurong Point. It is nicely decorated with pretty photographs everywhere, and spacious enough for a private conversation. The restaurant specialises in Japanese-style pastas, including a variety of mentaiko ones that’ll make fish roe lovers go crazy. That being said, I really liked Sausage & Spicy Garlic Mushroom Pasta ($15.90++). The sauce was thick, hearty and so good that I found myself scraping the plate even after all the noodles were gone.
Address: 1 Jurong West Central 2, #B1-55, Jurong Point Shopping Centre, Singapore 648886
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 6397 0435
If you’re willing to travel to Tampines for good food, then Boon Lay shouldn’t be a problem either. Come over for some seriously sedap supper to give your tummy a treat! Let us know if we missed out your favourite makan spot at Boon Lay.
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