People often debate whether the East or West has better food, but central Singapore rarely gets the recognition it deserves. As someone who grew up in the quaint neighbourhood of Bishan, I can testify that it is home to plenty of affordable food and hidden gems. Aside from Junction 8 eateries, here are the best Bishan food place to check out!
Ask any Bishan resident for their best Chinese noodles recommendation, and they’ll name you Shi Xiang Ge, located above Bishan bus interchange. Focusing on Shan Xi cuisine, this stall sells items such as Minced Pork Noodles ($6.50) and Mala Claypot Vermicelli ($7), but the most popular option is the Beef La Mian ($7). Don’t be fooled by the clear soup—though it may look bland, it has a savoury and rich flavour that’s the result of simmering beef meat and bones for countless hours before serving.
For sharing, get the Chilli Oil Dumplings ($6.50) AKA hong you chao shou. These dumplings consist of a thick pork filling drenched in chilli oil—a truly addictive combination
Address: 514 Bishan Street 13, Level 2, Bishan Bus Interchange, Singapore 570514
Opening hours: Daily 10:15am to 9:15pm
Tel: 9151 3586
Shi Xiang Ge is not a halal-certified eatery.
Located in the same coffee shop as Shi Xiang Ge is Jiak Mee, a relatively new eatery owned by three Gen Zs. They serve hand-made noodles such as mee hoon kueh, ban mian, ee mian and more. Try their Dry Mee Hoon Kueh ($5.30) which comes with mani cai, minced pork, poached egg, anchovies, and shallots, as well as a dark, savoury sauce doused over the chewy noodles. If you’re a spicy food lover, add their house-made chilli sauce for a fiery kick! They also have sides such as Crispy Luncheon Meat ($6) and Fried Chicken Cutlet ($6) to zhng up your meal!
Read our Jiak Mee review.
Address: 514 Bishan Street 13, Level 2, Bishan Bus Interchange, Singapore 570514
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 8:30pm
Jiak Mee is not a halal-certified eatery.
The Kim San Leng coffeeshop is home to Uncle Penyet, a well-known franchise selling Indonesian smashed fried chicken. Get their signature Smashed Fried Chicken ($7.30), which consists of a whole chicken leg, deep-fried tau kwa, greens, and rice, making for a really hearty and satisfying meal. They also have Ayam Panggang ($7.30), served with grilled chicken rather than fried. Top up $3.90 for a bowl of their Bakso Soup to end your meal.
Address: 511 Bishan Street 13, Kim San Leng Food Centre, Singapore 570511
Opening hours: TBD
Website
Uncle Penyet is a halal-certified eatery.
Ming Kee Chicken Rice, also located within Kim San Leng, is a legendary chicken rice stall with over 40 years of history. It is known for its technique of soaking its chicken in ice-cold water to create a unique jelly texture. Get their Chicken Rice Set A ($6.50), which gets you their famous chicken rice, soup and a plate of tau geh on the side. You can also get Chicken Feet ($3/$5) or Gizzards ($3/$4) for a more hearty meal for more variety!
Address: 511 Bishan Street 13, #01-522 Kim San Leng Food Centre, Singapore 570511
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 9:30am to 8pm
Ming Kee Chicken Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re looking for a supper spot, 284 Kway Chap is the place to go. This eatery opens from 6pm to 2am daily, serving up delectable bowls of kway chap. Order your bowl of Kueh ($1) before choosing from their wide spread of ingredients, such as Pork Stomach ($3), Pork Belly ($2.50), Pork Intestines ($3/$4), and Tau Kwa ($0.80) to name a few.
Address: 284 Bishan Street 22, Singapore 570284
Opening hours: Daily 6pm to 2am
Tel: 9856 3117
284 Kway Chap is not a halal-certified eatery.
Not many know about Wei Ji Congee, but it’s arguably one of my favourite breakfast congee spots for its big portions and affordable prices. Their most popular option is the Pork Congee with Century Egg ($4), which has a generous amount of pork slices, minced pork, and century egg. Top up $0.50 to add a you tiao to soak up the congee! Besides congee, the eatery also sells fish soups, such as Mackerel Head Fish Soup ($4) or Red Grouper Sliced Fish Soup ($8/$10/$12). Add your preferred carbs for a hearty meal.
Address: 150a Bishan Street 11, Singapore 570150
Opening hours: Daily 6am to 3pm
Tel: 8301 3335
Wei Ji Congee is not a halal-certified eatery.
True Bishan residents will know of Mr Egg Fried Rice, an eatery that has been whipping up plates of fried rice for many years. Try their OG Egg Fried Rice With Pork Chop ($7.20), served with a generous portion of meat. Else, they also have Tobiko Fried Rice (from $5.80), Tom Yum Fried Rice (from $5.80), or XO Sauce Fried Rice (from $6.30) to choose from! Their house-made chilli is also said to be extra spice, so only add it if you’re feeling up for it!
Address: 151 Bishan Street 11, #01-195, New Century Food House, Singapore 570151
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 8:30pm
Tel: 9172 5559
Website
Mr Egg Fried Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Yang Ming Seafood is a popular zi char chain, with one of its outlets located at Bishan. Here, they have unique signature items such as Andrew Lobster with Chee Cheong Fun (price TBD), Pig Stomach Chicken Soup ($78), and their Australian Lobster Platter ($238). They also have your usual zi char fare such as Har Cheong Gai ($12/$18/$24) AKA prawn paste chicken and Nyonya Sotong ($18/$25/$30). Do reserve your seat beforehand if you’re coming with a big group!
Read our Yang Ming Seafood review
Address: 150 Bishan Street 11, Singapore 570150
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 4:30pm to 11pm
Tel: 8028 9940
Website
Yang Ming Seafood is not a halal-certified eatery.
Yung Yung brings the standards of neighbourhood BBT shops to a whole new level: they have unique handmade toppings such as champagne grape jelly and golden oolong jelly to go with your drinks! You can also have toasted bread buns for you to pair with their drinks. We recommend trying the Peach Yoghurt with Champagne Grape Jelly ($6.40) drink for something refreshing in this hot weather. For a small snack, get their Lotus Biscoff Toasted Bread ($2.90), which comes with a generous amount of biscoff filling.
Take a look at our Yung Yung review.
Address: 509 Bishan Street 11, #01-380, Singapore 570509
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 11:30am to 8:30pm
Tel: 8820 8292
Website
Yung Yung is not a halal-certified eatery.
Despite having just opened for slightly less than a year, Galangal has a 4.9-star rating on Google, a testament to its good food. Galangal is a halal Thai restaurant located 10 minutes away from Bishan MRT Station, serving dishes such as Thai Green Curry (from $13.50++), Sambal Goreng Fried Rice ($12.90++), and Crispy Fish with Thai Chilli Sauce ($32.90++). On weekdays, they have set meals with mains including Thai basil chicken with rice and prawn pad Thai from $9.90. Add $5.90 to get an appetiser and drink to round off your meal!
Address: 3 Bishan Street 14, Bishan Clubhouse, Singapore 579780
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 11:30pm
Tel: 6255 0383
Website
Galangal is a halal-certified eatery.
No matter what the occasion is, there’s always something for you around the Bishan neighbourhood, not just within Junction 8. If you’re looking for food in the heartlands, take a look at our Ang Mo Kio food guide. If not, check out our Junction 8 food guide for more grubs.
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