I’m not a train otaku, but I do get justifiably stoked every time new MRT stations open. The number of restaurants, cafes, and hawker stalls that are accessible via a train ride increases tenfold. Just look at all the drool-worthy options for food along the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) for existing stations! Come 23 June 2024, Stage 4 of the Thomson-East Coast Line will open with seven more stops in the East side, unlocking convenience to these food places near the new TEL4 MRT stations—within a 15-minute walk, to be exact.
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Thai Village Restaurant has an interesting concept, serving a mix of Thai and traditional Chinese dishes so you can satisfy all sorts of cravings and preferences under one roof. Plus, the banquet restaurant-style setting makes it a great venue for large gatherings. To impress your guests, you can’t go wrong with the Baked Prawn With Vermicelli (from $36). The QQ vermicelli is wok-fried with garlic cloves and lemongrass for a strong fragrance. It’s a delicious foundation to the star of the show—fresh, bouncy, and succulent baked prawns.
Shareable sides that we’d recommend include the Salt-Baked Chicken Drumsticks (from $26++), which is a traditional Hakka favourite that is coated with a caramel-like soy sauce glaze, and Crispy Thai-Style Beancurd (from $20++), a Thai staple that packs just the right amount of heat and piquancy.
Nearest MRT Station: TE23 Tanjong Rhu (6-min walk)
Address: 2 Stadium Walk, #01-02/03, Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore 397691
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pmTel: 6440 2292
Website
Thai Village Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
Cafe Melba is a paradise for families; the young’uns get to enjoy some outdoor playtime while parents chow down on Australian cafe-inspired grub. Let your kiddos expend their energy and soak up some sun with the eatery’s free-to-use bouncy castle, sports areas including a soccer field and volleyball court, and game stations like the bean bag toss.
The play area is within view of the cafe’s indoor as well as al fresco dining area, so you can sit back and relax with dishes like the Truffle Croque Madame ($19++) and Parma Ham And Rocket Pizza ($26++) in front of you.
The former is crowned with a runny-yolked fried egg, and goes well with the creamy truffle bechamel sauce. Meanwhile, the pizza is laden with savoury parma ham slices and a healthy dose of peppery rocket leaves—a great way to get some greens into your kids.
Nearest MRT Station: TE24 Katong Park (12-min walk)
Address: 90 Goodman Road, Block N, #01-56, Goodman Arts Centre, Singapore 439053
Opening hours: Mon, Fri-Sun 8am to 10pm
Tel: 6440 6068
Website
Cafe Melba is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re craving good burgers and steak while on a budget, look no further than BlackGoat, which is run by an ex-restaurant chef who has worked at acclaimed establishments like the three-Michelin-starred Zen. In a humble hawker centre setting, this hidden gem serves charcoal-grilled meats with interesting sauces and seasoning combos. Examples include Black Angus Rump Cap with Korean BBQ Sauce, Fried Garlic, And Nori ($16.50), and Free Range Lamb Leg with Sarawak Pepper Jus, Sumar, And Sambal Belacan ($17).
Their Grassfed Flank and Chuck Burger ($15) is a must-try as well. You’ll get a hefty 150g beef patty that is lovingly shaped by hand, and incredibly juicy from their dedication to maintaining a 20% fat content. If beef burgers aren’t your thing, check out their White Pepper Fried Chicken Burger ($14), which sports an XXL crispy chicken thigh patty drizzled with a Middle Eastern-inspired sauce.
Read our BlackGoat review here!
Nearest MRT Station: TE24 Katong Park (13-min walk)
Address: 4A Jalan Batu, #01-05, Jalan Batu Market & Food Centre, Singapore 432004
Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 5:30pm to 8:30pm, Fri-Sun 5:30pm to 9pm
Tel: 8383 5982
Website
BlackGoat is a Muslim-owned eatery.
A sanctuary for all ages, Little Rogue Cafe is work-friendly with power plugs, free Wi-Fi, and play spaces to keep kids entertained while Mum and Dad have a relaxing meal and cuppa. Their all-day breakfast menu features unique twists on brunch, such as the Patatas Bravas ($16++) which features a spicy pork chorizo sauce with truffle potato foam, and Soft Scrambled Eggs And Ikura ($18++) for briney pops of flavour with your eggs.
Vegetarians get to choose from a wide range of meat-free creations, including the Burrr-Ah-Tah ($16++) AKA burrata, Tofu Sandwich ($17++) with black garlic cashew cheese, and Miso Roasted Cauliflower Steak ($18++). In between their play sessions, little ones can enjoy kids’ meals like Mac And Cheese and Chicken Noodle Soup ($10++ each)—all seasoned naturally without MSG.
Nearest MRT Station: TE25 Tanjong Katong (9-min walk)
Address: 336 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437109
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 6pm
Tel: 8918 3648
Website
Little Rogue Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
When discussions of the best laksa in Singapore arise, real foodies know that Janggut Laksa may not have the most outlets, but it’s arguably the frontrunner in terms of taste and tradition. The opening of TEL4 means we can now access their Roxy Square outlet much more easily. And it’s right in the Katong area, a stone’s throw from where the OG “Katong Laksa” was way back in the 1950s. The signature Peranakan-style Laksa here is priced from $5.50.
It’s the ultimate comfort food, with an aromatic coconut milk gravy that’s slurpable till the last drop, and chewy thick bee hoon that’s been snipped short so you can just spoon everything into your mouth. Toppings include fishcake, prawn, sambal for even more flavour and a nice kick of spice, daun kesun AKA laksa leaf for a nice herbal fragrance, and fresh cockles. We visited about an hour before closing time and they were down to their last bowls of the day, with hum already sold out. So, head down early to avoid disappointment.
Nearest MRT Station: TE26 Marine Parade (5-min walk)
Address: 50 East Coast Road, #01-64, Roxy Square, Singapore 428769
Opening hours: Thurs-Mon 10:30am to 3:30pm
Tel: 9658 6133
Website
Janggut Laksa is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Butter & Spice is a hidden gem located near i12 Katong mall, serving authentic North Indian fare in a trendy and modern setting. The family-owned eatery specialises in tandoor grilled dishes, so you have to get the Tandoori Chicken ($16+ for four pieces, $28+ for eight pieces). It’s served with a refreshing mint chutney, which is a perfect pairing for the smoky char and flavour-packed spice marinade of the tender chicken pieces.
Vegetarians need not FOMO. They have a Herbivore Platter ($41+) that made me, a full-fledged carnivore, reevaluate everything I thought I knew about meat-free food. It comprises juicy mushrooms that burst with flavour, slabs of grilled paneer that are deliciously charred on the outside and creamy within, and vegetable seekh kebabs—made with chickpea flour, mixed veggies such as carrots, green beans, and onions, and a whole lot of aromatic spices.
Nearest MRT Station: TE26 Marine Parade (7-min walk)
Address: 66 East Coast Road, #01-06, Singapore 428778
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10:30pm
Tel: 9777 6349
Website
Butter & Spice is not a halal-certified eatery.
In a pairing you don’t hear that often, Tash Tish Tosh prides itself on their American-Malay fusion cuisine. The Muslim-owned restaurant overlooks East Coast Park, so you get scenic beachfront views. It’s also right opposite a playground, so you can keep an eye on your kiddos while tucking into hearty nosh. Their signature is the Battleship (from $25.50), a pizza topped with tulang merah AKA red bone tulang, a marinated mutton bone delicacy.
Sucking the marrow out is half the fun, and you can guarantee that it’ll be a flavour bomb especially with the sumptuous gravy. Newbies to tulang can take on the Baby Battleship ($21.90++), which comes with seven to eight pieces of smaller mutton bones. Another fusion creation to try is the Allo Allo Pasta ($15.50++), available alongside grilled chicken or prawns for the same price. The brainchild of Tish Tash Tosh’s owner, this dish has a rich and savoury sauce base with garlic butter notes.
Nearest MRT Station: TE27 Marine Terrace (15-min walk)
Address: 1000 East Coast Park, #01-02, Marine Cove, Singapore 449876
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 11am to 11pm
Tel: 8714 8677
Website
Tash Tish Tosh is a Muslim-owned eatery.
I love a good banh mi, and La Saigon allows diners to try more flavours at one go by offering petite sizes. An absolute must-order is their Signature Crispy Pork Banh Mi ($8.50++ for petite, $16++ for full). Sourdough baguettes baked fresh in-house sandwich crackling pieces of pork belly, with a balanced proportion of gelatinous fat and lean meat with crispy charred edges.
If you’re after a vegetarian or vegan option, go for the Fluffy Egg Banh Mi ($6.50++ for petite, $9++ for full) or Tofu Adventure Banh Mi ($7++ for petite, $12++ for full) respectively. Each banh mi is adequately stuffed with a mixture of lettuce, shredded carrots, cucumber slivers, pickled radish, and coriander leaves.
Besides authentic Vietnamese fare, La Saigon is also known for their specialty brews. Pair your banh mi with their Hot Drip White ($6++) or Egg Coffee ($10++) to enjoy the rich flavour and caffeine boost from the strong Vietnamese coffee. The latter even comes with rose petals and a cinnamon stick to impart even more aroma.
Nearest MRT Station: TE28 Siglap (11-min walk)
Address: 914 East Coast Road, #01-04, The Domain, Singapore 459108
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 9:30pm
Tel: 8509 5950
Website
La Saigon is not a halal-certified eatery.
Whether you’re looking for a fuss-free meal or a crowd-pleaser to share among a group, you can never go wrong with satay and chicken wings fresh off the grill. Ahmad Spring has decades of experience perfecting their craft back when they operated in Geylang Serai—since 1970, to be exact. Hit them up for succulent Satay (from $9 for 10), priced at a flat rate whether you’re hankering for chicken, beef, mutton, or even offal like tripe and beef liver.
For some carbs, add on Rice Cakes for $0.50 each. Make sure you save room for their juicy and well-marinated Chicken Wings as well, priced from $8 for 5. They go perfectly with the house-made chili sauce, which is the tangy, acidic kind with a decent amount of heat. If you’re craving for more BBQ goodness, they also have Prawn Skewers at $2 each.
Check out our guide to East Coast Lagoon Food Village!
Nearest MRT Station: TE28 Siglap (15-min walk)
Address: 1220 East Coast Park, #01-58, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Singapore 468960
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 4pm to 11pm
Tel: 9018 2706
Website
Ahmad Spring is a Muslim-owned eatery.
In the biz since the 1950s, Hua Yu Wee Seafood Restaurant serves dishes that are as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the stomach. For fresh seafood prepared the way you like it, you can’t go wrong with fish (from $5.45 per 100g) or crab (from $78.48 per 800g). The former can be steamed Hong Kong style, barbecued, or deep-fried, while the latter comes with your choice of black pepper, white pepper, SG-style chilli, or butter dressing.
You’ll notice that their dishes are artistically plated. For instance, the Prawn Two Tastes (from $52.32)—featuring oatmeal and creamy Italian herb prawns—looks like a contrast between a bird’s nest and fishes in the sea. Then you have the Yuan Yang Hor Fun (from $16.35), which has a yin and yang juxtaposition of chewy hor fun noodles in seafood gravy, as well as crispy deep-fried hor fun. Best part? All prices are nett!
Nearest MRT Station: TE29 Bayshore (5-min walk)
Address: 462 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 466508
Opening hours: Daily 5pm to 11pm
Tel: 6442 9313
Website
Hua Yu Wee Seafood Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
As foodies, nothing pleases us more than being able to explore new eateries conveniently and affordably. With the Stage 4 opening of the Thomson-East Coast Line, commuters can discover a whole bevy of new hangout spots in the East.
Perhaps it’s due to the proximity to the beach, but Singapore’s eastside has a certain laid-back charm to it. And as this list has proven, the East is home to plenty of good food. With the opening of seven new TEL4 stations, you can embark on an eastside food quest as well.
This post was brought to you by the Land Transport Authority.
Photos taken by Casandra Nicholas.
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