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The 12 Best Foods in Sembawang from Sweet, Spicy, to Savoury

| Last Updated: September 10, 2024

Sembawang was once a bustling naval base, but it has since become a food haven—a secret I discovered because a friend lives in the area. It’s still a hidden gem for foodies, but I’ll share its mouth-watering secrets with you in this guide after months of stuffing our faces. 

Whether you’re a local foodie or just passing through, Sembawang has something to tantalise your taste buds. Let’s look at a dozen of the best foods you’ll need to try here ASAP!

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Bee Hoon at White Restaurant (Sun Plaza)

Address: 30 Sembawang Dr, #03 – 12
Contact: +6588498479
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–10 PM
Price: $$
Website

Smooth, silky white bee hoon (thin vermicelli noodles) is the speciality at White Restaurant. This dish perfectly balances texture and flavour, with delicately chewy bee hoon that complements the fresh ingredients. 

My family has been coming here for over a decade, and the quality and taste remain consistently top-notch.

For the adventurous, try the mala bee hoon. It’s a tasty blend of the signature white bee hoon with a kick of mala (chilli seasoning), not too spicy but packed with strong mala flavour.

Pro-tip: There’s a free kids’ meal with every S$50 spent!

Nasi Lemak at Chong Pang Nasi Lemak

Media from yippi312_eatdrinklove 

Address: 447 Sembawang Rd
Contact: +6596551868
Hours: Daily, noon–6 AM and 5 PM-midnight
Price: $$
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Chong Pang Nasi Lemak offers a great selection of sides, from sambal sotong to sweet and sour chicken. I always get its nasi lemak with chicken wings, luncheon meat, egg, tomato sauce, potatoes, and sausage with sambal chilli. 

The rice is light, fluffy, and fragrant with coconut and pandan, which adds to the deliciousness of the meal. The chicken wing was crispy on the outside and tender inside, too.

Pro-tip: The dinnertime crowd thins out around 8 PM, so time your visit accordingly.

Korean Box Cake at Baker’s Brew Studio

Address: 6 Jln Tampang
Contact: +6566357166
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–8.30 PM
Price: $
Website

When I’m craving something sweet but need a quick treat, I head to Baker’s Brew for their Korean box cakes. Though famous for its lofty cakes, I love the patisserie’s fuss-free classic tiramisu in a handy hard plastic case. 

Plus, when I buy three boxes and get half off the third! What’s not to love?

Pro-tip: The shop also makes customised cakes and cupcakes.

Nasi Ambeng at Coba Coba

Address: 156 Yishun Street 11, #01-106
Contact: +6563822622
Hours: Daily (except Tuesdays), 7.45 AM–7 PM
Price: $
Website

I can always count on Coba Coba for its delicious signature nasi ambeng set (white rice platter with different side dishes). For under S$14, I get two kinds of meat, a vegetable dish, and a drink. 

Hidden in Yishun, this spot boasts a charming retro coffee shop vibe with a cute trishaw (a bike with a sidecar) outside. The Indonesian ambience perfectly complements the food, which is spicy, tasty, and not too heavy.

Pro-tip: There’s no solo sizing for the nasi ambeng, so make sure you dine with another person if you’re ordering it.

Charcoal Waffles at Holy Cow Creamery 

Address: 292 Yishun Street 22, #01-291 
Contact: [email protected] 
Hours: 

  • Sunday to Thursday, 11.30 AM–10 PM
  • Friday to Saturday, 11.30 AM–11 PM

Price: $$
Website

Don’t let the unconventional colour of the charcoal waffle at Holy Cow Creamery scare you off. It’s fantastic with two scoops of ice cream. I recommend the delicious strawberry milk flavour that’s both creamy and refreshing.

The waffle is perfectly crunchy, with a slight softness where it meets the ice cream. You can ask for a dollop of caramel sauce to add a little special something to your dessert.

Pro-tip: Dairy-free ice cream is available for the lactose intolerant.

Army Stew at Seoul Kitchen

Media from tricia.plsstopeating 

Address: 435 Sembawang Rd
Contact: +6564830818
Hours: Daily, noon–11 PM
Price: $$
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For a satisfying Korean BBQ in Sembawang, check out Seoul Kitchen. 

Its Korean fried chicken is seriously good too. We always pair it with the army stew (budae jjigae), a spicy broth loaded with various ingredients. 

Plus, you get unlimited servings of side dishes like kimchi, gimbap, and Korean egg rolls. It’s perfect for group dining when you want to share the bill.

Pro-tip: Also try the sweet soy-coated fried chicken for a change. 

Bak Kut Teh at Old World Bak Kut Teh and Fried Porridge

Address: Blk 101 Yishun Ave 5, #01-55
Contact: +6593885288
Hours: Daily (except Wednesdays), 9.30 AM–2.30 PM and 4.30–8.30 PM
Price: $
Website

The bak kut teh here at Old World is amazing. The meat is tender and falls off the bone. 

Plus, the servers are generous with the meat so it’s really value for your money.

It serves dang gui (slightly sweet Chinese herb) bak kut teh which stands out with its unique flavour, different from the usual Cantonese, Hokkien, and Teochew (pepper) variants. 

Pro-tip: There’s a fun menu item (seafood cheese bee hoon) that incorporates both cheese and seafood in a noodle dish. Try it!

Seasonal Ice Cream and Waffle at The Daily Scoop

Address: 369 Sembawang Rd, #01-05 Sembawang Cottage
Contact: +6567541233
Hours: 

  • Monday to Wednesday, 3.30–9 PM
  • Friday to Saturday, 3.30–9 PM
  • Thursday, 4–9 PM
  • Sunday, 2–9 PM

Price: $
Website

The Daily Scoop is my go-to for great seasonal ice cream and friendly service. If you’re feeling adventurous (or patriotic), try the durian flavour. It’s surprisingly yummy!

The staff are super nice and will let you sample flavours before choosing. Pair crispy waffles with two scoops of coconut ice cream and a safer bet like hazelnut, and you’ll be a happy camper.

Pro-tip: The place also serves coffee and tea.

Thai Deep-Fried Fish at Bei Sheng Seafood 

Address: 701A Yishun Ave 5, #01-01
Contact: +6567564883
Hours: Daily (except Tuesdays), 11.15 AM–1.45 PM and 5.15–9.30 PM
Price: $$
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Bei Sheng Seafood isn’t an authentic Thai restaurant but more of a zi char (for sharing) spot with Thai-influenced dishes tailored to local tastes. Nevertheless, it’s quite popular among lunch and dinner crowds in the area.

Must-tries here are the deep-fried fish and pineapple fried rice. The fish is crispy and goes perfectly with two types of proprietary chilli. I usually mix them for an even better kick. 

Don’t forget to get some tom yum soup to cleanse your palate!

Pro-tip: Expect a lunchtime crowd, as the place is quite popular. 

Bak Kwa at Fragrance Sun Plaza

Address: 30 Sembawang Dr, #B1-14 Sun Plaza
Contact: +6567526594
Hours: Daily, 10 AM–10 PM
Price: $$
Website

Fragrance at Sun Plaza is not exactly an eatery as it’s more of a gourmet grocery store selling frozen food, sweets, and bak kwa. 

These glistening squares, with their blackened char marks, are sweet, savoury, umami, meaty, and delightfully greasy, so it’s good to indulge in them once in a while (like during CNY). 

At Fragrance Sun Plaza, the bak kwa is grilled fresh in an enclosed grilling room, and we can watch the process. The uniformly perfect sheets have an earthy flavour profile that’s hard to resist.

Pro-tip: For the best taste, consume freshly grilled bak kwa within 5 days. If refrigerated, it stays good for up to 30 days. 

Mei Kai Cou Rou at Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice

Address: 4 Jln Tampang
Contact: +6567577144
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–10 PM
Price: $$
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For a local favourite, try the Mei Cai Kou Rou claypot rice at Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice. It features thick, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly slices in a glistening dark glaze, nestled atop a smoky, crispy rice bed.

If you’re trying to stay away from meat, go for the san lao fish bee hoon (stir-fried fish with rice vermicelli), instead. It’s still satisfying, tasty, and pretty affordable at under S$8.

Pro-tip: There are plenty of sharing plates at this place so bring the entire gang.

Ham, Egg, and Meat Floss Bun at Hao Bang General Wholesale Trading

Media from muchmunchh  

Address: Yishun Central 1, #01-241 Blk 925
Contact: +6567551673
Hours: Daily, 8 AM–9.30 PM
Price: $
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Hao Bang General Wholesale Trading in Yishun is an old-school bakery best known for its giant chicken floss bread, an original creation. But my favourite here is the ham, egg, and meat floss bun.

This combo is popular among customers. It features a thin layer of ham, cheese, and egg between fluffy bread, topped with generous amounts of chicken floss.

The savoury fillings complement the sweetish bread and floss. Each piece is cut into eight servings, making it the perfect breakfast to share with other people.

Pro-tip: The shop’s egg tarts are also good takeaway snacks.