Located at the Northern tip of Singapore, Sembawang may be considered a remote, unknown area to many. Besides previously being occupied by rubber and pineapple plantation estates, it was also a naval base for colonial British forces. Some lush greenery and old-school, modernist low-rise buildings still remain in this neighbourhood, giving a nostalgic feel of Singapore in the 1970s. As such, there’s no shortage of charming places to dine at. Here is some Northern exposure to five of Sembawang’s best eats.
Do not be fooled by the somewhat plain appearance of this Teochew-style bee hoon dish. The magic is in its thick, white gravy rich in seafood and meat stock, which creates a silky texture to the rice noodles. Other popular dishes include the meat and seafood roll (informally, most customers order it as ‘ngoh hiang’) and the deep fried calamari that is coated with a scrumptious five-spice batter. 22 Jalan Tampang, 11am – 10.30pm (closed on Wed)
Coupled with plenty of fresh seafood, some homemade sambal chilli and a squirt of lime, the Seafood Bee Hoon is a winner to regulars, some of whom come as far from Jurong West because of strong word-of-mouth recommendations about this unique bee hoon. According to the drinks stall uncle, it’s the people who make the long pilgrimage here who seem to relish the food more than the Sembawang regulars. Whether you’re coming from near or far, expect a snaking queue.
This 24-hour Halal joint is a popular supper haunt for many Sembawang residents, and is always bustling even in the wee hours with chatty teenagers and office overtimers winding down with a late-night meal. D’Rubinah’s most popular dish is probably their roti prata, which has a good mixture of crispiness and chewiness, and is always delivered warm and toasty along with piping hot curry gravy. 592 Sembawang Road, open daily 24 hours (Prata not available from 12pm – 4pm)
The prata is best accompanied by their fragrant, woody brew of Teh Tarik with an extra frothy top. Their other specialties include thosai and chicken briyani.
This restaurant was established since 1980 and has become somewhat of an institution in Sembawang. Their star dish is the Curry Fish Head, noted for the extremely fresh whole fish head used and a tangy, assam-like curry gravy that customers say they like to drink all up like a spicy soup. Owner Mr Wong Li Loon, who used to be a chef, said he did a lot of research before getting this recipe right. Don’t miss out on their Deep Fried Crispy Chicken as well. 1 Jalan Legundi, Right opposite Sembawang Mall 11am – 2.30pm(Tues – Sun)
Don’t miss out on Chye Lye’s Deep Fried Crispy Chicken, which is also a house favourite with its crispy, melt-in-your-mouth skin and succulent, white meat that goes perfectly with their homemade belachan sauce. Other noteworthy dishes include the pepper crab and stir-fried sweet potato leaves. Owner Mr Wong says that his regulars usually get him to cook dishes out of the menu, and he always obliges with these special requests.
Buckaroo has a relaxed, hybrid personality of a beach resort and sports bar with its rustic wooden interiors and retro sports memorabilia adorned on the walls. It serves grilled and barbequed meats and its house specialty is the Buffalo Wings –juicy jumbo chicken wings deep-fried and marinated in a bright red sauce that gives a strangely addictive sour-spicy kick. You can choose your level of spiciness and for that novelty, tear-inducing experience, go for the Killer level of wings. In 2001, Makansutra found that it has three levels of spiciness, however the last time we counted, there are up to 31 levels! 12-B Andrews Ave, 4pm – 10.30pm (closed on Tues)
Be sure to have a chilled pint of beer and some crunchy onion rings on standby.
This 10-year-old cze char restaurant has an extensive seafood menu with Salted Egg Yolk Crab being a favourite with customers. The salted egg yolk gravy has a variety of interesting textures – slightly grainy and indulgently creamy with bits of fried salted egg yolk that are a tasty joy to lick off the shells. It’s the perfect accompaniment to the tender chunks of fresh crabmeat and best wiped up with some fried mantou. 1036 Sembawang Road, Mon – Fri: 11am -1am, Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 4pm -1am
This 10-year-old cze char restaurant has an extensive seafood menu with Salted Egg Yolk Crab being a favourite with customers. The staff are friendly and are always eager to make recommendations of the freshest catch. Sometimes, they might even discuss what’s happening with the latest drama serials, especially since the television there is blared constantly. As ulu as Sembawang might be, it’s hard to miss this place at night with strings of glowing blue lights adorned on trees that make for a fascinating welcome.
