Where to eat in Toa Payoh: The best local restaurants revealed

19/04/2024

6.9 min read

Nestled in the heart of Singapore is Toa Payoh, brimming with nostalgic old-school charm and mouth-watering cultural cuisines. Regardless of whether you’re craving Malay, Indian, Chinese, or Japanese food, you can find the perfect meal to cure your hunger in this neighbourhood.

01 • Che’ Rose Nasi Padang (halal)

(Photo: Miss Tam Chiak)

This popular nasi padang place has been Toa Payoh’s staple for over 50 years! The chicken and beef rendang are absolute crowd favourites. Slow-cooked to tender bliss, the dishes come packed with sweet and savoury goodness and just the right kick that’ll keep you coming back for more. 🌶️

📍 Address: 128 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310128
Opening hours: Sat to Thu, 8am – 3pm
📞 Contact: 8102 7855
🍴 Halal status: Halal

02 • Chef Kang’s Noodle House

(Photo: Miss Tam Chiak)

Satisfy your craving for a hearty bowl of wanton noodles at Michelin-starred Chef Kang’s Noodle House. The simple menu has 3 options — Wanton Noodle with Char Siew and Wanton, Wanton Noodle with Shredded Abalone, and a bowl of Pork Belly Char Siew. Picture meaty and tender char siew slices paired with springy noodles bathed in delectable wanton noodle sauce. Doesn’t it sound like comfort food at its finest?

📍 Address: 11 Lorong 3 Toa Payoh, Block C Jackson Square, Singapore 319579
Opening hours: Mon to Fri, 8am – 4pm | Sat and Sun, 8am – 3pm
📞 Contact: 8280 2782
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: chef-kang.com/noodle-house

03 • Deanna’s Kitchen (halal)

(Photo: Seth Lui)

A truly delicious halal bowl of prawn mee in Singapore is a rare find. When we heard about Deanna’s Kitchen serving halal noodles with massive prawns, we had to share it with you. A must-try here is the Prawn Noodles with Crayfish. They don’t hold back with their crayfish and prawns, so expect a generous amount of seafood goodness. With its sweet and savoury broth and subtle briny aftertaste, you’re in for a real treat. We’re hearing Under The Sea. 🎶

📍 Address: 127 Toa Payoh Lorong 1, Toa Payoh West Market #02-25, Singapore 310127
Opening hours: Wed to Fri, 10am – 3pm | Sat and Sun, 9am – 3pm
📞 Contact: 9424 5496
🍴 Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: deannaskitchen.com

04 • Fiie’s Cafe (halal)

(Photo: Miss Tam Chiak)

We’re sure you’ve heard of the chicken rice stall that made headlines for its grumpy owner. Fiie’s Cafe just opened a new branch in Toa Payoh, and despite rumours of rude service, this stall still attracts long queues for a good reason. The chicken rice here may look unassuming, but its hearty serving of aromatic rice, spoonful of sweetly-spiced sambal, and perfectly crisp chicken are a killer combo that keeps people queuing for more! 🤤

📍 Address: 73 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, Stall 6, Singapore 310073
Opening hours: 10.30am to 4pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: Instagram

05 • K.K. Kitchen

(Photo: EatBook)

If Japanese food delights you, give K.K. Kitchen’s Okinawan dishes a try. We recommend pairing their best-seller, Saba Shioyaki (Grilled Mackerel with Rice), with the Goya Shanpuru (Bitter Gourd Stir Fry with Pork, Egg and Tofu). You can also swap out the plain white rice with the signature Seasoned Mixed Rice. It comes with a delightful blend of Japanese grain rice cooked in fish stock, pork, kelp, shiitake mushrooms, and carrot.

📍 Address: 92 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-264, Singapore 310092
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Thu (closed on Tue), 10.30am – 2.15pm and 4.30 – 7.30pm | Fri to Sun, 10.30am – 2.15pm and 4.30 – 7.15pm
📞 Contact: 9679 2503
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: Instagram | Facebook

06 • Kim Keat Hokkien Mee

(Photo: EatBook)

Kim Keat takes the classic Hokkien Mee up a notch by serving it in a sizzling hot claypot. The dish is loaded with clams, eggs, squid, prawns, pork belly, and a mix of yellow noodles and vermicelli. The star of this Hokkien Mee is really the thick gravy that blankets the noodles with an irresistible wok hei flavour. For just $10, you can get a potful of Hokkien Noodles that’s enough to fill up 2 hungry bellies! 🫃

📍 Address: 92 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-264, Singapore 310092
⏰ Opening hours: Thu to Mon, 11am – 8pm
📞 Contact: 9011 4400
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: Facebook

07 • Kedai Makan Muhajirin (halal)

(Photo: EatBook)

It’s not every day you come across places that sell meals at $1. In fact, Kedai Makan Muhajirin might just be the last one standing. For exactly $1, you can get their fragrant Nasi Lemak served with a fried egg, a dollop of sambal, and your choice of either deep-fried mackerel or anchovies. If you’d like both proteins, the additional option only costs $0.50. They also offer other affordable picks like Mee Rebus and Mee Siam for just $2.50.

📍 Address: 20 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310020
Opening hours: Tue to Fri, 6am – 1pm | Sat and Sun, 6am – 12pm (or until fully sold out)
📞 Contact: 8868 4013
🍴 Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: Instagram

08 • Legency Jawa Mee

(Photo: Miss Tam Chiak)

Do you always cross the Causeway just to find authentic Jawa noodles? Well, we found one spot right in our own backyard. At first glance, this Malay dish might resemble the popular local favourite Mee Rebus. But the gravy of Jawa Mee has a slightly sweeter and lighter taste, due to the presence of pumpkin and sweet potato. Legency’s Mee Jawa sets itself apart with its signature touch, which is a homemade, crispy golden-brown cracker that adds an addictively crunchy contrast to the dish. 🤤

📍 Address: 128 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310128
Opening hours: Tue to Sun, 8.30am – 2pm
📞 Contact: 9800 8620
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: Facebook

09 • Oishi Corner (halal)

(Photo: EatBook)

Oiishii Corner is an unmissable halal Japanese spot in Singapore. This hidden gem might be easily overlooked as it’s tucked away in a humble hawker centre. But its food speaks for itself. The chef, who used to work as a part-time chef in Japan, offers a diverse and authentic menu consisting of options Oiishii Beef Don, Chicken Katsu Curry Don, and Teriyaki Chicken Don.

📍 Address: 22 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh, Kim Keat Palm Market and Food Centre #01-61, Singapore 311022
Opening hours: Sat to Thu, 11am – 6pm
📞 Contact: 9797 1004
🍴 Halal status: Halal

10 • Rathmath Cheese Prata (halal)

(Photo: Seth Lui)

Rathmath Cheese Prata isn’t your average prata — it has earned the coveted ‘Divine’ rating by Makansutra! Thus, it’s no surprise to see long queues forming by early morning. You won’t be able to resist the tantalising buttery aroma of their prata, which is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Find a variety of options, from the classic egg prata to hot-selling flavours like Prata with Egg and Onion. Drop by as early as you can because they stop selling prata at 1.30pm!

📍 Address: 74 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, Toa Payoh Vista Market #01-08, Singapore 310074
Opening hours: Tue to Sun, 6am – 2.30pm
📞 Contact: 8712 9115
🍴 Halal status: Halal

11 • Song Kee Kway Teow Noodle Soup

(Photo: Miss Tam Chiak)

Song Kee Kway Teow Noodle Soup is a familiar favourite to many fishball noodle lovers in Singapore. The secret to the stall’s enduring success lies in its soft and tender pork and fish balls, which are painstakingly made from 3am every morning. You can choose between Mee Kia or Mee Pok noodles, which are generously garnished with crunchy fried shallots and drenched in a spicy, tangy sauce that’ll have you slurping in no time!

📍 Address: 75 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh, Toa Payoh Food Centre #01-20, Singapore 310075
Opening hours: Thu to Tue, 10.30am – 10.30pm
🍴 Halal status: Not halal

12 • Toa Payoh 94 Laksa

(Photo: 8 Days)

Looking for your next go-to laksa spot? Toa Payoh 94 Laksa might just be it. This place draws crowds with its signature laksa that’s loaded with large, fresh cockles. If you prefer a lighter laksa broth that’s not too heavy on coconut milk and spices, Toa Payoh 94 Laksa will not disappoint you – it has just the right amount of creamy and spicy flavours that are guaranteed to make you sigh with satisfaction after every sip. 😋

📍 Address: 94 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-30, Singapore 310094
Opening hours: 6.30am to 2pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal

(Featured photo adapted from: Miss Tam Chiak, EatBook, EatBook, Miss Tam Chiak, EatBook, and Seth Lui)

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