The best hidden food gems in Redhill

For hearty and authentic Vietnamese fare, head to Hoàng Hâu Vietnamese Restaurant in Bukit Merah. Tucked away in a HDB estate, Hoàng Hâu is helmed by a Vietnamese chef who used to work at Empress Porridge. On the menu are familiar items like banh mi, bun cha, and pho, alongside more rarely-seen dishes such as grilled catfish, Vietnamese pizza, and freshwater eel porridge. 

TRY You can't go wrong with the eatery's signature freshwater eel porridge ($18.80). Good enough for two, it's swimming with tender chunks of eel, crispy fried shallots, peanuts and Chinese parsley, with a secret spice blend that brings it from good to great. 

Venture to 123 Bukit Merah Lane to be rewarded with some of the best coffee you can get around. Clad in minimalist black and white, this café can appear intimidating from the outside, but trust us that the service is warm and welcoming. Venture Drive Coffee also picks beans from all over the world, roasting them carefully onsite to bring out the beans' unique flavour. Whether it's a fresh and fruity filter coffee or rich and intense espresso you're craving, the folks at VDC have got you covered. 

TRY The white or black with the Opus 27: Moonlight Sonata Espresso Blend which as notes of dark cherries, hazelnuts, and chocolate. 

786 Char Kway Teow in Bukit Merah serves up a mean plate of Halal fried kway teow, but Day Night Fried Kway Teow doesn't lose out. The dish here has an interesting twist, using smaller and thinner kway teow noodles and served with a side of lime, reminiscent of pad thai. Still, it retains the sweetness of the Singaporean char kway teow we love with a hint of smoke from the wok. It also comes generously loaded with Chinese sausage, fish cake, cockles and bean sprouts. 

TRY Just char kway teow ($3-$4), all day and night! Ask for extra cockes ($1.50) if you like. 

It’s obvious what the king of the fruit is: durian. Once a legend amidst all local durian sellers at its humble store in Ghim Moh Market, Ah Seng Durian’s relatively new dessert café proves to be a hit to this day – for those in the know, that is. Cakes and pastries are done by Keong Saik Bakery and Flor Patisserie, all infused with a hard-hitting Mao Shan Wang (MSW) durian puree. 

TRY The MSW ice cream (from $6.90) for its rich but silky-smooth texture.

What started as a cloud kitchen has now found a physical space in Bukit Merah Central, thanks to the clamouring of its fans. Jeong's Jjajang is headed up by a native of Daegu, Korea, who's been cooking in Korean restaurants for over 20 years. Now, he whips up Korean favourites like jjajangmyeon ($8), jjamppong ($10) at a small hawker stall, with bouncy noodles made from hand. Other menu items include Korean pancakes, rice dishes and more soups, stews, and snacks. 

TRY The jjampong ($10) is a standout for its rich and flavourful broth, as is the tangsuyuk ($12), a Korean sweet and sour pork pork dish with a thick, tangy sauce poured over crispy hot pork chunks. 

It’s an often overlooked hawker dish, but a solid bowl of mee siam has the potential to make your day. Head over to Jia Xiang in Redhill Market to try this 50-year-old recipe – it’s the smoky sambal chilli and hearty gravy that gives the mee siam an edge over others. Most enjoy the copious fried lard, but it also comes with both tau kwa and tau pok (tofu), a hard-boiled egg, chunks of an omelette, as well as ngoh hiang (beancurd-wrapped roll). 

TRY Besides the mee siam, they do also offer lontong ($3), rice cakes topped with a heartwarmingly rich coconut milk curry.

If Venture Drive Coffee is out of space, don't fret – just hop over to Rookie's Coffee Shop which sits just opposite. Opened by a barista who used to be at Kurasu (also excellent), here you'll find a trendy alcove painted in muted colours, furnished with brightly-coloured furniture and lush potted plants. But we prefer to sit outside, where camper chairs and tables allow for relaxing afternoon lounge with a cuppa in hand. 

TRY The white coffee ($5), which has a robust espresso balanced by light and slightly sweet Meiji milk. 

This quaint Chinese eatery is often compared to more mainstream chains. What else would be the star of the show, but the Shanghai xiao long bao ($4.50)? The steamed buns are reportedly plump and filled to the brim with soup – exactly how a good xiao long bao should be. They do also have a selection of other classic Chinese dishes, such as chilli oil dumplings ($4.50) and pan-fried dumplings ($6.50).

TRY The fried rice has been likened to the ever-popular Din Tai Fung’s. Not an exact replica for sure, but when it comes with pork ribs over fried egg-coated rice, you can’t help but see the similarities. Much more affordable though – this starts at $6.

While Carrara’s original Toa Payoh branch might’ve made a name for itself, this is still one of the more unassuming cafés of Bukit Merah. For a classic order, it’s the bestselling signature waffle (from $6.50) which comes with a scoop of creamy gelato. They do also serve savoury renditions of the waffle though, from a classic fried chicken waffle ($12.90) to other fried chicken variations with batters like marmite ($16.90) and salted egg ($13.90).

TRY The handcrafted gelato – they’ve got quite the range, with unique flavours like blue pea lemongrass pandan and chrysanthemum cacao nibs. One scoop starts from $3.50.

While there are Wong Kee Noodle stalls scattered all around Singapore, this wanton noodle chain is an easy favourite for its springy noodles and generous toppings. One of the more popular noodle dishes is the aptly-named Wong Kee Wanton Noodle ($4) which comes with slabs of charred black char siew and a bowl of wanton soup. Try the tomato or spinach noodles for a seemingly healthier meal – all noodles here are made with natural ingredients. 

TRY The beef brisket noodles ($5.80) which comes with tender beef brisket chunks over a bed of noodles.