The ultimate guide to Yishun

Located near the bus interchange, this small coffee shop sees lines forming all day long for its wallet-friendly bowl of laksa (from $2.80). In business for over two decades, it’s a secret spot for many Yishun residents. Its version of laksa is less lemak and lighter in flavour with a shrimp-heavy chilli paste that gives the gravy a real kick. While it doesn’t serve prawns, you’ll hardly miss it thanks to the inclusion of plump fishcake slices, beancurd puffs, cockles (optional), crabstick, and hard-boiled egg.

Everything is made painstakingly by hand at this wonton noodle stall at Yishun Park Hawker Centre. Every day at 2pm, owner Jim Yeoh makes a fresh batch of egg noodles. He kneads them by hand, mixing flour and eggs until it forms a smooth, elastic dough. The noodles might come topped with wontons and slices of char siew ($4.50) that Jim roasts daily, or braised beef brisket ($5.50) that’s bubbling in a pot in the kitchen. “Everything is nicer when it’s handmade,” Jim says.

The retro-looking eatery is known for its nasi ambeng which sees customers return from all over the island. At the centre of its impressive-looking dish is a mountain of rice, and portions of meat and vegetable dishes surround it. It might take a while to finish the food – which makes it more enjoyable when you have more friends sharing the platter. Try the set that comes with beef rendang (from $27.90) or prawns with green chilli (from $38.90), but the crowd favourite dish here is the sambal sotong. Eating alone? You can also get a solo nasi ambeng set ($10.80).

If you're in the area, this nasi lemak joint is a must-try. Open from 5pm to 7am the next day, it is a popular stop for the dinner and supper crowds. Aromatic rice is served with specially marinated fried chicken wings and its signature sambal. There are many side dishes you can add on – but its spicy stirfried long beans and sambal brinjal seems to be the crowd favourite.

No neighbourhood is complete without a local ice cream parlour peddling its housemade flavours. For Holy Cow Creamery, it’s kept its customers happy with affordable cones ($3 each) in flavours like Mao Shan Wang, Miss Saigon (Vietnamese drip coffee), Sabai Sabai (Thai green tea) and Instagram-friendly creations like charcoal and melted cheddar cheese waffles.

Beyond aromatic brews, this socially driven coffee bar hopes to inspire social good by hiring people from marginalised communities. Through its training program, the coffee chain hopes to impart valuable life skills of independence via coffee-making. Over at its open-air outlet at Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital, used coffee grounds are also reused as fertiliser for the hospital’s rooftop garden.

Located within ORTO, Quench provides a way for you to enjoy a cold pint while immersing yourself in the park’s peaceful surroundings. The alfresco dining area boasts views of the garden lake, and the bar also stocks a decent range of big-name beer – from Corona to Heineken. Soju by the bottle is also available alongside bar bites and Western plates.

Northpoint City is the largest mall in northern Singapore and the closest shopping centre to Yishun MRT. It has a diverse range of retail shops – even more after its recent revamp – and features more than 50 eateries plus a specialty food precinct called The Makan Town. Within the expansive space is also the Yishun Public Library, an education cluster, thematic shopping zones, and even a community club that’s located within the mall.

Nelly's Retro Snacks is a candy and biscuit store for both the young and young at heart. You'll find lines of biscuits, sweet treats, and snacks – stored in nostalgic biscuit tins. Its enterprising owners also frequently conduct Facebook Live sales to reach out to customers that live outside of Yishun. Expect everything from nostalgic bites of iced gem biscuits to addictive tempeh chips to chase away the mid-day munchies.

Looking for affordable furniture to adorn your space? Born in Colour is a homegrown furniture store that works directly with factories to bring you modern, functional pieces grounded in popular design styles such as Scandinavian, mid-century, contemporary, and minimalist. By cutting out the middle man and distributors, Born in Colour passes the cost savings down to consumers through a lower price tag – so expect affordable pieces that are thoughtfully curated to fit in any space.