The ultimate guide to Yio Chu Kang

Go on a learning journey at The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum, which currently holds a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of turtle and tortoise items. Incepted by a father-daughter duo more than two decades ago to showcase their pets, the place is now home to over 700 live turtles and tortoises.

Here, visitors will get to witness many different species, some of which are rare and endangered. Apart from learning more about what these reptiles eat, how long they can live for, and more, visitors will get to feed them and even take photos with them. Some unique species to look out for include the alligator turtle, the radiated tortoise, the sulcata tortoise, the pig nose flying turtle and many more.

Continue your learning journey at Yishun Park, home to the Dipterocarp Arboretum, a family of rainforest trees that play a crucial role in our native forests, providing habitats and a source of food for animals residing there. However, many species of these long-lived, slow-growing trees have become critically endangered in our region due to deforestation. With the support of Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd, the Yishun Arboretum, featuring over 800 trees, designed for research and education, was officially opened in 2008, allowing more people to learn more about these trees, their features, uses, and more. 

There is plenty to see at this quaint park, home to a rich array of biodiversity and a key conservation site for the critically endangered Raffles’ Banded Langur, a black-and-white monkey native to Singapore. Visitors will also be able to explore the remains of what was once the homes of villages – the site was formerly home to a Hainanese settlement in the 1930s. The village was abandoned in the 1980s, however, many of the original structures still remain.

There are five trails to explore here – the Ruins and Figs Trail will allow visitors to experience what is left of the Hainan Village, while the Stream and Ferns Trail offers a more scenic route. Keep your eyes peeled for exotic aquatic creatures around the stream like the spotted tree frog and endangered Malayan box turtle, as well as a wide variety of bird species hidden in the foliage of the park. 

Possibly the most affordable fine dining experience you can find in Singapore, L’Rez, located at Nanyang Polytechnic is a full-service training restaurant run by final year students of the Diploma in Food & Beverage Business course. For just $18, diners will be presented with a three-course menu comprising an entrée, a main and a dessert. We like that the menu changes frequently so there is always something new to look forward to. 

During our visit, we had an exceptional ahi tuna dish comprising tuna tataki, avocado, yuzu pickled vegetables, fried taro and soy glaze, which offered a lovely combination of savoury and tangy flavours. The main course of confit duck leg was also cooked to perfection, served with a side of potato mousseline, ratatouille, and eggplant caviar drizzled with balsamic duck jus. Do note that the restaurant is only open during the academic term. Visit their Facebook page to find out more about their latest offerings. 

Despite being around for more than a decade, this Italian establishment, located off Yio Chu Kang Road, continues to draw diners from all around the island. One of the things we really appreciate about this restaurant is consistency – the food is always deftly executed and never disappoints. The pizzas, cooked in a wood-fired oven, are a must-try – the signature pizza Pietro ($25.90), a cream-based pie generously topped with pork sausage, porcini mushroom, cherry tomato, pink peppercorn and rocket salad, is sheer delight, offering a chock-full of flavours.

Cheese lovers will absolutely love the pizza al quattro formaggi ($24.90) and the pizza burrata ($26.90) – the former comprises four different types of cheese: gorgonzola, feta, mozzarella and buffalo, while the latter offers a creamy and stringy burrata, complemented with cherry tomatoes and rocket salad. The pastas are also great for sharing – if you love seafood, the linguine al cartoccio, boasting a variety of shellfish and bivalves such as crayfish, prawns, clams, and more, is a dish you have to order. 

Fans of wanton noodles will want to try this Thai version, boasting springy egg noodles tossed with a variety of homemade ingredients like crispy wantons fried to golden brown perfection, and cured fish sausage. The noodles are served without any sauce but there are various condiments provided like fish oil, chilli flakes and chopped green chillies – feel free to add any of them for a spicy kick. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even supper, the noodles are available in three sizes: regular, large and jumbo.

Run by chef-owner Kelvin Low who has over a decade of culinary experience under his belt, this no-frills dining establishment serves restaurant-quality charcoal-grilled Western fare at pocket-friendly prices. Being an avid meat lover, Kelvin is very particular about the cuts and quality of the meat he uses and is constantly experimenting with different ways to cook them to bring out its best flavours. Some signatures to try include the beef brisket ($7), pork belly ($6) and beef cheek ($15). The pasta is also a hit and goes well with the meats, especially the aglio olio ($4.90), cooked to al dente perfection. Check out their ‘Specials’ menu which offers lots of good options depending on what’s available – some items to look forward to include the rack of Lamb ($88) and Kurobuta pork steak ($16.50).