go Hunting For A Taste Of Old-School Singapore
Before Serangoon became one of Singapore’s hottest café neighbourhoods, it was already famous for something else: Teochew food.
The Northeast has long been one of Singapore’s most important Teochew heartlands, and while trendy coffee shops may grab headlines these days, some of the area’s greatest culinary treasures are still found in humble coffee shops, traditional eateries and family-run businesses that have served generations of regulars.
Here’s where to start your Teochew food trail.
1. Fragrant Garden – the grand dame of teochew restaurants
Tucked inside the ageing but beloved Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre, Fragrant Garden has been serving refined Teochew cuisine for decades. Come for classics such as chilled crab, steamed pomfret, oyster omelette and braised delicacies. Few restaurants in Singapore preserve traditional Teochew banquet cooking quite as faithfully.
756 Upper Serangoon Road, #01-15/16, Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre, Singapore 534626
2. Heng Long Teochew Porridge
Simple food done well is at the heart of Teochew cuisine. Heng Long’s comforting spread of braised duck, preserved vegetables, steamed fish and home-style dishes paired with silky porridge continues to attract loyal regulars from across the island.
1012 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534750
3. Ah Seah Teochew Porridge
Another institution beloved by generations of Teochew families. The beauty lies in the variety: dozens of small dishes, each prepared with restraint and balance rather than heavy seasoning.
49A Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555945
4. First Street Teochew Fish Soup
Teochews are masters of seafood, and fish soup remains one of the cuisine’s purest expressions. Expect clean flavours, fresh fish slices and comforting broth that lets quality ingredients shine.
1014 Upper Serangoon Rd, Floor 1, Today Restaurant, Singapore 534752
5. Yam Mee Teochew Fishball Mee
Ask many Singaporeans what defines Teochew hawker food and fishball noodles will be high on the list. Handmade fishballs, springy noodles and vinegar-spiked chilli come together in a dish that remains a local favourite.
209 Hougang St 21, #01-35, Singapore 530209
6. Yong’s Teochew Kueh
No Teochew food trail is complete without kueh. Yong’s is famous for handmade png kueh, ku chai kueh and other traditional snacks that continue to be made using recipes passed down through generations.
1022 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534760
7. Ah Seng Braised Duck Rice
The Teochews arguably perfected braised duck. At Ah Seng, expect tender duck, braised tofu, peanuts and fragrant gravy that exemplify the cuisine’s understated elegance.
49A Serangoon Garden Wy, #01-44 Garden Market and Food Centre, Singapore 555945
8. Redhill Braised Duck Kway Chap
Despite the name, this branch has built a following in the Northeast. Rich herbal braising liquid, silky kway and perfectly prepared offal make this a must-visit for duck lovers.
9. Peng Restaurant
One of the neighbourhood’s long-standing Chinese dining establishments, Peng Restaurant continues to showcase classic Teochew flavours alongside familiar Singaporean favourites. It’s the sort of place where family celebrations have been held for decades.
30 Lor 1 Realty Pk, Singapore 536953
10. Ho Tit Coffee Powder Factory
Strictly speaking, it’s not a restaurant. But no exploration of Teochew food culture would be complete without a stop at Ho Tit Coffee Powder Factory. Long before specialty coffee arrived, traditional coffee roasters like these fuelled generations of Teochew coffee shops and breakfast rituals.
412 Upper Paya Lebar Rd, Singapore 534993
Why Serangoon Remains Singapore’s Teochew Capital
What makes Serangoon and Kovan special isn’t any single restaurant. It’s the concentration of Teochew culture that still survives here. Between traditional porridge houses, fishball noodle stalls, braised duck specialists, heritage coffee businesses and family-run restaurants, the area offers one of Singapore’s most complete expressions of Teochew culinary heritage.
In a city constantly reinventing itself, Serangoon remains a place where Teochew food is not merely preserved for nostalgia’s sake — it continues to be part of everyday life. And that’s what makes eating here so rewarding.