Hougang And Sengkang Food Guide: Where The Northeast Eats After Work

Hougang And Sengkang Food Guide: Where The Northeast Eats After Work

Hougang and Sengkang are the two largest residential towns in Singapore's northeast, and between them they have some of the best neighbourhood food in the region. This is not the food that makes it into tourist guides. It is the food that residents eat on a Tuesday evening after work, at the hawker centres, coffee shops, and mall food courts that anchor each neighbourhood.

If you live in the northeast or are visiting someone who does, here is where to eat.

Hougang: The Heartland Hawker Centres

Hougang Avenue 1 Food Court is the neighbourhood hawker centre, and it has been feeding Hougang residents since the 1990s. The standout stall here is Hougang BBQ at 684 Hougang Avenue 8, which does Chinese-style BBQ seafood. The sambal stingray is the order, served on a banana leaf with onions and a spicy sambal that has a slow burn.

The Backyard Griller in Hougang is the Western BBQ option, doing steaks and ribs at prices that are lower than what you would pay in the city. A ribeye steak costs $18 to $25 depending on weight, and it comes with sides. The Smok Hous at 446 Hougang Avenue 8 is the Texas-style barbecue alternative, with brisket and pulled pork.

For something more traditional, the Hougang Interchange Hawker Centre next to Hougang MRT (NE14) has the usual lineup of local stalls. The char kway teow stall here is above average, and the chwee kueh stall does the steamed rice cakes with preserved radish at $2 for four pieces.

Sengkang: The Mall Food Scene

Sengkang's food scene is concentrated in its malls, particularly Compass One and Seletar Mall. Compass One, located at Sengkang MRT (NE16), has a Kopitiam food court on Level B2 that does the standard local fare. The standout here is the bak chor mee stall, which does the Teochew-style minced pork noodles with a vinegary sauce that wakes you up.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ at Compass One #01-33 is the same chain as the nex outlet, doing yakiniku with tableside grilling. Buddy Hoagies at #02-22 is the budget steakhouse, and it is where Sengkang families go for a weeknight dinner that feels slightly more special than a food court meal.

For coffee, the specialty scene in Sengkang is still developing. The best option is the Starbucks at Compass One, which is open until 11pm. If you want something more independent, take the LRT to Punggol and visit Woke by Wake The Crew at Punggol Coast Mall, which opened in April 2026 and does proper specialty coffee from $5 a cup.

The Kovan And Heartland Mall Cluster

Kovan, technically part of Hougang, has its own food cluster around Heartland Mall. The mall itself has a food court and several restaurants, but the better food is in the coffee shops along Upper Serangoon Road, within a 5-minute walk of Kovan MRT (NE13).

The Muslim-owned bakery near Kovan, which opened recently, does shio pans and savoury breads that have been drawing queues since it opened. The croissants are above average for a neighbourhood bakery, and the kopi is $1.50.

For dinner, the zi char stall at the coffee shop opposite Heartland Mall does reliable Chinese home-style cooking. The cereal prawns and the san lou hor fun are the orders to make, and a meal for four costs $40 to $60 including rice and drinks.

Practical Details

• Nearest MRT: Hougang (NE14), Kovan (NE13), Sengkang (NE16)
• Hours: Hawker centres 7:00am to 10:00pm; mall food courts 10:00am to 10:00pm; coffee shops 6:00am to 11:00pm
• Price: Hawker meals $3 to $8; zi char for four $40 to $60; mall restaurants $12 to $35 per person
• Tip: The best zi char and hawker food in the northeast is in the coffee shops, not the malls. Walk the residential streets and look for the stalls with queues.