With the recent glorious conception of the Yistana (search it on Google maps for an impressive surprise), and redevelopment of megamall Northpoint City in progress, it seems plans to reclaim Yishun’s disastrous reputation are well and truly under way. Now, a new “attraction” has opened in the northern neighborhood that could help lift its image further—in the form of a cool new hawker center.
Opened yesterday (Sep 20) by the people behind Timbre, the Yishun Park Hawker Centre is essentially a modern hawker center meant to reintroduce coffeeshop food and local eats. The space is a massive 800-seater compound housing 43 hawkers, 13 of whom are entirely new to the hawker trade. Expect classic fare like chicken rice and nasi padang, along with stalls selling unique modern eats like baked roti prata, tofu rice bowls and ramen, for added variety. Established hawker brands like Fishball Story, Yu Kee Duck Rice and Yam Mee have joined the party too.
Just a day into opening though, the hawker center has already drawn criticism for its higher prices and cashless payment system. The space’s retail drink space, Tuck Shop, functions like a gastro bar, and uses an in-house app unique to the hawker center for payment. And like its counterpart in One-North, Timbre+, the Yishun Park Hawker Centre works on a self-serviced tray return system that requires you to pay $1 deposit, and get it back after you’ve returned your tray like a good citizen.
For now, Yishun Park remains a promising new addition to the Yishun area, complete with arcade games and pinball machines on-site to enliven the space. Only time will tell if Yishun’s many endeavors are in vain.
Yishun Park Hawker Centre is open daily, 6am-11pm, at 51 Yishun Avenue 11. More information on the hawkers here.
