13 fun places to eat and hang out in Serangoon Gardens

[Sponsored] It’s that time of the year again when the holiday mood kicks in and usually intense schedules magically free up— paving the way for long postponed meetups and yearly get-togethers. Whether it’s a much anticipated beer session with the mates or a romantic dinner with your special someone, here are some places to check out at Serangoon Gardens.

For college reunions

Let’s face it—in a year filled with hectic timelines and rushed deadlines, the last to get ticked off the to-do list is your old college buddies. Pair a night of ale-filled banter at Yogiyo Chicken with authentic Korean fried chicken that come in a variety of sweet, savory or spicy renditions. For those who prefer something more formal like a traditional sit down dinner, head to Cantonese restaurant Wo Peng where you’ll get to huddle over Hong Kong-style dishes like barbecue pork buns, smoke-roasted duck with rice and a tea leaf and camphor wood broth. If you’re serious about your beers, try the new branch of Thirsty’s with a selection of over 300 craft beers on offer from across the globe.

For a night out with your girls

For a big, long night out with lots of meaty, juicy gossip, try iSteaks Grillhouse, which has a big focus on imported, premium cuts of ribeyes, steaks and tenderloins at reasonable prices. A must-try here is the succulent 100-day grass-fed ribeye. Not into red meat? The pork loin hits the spot, too. Or, if you’re taking the party home, load up on affordable wines (starting at under $30) from the local branch of Wine Connection.

Super quick catch-ups

If all you have time for is a half-hour catch-up over lunch, nothing beats a hawker meal, especially a famous one, of which there are many in Serangoon Gardens. The iconic Chomp Chomp Food Centre (20 Kensington Park Rd.) at Serangoon Road has wide range of stellar hawker fare but the bestsellers are the $1 chicken wings at Chong Pang Huat (#01-26) and cheesy sushi popiah at I-Chai Food Speciality (#01-34) a few doors down. If you don’t mind the walk, head further down to the Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre (49A Serangoon Garden Way) which garners a faithful following for its Garden Street Kway Chap (#01-21). Afterwards, head down to HockHua Tonic and load up on healthy goodies like tasty bird’s nest, traditional herbs and premium abalone.

For atmospheric dates

It’s hard to score a date during the holiday season, so if you’re lucky enough to have one, make it good. Check out Mediterranean restaurant Plonk and impress your date with a cozy night of pizzas, tapas and wine. End things on a sweet note with waffles, pancakes and crepes by Little Wimbly Lu or, for something a bit more exotic and sinful, try the gula Melaka tiramisu or pina colada crème brulee by Arbite.

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