Best Halal Restaurants & Cafes in North Singapore – from Zi Char, Nasi Ambeng, Seafood to Thai Cuisine

23 April 2021 by Farihin Joehari

Staying in the North has plenty of perks, with numerous attractions such as our world-famous Singapore Zoo and the only hot spring in Singapore, Sembawang Hotspring. Neighbourhoods that fall under the North area are Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Khatib, Yio Chu Kang, Sembawang, Woodlands and Seletar. To make your next makan trip easier, here are the best halal restaurants and cafes to dine at in North Singapore.

Read: Best Halal Restaurants & Cafes in West Singapore - from Prawn Noodles, Mexican to Japanese Cuisine

1. The Halal Corner

Source: The Halal Corner

Source: The Halal Corner

Source: The Halal Corner

Formerly operating as Asyraf’s Halal Corner at Shenton Way, the shop has since rebranded and opened an outlet in the heart of Yishun. Known for affordable Western options, their Carbonara Beef Steak Roti John ($6.50) is highly praised by customers – drenched in silky white carbonara sauce, nacho cheese, sweet chilli sauce and morsels of tender beef chunks. Most dishes here are below $7, making it super affordable for a hearty and satisfying meal. They also have another outlet in Bedok.

Address: 732 Yishun Ave 5 #01-380, S760732
Opening hours: Daily 1pm – 9pm, closed on Mon

Read: Best Halal Restaurants & Cafes in Central Singapore - from Shellout, Gelato, Steakhouse to Thai Cuisine

2. Fluff Stack

Source: Fluff Stack

Source: Fluff Stack

Source: Fluff Stack

Pillowy, dreamy and totally Instagrammable, Fluff Stack’s jiggly pancakes are hyped for all the right reasons. Freshly made to order, each plate takes about 15 minutes, so if you’re coming during peak hours, expect to wait before digging in. Order the Mango Passion Fruit Souffle Pancakes ($14.80) – fresh mango served with a dollop of cream on a bed of fluffy pancakes. Or try the ultimate favourite Oolong Boba Souffle Pancakes ($9.80) loved by both the young and the young at heart.

Address: Northpoint City, 1 Northpoint Dr, #02-115, S768019
Opening hours: Sun to Thurs 11am – 9pm, Fri & Sat 11am – 9.30pm

Read: Where to Indulge in the Best Basque Burnt Cheesecakes in Singapore

3. Suki-Suki Thai Hot Pot

Source: Suki-Suki Thai Hot Pot

Source: Suki-Suki Thai Hot Pot

Source: Suki-Suki Thai Hot Pot

Opened by Creative Eateries, Suki-Suki Thai Hot Pot is the best place to meat up (pun intended) with friends and family for a hotpot session. Taste the flavours of Thailand in their delicious tom yum broth with fresh ingredients at only $17.90++/ pax with their all-you-can-eat buffet.

Pick 2 refillable soup bases, free-flow chicken, beef, vegetables, meatballs, noodles, rice, tofu and more. Up your dining experience and add $10.90++/ pax, to enjoy a free flow of sliced wagyu beef, tiger prawn and dory fish. Or add $4.90++/ per pax for free-flow drinks and desserts.

Book a Table here to earn Cashback.

Address: HomeTeamNS Khatib Clubhouse, 2 Yishun Walk, #01-01, S767944
Opening hours: Mon to Thurs 11am – 3pm & 6pm – 10pm, Fri to Sun 11am – 10pm

Read: 15 Most Romantic Restaurants in Singapore for Valentine's Day, Date Nights and Anniversaries

4. Sanook Kitchen

Source: Sanook Kitchen

Source: Sanook Kitchen

Source: Sanook Kitchen

One of the most affordable Halal Thai restaurants in Singapore, Sanook Kitchen offers a taste of authentic Thailand cuisine. With most of its main dishes priced at $5.90, don’t expect big portions. Although they’re wallet-friendly, expect big flavours from their mains, side dishes to desserts. Take your pick from Pineapple Fried Rice ($5.90) to Basil Chicken Rice ($5.90). End your meal with a perennial favourite - Mango Sticky Rice with Coconut Milk ($6).

Address: Northpoint City, 930 Yishun Ave 2, #B1-01, S769098
Opening hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

Read: Best Dessert Food Deliveries You Must Try from GrabFood SG with Island-wide Delivery

5. Abang Recipes

Source: Abang Recipe

Known for their Signature Assam Fish Head, Abang Recipe is a homey restaurant tucked at Sembawang Shopping Centre. A family-friendly spot, its chill ambience and array of options available make it a must-visit restaurant in North Singapore. For a fuss-free dining experience, try their Set Menu B ($96.80) – Assam Curry Fish Head, Crispy Oatmeal Prawns, Shrimp Paste Chicken, Sambal French Beans with Shrimps, Tofu with Mushroom and Steamed Rice, which feeds 4 to 6 pax.

Address: Sembawang Shopping Centre, #B1-08. S758459
Opening hours: Daily 11.30am – 9.30pm

Read: Taste of India Review: Authentic North and South Indian Food in Rangoon Road

6. El Carbon Grill House

Source: El Carbon

Source: El Carbon

Source: El Carbon

For a no-frills Western food that’s both delicious and highly affordable, El Carbon is your best bet. This authentic charcoal grill concept hawker shop had its first restaurant at Ang Mo Kio, but has since expanded to Yishun and Geylang. Not only does it have an aesthetic branding, but these good folks also go the extra mile with matching plates and the overall white and blue colour scheme. Be impressed with their dishes too such as the Charbroiled Chicken Chop ($7.50), Grilled Norwegian Salmon ($11) and Carbonara ($5).

Address: 721 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, #01-2823, S560721
Opening hours: Daily 12pm – 9pm

7. Coba Coba

Source: Coba Coba

Source: Coba Coba

Also known as “try-try” in Malay, Coba Coba promises a satisfying Malay-Indo culinary experience. This humble café in the heart of Yishun serves Nasi Ambeng, a communal dining dish where everyone shares on the same tray. Starting from $32.90 for 2 pax and $43.90 for 3 pax, each tray comes with a variety of dishes. The Beef Rendang was tender due to its long hours of cooking, the Ayam Lemak was succulent, rich and creamy, just nice without being too jelak. Don’t forget to snap a shot of the beca (trishaw) right outside their restaurant.

Address: 156 Yishun St 11, #01-106, S760156
Opening hours: Mondays to Wednesdays 8am – 8pm, Thursdays to Sundays 10.30am – 8pm

8. Fish & Chicks

Source: Fish & Chicks

Source: Fish & Chicks

Fusion food is either a hit or a miss, and at Fish & Chicks, it’s a hit for every dish. Their innovative take on incorporating Asian spices into classic Western dishes are praiseworthy. Their signature Mentaiko Salmon Pasta ($10.90), is a hit with many of their customers for the al dente pasta and the thick slab of salmon topped with mentaiko sauce. Other fusion dishes include Tom Yum Pasta and Chilli Crab Fish & Chips ($9.90).

Address: 630A Woodlands Ring Rd #01-01, S731630
Opening hours: Daily 11am – 9.30pm

9. Yassin Kampung Seafood

Source: Yassin Kampung

Source: Yassin Kampung

Reminisce the old kampong days and savour authentic Singaporean cuisine at Yassin Kampung Seafood. Established in 2002, the restaurant has four outlets in Clementi, Bedok, Admiralty and Woodlands. Helmed by Head Chef Muhammad Yassin Ng who has over 30 years of culinary experience, serves one of the best Halal zi char dishes in Singapore. Try their unique Kampung Durian Chicken ($20), an aromatic dish from the King of Fruits where the sauce coats every chunk of crispy chicken.

Address: 676 Woodlands Dr 71, #01-03, S730676
Opening hours: Daily 11am – 1am

10. Magic Wok

Source: Magic Wok

There’s something magical about Thai food that we always find comfort in, and at Magic Wok, it’s a match made in heaven. Located at Sembawang Shopping Centre, they serve authentic Thai-Chinese cuisine with a price starting from $4.80. Their raved Thai Pineapple Rice ($5.80), Phad Thai Prawn ($4.80) and Thai Prawn Cakes ($8.80) are some of their best-sellers. Magic Wok is easy on the wallet and worth every penny and your go-to Halal Thai restaurant in North Singapore.

Address: 604 Sembawang Rd, #03-12/13, S758459
Opening hours: Daily 10am – 10pm

11. Citrus by the Pool

Source: Citrus by the Pool

Source: Citrus by the Pool

Situated in Woodlands Swimming Complex, Citrus by the Pool is a Halal restaurant that prides itself in bringing people together over delicious comfort food. Started in 2013, the restaurant is a household name for not only residents in the North, but beyond.

Just a 10 mins walk from Woodlands MRT, you’ll get to indulge in their best-selling dish, Fried Chicken & Waffle ($15.90) – chunks of crispy chicken atop a fluffy waffle, served with butter and choice of maple or homemade Citrus syrup on the side. Also, try the Big Boss Burger ($17.90). This giant dish of juicy double beef and mutton patty, with crispy fried onion, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, purple cabbage slaw smothered in satay sauce on toasted charcoal buns.

Be sure to leave some room for dessert, because at Citrus by the Pool, their Mighty Milkshakes, such as the Caramel Popcorn and Snickerhead, will satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.

Address: Woodlands Swimming Complex, 3 Woodlands Street 13, S738600
Opening hours: Tuesdays 9am – 3pm & 4pm – 10pm, Wednesdays to Sundays 11.30am – 3pm & 4.30pm – 10pm, closed on Mondays

12. Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant

Source: Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant

Source: Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant

Dining a few metres away from the shore and above seawater are usually experiences we can only get overseas. However, at Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant you’ll get just that. Enjoy an unblocked view of the sea and Johor Bahru from the comfort of your seat while you dine. Indulge in an extensive range of Halal Chinese-styled seafood dishes, such as BBQ Shellfish Lala ($8), Nonya Sotong ($16) and Kung Po Chicken ($13).

The limelight belongs to Rasa Istimewa Curry Fish Head ($25) - Red Snapper fish cooked perfectly in fiery curry gravy, resulting in a delicate flesh that oozes with a tinge of sweetness from the fish’s natural flavour. It is served with an assortment of vegetables such as ladyfingers, eggplant and taupok that soaks up all the gravy goodness.

Address: 6A Admiralty Road West, S757445
Opening hours: Daily 12pm – 11.30pm

13. Tenderbest Makcik Tuckshop

Source: Tenderbest Makcik Tuckshop

Source: Tenderbest Makcik Tuckshop

Source: Tenderbest Makcik Tuckshop

An extension to the Tenderfresh Tenderbest group, Tuckshop serves familiar comfort food that is both delicious and budget-friendly. Located in an industrial area in Woodlands, be left in awe by the jazz music playing in the background, and with the fancy wooden chairs and table as their main furniture. Look up, and you’ll see beautiful illustrations of some of their cheeky quotes that’ll tickle your funny bones.

Try the signature Crispy Fried Chicken and Roasted Chicken Leg that comes with yellow butter rice or the Laksa Prawn Spaghetti. It’s a Laksa-infused sauce, mixed with al dente pasta and fresh juicy prawns. Each bite exudes a familiar taste and pays homage to our favourite iconic local dish.

Address: MEGA@Woodlands, 39 Woodlands Close #01-68, S737856
Opening hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

Read: Best Dessert Food Deliveries You Must Try from GrabFood SG with Island-wide Delivery

14. Taste Garden
Located about 10 mins walk from Khatib MRT, Taste Garden is nestled in ORTO, a recreational park located in the North of Singapore. Taste Garden is one of the 10 restaurants in ORTO, and it’s Halal! Instead of your usual seafood options, the restaurant serves French cuisine, such as the special Confit De Canard – a classic French dish that comprises of a duck leg, served with mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms.  

Here, you can try Miso Butter Chicken Roulade ($18.90), a fusion of Japanese and Western cuisine. If you’re craving local delights, try the Nasi Briyani Lamb Shank ($21.90). Due to its large area, you can also hold various events such as corporate meetings, wedding celebrations and birthday parties, which will be sure to leave a lasting impression.

Address: 81 Lor Chencharu #01-02/03, S768198
Opening hours: Daily 12pm – 10.30pm

15. Royal Palm @ Orchid Country Club

Serving eclectic options of Halal dishes from Asian to the Mediterranean, Royal Palm @ Orchid Country Club uses only premium ingredients, making it one of the best Halal buffet restaurants in Singapore. Come for their dinner buffet, and taste their signature satay (chicken or mutton) from their barbecue station – juicy and tender meat with the right amount of char. Do note that they have a different menu every day, so it’s best to check their website to know what they are serving. Be sure to dine at the alfresco area, for a pool view and enjoy the breeze while you dine.

The restaurant is within the country club, with 350 seating capacity that allows you to hold private events. If you’re coming from Yishun MRT, there’s a free shuttle service to Orchid Country Club daily, with 15 minutes interval from 8am to 11.30pm (from Orchid Country Club).

Address: Social Clubhouse, 1 Orchid Club Road, #01-21/22, S768162
Opening hours: Daily 12pm – 10pm