Bukit Panjang is a mature residential estate in the West Region of Singapore with seven subzones, including Saujana and Dairy Farm. As of October 2017, there were about 121,000 HDB residents living in Bukit Panjang. There are numerous nature spots in Bukit Panjang : Zhenghua Nature Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve are just some of them. Thus making this place a good choice for a weekend walk. The best part is, how you can load up with good local food for a few bucks after a healthy hike through all that verdant greenery.

1. Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre

Sparkling clean is the first impression you get when you enter the building since the centre was only opened in August 2016. Not forgetting the funky signboards that give the hawker area a quirky feel.

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Despite this place looking newer and more modern than most shopping mall food courts, the prices here are deliciously affordable.

There’s something for everyone here, from halal food to vegetarian meals. Both Bukit Panjang Chicken Rice, and You Xiang Teochew Noodle offer rather cheap and delicious meals for just $2.50. As a result they attract long queues for their delicious food. Definetely worth the long wait! So next time you're in the area don't forget to pop into any of these stores.

Where: 2 Bukit Panjang Ring Road, Level 1, Singapore 679947

Open: Mondays through Sundays, starting at 6am

Rediscover Bukit Panjang Today!

#FINDYOURSPOT in our beloved city island

Read more:

• Bukit Panjang, where the hills come alive
• Apartments in Bukit Panjang up for collective sale at $42 mil
• Which Singapore condos can you buy for under $700,000

2. Choh Dee Place

Our next stop is the Choh Dee Place coffee shop, which offers what many online claim to be one of Singapore’s best Koka noodles (ke kou mian). Alas, the stall was nowhere to be seen. It turns out the Koka noodle stall is a little bit like Harry Potter’s platform nine and three-quarters—out of sight from the obvious. You’ll find the Koka noodle menu beneath a large sign shouting PORRIDGE. Very strange. Coffeeshop attendants then informed us the Koka noodle master injured his leg a while ago and has been out of action in the kitchen since May 2019. When he will return to helm the kitchen is unknown, so don’t travel to Bukit Panjang only to be disappointed by the closed stall.

If you’re here hoping to get a mouthful of bouncy Koka noodles and are disappointed, don’t worry—there’s Tim Sum at this coffee shop to fall back on for a Hong Kong-style breakfast or brunch. None of the headlined dishes costs more than $2+, and many dim sum dishes here cost less than $2. If you’re in the neighbourhood, why not have a try? Plus, the coffee shop is quieter and airier so if you want to have a morning conversation without straining your vocal cords, you can try Choh Dee.

Where: 163A Gangsa Road, Singapore 671163

Open: Mondays through Sundays, starting at 4am

Note: There’s a Choh Dee Place at Tampines and another one at Serangoon North, so make sure you check the GPS before you end up at the other end of our country.

3. Fu Yuan Can Shi 福园餐室

This coffee shop across the street from Bangkit Road, is usually crowded on a Saturday morning. There are about seven people waiting in the long queue for Zheng Wei Duck Rice, which also sells chicken. You can get chicken rice for $2.50 and duck rice for $3. Judging by the number of people patiently waiting for their food, Zheng Wei’s is a worthwhile spot to have a late weekend breakfast.  A longtime Bangkit Road resident says the chwee kueh is also famous and that the Indian stall makes amaze bombs mee goreng and bee hoon goreng.

Where: 259A Bangkit Road, Singapore 670259

Open: Google didn't display the hours, but this place is definitely happening on Saturday morning

Enjoyed this? Check these out:

• MacPherson: The unexpected foodie paradise [4 Must Try Food Spots]
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