Did you know? Ang Mo Kio translates to “red-haired man’s bridge” and it was once a forest and rubber plantation-covered area. Since then, it has been turned into one of Singapore’s most heavily populated areas. While the heart of the city revolves around the busy Ang Mo Kio Hub, a handful of the city’s secret treasures can be found closer to the 62-hectare Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Here are a handful of gems to cure your boredom and fill your stomachs at Ang Mo Kio.
Dragon Playground
We all know about the well known Dragon playgrounds in Toa Payoh, but did you know that there is also one at Ang Mo Kio? This rendition features a gentle brown beast with a stunning blue border and a yellow steel-ringed body that is close to the surface, designed by Mr Khor Ean Ghee in 1979. The original sandpit was covered in the 1990s with rubber padding to help cushion the drops, but the two slides remain in their original tiled form. There were five other dragon playgrounds across Singapore in the past, but this is one of only two full-sized ones that are still standing today, so pay this unknown Dragon a visit on your next hangout with your buddies.
Location: 570 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Singapore 560570
Opening Hours: 24/7
Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club
Before you see it, you’ll hear it and no you’re not at Jurong Bird Park. You are at Ang Mo Kio’s Kebun Bahru Bird singing Club. Come on a Sunday morning for the most spectacular view. Rows and rows of bird cages, neatly separated by species, are hung from metal beams, with some more cages strung high on colourful poles on the field beside it. The cacophony produced by these feathered friends is a sight and sound to behold. Build back in the 80’s by a couple of neighbours in the area, jump forward a few decades and their small initiative has now evolved into the biggest bird singing club and chill spot for bird lovers alike.
Location: 159 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, Singapore 560159
Opening Hours: 24/7
Belinda’s Traditional Pancake
Owned by Madam Belinda Yeo, this stall specialises in selling traditional breakfast items like Min Jiang Kueh. Peanut, coconut, or red bean filling is sandwiched between the pillowy fluffy min jiang kueh. A crisp, cone-shaped option with a range of toppings is also available for those looking for something lighter with a crunch. Although these items are irresistibly tasty, the top item that you should definitely try is the Putu Mayam dish from this store. It’s a steamed noodle cake topped with fresh coconut flakes and orange palm sugar, originally a snack of South Indian roots. Sadly, it’s not widely available in Singapore since the time-consuming procedure of hand-swirling vermicelli is no longer practiced. Madam Belinda Yeo is one of the few store in Singapore that make her own vermicelli cakes in house which explains it’s unbelievable taste. Just make sure you get there before 12pm, or it will be all gone.
Location: 341 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, #01-27 Teck Ghee Court, Singapore 560341
Opening Hours: 6.30pm – 11.00am (Tue – Wed), (Fri – Sun)
Loklok 1991’s By Daniel and Meng
Do you miss the street food from the other side of the Causeway? Get your fix of Johor Bahru-style loklok – steamboat treats served on skewers – at this late-night supper venue, which is open until 2 am. Broccoli, mantou, breaded scallops, bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms, and abalone slices are among the many options available and you just have to be early to catch them before they run out. Once you have picked out your skewers, they will get it fried on the spot for the ultimate freshness and crisp. If you fancy customisability, you can pick from their plethora of seasoning powders and dips that change seasonally. With each stick costing just 1 dollar, it should be obvious that snaking queue will be present most of the time, so be prepared to wait with growling tummies.
Location: 340 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Singapore 560340
Opening Hours: 6.00pm – 2.00am (Fri – Wed)
Soi19 Thai Wanton Mee
The pandemic might have frozen our ability to travel to Thailand, but that doesn’t mean that we cant enjoy good Thai food here in Singapore. Ng Sing Chow founded Soi 19 as a tribute to Bangkok, where he used to own a few clothes stores before the devastating 2011 floods. He began the noodle company with no experience, but after a lot of trial and error, he came up with a recipe that was so successful that it won the AsiaOne People’s Choice Award for “Best Hawker Stall” in 2016. Every bowl of springy egg noodle is topped with char siew, sausages, and, of course, the fried wanton. You’ll definitely want to come back for more once you’ve experienced a bite.
Location: 151 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, Singapore 560151
Opening Hours: 7.00pm – 3.30pm (Tue – Sun)
There are truly some interesting things and good food in Ang Mo Kio that you should visit at least once in your life. Spend some time with your family and friends at these locations but make sure you observe safe distancing regulations while you are out and about!
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