Tucked away in this corner of the island lies a food paradise, that most just haven’t found out yet.
Most know the Joo Chiat, the Siglap cafes, but Kovan is just that spot that remains under the radar, beyond the reach of what others know.
Yet it remains incredibly accessible, with most food a short walk away from Kovan MRT.
Here’s the best, underrated ones that you just haven’t found out yet.
Hands Cafe, in The Helping Hand
Nestled just off the main Upper Serangoon Road, lies a throwback in time. Walk into The Helping Hand, and you’d still see tin roofs and blue zinc coverings, a relic to the 1970s, when it was Xinmin Secondary School.
Xinmin has come and gone, but The Helping Hand has stayed for the past 30 years.
Over the years, it’s remade itself into a cafe, that the public is free to come into. The best part of Hands Cafe, is the quiet, homely surroundings that you find yourself in. You would just be surprised at the deep conversations you might share with the friends you bring in.
When I was there, I was surprised by just how cozy the environment was. As you’d know, a halfway house is a place to rehabilitate those that have been affected by substance misuse. As a result, some may have been afraid of walking in, not knowing what they’d find. But if you come in, you will realise the friendliness of most that serve you.
They are kind and try to take care of your every need.
We just love the regular bakes they have.
Because they bake everything by hand, it means that the taste is delightfully kept within each cake they roll, rather than being clinically made by a big industrial machine, with little heart in it.
One of the best things we’ve enjoyed is the pandan cake, which is moist, bouncy, and light on the mouth.
It’s definitely not something you want to miss.
Sin Chie Toke Huan Hainanese Curry Rice (1019 Upper Serangoon Road)
Eating this with the family since I grew up, this is hearty curry rice, that’s not too spicy.
I love the curry because of how it’s sweet, and yet has enough kick to wake you up from your stupor. But it’s also not that spicy that it makes you sweat oodles in the hot and humid Singapore temperature.
This is not something you want to miss, but something you’d probably want to queue up early for.
There’s always a long queue.
Heng Long Teochew Porridge (1012 Upper Serangoon Road)
The humble Teochew porridge is not that easy to make. You might think it’s soy sauce, braise, and a little more salt, before voila, you have it.
But it’s not that simple. You have to make greater effort than just that.
And Heng Long has been doing it for decades, bringing across humble fare, at cheap prices. The last time I ate 4 full dishes with a friend, it came up to just $13.30.
Incredible prices, for heartwarming food.
Ponggol Nasi Lemak
Legend is that even if you ate at Upper Serangoon Road everyday, you’d have enough to eat for the rest of the year.
This Ponggol Nasi Lemak has been in existence since 1979, and it’s always drawn a long queue ever since.
Why? Because the chili is good, and the fried chicken wings are just too good to miss.
Drape those wings over a coconut-ty nasi lemak, and you have the ultimate recipe for disaster. Something you’d eat over and over again, with no guilt, whatsoever.
Yong’s Teochew Kueh
If you want kueh, you’ve gotta get Yong’s. It’s just that good. From the traditional taste of your grandmother’s favorite steamed kueh, to the sweet orh-nee (yam) that leaves you thinking of Chinese New Year, you won’t want to miss any of the food here.
As a young boy, I regularly queued for 20 minutes just so that we could get this to my grandmother, and give her something to enjoy.
Behind, you’d see rows of aunties just rolling the kuehs, and stuffing them with radish, greens, so that you can enjoy them.
As you bite into them, they aren’t too oily, or heavy, but they become ones that just burst with flavor in your mouth. At the same time, the ingredients inside taste fresh, and steamed with the right amount.
Alkove
Alkove is probably the one you’d miss, given that the more popular Lola’s is just across the road.
But this is also somewhere you can go for the good ambience and atmosphere, especially if you want something that has air-conditioning.
The food is colorful, and has all the right fusion of spices to give Lola’s a good run for its money.
Still wanting to find more?
Why not try those on this list first?