The Quiet Mall at the Heart of Serangoon Gardens
Serangoon Gardens has always been known for its hawker stalls at Chomp Chomp Food Centre, but the neighbourhood's mall, myVillage, holds several dining options you will not find anywhere else. The mall sits at 1 Maju Avenue, at the corner of Serangoon Garden Way, and marries light-hearted nostalgia with modern convenience - a place to buy daily essentials, pamper yourself, and eat well without leaving the estate.
Here are four places worth a detour at myVillage, from Cantonese zi char to no-frills steaks.
East Bistro - Cantonese and Teochew Zi Char
East Bistro on the second floor is for those craving Cantonese and Teochew dishes, wholesome zi char-style food, and a variety of dim sum. The kitchen is helmed by head chef Tony Wong, who previously spearheaded the Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Lei Garden.
Recommended items include the Salted Garoupa Slices ($36/$54/$72), Signature Baked Chicken with Salt ($20/$40), and an intriguing Sweet and Sour Pork on Ice ($18/$27/$36). The must-order is the Crispy Rice with Crab in Superior Soup ($55) - watch the golden fried rice crisps crackle as they are tossed into the porridge. The dish is warming, and the sweetness of the seafood absorbs into the grains and stock.
For dim sum, go for the "Mushroom" Char Siew Bao, Egg Yolk Custard Croissant, and the Chilled Mango Sago Cream with Pomelo, which comes with a generous amount of freshly cut fruit. East Bistro opens 10am to 10pm daily.
Hajime Tonkatsu and Ramen - 25 Years of Japanese Craft
Hajime is Japanese for "beginning" and the short form for "Hajimemashite", meaning "Nice to meet you". The chef trained in Japan and was Singapore's first tonkatsu chef before leading the kitchens of Tonkichi and Tampopo.
The Premium Pork Loin ($21.90 nett) uses air-flown Japanese pork, coated with freshly made breadcrumbs for extra crunch and served with miso sauce from Nagoya and finely shredded cabbage. Each order comes with Niigata rice, tonjiru soup, and ground roasted sesame.
The standout is the Ebi Fry Ramen ($16.90 nett) - a one-of-a-kind ramen developed after months of research. Its 12-hour tonkotsu broth is infused with a secret in-house Sakura ebi paste, paired with loin rib chasu and the chef's crunchy ebi fry, topped with menma, bean sprouts, and crispy Sakura ebi. The soup has a distinct sweetness from the prawns. Hajime opens 11:30am to 2:45pm and 6pm to 9:30pm on weekdays, with a slightly later dinner start on weekends.
iSTEAKS Diner - Steakhouse Quality at Heartland Prices
If you want steakhouse-quality food without the steakhouse bill, iSTEAKS Diner is the myVillage staple. The restaurant started at a coffee shop in Serangoon and grew a loyal following before moving into the mall, keeping its original warm service and familiar environment.
The menu lists steaks in various cuts and quality, all sourced from fine butcheries. The Australian Tenderloin ($45.50 for 250g) is 150-day grain-fed. For groups, the Australian Wagyu D-Rump ms4/5 ($99 for 1.2kg) feeds four. The 250g New Zealand Ribeye ($23.50) is a popular single cut. All iSTEAKS grill specials come with two complementary sides - mashed potato, crunchy potato salad, baked olive rice, macaroni and cheese, or coleslaw. The diner opens 8am to 11pm daily.
Little Farms Bar + Grill - Easygoing Neighbourhood Plates
Little Farms Bar + Grill on the ground floor offers a vibrant yet easygoing dining room focused on fresh produce and natural wines. The Serangoon Gardens outlet is at #01-09/10, and the menu leans on the Little Farms grocery supply chain - so the vegetables, meats, and cheeses are the same quality you would buy off their shelves. It is the kind of place you settle into for a long lunch on a weekend, not a rushed weekday grab.
Practical Details
- Address: 1 Maju Avenue, myVillage @ Serangoon Gardens, Singapore 556679
- Nearest MRT: Serangoon (North-East Line / Circle Line), then a short bus or taxi ride
- Mall hours: Most outlets open 10am to 10pm
- Website: myvillage.sg
myVillage is not a mall you travel across Singapore for. It is a mall you use because you live here. The food reflects that - honest, unfussy, and run by people who have been cooking in the neighbourhood for years.