Food Near Kovan MRT: 18 Best Places to Eat by Exit (2026)
Kovan is one of Singapore's most beloved north-eastern food neighbourhoods, anchored by the Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre and a long stretch of old-school eateries along Upper Serangoon Road, both a short walk from Kovan MRT. The area blends heritage hawker fare (Teochew porridge, Hainanese curry rice, prawn noodles) with cafes, Thai and Korean spots, and late-night supper haunts. Heartland Mall, connected to the station, adds air-conditioned sit-down options including halal-certified choices.
Last verified: September 2026. Hours and prices can change — we re-check our guides regularly, but do confirm before a special trip.
- Ponggol Nasi Lemak
- Nakhon Kitchen
- Sanook Kitchen
- Ivins Peranakan Restaurant
- Lola's Cafe
- 88 Pocha
- Ding Te Le
- Tachinomiya
- Tian Wai Tian Fish Head Steamboat
- Sin Chie Toke Huan
- Heng Long Teochew Porridge
- Yong's Teochew Kueh
- 51 Ming Fa Wanton Egg Noodle
- Davis Prawn Court
- Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice
- Simon Road Fried Hokkien Mee
- Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap
- The Humble Scoop
The best places to eat near Kovan MRT
Ponggol Nasi Lemak Nasi lemak / Chinese-Malay · $
Long-running nasi lemak brand famous for its crispy fried chicken wings; expect queues at dinner.
- Cuisine: Nasi lemak / Chinese-Malay
- Price: $ · ~$4–8
- Must-try: Crispy chicken wing, Fried fish, Otah
- Where: 965 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534721
- Nearest exit: Upper Serangoon Road side (toward Serangoon end) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 4:30pm–12am (closed Thu)
- Halal: No
Nakhon Kitchen Thai · $$
Popular value Thai eatery known for reasonably priced Bangkok-style dishes; waits are common.
- Cuisine: Thai
- Price: $$ · ~$13/pax; most mains ~$6, seafood $10–12
- Must-try: Green curry, Tom yum soup, Thai-style stir-fries
- Where: 212 Hougang Street 21, #01-341, Singapore 530212
- Nearest exit: Hougang Street 21 side (near Kovan 209 area) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Thu–Tue 12pm–3pm, 5:30pm–10pm; closed Wed
- Halal: No
Sanook Kitchen Thai (halal) · $$
Halal-certified Thai restaurant inside Heartland Mall, convenient for a sit-down meal near the station.
- Cuisine: Thai (halal)
- Price: $$
- Must-try: Pad Thai, Tom yum soup, Thai green curry
- Where: 205 Hougang Street 21, #01-12, Heartland Mall, Singapore 530205
- Nearest exit: Heartland Mall (station-linked) (~2 min walk)
- Halal: Halal-certified
Ivins Peranakan Restaurant Peranakan / Nonya · $$
Long-established family-run Peranakan restaurant serving Nonya classics at accessible prices.
- Cuisine: Peranakan / Nonya
- Price: $$ · Ayam buah keluak ~$7.90; mains vary
- Must-try: Ayam buah keluak, Nyonya laksa, Babi tauyu noodles
- Where: 205 Hougang Street 21, #02-20/21, Heartland Mall, Singapore 530205
- Nearest exit: Heartland Mall (station-linked) (~2 min walk)
- Halal: No
Lola's Cafe Contemporary cafe / brunch · $$
Well-known neighbourhood brunch cafe near Kovan MRT, busy on weekends.
- Cuisine: Contemporary cafe / brunch
- Price: $$ · Mains ~$18–20++; desserts ~$7
- Must-try: Garlic soy fried chicken burger, Honey paprika crispy wings, Black sesame tart
- Where: 5 Simon Road, Singapore 545893
- Nearest exit: Toward Simon Road (~6 min walk)
- Hours: Tue–Fri 10am–10pm; Sat–Sun 9am–10pm (closed Mon)
- Halal: No
88 Pocha Korean · $$
Korean pojangmacha-style eatery serving late for drinks and Korean supper fare.
- Cuisine: Korean
- Price: $$ · Dishes ~$17–26++
- Must-try: Spicy chicken feet with rice ball, Oden soup
- Where: 957 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534717
- Nearest exit: Upper Serangoon Road side (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30am–3pm, 5:30pm–12am; Sat–Sun 11:30am–12am
- Halal: No
Ding Te Le Shanghainese · $$
Neighbourhood Shanghainese spot known for xiao long bao and pan-fried buns.
- Cuisine: Shanghainese
- Price: $$
- Must-try: Xiao long bao, Sheng jian bao, Shanghai fried noodles
- Where: 949 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534713
- Nearest exit: Upper Serangoon Road side (~5 min walk)
- Halal: No
Tachinomiya Japanese izakaya · $$
Casual standing-style izakaya serving grilled skewers and sake into the night.
- Cuisine: Japanese izakaya
- Price: $$ · Skewers ~$5; small plates ~$6.80
- Must-try: Cheese mentaiko scallop, Mentai salmon kushiyaki, Unagi kushiyaki
- Where: 211 Hougang Street 21, #01-285, Singapore 530211
- Nearest exit: Hougang Street 21 side (~4 min walk)
- Hours: Mon–Fri 5pm–12am; Sat–Sun 11:30am–12am
- Halal: No
Tian Wai Tian Fish Head Steamboat Zi char / steamboat · $$$
Zi char and fish head steamboat spot good for group dinners.
- Cuisine: Zi char / steamboat
- Price: $$$ · Fish head steamboat from ~$35
- Must-try: Fish head steamboat with garoupa, Beancurd prawns, Prawn paste chicken
- Where: 203 Hougang Street 21, #01-89, MEETUP @ 203, Singapore 530203
- Nearest exit: Hougang Street 21 side (~4 min walk)
- Hours: Tue–Sun 4:30pm–10:30pm
- Halal: No
Sin Chie Toke Huan Hainanese curry rice · $
Old-school Hainanese curry rice served late into the night.
- Cuisine: Hainanese curry rice
- Price: $ · ~$4–7; cendol ~$3
- Must-try: Hainanese curry rice, Pork chop, Cendol
- Where: 1018 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534756
- Nearest exit: Upper Serangoon Road side (toward Hougang end) (~6 min walk)
- Hours: Sun–Thu 5pm–2:30am
- Halal: No
Heng Long Teochew Porridge Teochew porridge · $
Late-night Teochew porridge stall with a spread of home-style dishes.
- Cuisine: Teochew porridge
- Price: $ · ~$5–10 per person
- Must-try: Braised pork belly, Chai poh omelette, Braised tau kee
- Where: 1012 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534750
- Nearest exit: Upper Serangoon Road side (toward Hougang end) (~6 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 10am–2am
- Halal: No
Yong's Teochew Kueh Teochew kueh / snacks · $
Long-running stall making handmade Teochew kueh in-house since the 1980s.
- Cuisine: Teochew kueh / snacks
- Price: $ · ~$1.70–1.80 per piece
- Must-try: Soon kueh, Ku chye kueh, Glutinous rice kueh
- Where: 1022 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534760
- Nearest exit: Upper Serangoon Road side (toward Hougang end) (~6 min walk)
- Hours: Tue–Sun 7am–3pm
51 Ming Fa Wanton Egg Noodle Cantonese noodles · $
Community-favourite wanton noodle stall known for well-charred char siew and springy noodles.
- Cuisine: Cantonese noodles
- Price: $ · Dry wanton noodle ~$4; special ~$5.50
- Must-try: Wanton noodle (dry), Char siew, Special noodles
- Where: 209 Hougang Street 21, #01-64, Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre, Singapore 530209
- Nearest exit: Toward Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Wed–Sat 6am–2pm; Sun 6am–5pm
- Halal: No
Davis Prawn Court Prawn noodles · $
Hawker prawn noodle stall inside Kovan 209 Market with premium abalone options.
- Cuisine: Prawn noodles
- Price: $ · From ~$4.80; abalone prawn noodle ~$12
- Must-try: Hokkien prawn noodles, Davis prawn noodles, Abalone prawn noodle
- Where: 209 Hougang Street 21, #01-37, Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre, Singapore 530209
- Nearest exit: Toward Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Mon 7am–9pm; Wed–Sun 7am–3pm
- Halal: No
Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice Hong Kong-style breakfast · $
Hawker stall serving Hong Kong-style silky scrambled egg rice bowls.
- Cuisine: Hong Kong-style breakfast
- Price: $ · ~$6
- Must-try: Mala pork scrambled egg rice, Scrambled egg rice
- Where: 209 Hougang Street 21, #01-24, Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre, Singapore 530209
- Nearest exit: Toward Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 10:30am–9pm
- Halal: No
Simon Road Fried Hokkien Mee Hokkien mee · $
Wok-fried Hokkien prawn mee stall along the Gourmet Street stretch.
- Cuisine: Hokkien mee
- Price: $ · ~$4–10
- Must-try: Fried Hokkien prawn mee
- Where: 210 Hougang Street 21, Gourmet Street, Singapore 530210
- Nearest exit: Hougang Street 21 side (~4 min walk)
- Hours: Wed–Sun 10:30am–9pm (closed Mon–Tue)
- Halal: No
Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap Thai · $
Casual spot serving Thai-style kway chap with braised pork and offals.
- Cuisine: Thai
- Price: $ · Affordable
- Must-try: Thai-style kway chap, Braised pork belly, Pork offals
- Where: 945 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534711
- Nearest exit: Upper Serangoon Road side (~5 min walk)
- Halal: No
The Humble Scoop Ice cream / dessert · $
Ice cream shop offering locally-inspired flavours near the station.
- Cuisine: Ice cream / dessert
- Price: $
- Must-try: Orh haw ice cream, Pulut hitam, Gula melaka
- Where: 988 Upper Serangoon Road, #01-02, Stars of Kovan, Singapore 534734
- Nearest exit: Upper Serangoon Road side (Stars of Kovan) (~5 min walk)
At a glance: compare every spot near Kovan MRT
| Spot | Cuisine | Price | Nearest exit | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponggol Nasi Lemak | Nasi lemak / Chinese-Malay | $ | Upper Serangoon Road side (toward Serangoon end) | No |
| Nakhon Kitchen | Thai | $$ | Hougang Street 21 side (near Kovan 209 area) | No |
| Sanook Kitchen | Thai (halal) | $$ | Heartland Mall (station-linked) | Halal-certified |
| Ivins Peranakan Restaurant | Peranakan / Nonya | $$ | Heartland Mall (station-linked) | No |
| Lola's Cafe | Contemporary cafe / brunch | $$ | Toward Simon Road | No |
| 88 Pocha | Korean | $$ | Upper Serangoon Road side | No |
| Ding Te Le | Shanghainese | $$ | Upper Serangoon Road side | No |
| Tachinomiya | Japanese izakaya | $$ | Hougang Street 21 side | No |
| Tian Wai Tian Fish Head Steamboat | Zi char / steamboat | $$$ | Hougang Street 21 side | No |
| Sin Chie Toke Huan | Hainanese curry rice | $ | Upper Serangoon Road side (toward Hougang end) | No |
| Heng Long Teochew Porridge | Teochew porridge | $ | Upper Serangoon Road side (toward Hougang end) | No |
| Yong's Teochew Kueh | Teochew kueh / snacks | $ | Upper Serangoon Road side (toward Hougang end) | — |
| 51 Ming Fa Wanton Egg Noodle | Cantonese noodles | $ | Toward Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre | No |
| Davis Prawn Court | Prawn noodles | $ | Toward Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre | No |
| Kovan Scrambled Egg Rice | Hong Kong-style breakfast | $ | Toward Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre | No |
| Simon Road Fried Hokkien Mee | Hokkien mee | $ | Hougang Street 21 side | No |
| Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap | Thai | $ | Upper Serangoon Road side | No |
| The Humble Scoop | Ice cream / dessert | $ | Upper Serangoon Road side (Stars of Kovan) | — |
Kovan MRT food: your questions answered
What food is Kovan known for?
Kovan is known for heritage hawker fare and old-school eateries, especially the stalls in Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre (wanton noodles, prawn noodles, Teochew fishball noodles) and the Upper Serangoon Road stretch famous for Ponggol Nasi Lemak, Hainanese curry rice and Teochew porridge. The area also has a growing number of cafes, plus Thai, Korean and Japanese eateries.
Are there halal options near Kovan MRT?
Halal-certified sit-down options right at the station are limited but do exist. Sanook Kitchen (halal-certified Thai) is inside Heartland Mall, which is linked to Kovan MRT, along with halal takeaway chains such as Mr Bean and PrimaDeli. Many hawker and Upper Serangoon Road eateries serve pork and are not halal, so always confirm certification with the outlet before visiting.
Where are the cheapest eats near Kovan MRT?
The cheapest eats are in Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre and along Upper Serangoon Road. Teochew kueh at Yong's costs around $1.70–1.80 a piece, hawker noodle bowls (wanton, prawn, Hokkien mee) run roughly $4–6, and Hainanese curry rice or Teochew porridge come in around $5–7 per person.
What's open late near Kovan MRT?
For supper, Heng Long Teochew Porridge runs daily until 2am and Sin Chie Toke Huan (Hainanese curry rice) is open until around 2:30am (Sun–Thu). 88 Pocha (Korean) serves until midnight. Hours can change, so check before heading down late.
Which MRT exit is closest to the main Kovan food cluster?
The two main clusters are Heartland Mall, which is directly connected to Kovan MRT, and Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre plus the Hougang Street 21 eateries, which are a short walk across from the station. The Upper Serangoon Road hawker row is a few minutes' walk along the main road. Follow signs toward Heartland Mall / Kovan 209 Market; exit letters can vary, so use the in-station signage.
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