Food Near Novena MRT: 15 Best Places to Eat by Exit (2026)
Novena's dining scene is concentrated in the malls clustered around the MRT — Velocity@Novena Square, Square 2 and United Square — which are directly linked to, or a short covered walk from, the station. The mix leans toward casual sit-down chains and full-service restaurants spanning Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Western cuisines, alongside heritage names like Wee Nam Kee Hainanese chicken rice. Because the area also serves the Health City Novena medical hub, many outlets keep long, consistent daily hours.
Last verified: September 2026. Hours and prices can change — we re-check our guides regularly, but do confirm before a special trip.
The best places to eat near Novena MRT
Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice Hainanese chicken rice · $
Long-running Hainanese chicken rice institution founded in 1987, with its flagship at United Square.
- Cuisine: Hainanese chicken rice
- Price: $ · ~$5.20 single; whole chicken ~$34.40
- Must-try: Steamed/Roasted Hainanese Chicken Rice, Half/Whole Chicken, Chicken Rice set for 2
- Where: 101 Thomson Road, #01-08 United Square, Singapore 307591
- Nearest exit: Exit B, then covered link to United Square (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 10:30am-9:30pm
- Halal: No
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh Singaporean (peppery pork rib soup) · $$
Outlet of the well-known peppery pork rib soup chain that traces back to a Clarke Quay pushcart.
- Cuisine: Singaporean (peppery pork rib soup)
- Price: $$ · ~$8-15 per person
- Must-try: Bak Kut Teh (pork rib soup), Lotus Root Chips with Seaweed
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #01-56 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~2 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9:30pm, Sun 10:30am-9pm
- Halal: No
A-Roy Thai Restaurant Thai · $$
Longstanding sit-down Thai restaurant serving classic curries, salads and seafood.
- Cuisine: Thai
- Price: $$ · mains ~$15-36
- Must-try: Steamed Seabass with Spicy Sour Soup, Thai Green Curry, Mango Sticky Rice
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #03-61 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11am-3pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm
- Halal: No
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Dining Japanese yakiniku (grill buffet) · $$$
Japanese DIY charcoal barbecue chain offering all-you-can-eat wagyu and sides.
- Cuisine: Japanese yakiniku (grill buffet)
- Price: $$$ · buffets from ~$69.80++
- Must-try: Australian Wagyu buffet, Japanese Wagyu buffet, DIY charcoal-grilled meats
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #02-46 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11:30am-10pm
- Halal: No
So Pho Vietnamese · $$
Casual halal Vietnamese eatery known for pho and rolls; confirm current certification at the outlet.
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
- Price: $$ · ~$8-15 per person
- Must-try: Pho (beef/chicken noodle soup), Rice paper rolls, Vietnamese spring rolls
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #02-43/45 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11am-10pm
- Halal: Halal-certified
Curry Times Singaporean / Malaysian curry · $
Casual local-curry and nasi lemak concept from the BreadTalk group.
- Cuisine: Singaporean / Malaysian curry
- Price: $ · ~$8.90++ per dish
- Must-try: Nasi Lemak with Crispy Chicken Wing, Dry Laksa Goreng, Curry rice sets
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #02-33/34 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11am-10pm
Tomi Sushi Japanese sushi · $$$
Sit-down Japanese sushi restaurant using Niigata Koshihikari rice and fresh sashimi.
- Cuisine: Japanese sushi
- Price: $$$ · sets ~$38-65
- Must-try: Sushi Bento, Maguro Zanmai (assorted tuna sushi), Sashimi sets
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #02-76/77 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm
- Halal: No
TungLok Peking Duck Chinese (Peking duck) · $$$
TungLok-group Chinese restaurant specialising in roasted Peking duck.
- Cuisine: Chinese (Peking duck)
- Price: $$$ · whole Peking duck ~$98; dishes ~$32-58
- Must-try: Peking Duck (Irish duck), Wok-fried Truffle Wagyu Beef Cubes, Seafood Millet Rice Claypot
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #02-11 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11:30am-3pm, 5:30pm-10pm
- Halal: No
LONGJING Restaurant Chinese (Zhejiang / Hangzhou) · $$
Zhejiang-style Chinese restaurant (Green Tea Restaurant) known for value-priced regional dishes.
- Cuisine: Chinese (Zhejiang / Hangzhou)
- Price: $$ · dishes ~$5-24
- Must-try: Longjing Roast Chicken, Dong Po Pork, Sister Song's Fish Broth
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #03-09 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11:30am-10pm (last order 9:15pm)
- Halal: No
Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe Hong Kong cha chaan teng · $$
Hong Kong-style cafe open early to late for toast, noodles and milk tea.
- Cuisine: Hong Kong cha chaan teng
- Price: $$ · mains ~$9-13
- Must-try: Papaya Soup Bee Hoon, XO Fried Carrot Cake, Char-grilled Chicken Chop Hotplate
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #01-09 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~2 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 7am-10pm
- Halal: No
Unatoto Japanese unagi (eel) · $$
Japanese specialist serving value-priced grilled eel rice bowls.
- Cuisine: Japanese unagi (eel)
- Price: $$ · affordable unadon; price varies
- Must-try: Unadon (grilled eel rice), Ebi Tempura Don
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #01-84 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~2 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11am-10pm
- Halal: No
Mun Zuk by Li Fang Congee Chinese congee · $
Congee specialist open from morning, handy for a light or early meal.
- Cuisine: Chinese congee
- Price: $ · ~$6.10 per bowl
- Must-try: Creamy Trio Egg Congee, Assorted congee (27 varieties)
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #01-86/87 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~2 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 7:30am-9:30pm
- Halal: No
Mei Heong Yuen Dessert Chinese dessert · $
Traditional Chinese dessert chain known for its snow ice and yam paste.
- Cuisine: Chinese dessert
- Price: $ · ~$3.50-7.50
- Must-try: Mango Ice, Yam Paste (orh nee), Steamed Milk Pudding
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #02-03 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Nearest exit: Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11am-9:30pm
- Halal: No
Soup Restaurant Cantonese · $$
Homestyle Cantonese chain best known for its Samsui ginger chicken.
- Cuisine: Cantonese
- Price: $$ · dishes ~$8-37
- Must-try: Samsui Ginger Chicken, Double-Boiled Herbal Soups, Hometown Tofu
- Where: 101 Thomson Road, #B1-10 United Square, Singapore 307591
- Nearest exit: Exit B, then covered link to United Square (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm & 5:30pm-10pm; Sat-Sun/PH 11:30am-10pm
- Halal: No
Two Men Bagel House Cafe / brunch (bagels) · $$
Popular artisan bagel cafe serving breakfast and brunch near the Novena medical cluster.
- Cuisine: Cafe / brunch (bagels)
- Price: $$ · bagels & sandwiches ~$5-16
- Must-try: Hand-rolled bagels, Egg and filled bagel sandwiches
- Where: 103 Irrawaddy Road, #01-04 Royal Square, Singapore 329566
- Nearest exit: Exit B, ~7 min walk via Irrawaddy Road (~7 min walk)
- Hours: Wed-Mon 9am-3pm (closed Tue)
- Halal: No
At a glance: compare every spot near Novena MRT
| Spot | Cuisine | Price | Nearest exit | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice | Hainanese chicken rice | $ | Exit B, then covered link to United Square | No |
| Song Fa Bak Kut Teh | Singaporean (peppery pork rib soup) | $$ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| A-Roy Thai Restaurant | Thai | $$ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Dining | Japanese yakiniku (grill buffet) | $$$ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| So Pho | Vietnamese | $$ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | Halal-certified |
| Curry Times | Singaporean / Malaysian curry | $ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | — |
| Tomi Sushi | Japanese sushi | $$$ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| TungLok Peking Duck | Chinese (Peking duck) | $$$ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| LONGJING Restaurant | Chinese (Zhejiang / Hangzhou) | $$ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe | Hong Kong cha chaan teng | $$ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| Unatoto | Japanese unagi (eel) | $$ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| Mun Zuk by Li Fang Congee | Chinese congee | $ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| Mei Heong Yuen Dessert | Chinese dessert | $ | Exit B (Velocity@Novena Square / Square 2) | No |
| Soup Restaurant | Cantonese | $$ | Exit B, then covered link to United Square | No |
| Two Men Bagel House | Cafe / brunch (bagels) | $$ | Exit B, ~7 min walk via Irrawaddy Road | No |
Novena MRT food: your questions answered
What food is Novena known for?
Novena is a mall-driven dining district rather than a hawker enclave — most eating happens inside Velocity@Novena Square, Square 2 and United Square, which are linked to or a short walk from the MRT. Expect casual sit-down chains and restaurants across Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Western cuisines, plus a well-known heritage name in Wee Nam Kee Hainanese chicken rice.
Are there halal options near Novena MRT?
Yes, though the safest bets are certified outlets inside Velocity@Novena Square. Fish & Co (Western seafood) regained its MUIS halal certification, and So Pho serves halal Vietnamese food. Certification status can change, so check the current MUIS certificate displayed at the outlet before dining; mall food courts hold certification at the individual stall level.
What are the cheapest eats near Novena MRT?
Wee Nam Kee chicken rice starts around $5.20 a plate, and budget bowls include Mun Zuk congee (~$6) and Mei Heong Yuen desserts (~$3.50-7.50). Curry Times does nasi lemak and curry sets from about $8.90, and the Kopitiam food court linked within the Velocity/Square 2 complex is the most wallet-friendly option for quick meals.
What's open late near Novena MRT?
This is not a late-night dining area — most mall outlets close between 9:30pm and 10pm. Later-running options include Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe (to 10pm) and several Velocity restaurants such as Gyu-Kaku, TungLok Peking Duck, LONGJING and Unatoto, which run until around 10pm. Always confirm closing times before heading down.
Which exit should I use for the main food cluster?
Use Exit B, which leads into Velocity@Novena Square and Square 2 where most restaurants are concentrated. United Square (Wee Nam Kee, Soup Restaurant) is a short covered walk on from there, and Exits A and B both provide barrier-free lift access to Square 2 at ground level.