What to Eat in Sembawang, Yishun, and More: A Guide to All The Best Food in The North

Casual restaurants and eateries for a worthwhile trip to North Singapore

Popular Halal Places • Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant • El Carbon

Japanese • YAYOI

Tasty Classics • Orchid Live Seafood • White Restaurant – Mini Buffet

North Singapore is oft (and unfairly) overlooked when it comes to picking where to eat for lunch or dinner. But, Yishun (you should) not let distance stop you from venturing to these dining spots! From hearty seafood to casual Japanese dining, here are five places in Sembawang, Yishun, and more, for good food while living up to your “will-travel-for-food” philosophy.

1. Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant

Tuck into your favourite zichar dishes with a relaxing atmosphere at Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant, a time-honoured restaurant that offers picturesque seaside views worth travelling for. 

Its no-frills, Halal Chinese cuisine is widely enjoyed by both Muslim and non-Muslim diners, with set menu and ala carte options aplenty. Start with the Salted Vegetable Seafood & Tofu Soup (from $10) to awaken your palates and whet your appetites. Then, move on to the Rasa Istimewa Curry Fish Head ($25), a delicate snapperhead well-flavoured with a rich and fiery curry that will set taste buds singing. For a unique take on vegetable dishes, look no further than the Dual Flavour Kailan (from $12) done two ways: stir-fried and deep-fried. The distinctive textures will certainly have you coming back for more.

Other dishes worth checking out include Hotplate-Seafood with Fried Tofu & Egg, BBQ Stingray, and Prawn Paste Chicken, so don’t miss out! 

Where: 6A Admirality Road West, Woodland Waterfront Park, Singapore, 757445

2. YAYOI

Japanese restaurant YAYOI serves authentic teishoku-style dishes. Fun fact: this is its tenth outlet in Singapore! This place is perfect for families and small groups in Yishun craving good Japanese food.

Choose from mouth-watering bento, donburi, and curry rice sets that are crafted with fresh ingredients. Have it your way with the Kaminabe Zen (from $22.90), a customised soup served with assorted vegetables and your choice of chicken, pork belly, hotate, salmon, or beef. Or order the Mabushi (from $20.90) to enjoy delicious snow crab or unagi three ways: with rice, Japanese broth, and other condiments. 

If rice bowls aren’t your thing, YAYOI also sells noodles, which includes moreish udon and ramen. The Wakame Udon ($9.90) is a light and tasty option, served with seaweed and fishcake. 

Where: 930 Yishun Avenue 2, #B1-103/104, Singapore, 769098 (Northpoint)

3. El Carbon

Opened by the same group that brought us COLLIN’s, Halal-Western specialist El Carbon is proof coffeeshop dining doesn’t mean skimping on quality ingredients.

The secret’s in the Mibrasa charcoal oven used to grill their meats. They use a closed barbecue grill setup, so all the smoky charcoal flavour is infused in every cut. This results in delicious meats guaranteed to set you wanting more. We recommend the Signature Char-Grilled Chicken Chop with Black Pepper Sauce ($9.50), served with spaghetti aglio olio, corn cob, and mesclun salad. The Fish ‘N’ Prawn Tempura with Cheese & Garlic Aioli ($18.50) is another stand-out signature dish. Comprising breaded Haddock fish and prawn tempura, both stars are tasty with great batter-to-meat ratios. 

Ordering for a large house gathering or office party? Get free delivery with a minimum spend of $120 from the full menu, or 15% off when you order $100 worth of food (not applicable to bento and seasonal items). 

4. Orchid Live Seafood

Live lobster porridge is one of the few dishes that means indulgence and comfort at the same time. For that we have Orchid Live Seafood to thank for this famed food. This household name has been dishing up Teochew-style seafood since its original location opened at Orchid Country Club in 1999. 

With live seafood caught to order from the tanks, you can be sure about freshness. Signature dishes include Lobster Porridge (from $72) and Teochew Cold Crab ($70 for two 400-500g crabs). You can also enjoy their famous Steven Chicken (from $16), made with a special marinade created by their founder. Every dish is guaranteed delicious, and it’s easy to see why Orchid Live Seafood consistently tops most lists in Yishun for good food.

Enjoy free island-wide delivery with orders of $150 and above!

5. White Restaurant

Ask any foodie for food recommendations in Sembawang, and the first answer is almost always Sembawang White Beehoon. Indeed, White Restaurant has made a name for itself with its beloved homemade dish whipped up by founder Mr Tay. 

The highlight, Original White Beehoon (from $8.69), now has a Mala version (from $10.89) for Sichuan food lovers. Coated with light and tasty gravy, this needs no introduction as regulars often praise its consistently-fresh ingredients. 

Other must-try items include Wok Fried Chicken in Chef’s Special Sauce (from $20.68), Cereal Prawns (from $22.88), and Pork Ribs coated with Chef’s Special Sauce (from $17.38). If you’re having a large gathering or celebration, good news. These are all available in their Mini Buffering Catering Menu (from $268)! 

There you have it: your guide for what to eat in Yishun or Sembawang next time you’re in Singapore’s north neighbourhoods! Discover more hidden gems for dine-in, pick-up, or delivery on Oddle Eats.