The best hidden food gems in Thomson

It’s a different kind of smoke sesh at Social Smoker, an American BBQ smokehouse in Sembawang Hills Estate. Come here with an appetite, because large cuts of artisanal wood-smoked meat platters are on the menu, comprising USDA beef brisket, St. Louis pork ribs, smoked chicken leg, and more. You can have the meat stuffed into sandwiches and tacos too. Hearty sides include mac and cheese, cream spinach, and sweet slaw. Top it all off with a refreshing pint of craft beer.

TRY Feed yourself and one other with the three meats platter ($70), which comes with melt-in your-mouth beef briskets, pulled pork, three sides of your choice and some tart house pickles. Sides-wise, we’re partial to the mapled sprouts ($11) and cornbread bibingka ($5/slice).

There’s a number of quality Thai restaurants scattered all around Singapore, but it’s Numnum Thai Kitchen that’s a well-kept secret of the Upper Thomson residents. True to Thai cooking, this casual eatery in Thomson Imperial Court is known for its unabashed use of flavours. There isn’t a particular standout dish, but the menu has all our favourites, from tom yum soup ($12) to mango sticky rice ($6). 

TRY It’s the khai jiaow that has a particular oomph to it. At $28, this fluffy omelette isn’t cheap but it uses real crab meat – none of the imitation crab sticks that a few other restaurants might rely on.

Casuarina Curry and The Roti Prata House may be the most popular, but we’re here to introduce you to Daawat Tandoori – a restaurant that specialises in North Indian cuisine. From amiable staff to tasty and fragrant dishes, Daawat Tandoori is the place to be if you’re looking for a meal that soothes your soul. We recommend coming with friends and family, as the restaurant offers a wide selection of dishes which come in hefty portions.

TRY The palek paneer ($12) – puréed spinach and diced cottage cheese seasoned heavily with ginger, garlic, and garam masala. Some of us weren’t fans of spinach before, but this definitely changed our minds. For meat lovers, skip the butter chicken (though Daawat Tandoori does a pretty good version of the classic) and go for the mutton vindaloo – trust us, it will leave you wanting more.

Located near Sembawang Hills Food Centre, Thus Coffee isn’t the most accessible, but that’s what makes it lesser known amongst the cafés in the Thomson area. The café’s offerings are what you’d expect: full breakfasts ($22), french toasts ($15), and pastas (from $19). While these are all delicious, we highly recommend going for the stews – especially if you’ve just finished a hike. 

TRY The hearty chicken stew ($17), which consists of a cream chicken leg stew with herbed potatoes and carrots. The chicken leg is fall-off-the-bone tender, and the stew also comes with a slice of toasted multigrain bread for you to soak up the yummy stew afterwards.

What's a place called Serangoon BBQ & Curry doing in a list about food gems in Thomson? Well, this humble little hawker stall used to be in Serangoon (it first opened in 1983) but has since made the move to Sin Ming Road where it continues to serve up delicious nasi padang. Expect perfectly seasoned and perfectly barbecued mains – chicken leg, squid, fish – and a bevy of excellent side dishes that will have you struggling to decide. 

TRY The signature BBQ chicken ($7) which comes on a bed of butterfly pea rice and two side dishes. We like the begedil, achar and curry vegetables. 

This old school zi char place is not necessarily a hidden gem since it sees huge crowds during dinner service over the weekends, but Ban Leong Wah Hoe Seafood Restaurant is simply too good not to recommend. This zi char restaurant has been around since 1986, and offers a wide variety of fresh seafood dishes. The owner is both a chef and a fishmonger, meaning you get high quality seafood at affordable prices. 

TRY The chilli crab (from $108), where one kilo worth of crab is cooked directly in a tangy but spicy chilli gravy. The natural sweetness of the crab still comes through, complementing the tangy chilli perfectly.

Some of the best steakhouses in Singapore are classically American, with hefty T-bones and prime ribs. At Rubicon Steak House though, it's a decidedly Japanese joint – Hokkaido steaks (from $59) are the easy favourite, with cuts like tenderloin, sirloin, and ribeye. It comes with a side salad and fries, but you can also choose to add luxe toppings like foie gras ($12) or fried garlic ($2) for a textural crunch.

TRY Besides the Hokkaido steak, the menu features other Japanese dishes like a Japanese beef curry ($19.80) and beef hamburg (from $19.80).

As far as fried chicken goes, Taiwanese fried chicken is a constant winner in our eyes. And that's why so many head over to Xiang Taiwanese Desserts and Food. It's a no-frills casual eatery but they do up a tasty chicken chop ($8.80 with rice) that's equally crispy and tender. Some even claim that it's better than a few fried chicken specialty kiosks that they've tried in Taiwan. 

TRY The lu rou fan (braised pork rice, $7.80) since it's a classic Taiwanese dish and you can use it to gauge if the menu is to your tastebuds. Otherwise, they also have dan dan noodles ($6.80) and a drunken chicken set ($8.80).

Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie is a wonderland of Asian chocolates. We say that because its founder Jerome Penafort has made it a point to source cocoa beans from Malaysia, Vietnam, and more in the region. His aim was to showcase the taste and quality of regional cocoa, which you can savour in the likes of the malty 45% Milk Sungai Ruan or tart 80% Dark Anaimalai. Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie also has a full menu of bon bons, chocolate bars, drinking chocolate, and chocolate liqueur – all made from regional cocoa – so go crazy. 

TRY The bon bons (from $19 for six) are a must-try. They come in delightful Asian-inspired flavours, including salted egg yolk, spicy mala and double soy caramel. 

Run by a Korean elderly couple, Parker Korean Restaurant has been around since the early 2000s, and offers delicious Korean fare at reasonable prices. Even though it’s located along the busy stretch that is Upper Thomson Road, it remains as one of the less-frequented spots. Dig into the hearty seol leong tang ($18), or indulge in the crispy samgyeopsal ($20). 

TRY Whether you’re dining solo or with friends, the goon mandu ($18) is a must-order. These crispy dumplings are filled with pork and spring onions, and come with a tangy but sweet vinegar dipping sauce. It’s a little pricey, but we promise that it’s worth every cent.