SINGAPORE: Changi Village is a modern village situated at the northern tip of Changi at the eastern end of Singapore. It consists of landmarks such as the Changi Beach, Changi Point Ferry Terminal and the old haunted Changi Hospital, built in 1935 before the war for the British Military. Changi Village is also the connecting point for travellers heading to Pulau Ubin or Pengerang, Malaysia, by ferry. In addition, fishermen and anglers heading to the Straits of Johor also use the nearby jetty as a point to leave the main island of Singapore.
Changi Village is not just a foodie spot. It's also a perfect place to spend the whole weekend there. You can start with breakfast at Changi Village Hawker centre or grab an oven-baked curry puff. After breakfast, hop on a ferry to Pulau Ubin, rent a bicycle and explore the island's nature. Then, head back to Changi Village for lunch; either you get a dum biryani, a roti prata and Hainanese Western Food. If you want something light, there are French crepes too. After your lunch, head to the beach to enjoy the sun, sand and sea. In the evening, there is a brewery, bar and others to choose from. There is something for everyone.
Here is a list of food places in Changi Village you can explore.
Changi Village Hawker Centre
At the heart of sleepy Changi Village is the Changi Village Hawker Centre. The Government built the Changi Village Hawker Centre in 1975 has been a lunch and dinner spot serving the workers in nearby airport logistic park and anglers, beachgoers, or weekenders on the way to Pulau Ubin. Here are Food at Changi Village Hawker Centre worth traveling to (burgernbacon.com)
Best Karipap
Best Karipap was opened recently, specialising in baked curry puff with creative fillings, such as Mutton Briyani, which is mutton with Briyani spices. So you get the taste of Mutton Briyani without the rice. Other flavours include Beef Briyani, Mutton Black Pepper and the classic potato curry.
Kung Fu JB Pau (Changi Village)
"Pau" is a steamed bun in Chinese. My mum swears by it. This is where we get our pau craving fixed. The meat bun uses chopped pork instead of minced pork, which will give you a bite. They also have other items such as Amy Yip's Jumbo Bun (S$4) and Rice Dumpling within a bun (S$4.6). If you don't want to have steamed buns, there is dim sum too.
NDO Cafe
NDO Cafe is almost at the corner of Changi Village, which can be easily missed. However, NDO Cafe serves a very different fare which you don't expect to find in Changi Village. This tiny cafe, with its bright décor, gives you the unmistakable European Beach Boys vibe.
Cahaya Timur Briyani House
Cahaya Timur Briyani House serves traditionally cooked Dum Briyani, with a three-generation old recipe since 1935. You might have a hard time deciding which briyani you want after seeing eight different types. It is important to note that they make real dum briyani, where the rice is cooked over a bed of large chunk mutton in a large aluminium pot.
89.7 Supper Club
This is simply a Roti Prata place with everything else. Besides the usual mee goreng, mutton soup, you can get halal western and Chinese food too. Open 24 hrs, this is our beloved Malay Indian Muslim go-to place, and it will never go wrong.
Jacob's Cafe
Jacob's Cafe was opened in September 2000 by a couple serving Old-Fashioned, Country Western food. They have some Hainanese dishes too, such as Hainanese Mutton Stew (S$15.9) and Hainanese Braised Pork Knuckles. This is simply an old school local western restaurant.
Click here to find out more: Jacob's Cafe, A Hainanese Western Restaurant in Changi Village (burgernbacon.com)
Chock Full of Beans
Chock Full of Beans is ideal for people looking for a laid-back and cosy place to chill out with family and friends. It has a wide variety of food choices ranging from pasta, sandwiches, cakes and desserts. However, I go there primarily for coffee.
Makan Melaka Cendol
After a hot afternoon filled with activities, there is no better way to cool down than to have a bowl of ice-cold cendol. This is no ordinary cendol, it's Melaka Cendol. The basic bowl (S$1.7) is simple enough with just cendol, gula Melaka and coconut milk. Yet, satisfying.
You have to also get the Pisang Goreng Melaka. This Malacca-style fried banana is surprisingly addictive with Chilli Kicap.
Ciclo e Caffè
Newly opened and a bicycle theme cafe. Ciclo e Caffè serves speciality coffee. However, their biggest draw is their display of vintage bicycles. I am sure these bicycles will attract the large cycling community who will pass by Changi Village every weekend.
Pranakorn
Pranakorn is the only Thai Restaurant in the area. The head chef was born and raised in Chonburi, Thailand. Inspired by her fond memories of home, she recreated the taste here in this restaurant. This small, cosy place served up a good old Stir-Fried Spicy Basil Minced Pork, with rice and a fried egg. Every time I have it, it makes me miss Thailand.
Charlie's Corner
Charlie's Corner, established in 1979, is a quaint dining restaurant and bar located at Changi Village. It might be the first bar I went to when I reached the legal age to drink. There are two items I have been ordering for years, Charlie's Special Fish & Chips (S$17) and the Charlie's Burger (S$11) with Mashed Potatoes (S$3).
Little Island Brewing Co
Little Island Brewing is a stone's throw away from Changi Village Hawker Centre, towards the beach. It is both a microbrewery and a smokehouse—meat and beer, what is there not to like. The ability to eat under the stars is a nice cherry on the cake.
KiBar Japanese Grill + Bistro
KiBar, The Izakaya By Changi Beach (burgernbacon.com) is an all-day restaurant serving modern French + Japanese Fusion in the day and transforms into a bar for modern Japanese tapas-style dining in the evenings. It has both outdoors and indoors seatings which is a nice way to end a day at the Changi beach. With a wide selection of sake, it is a sake lover's paradise. Nothing beats having some Japanese grills, cooked over Binchotan Charcoal, and sipping the sweet sweet sake.
This quiet little area in the eastern end of Singapore continues to give us surprises. It's a perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.