Food in the 'hood: Favourite eats near my home

I love food. And there's no shortage of yummy food near my home. Thanks to the opening of Paya Lebar Square and, more recently, Singpost Centre, I'm now spoilt for choice whether it's junk food, Asian food, bistro food, or something more upscale that I want. If I feel like good old hawker fare, the town centre with its market and coffee shops are just a stone's throw away.

Here are some of my favourites!

Paya Lebar Square

Jollibee Singapore

Move over KFC, Jollibee is the best fried chicken chain in Singapore. It's no secret that the local franchise owes a lot of its success to the support of the large Filipino community living here, as Jollibee is a brand started in the Philippines. However, Jollibee backs this reputation up by producing food of excellent quality at affordable prices, earning itself a stream of Singaporean converts too. I am one of them. My favourite order gets me a chicken drumstick, a ball of rice, a small tub of brown sauce, two big tubs of brown sauce, and a huge cup of Coke for $5.30. The chicken is consistently cooked to perfection and is super crispy on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. The rice is easy to eat when combined with the delightfully umami brown sauce, and I fancy their Coke to be less diluted than the Coke from other fast food joints so I always get their largest size to wash everything down in the most refreshing way. Finding this place is simple: follow the queue on the ground floor!

5 Little Bears

This cramped little unit in the basement sells traditional Taiwanese food such as braised pork rice and the usual array of deep-fried snacks on skewers. The dish I always get is the oyster mee sua. For $4.50, I can enjoy four plump and juicy oysters swimming in a bowl of starchy and vinegary broth with a generous helping of soft vermicelli noodles.

Soup Spoon

The food from here costs slightly more so I don't eat it as often. But the winter this year has been particularly harsh and it's always nice to have some soup to warm my belly and my soul. I like the Half and Half Set for $8.50 as I get two different types of soup, a hunk of bread, and a cup of ice lemon tea. So far, I enjoy the Velvety Mushroom Stroganoff the most as it's chunky, earthy, creamy, and slightly peppery, all at the same time.

McDonald's and Burger King

These are like hugs from your mother: eternally comforting and always there for you even in your darkest hour. Need I say more? I'm so fortunate to have them right on my doorstep.

Singpost Centre

Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice

Don't claim to be a Singaporean if you don't know Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice. It's an institution in Singapore cuisine and widely regarded as among the top few chicken rice sellers in the country. Starting life as a humble stall in Novena, Wee Nam Kee has grown to include a couple of restaurants here and overseas while keeping their prices affordable and their quality consistent. For generations, its garlicky chilli sauce and fragrant rice have brought nourishment and joy to millions. I was overjoyed when they announced that they were opening a shop in the east, so I can get my fix more conveniently! A one-person serving of chicken rice costs just under $5.

Geylang East Town Centre

Black chicken soup

There are two stalls at the town centre which specialise in soups like lotus root with pork and salted vegetable with duck. My favourite item is black chicken soup for $5. Each stall does a slightly different version: one uses black chicken in a standard clear Chinese herbal soup, while the other cooks up a matching dark-coloured broth with ten types of "tonics". Both are equally good, especially when spooned over the fluffy and fragrant white Jasmine rice.

Geylang has always been known for its food, and it's easy to see why. No matter what it is you're craving, you'll definitely be able to find it, right here less than 15 minutes from the excellent Paya Lebar interchange!