Seletar Western Food and 15 Other Great Food in Seletar

Tucked away in Seletar Corner, a rather obscure coffee shop at Jalan Seleseh, at first glance you might not even know that it is home to one of Singapore’s most well-regarded old school western food. Seletar Western Food has actually been around for over two decades, serving up hearty unpretentious fare. The most popular items on the menu are Fish & Chips and Chicken Chop, and all dishes are served with a side of baked beans, side salad and buns. Surprisingly, the deep-fried buns are a crowd favourite. They are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside – cut it in half and make your very own sandwich! Every bite is sure to evoke precious childhood memories.

Opened by the folks behind Wheeler’s Yard, Wheeler’s Estate is housed in a beautifully restored colonial bungalow which comprises different areas: a restaurant, cafe, bar, lawn, as well as bicycles available for rent. It’s not hard to see why it’s an extremely popular spot with local Instagrammers! On the first floor is The Lawn, a café for diners to grab mats and a basket of snacks for a picnic out on the field, and the Grill House, a separate spot for charcoal-grilled meats and burgers. Head upstairs to The Verandah and be treated to Australian fare in a gorgeous minimalist setting. Set amidst rustic vibes that blend with lush, abundant nature at every corner, Wheeler’s Estate is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Seletar Hill Restaurant is a bit more ulu, but it’s a favourite among residents here. Dishing out American-style Chinese Szechuan food for over twenty years, their 8-person set menu ($295++) includes General Tso’s Chicken and Orange Crispy Beef, and is a great pick for large family gatherings. Also worth a mention is their signature dish – Camphor Tea Smoked Duck, which is marinated in a blend of tea leaves, Szechuan peppercorn, anise seed, cinnamon, cumin, and then smoked with camphor wood charcoal and orange peel.

Located at Jalan Selaseh, Trovato is a cafe by day and restaurant by night offering modern Italian food. Their menu features a wide range of selections from pasta to brick-fired pizza. A must-try from their pasta selection is Puttanesca Di Mare, a seafood lover's dream with a tomato base infused with black olives, capers and anchovies. Or if you’re feeling pizza, go for Calzone (Halfmoon) that’s served with streaky bacon, onion, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese or Trovato's Special served with charcoal pizza base!  They also offer a wide range of drinks selections such as cocktails, bottled craft, mocktails and homemade drinks.

The Summerhouse is home to both Wildseed – a casual café and bar – and The Summerhouse Dining Room, the main restaurant that’s on the second floor of the conserved colonial bungalow. The establishment follows a farm-to-table approach: produce is sourced from locals and Malaysian farms, and garnishes are grown at their onsite garden. For an extra romantic time with your special someone, book one of their Garden Domes and partake in dinner together under the stars, set amidst lush greenery and romantic fairy lights!

If you haven’t heard of the infamous “Jalan Kayu Prata”, you must be living under a rock. Opened since the 1960s, Thasevi is one of the area’s most famous prata shops and they take their craft seriously. It’s definitely one of the joints every Singaporean foodie has to hit up at least once. Their plain prata is known for being crispy on the outside, and pleasantly doughy on the inside. Best of all, it’s open 24 hours – so you know where to go when the late-night craving hits!

Another well-known Chinese restaurant in the Seletar area, Di Wei Teochew Restaurant is a heritage spot just beside The Summerhouse. Here, you’ll find classic plates of braised duck and beancurd, prawn balls and Teochew-style steamed pomfret, complete with Teochew-styled cold crab if you’re early enough to get some! The variety here is certainly in no short supply, so brace yourself for a gastronomic treat.

Want to avoid the crowds at The Summerhouse and Wheeler’s Estate? A lesser-known hangout at Seletar Aerospace Park, 5 by Sans Façon is a peaceful French eatery offering a tranquil experience with home-style dishes. It features The Chef Table, a gastronomical experience that changes daily. With a seasonal menu to keep you excited for what’s to come, enjoy sipping on a latte while basking in the view of the planes taking off at the Seletar Airport Runway!

Located within the same coffeeshop as Seletar Western Food, Cheng Hui 72 Handmade Wanton Noodle specialises in yummy wanton mee. The superb egg noodles take centre stage here, and it’s perfectly springy and remains that way even if you go through your meal slowly. You can also have your wanton mee in different ways – the usual style with just chilli sauce and lard oil, or the KL style where the noodles are tossed in black soy sauce, chilli sauce and heaped with fragrant pork lard. The other stars are the juicy dumplings and wantons which are handmade fresh everyday! Filled with fresh minced pork and flavoured with dried sole fish, you can truly taste the difference here.

Dolphin's Tavern offers some of the best Western and Peranakan cuisine in Singapore, serving a tantalising collection of dishes suitable for both casual dining and group gatherings. Every dish is prepared using only the freshest and most delicious ingredients, so you know that you’re getting a quality meal whenever you’re at Dolphin's Tavern. Some must-try items include their signature braised oxtail, which is stewed for long hours creating super tender meat that still retains a superb taste!

How about dining in a real aeroplane hangar? Hangar66 Cafe is the first true aviation themed cafe & bistro in Singapore where you can enjoy great food and drinks and beer while being up close and personal on what goes on inside a plane hangar. Nowhere else in Singapore will you be able to learn about and dine side-by-side with a helicopter located right on the cafe floor! Hidden away in the Seletar Aerospace district, the cafe’s secluded locale provides a tranquil escape from the city. We recommend getting window seats, or dining alfresco, where you can see low-rise buildings and expansive green fields for as far as the eyes can see.

Fancy some modern European dishes? YOUNGS offers brunch, lunch sets, afternoon tea and dinner to satisfy all cravings. The menu is inspired by the colourful cities of Europe, featuring dishes like French-style mussel pots, lobster alfredo and buttermilk chicken schnitzel. Other signatures include a flank steak served on a bed of mashed potatoes, and a snapper and clam dish reminiscent of something you would find on holiday in a Spanish coastal town!

When an American named Jerry decided to set up shop in the desolate Jalan Kayu area in 1994, little did he know how popular the restaurant would become. In the early 90s, buffalo wings were gaining popularity in America and many believe that Jerry was the first to bring it to Singapore shores! Apart from their superb buffalo wings, the baby back pork ribs are also a star here. A thick layer of fall-off-the-bone meat is layered with a savoury tomato-based barbecue sauce, and the dish oozes with flavour with every bite!

Looking for a chill cafe experience where you can do some plane-watching or admire the setting sun? With bicycles, art and other cycling-related decor on its walls, Soek Seng 1954 Bicycle Cafè serves a mix of Western, Japanese and local food like sirloin steak and katsu don. The cafe is also a great vantage point for watching planes take off and landing at Seletar Airport in the distance!

Dubbed the friendliest neighbourhood bar, Georges aims to provide a home with good food, great music, and "mad" people, an ideal place for those who expect and deserve that little bit more. Founded in 1999, Georges has roots that trace back to a humble sea sports centre. Today, it has evolved with time into a bar serving western grills and burgers for the gathering of a fun-loving crowd!