10 Rail Mall food spots to quell your hunger pangs

Looking for Rail Mall food options? Located along Upper Bukit Timah Road, The Rail Mall is a stone’s throw from Hillview MRT and offers a serene escape from the bustling pace of Singapore’s urban life. It’s an easy sight to catch on a trek along the Rail Corridor, too, especially since it’s near the photo-worthy Truss Bridge. 

Whether it’s a pitstop or the end point for your trek, we’d say it’s definitely worth your while to explore the row of single-storied eateries in the area. It’s a charming respite from the gigantic shopping malls that we are so often used to.

While you’re there, don’t forget to snap some photos of the wall murals for the ‘gram at The Rail Mall, painted by local artist Yip Yew Chong, that depicts scenes from Singapore’s history.

If you’re in the area and wondering about food, here’s a list of our must-go Rail Mall food options.

1. Hitoyoshi Yakiniku

The Rail Mall, 380/382 Upper Bukit Timah Road 
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 3pm, 5pm to 9.30pm)

Why visit? Here’s a hidden Rail Mall food gem for meat lovers and buffet foodies. Situated at the end of the right stretch of The Rail Mall is Hitoyoshi Yakiniku, famed for its premium all-you-can-eat buffet.  

Hitoyoshi’s buffet spread is extensive. Other than its Japanese-styled grilled meats, there are seafood options and even cooked food options like maki rolls, noodle dishes and more.

Most people come for the highlight — its quality cuts of melt-in-your-mouth beef. Prices here can be steep, averaging S$100 per diner, but the quality of the produce is worth every dollar.

Crowd favourites: The premium meat option, A5 Miyazaki wagyu buffet (S$118 for adult diners), features the award-winning A5 Miyazaki beef, known as the best quality of wagyu. Alternatively, if you’re still up for beef but want something easier on the wallet, opt for its US black angus buffet (S$62 for adult diners).

2. Rangooli Restaurant

The Rail Mall, 456 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 3.30pm, 5.30pm to 10.30pm), Saturday and Sunday (8.30am to 3.30pm, 5.30pm to 10.30pm)

Why visit? For authentic north Indian cuisine, look no further than Rangooli Restaurant. Its chefs hail from northern India and want to bring you the traditional dishes they love and enjoy. 

Established in the 1990s, Rangooli has both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items on its menu and is a go-to for anyone who wants hearty, Indian cuisine that wouldn’t break the bank. We can’t refuse their hearty dishes such as naans and briyani, especially when you’ll probably only spend about S$30 per person here.

Crowd favourites: A hot favourite is its butter chicken (from S$13.50) — tender chicken soaked in creamy buttery gravy. Don’t miss out on its palak paneer (from S$14), a classic dish of cottage cheese cooked with fresh spinach and cream.

3. Springleaf Prata Place

The Rail Mall, 396 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (8am to 11.30pm)

Why visit? Springleaf Prata Place is a household name with many Singaporeans, with many of us loving its unique prata creations. It’s no wonder that this restaurant has 12 outlets to its name, with The Rail Mall being just one of its many outlets in the west. Springleaf Prata is also one of our top picks when it comes to Rail Mall’s halal food options.

Its pratas are crispy on the outside and doughy on the inside. Other than the classic variants such as egg prata or cheese prata, it also has modern options such as prata with eggs benedict. Not in the mood for prata? It has mains such as mee goreng and other side dishes, too. 

Crowd favourites: Plaster Blaster (S$6.90) is a prata-eggs benedict fusion dish, where prata is served with a poached egg, ham and hollandaise sauce. Its Murtaburger (S$8.90) is an interesting mix of lamb murtabak and a Ramly burger.

4. Sunnychoice

The Rail Mall, 434 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (10.30am to 9pm)

Why visit? Sunnychoice, a Rail Mall vegetarian food spot, has been on a mission to provide plant-based vegetarian and vegan food since it started in 2007. It prides itself on using healthier options in its food, such as sea salt — instead of table salt — and 100% pure non-GMO rice bran oil.

Vegans and vegetarians will be pleased to know that the menu is extensive, with the restaurant offering its meatless take on local dishes such as laksa (S$9) and bak kut teh (S$9), to western options like spaghetti, and other Asian dishes like kimchi ramen (S$10).

Crowd favourites: For a nutritious meal, go for its thunder tea rice (S$10.50), also known as lei cha, which is generously filled with herbs, vegetables and tofu. Its colourful bibimbap (S$9) also tastes as enticing as it looks.

5. Green On Earth

The Rail Mall, 386 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10pm)

Why visit? One guilty pleasure of ours is mala xiang guo, and Green on Earth, another vegan and vegetarian cafe at The Rail Mall, is one of those places that serve up a real mean bowl of this addictive dish. 

Expect fresh ingredients, stir-fried till piping hot, with just the right amount of spiciness and numbness. If you love your mala with meat, there are mock meat alternatives available. The price for a satisfying bowl of mala xiang guo starts at a wallet-friendly price of S$15.

Crowd favourites: Go for its signature mala xiang guo (from S$15 for a small bowl), which you can customise to your preferred spice level, too. There are also plenty of zi char dishes to choose from as well. One dish to try — if you’ve still got the space and tolerance for it — is the spicy fragrant grilled fish (S$52).

6. Acqua e Farina

The Rail Mall, 400 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 2.30pm, 5.30pm to 10pm)

Why visit? If you’re looking for a quaint and cosy restaurant for date night or a lovely family dinner in the west, this is just the place.

Acqua e Farina is a homely Italian restaurant that specialises in pizza and pasta. The founder and chefs of Acqua e Farina come from the northern and southern parts of Italy, respectively, so diners can enjoy a menu that gives you the best of both worlds.

Crowd favourite: Its highly sought-after pizza Acqua e Farina (S$33) is a tomato-based pizza topped with ricotta, mozzarella, salami, and sauteed spinach. Pasta fanatics should try its fettucine nere alla polpa di granchio (S$33), which is a fresh squid ink pasta cooked in cooked with tomato sauce and generous portions of crabmeat.

7. Blooie’s Roadhouse

The Rail Mall, 428 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 1am), Saturday and Sunday (11am to 2am)

Why visit? Come in for some classic American grub and drinks at Blooie’s Roadhouse. We’re talking about the likes of burgers, barbecued meats and sausages. At this casual bistro, crack open a cold bottle of beer and chill out in its laidback and relaxed atmosphere — all while watching your favourite sports matches on the big screen.

The best part is its late opening hours (it opens till 2am on weekends), so you can grab supper, or drink your night away if you choose to do so. Prices here are affordable, with an average spend of S$30 per diner. 

Crowd favourites: A must-try is its portobello mushroom burger (S$18.80), which features a juicy portobello mushroom grilled to perfection. Its double cheeseburger (S$21.80) is also a hit with customers.

8. SideTrack Coffee Bakes Brunch

The Rail Mall, 398 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Friday (10am to 5pm), Saturday and Sunday (8am to 5pm)

Why visit? Just as its name suggests, SideTrack Coffee Bakes Brunch is a cafe serving up coffee, bakes and brunch. At night, it turns into Sixteen Ounces Craft Beer Bistro —  which also makes it on this list down below! 

Say yes to brunch here with delectable sandos and fresh bakes that pair well with your coffee. With an average meal here costing around only S$15 per person, it’s a great option for a midday meal with friends on the weekends.

Crowd favourites: Its Nutella banana bread (S$7.50) is a soft and moist combination of rich hazelnut and sweet, ripe bananas. For a refreshing coffee, get its iced espresso tonic (S$9), topped with full-bodied espresso.

9.  Sixteen Ounces Craft Beer Bistro

The Rail Mall, 398 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Friday (4pm to 12am), Saturday and Sunday (12pm to 12am)

Why visit? If you’re looking for Rail Mall food options in the evening, you must drop by Sixteen Ounces Craft Beer Bistro, the first craft beer shop in Singapore’s west. 

Craft beer lovers are in for a treat; with a whopping 12 types of craft beers on tap in the rotation and more than 40 bottled craft beers and craft ciders to choose from, you will surely keep returning for more. 

If you are feeling peckish, local fusion tacos and quesadillas are available from 4pm to 10pm. With the priciest taco — birria quesa tacos —setting you back S$18, you’ll be able to get away with an average spend of S$30 per person here.

Crowd favourites: Ma’s fish tacos (S$15) features Indian-style fried fish and mango salsa, while its craft beer on tap starts at just S$12. Updates on its available beers are listed on its website.

10. New Teck Kee Chicken Rice

The Rail Mall, 450 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (10.30am to 8pm), Saturday and Sunday (10am to 8pm)

Why visit? Nothing says comfort food like a good ol’ local dish of chicken rice and if you’re looking for comfort, New Teck Kee Chicken Rice is a 21-year-old chicken rice shop that serves up one of the savouriest foods at Rail Mall. 

Its chicken rice is made using the family’s traditional recipe, but it doesn’t shy away from innovative flavours, such as pairing chicken rice with mala and truffle. Families and big groups will appreciate the platter options and its other zichar offerings — an average meal here can go from S$6.60 for individual portions, to about S$20 per person if you’re planning to order a few dishes to share.

Crowd favourites: You can’t go wrong with its steamed chicken rice (from S$6.60), where its chicken is tender and succulent. For the more adventurous folks, give its truffle chicken rice platter (S$30) a go, which has an infusion of truffle oil.

Hungry for more? Check out our articles on Haidilao’s latest grill menu offerings, and Market Bistro, a new Wall Street-style inspired eatery in the CBD. 

All stores except Acqua e Farina, SideTrack Coffee Bakes Brunch and Sixteen Ounces Craft Beer Bistro are on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offers free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited.  

Do explore the GrabFood Dine-in service for awesome deals. 

Book a ride to these Rail Mall food spots.