# Restaurants in Hougang

Every restaurant in Singapore must hold an SFA food shop licence, and since 19 January 2026 that licence carries a SAFE grade (A, B, C or NEW) you can check by scanning its QR code. Budget for "++" pricing: 10% service charge plus 9% GST adds about 19.9% to menu prices.

## Key facts
- Listings: 314
- Matched to a government licence/register: 38
- Median years in business: 10

## Licences
- **Food Shop Licence (SFA)** (Singapore Food Agency (SFA), required): Every restaurant, cafe, bakery, stall and food court outlet selling food to the public must be licensed by SFA. Since 19 Jan 2026 the licence carries a SAFE grade (A, B, C or NEW) based on the outlet's food-safety track record; scan the QR code on the displayed licence to see it. Check: https://go.gov.sg/sfa-track-records
- **MUIS Halal Certificate** (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), optional): Voluntary, but MUIS is the only body that can issue halal certificates in Singapore (Administration of Muslim Law Act). Certified outlets must display the original, valid certificate; photocopies are not allowed. Check: https://muis.gov.sg/Halal/Halal-Certification/Certified-Eating-Establishments
- **Liquor Licence** (Singapore Police Force (Police Licensing & Regulatory Department), required): Any outlet selling alcohol for consumption on or off the premises needs a liquor licence, which sets its permitted supply hours. Sale to anyone under 18 is an offence for the licensee. Check: https://www.police.gov.sg/e-Services/Police-Licences/Liquor-Licence

## How to choose
- Check the SAFE grade on the SFA licence displayed near the counter. Grade A means more than three years without a major food-safety lapse; grade C means a recent conviction or licence suspension.
- Work out the real bill: "++" prices are multiplied by 1.199. A nett-priced menu (common at hawker stalls, coffeeshops and many casual chains) already includes everything.
- For Muslim diners or guests, look for the MUIS halal certificate on display or check the MUIS directory. "No pork, no lard" signs and Muslim-owned labels are not certification.
- Book ahead for Friday–Sunday dinners and public-holiday eves; many popular restaurants release slots online and some take a deposit or card guarantee for larger groups.
- Ask about corkage, cake-cutting fees and minimum spend when planning celebrations. These are set by each restaurant and are not regulated.

## Red flags
- No SFA licence visible, or a licence showing grade C.
- Halal signage or Quranic verses without a MUIS certificate – MUIS says these do not confirm halal status.
- Service charge or surcharges that only appear on the bill and were not disclosed on the menu or at booking.
- Pets allowed indoors at an outlet that does not hold an SFA pet café licence.

## Listings (top 30)
- [Soup Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/soup-restaurant-hougang), Hougang · 90 Hougang Ave 10, #02 - 21 · 1 min walk from Hougang MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1998
- [Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/ya-hua-bak-kut-teh-kovan), Kovan · 205 Hougang St 21 · 1 min walk from Kovan MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2011
- [Old Street Bak Kut Teh 驰名老街肉骨茶](https://lookup.sg/biz/old-street-bak-kut-teh-hougang), Hougang · Hougang Mall, 90 Hougang Ave 10 · 1 min walk from Hougang MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2013
- [Srisun Express](https://lookup.sg/biz/srisun-express-kovan), Kovan · Kovan City, 212 Hougang St 21 · 4 min walk from Kovan MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2016
- [Ivins Peranakan Restaurant @ Kovan](https://lookup.sg/biz/ivins-peranakan-restaurant-kovan), Kovan · 205 Hougang St 21 #02-20/21 · 1 min walk from Kovan MRT · SFA licensed
- [Pezzo @ Hougang Mall](https://lookup.sg/biz/pezzo-hougang-mall), Hougang · 90 Hougang Ave 10, #B1-24 · 2 min walk from Hougang MRT · SFA licensed
- [Texas Chicken (Hougang Capeview)](https://lookup.sg/biz/texas-chicken-hougang-capeview), Hougang · Blk 476 Upper Serangoon View, #02-17 Hougang Capeview · 9 min walk from Kangkar LRT · SFA licensed
- [Tsukimi Hamburg](https://lookup.sg/biz/tsukimi-hamburg), Hougang · #02-25 Hougang Mall · 1 min walk from Hougang MRT · registered 2022
- [Nan Yang Dao 南洋岛](https://lookup.sg/biz/nan-yang-dao), Kovan · #01-08, Heartland Mall · 1 min walk from Kovan MRT · registered 2023
- [888 Mookata](https://lookup.sg/biz/888-mookata), Kovan · 212 Hougang St 21 #01-349 · 4 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [Spring Blossoms Bakery](https://lookup.sg/biz/spring-blossoms-bakery), Kovan · 183 Jalan Pelikat, The Promenade@Pelikat #01-92 · 8 min walk from Kovan MRT · registered 2025
- [Ryo Yakiniku @ Tai Seng](https://lookup.sg/biz/ryo-yakiniku-tai-seng), Hougang · 61 Tai Seng Ave · 4 min walk from Tai Seng MRT
- [Long John Silver's](https://lookup.sg/biz/long-john-silvers-hougang), Hougang · 18 Tai Seng St, #01-31/32 & K7 · 1 min walk from Tai Seng MRT
- [Umisushi](https://lookup.sg/biz/umisushi-hougang), Hougang · Hougang Mall, 90 Hougang Avenue 10 · 2 min walk from Hougang MRT
- [Qi Wei Chicken Claypot](https://lookup.sg/biz/qi-wei-chicken-claypot), Kovan · 947 Upper Serangoon Rd · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [Qi Xiang Chicken Pot](https://lookup.sg/biz/qi-xiang-chicken-pot), Kovan · 973 Upper Serangoon Rd · 3 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [八度空間 8degrees Taiwanese Bistro & Food Truck](https://lookup.sg/biz/8degrees-taiwanese-bistro-and-food-truck), Kovan · 29 Lowland Rd · 2 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [LiXin Teochew Fishball Noodles - Tai Seng](https://lookup.sg/biz/lixin-teochew-fishball-noodles-tai-seng), Hougang · 30 Tai Seng Street Breadtalk IHQ #01-06/08 Food Republic · 3 min walk from Tai Seng MRT
- [Ci Yuan Hawker Centre](https://lookup.sg/biz/ci-yuan-hawker-centre), Hougang · 51 Hougang Avenue 9, #01-02 · 13 min walk from Hougang MRT
- [Foodies' Garden](https://lookup.sg/biz/foodies-garden), Hougang · 90 Hougang Ave 10, #04-11 Hougang Mall · 2 min walk from Hougang MRT
- [Collin's Grille](https://lookup.sg/biz/collins-grille-hougang), Hougang · Hougang Green Shopping Mall, 21 Hougang St 51 · 9 min walk from Buangkok MRT
- [Overly Cheezy](https://lookup.sg/biz/overly-cheezy), Hougang · Hougang Ave 5, #01-189 Block 311 · 7 min walk from Hougang MRT
- [Qiji](https://lookup.sg/biz/qiji-hougang), Hougang · 90 Hougang Avenue 10 · 1 min walk from Hougang MRT
- [Collin's Grille . Bento](https://lookup.sg/biz/collins-grille-bento-hougang), Hougang · Blk 121 Hougang Ave 1 #01-1358 · 9 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [Common Grill by Collin's](https://lookup.sg/biz/common-grill-by-collins-538719), Hougang · #01-42 Hougang Green Mall · 10 min walk from Buangkok MRT
- [Daily Green](https://lookup.sg/biz/daily-green-hougang), Hougang · Foodies’ Garden · 1 min walk from Hougang MRT
- [Kanaaji Katsu](https://lookup.sg/biz/kanaaji-katsu), Hougang · Kimly Coffeeshop · 8 min walk from Hougang MRT
- [Old Chang Kee](https://lookup.sg/biz/old-chang-kee-kovan), Kovan · #01-133 Kovan Heartland Mall · 1 min walk from Kovan MRT
- [nomVnom](https://lookup.sg/biz/nomvnom), Hougang · 18 Tai Seng Street, #B1-02 · 1 min walk from Tai Seng MRT
- [Ayam Penyet President Express](https://lookup.sg/biz/ayam-penyet-president-express), Hougang · 1187 Upper Serangoon Rd, #01-17 The Midtown · 4 min walk from Hougang MRT

## FAQs
### What happened to the A, B, C, D hygiene grades in Singapore?
From 19 January 2026 SFA replaced the annual A–D hygiene grade with the SAFE framework. Outlets now get A (more than three years with no major lapse), B (one to three years), NEW (operating under a year) or C (a court conviction for a food-safety offence or a licence suspension under the demerit-points system). Scan the QR code on the SFA licence at the counter to see the current grade.

### What does "++" mean on a Singapore menu?
"++" means a 10% service charge and 9% GST will be added. GST is charged on the service charge too, so the multiplier is 1.1 × 1.09 = 1.199 – a $50++ meal costs about $59.95. IRAS lets restaurants that levy a service charge show pre-GST prices, but they must state prominently that prices are subject to GST and service charge.

### Is service charge mandatory in Singapore restaurants?
Service charge is not set by law; each restaurant decides whether to levy it, and 10% is the norm at full-service restaurants. CCCS's price-transparency guidelines say mandatory charges should be disclosed clearly alongside the headline price. If a restaurant charges it, GST (9%) is applied on top of the service charge as well as the food.

### Can I bring my dog to a restaurant in Singapore?
Since 1 January 2025, restaurants can let diners bring pets to their outdoor refreshment area without extra SFA approval. Pets still cannot go indoors unless the outlet holds an SFA pet café licence (which it needs if it serves pet food). Halal-certified premises cannot admit pet dogs, and hawker centres remain off-limits to pets.

## Sources
- SFA – New Safety Assurance for Food Establishment (SAFE) framework: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/news-publications/newsroom/new-safety-assurance-for-food-establishment--safe--framework--to-strengthen-food-safety
- IRAS – Displaying and quoting prices (GST): https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)/basics-of-gst/invoicing-price-display-and-record-keeping/displaying-and-quoting-prices
- CCCS – Guidelines on Price Transparency: https://cccs.gov.sg/media-and-consultation/newsroom/media-releases/guidelines-on-price-transparency-7-sept-20
- MUIS – Certified Eating Establishments: https://muis.gov.sg/Halal/Halal-Certification/Certified-Eating-Establishments
- MCCY – Educating F&B operators on halal labelling and halal certification: https://www.mccy.gov.sg/about-us/news-and-resources/educating-f-b-operators-on-the-use-of-halal-labelling-and-halal-certification/
- SFA – No additional approvals needed for pets at outdoor refreshment areas from 1 Jan 2025: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/news-publications/newsroom/no-additional-sfa-approvals-needed-for-patrons-to-dine-in-with-pets-at-outdoor-refreshment-areas-from-1-jan-2025

---
Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.