Food Scene
Ang Mo Kio is known for its delicious hawker food such as fried Hokkien prawn noodle and Hainanese chicken rice that can be found at Ang Mo Kio Central and Food Centre. For those who prefer to dine within air-conditioning comfort, you can head over to Ang Mo Kio Hub to choose from local and international dishes. The food court at level three offers a fuss-free dining ambience at NTUC Foodfare. Here, diners can find some of Singapore’s favourite cuisines such as the NTUC Breakfast Set comprising a cup of hot coffee or tea with two slices of toast and two soft-boiled eggs at an unbeatable price. Other local favourites that call AMK Hub home include Bengawan Solo, BreadTalk, Old Chang Kee, Malaysia Boleh and Toast Box.
Besides local food, residents of Ang Mo Kio can savour international cuisine at Kuriya Japanese Market, Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert, Shihlin Taiwan Street Snack and ThaiExpress right at their doorstep within AMK Hub. For something sweet, end your meal with sweet nothings at Twelve Cupcakes or Yami Yoghurt. Following that, head upstairs to level four to watch a movie or two at The Cathay Ang Mo Kio.
Shopping
Ang Mo Kio is a town with a mix of the young and old. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there are many retail outlets to cater to a very diverse background. Positioning itself as an edutainment mall, Djitsun Mall offers young families and children enrichment courses at Yamaha Music School, The Ballet School, Budding Minds Education Centre, MPM Maths and Think Creative.
Meanwhile, fashionistas will be spoilt for choice as AMK Hub offers well-known labels such as Hush Puppies, Levi’s and Yishion, just to name a few. For groceries, simply head on down to FairPrice Xtra located at basement two. As its name suggests, the supermarket offers a wide range of goods ranging from fresh food to household appliances. Meanwhile, ladies can pamper themselves at the various beauty outlets offering skin treatment at Japan IPL Express to a new hairdo at Hair Inn.
Health and Fitness
Fitness enthusiasts are in for a treat as there are two major gym locations at Ang Mo Kio town centre. The first is Fitness First at AMK Hub, which offers 13,003 sq ft of workout experience. From classes like yoga to its state-of-the-art gym with cardio equipment including treadmills, bikes and steppers, the gym enjoys direct access to Ang Mo Kio MRT station.
Just a stone’s throw away at Djitsun Mall is True Fitness which houses three studios, a gym and locker room amenities. Members can also sign up for their personal training session to get in shape. There are also affordable alternatives offered at Yio Chu Kang Sports Centre by using your ActiveSG account. From swimming pools to gym to running at the stadium, the amenities are accessible via Yio Chu Kang MRT station.
For some mental stimulation, pop by Ang Mo Kio Public Library. Opened in 1985, the library offers 4,277 sq m of books, research materials and storytelling activities. Residents can also upgrade their skills by taking up courses at Teck Ghee Community Club. In addition, the community club offers facilities such as a meeting room, a conference room and a multi-purpose room.
Parks and Nature
Residents of Ang Mo Kio can also enjoy being at one with nature as the housing estate has an excellent park connector from Ang Mo Kio to Punggol. Also known as the Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 Park Connector, the connector starts at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 and Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 and ends at Yio Chu Kang Road. This extensive network passes through various educational institution before linking residents to Buangkok and Punggol via Punggol Park, Punggol Waterway Park and Punggol Point Park. Alternatively, residents can explore one of Singapore’s last remaining iconic playgrounds by walking under the MRT track towards Ang Mo Kio MRT station, walk through Ang Mo Kio Town Garden East and then head to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 where there’s a dragon playground beside Block 571.
Meanwhile, for a glimpse of Ang Mo Kio’s past, residents can head to Reminiscing old Ang Mo Kio at Yio Chu Kang Zone 1 RC. Here, older generations and residents can enjoy a series of mural paintings that re-creates scenes from its past such as the kampong houses, the interior of an old kitchen and the bird cages of Kebun Baru’s bird singing clubs, which still exists today.
Speaking of which, bird lovers ought to explore the Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club which is located at the foot of Ang Mo Kio Garden West hill. With a capacity to accommodate more than 1,000 cages, this is where bird species ranging from the expensive long-tailed shama or white-rumped shama to merbok will sing their hearts out as they are hoisted up in the sky. It is truly a sight and sound to behold especially during competition days. Last but not least, the new Thomson Nature Park will bring more green lungs for residents. It is expected to be opened later this year.
Places of worship
Ang Mo Kio truly reflects Singapore’s rich multi-racial society living in harmony. There are various places of worship to cater to different beliefs. Masjid Al Muttaqin is Ang Mo Kio’s one and only mosque that can accommodate up to 3,500 worshipers. Besides offering residents a place for their children in the madrasah and kindergarten classes, adults can also take part in the various social development programmes. Interestingly, the mosque offers a homoeopathy clinic as well as acupuncture services.
Meanwhile, the Potong Pasir Joint Temples Association allows believers of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism to worship under one roof. Comprising five temples, they merged into one with the redevelopment of Potong Pasir in the 1970s and 1980s. Another notable temple that can be found here is Chek Sian Tng Temple. Located along Ang Mo Kio Street 44, the temple houses female devotees who wish to undertake the ascetic way of life by following a strict regime and adopt a vegetarian diet. Males are not allowed beyond the main hall.
Last but not least, the Catholic Church of Christ the King located at 2221 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 offers followers of the Catholic faith a sanctuary to perform their prayers. It is currently the only Catholic church in Ang Mo Kio and cost around $3 million to build.
Get the Guru View
Ang Mo Kio is a mature estate and boasts plenty of amenities. While this is good for home buyers, it also makes buying a property here comparatively more expensive compared to other less mature areas such as Punggol and Sengkang. Another complaint is that Ang Mo Kio has a fairly elderly population which could make it a deal-breaker for young families. However, the plus points far outweigh the minuses as there are two new housing estates to cater to first-time home buyers at Kebun Baru and Lentor Hills.
In addition, residents will be served by the Mayflower and Lentor MRT stations via the Thomson-East Coast Line. As such, home buyers who prefer living in a mature estate and those looking for ease of connectivity via public transport should seriously consider Ang Mo Kio. Another group of buyers that will find this estate appealing are nature lovers. The addition of Thomson Nature Park this year will mean more recreational options on top of the existing park connector network for the entire family to enjoy.
Check out PropertyGuru’s properties for sale in Ang Mo Kio! Alternately, refer to our handy buying guides.
