Food Scene

Food lovers living in Jurong West Town are in for a treat as Boon Lay is a treasure trove for local food lovers. There are many famous hawker stalls that can be found at Boon Lay Place Food Village. One that needs no further introduction is its namesake called Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak which would often see long, snaking queue. Others that Boon Lay residents swear by include Ho Huat Fried Hokkien Mee, Ghee Huat fried oyster and Chong Pang Huat chicken wings.

For those who prefer to dine within the comfort of an air-conditioned environment, Jurong Point offers six levels of food haven. From Kopitiam Classic to Malaysia Boleh, these food courts offer some of Singapore’s best-loved dishes such as chicken rice, popiah and roti prata.  There are also other local favourites such as Toast Box, Bengawan Solo, Old Chang Kee, Mr Bean, Prata Wala and Prima Deli.

Aside from local cuisines, the mall offers international flavours at Men-Ichi Japanese Ramen, Carl’s Jr., Fish & Co., Seoul Garden, Tuk Tuk Cha and many more. After a hearty meal,  diners can end it with sweet nothings at Krispy Kreme, Polar Puffs & Cakes and Kopi & Tarts or have a robust cup of coffee at Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

Shopping

Boon Lay has a good mix of the young and old and offers various stores to cater to this diverse population. Boon Lay Shopping Centre is the original epicentre of the housing estate and offers a trip down memory lane for shoppers. Rejuvenated with a colourful new facade, the mall serves as a departing place for coaches to Malaysia and is home to Econ Holidays, Konsortium Express & Tours, 7-Eleven, Watsons, Boon Lay Stationary, Pet Lovers Centre, NTUC FairPrice and Rainbow Childcare.

Meanwhile, Jurong Point Shopping Centre counts BHG, Challenger, Courts, Uniqlo and Harvey Norman as among its anchor tenants. Here, fashionistas can find some of the best of local and international labels such as Charles & Keith, Adidas, Cotton On and many more. After that, they can hop over to beauty establishments such as Bella Marie France, Jean Yip Hairdressing & Hair Spa and Japan IPL Express for some pampering. There are also enrichment classes for kids at Aspire Hub, Beijing Language School, Stalford Learning Centre and The Ballet and Music Company.

Grocery shopping is also a breeze as there are a number of supermarkets within the mall such as FairPrice Xtra, NTUC FairPrice, The Seafood Market Place By Song Fish and Valu$. Consumers will be spoilt for choice when looking for electronic goods as there are a number of reputable outlets such as Courts, Best Denki, Challenger and Harvey Norman. Last but not least, Pioneer Mall is a 4-storey mall that offers residents basic amenities like medical clinics, hair and beauty salons and household products at Giant.

Health and Fitness

Boon Lay offers a myriad of health and fitness amenities for residents. SAFRA Jurong, which is located within walking distance to Boon Lay MRT station, offers NSmen and their families to keep fit at its swimming pool, EnergyOne Gym, futsal court, tennis court and dance studio.

Meanwhile, mixed martial arts enthusiast can lose weight and get in shape at Dungeon Combat Fitness Gym. The gym differentiates itself by getting participants stronger and leaner through boxing, Muay Thai, Sanda, kickboxing and warrior conditioning. For those who prefer to work out in the wee hours of the day, they can head to Anytime Fitness Taman Jurong located at Taman Jurong Community Club. As its name suggests, the gym offers 24/7 access to its amenities which include locker, shower, weights, fitness equipment and personal training.

Alternatively, residents can book the multi-purpose hall, badminton and basketball court at Boon Lay Community Club while ladies can sign up for Awin’s People’s-Contours Express Women’s Gym at Nanyang Community Club.

Parks and Nature

While Boon Lay may have started out as Singapore’s industrial area, it surprisingly offers many parks and recreational facilities for the entire family to enjoy. Jurong Lake Gardens, for instance, offers 90-hectare of wide open space and comprises Lakeside Garden, Chinese and Japanese Gardens and Garden Promenade. Currently undergoing renovation, only Lakeside Garden is now accessible to the public. Here, adventure-seekers can go kayaking, take a stroll by the picturesque lake or go for a picnic under the many shady trees.

Jurong Lake Gardens will also be connected to Jurong Lake District via extended green spaces and waterways. When it is completed in 2021, it will comprise 100 hectares of green spaces, 70 hectares of water bodies and 17 km of waterfront areas offering recreational, retail and F&B outlets.

Places of worship

Boon Lay offers observers of different faiths various places of worship. Muslims can head to Masjid Maarof. Considered one of Singapore’s oldest mosque, it has a 116-year-old history which can be traced to its original vicinity at Kampong Jawa and Beach Road. Not too far away is Tua Pek Kong Temple which serves devotees of the Jade Emperor, God of Wealth of Five Directions, Yuan Chen Dou Mu, Sixty Tai Sui, Zhaocai Shizhe Chen Jiu Gong (God of Wealth), Zhaocai Tianzun Xiao Sheng (God of Wealth) and Martial God of Wealth Zhao Gong Ming. Meanwhile, St. Francis of Assisi which is located near to Boon Lay Shopping Centre, serves the Catholic community.

Get the Guru View

Boon Lay may seem out of the way for some who perceive it as an outlying industrial area. While this was the case during its initial stage of development, Boon Lay has transformed into a charming mature housing estate that enjoys the convenience of well-established hawker centres, shopping centres, parks and MRT stations.

Savvy home buyers should seriously consider Boon Lay as it located in between Jurong Lake District, KL-Singapore High Speed Rail station and Jurong Innovation District. Once these developments are completed, there will likely be a positive spillover impact from the economic corridors that are being developed. To further enhance the connectivity for residents, five stations under the Jurong Region Line will be completed in 2026 that will connect residents to the rest of the island.