Boat noodles, green curry, a bag of mango sticky rice from the supermarket: Thai flavours are an everyday part of Singapore life. For decades, much of that story centred on one building on Beach Road, nicknamed "Little Thailand". That building has changed, but the community and its favourite flavours are still very much here.

Welcome to part 6 of Many Faces of Singapore, our series celebrating the communities beyond the Chinese, Malay and Indian groups that make this island richer. This guide is for everyone: Thai residents looking for a taste of home, and anyone who loves a good tom yum.

Catch up on the series:

The Story of "Little Thailand" at Golden Mile

Golden Mile Complex at 800 Beach Road is a landmark in its own right. The Urban Redevelopment Authority describes the 16-storey block, completed in 1973, as one of the first large developments to combine shops, recreation and homes under one roof, and its sloping facade earned it the nickname "the typewriter building". It is a conserved building.

Inside, a Thai supermarket opened in 1987 to serve Thai workers. According to Mothership, it became a "home away from home", added services such as a mini cinema and remittance counters, and by later years about 70 per cent of its customers were locals looking for authentic Thai products. NLB's BiblioAsia photo essay records the Thai-language signs, street food and coach stops that gave the building its "Little Thailand" nickname.

The complex was sold collectively in 2022, and tenants had to move out by May 2023. That means older food guides listing stalls at Golden Mile Complex are now out of date, so please do not head there expecting a meal. The good news: several Thai businesses simply moved nearby.

On the diplomatic side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that Singapore and Thailand have strong economic ties, including a Civil Service Exchange Programme launched in 1998.

Where Thai Supermarket and Food Stalls Are Now

Where Thai Supermarket and Food Stalls Are Now
For illustrative purposes only. Actual locations, scenes, and appearances may vary.
Credit: InSingapura.com (AI-assisted)

Thai Supermarket reopened at Aperia Mall, 12 Kallang Avenue #01-20, in June 2023. According to TheSmartLocal and Nation Thailand:

  • It has about 6,000 sq ft of groceries, with most stock made in Thailand.
  • A 64-seat dining area has Thai stalls, including Folks Collective (lunch bowls, curries) and Slurp Noodle & Tea Bar (boat noodles, pad thai).
  • Takeaway kiosks sell treats such as Thai-style yaowarat buns and fried banana snacks.
  • Opening hours were reported as 10am to 10pm daily.

Prices quoted in those articles are from 2023, so expect changes. Stalls come and go, so check the mall's directory before you travel.

HomeTeamNS's Frontline magazine also points to other Thai spots, such as Penguin's Kitchen in a MacPherson industrial estate and Cheese Story Mookata Buffet, which moved to HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier. Some venues offer perks to HomeTeamNS members, so check their terms.

Halal Thai Food: What to Check

Thai food is popular with Muslim diners too. Ladyironchef's 2020 roundup of halal Thai restaurants named places such as Omar's Thai Beef Noodle & Rice at Circuit Road Food Centre, Blue Jasmine at Park Royal Farrer Park and Sakon Thai at several malls. That list is several years old and gives no addresses for most places, so treat it as a starting point only.

How to check: MCCY's guidance (October 2023) is to look up the eating place on the MUIS website or in the MuslimSG app, and to report any suspicious certificate to MUIS on 6359 1199 or [email protected]. Please check the current status of each place before you go.

Wat Ananda: A Thai Temple with a Singaporean Twist

Wat Ananda: A Thai Temple with a Singaporean Twist
For illustrative purposes only. Actual locations, scenes, and appearances may vary.
Credit: InSingapura.com (AI-assisted)

Tucked on a hill near Jalan Bukit Merah, Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist Temple was founded in 1918 and completed in 1923, largely with support from Singapore's Chinese community, according to NLB's BiblioAsia (October to December 2024). It marked its centenary in 2018.

What makes it special is how local it feels. The temple has Thai features such as a golden stupa and ornate roofs, but also Chinese red lanterns, Guanyin statues and murals showing local scenes such as shophouses on Koon Seng Road and a kopitiam. Thais and Singaporeans of many backgrounds visit for festivals and community events. BiblioAsia lists Lunar New Year chanting, Ullambana, Vesak Day and Kathina, and Loy Krathong (usually in November), where krathong are floated in an inflatable pool.

Visiting: BiblioAsia does not list opening hours, so please check the temple's own website before you go. Dress modestly and be respectful of worshippers.

Songkran, Festivals and What's Next

Songkran, Festivals and What's Next
For illustrative purposes only. Actual locations, scenes, and appearances may vary.
Credit: InSingapura.com (AI-assisted)

Thai New Year, Songkran, is celebrated with water splashing in April. The Royal Thai Embassy reported that its Songkran Festival 2026 took place on Sunday, 29 March 2026, with more than 8,000 attendees, bouncy castles, Muay Thai showcases and Thai food from 15 restaurants. It has already passed, but similar events tend to return, so watch for announcements.

Read the rest of the series:

Next in Many Faces of Singapore: our final part, for Europeans in Singapore, and for anyone curious about European flavours and heritage here.