Khao Hom by Rung Mama (Ang Mo Kio)

Khao Hom by Rung Mama is a Thai restaurant on the ground floor of Djitsun Mall, in the centre of Ang Mo Kio. Its recipes come from Rung Mama, the owner's mother. She comes from Bangkok and moved to Singapore in the 1980s.

The Ang Mo Kio branch opened in December 2020 and was the first Khao Hom. There are now also outlets at Katong Square and Pasir Ris Mall. The name means fragrant rice in Thai, a nod to simple home cooking.

What to order

The menu covers Thai salads, curries, soups, grills, fried rice and noodles. The team aims for the same heat and flavour you would find in Thailand, so tell staff if you prefer milder food. Dishes from the menu and from reviews include:

• Moo ping: grilled pork skewers, a common Thai street snack
• Grilled pork collar with a homemade dipping sauce
• Char-grilled squid, which takes a little longer to cook
• Thai Isaan sausage from the grill section
• Tom yum seafood, the hot and sour soup
• Crab meat omelette roll and crab meat fried rice
• Pineapple fried rice and pad thai with seafood

For dessert, there is mango sticky rice and red ruby. Red ruby is a chilled Thai sweet of water chestnut pieces in coconut milk with crushed ice.

Most dishes suit sharing, so a group can try a curry, a grill, a soup and a rice dish together.

The setting

The dining room gets plenty of daylight. Black furniture sits against gold panels and Thai artwork. It seats around 68 people, and the whole space can be hired for private events and parties.

This is a relaxed neighbourhood restaurant rather than a formal one. It suits families, friends and anyone curious about eating in the heartlands.

Good to know before you go

• Booking: the website has a reservation form, but a table is only confirmed once the team gets back to you.
• Arrive on time: booked tables are held for 10 minutes.
• Other branches: Katong Square on East Coast Road, and Pasir Ris Mall in the east.

Getting there

Djitsun Mall is on Ang Mo Kio Central 2, in the town centre. The nearest MRT station is Ang Mo Kio, about 400 metres away on foot.

Nearby

Ang Mo Kio is a good place to see everyday Singapore life away from the city centre. Our guide to staying in the Singapore heartlands explains what to expect. In the wider area, you can visit Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park or the large Buddhist temple complex at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.

For seafood in the same town, try Mellben Seafood (Ang Mo Kio). You can also browse more Thai, Korean and Asian restaurants or all restaurants in Ang Mo Kio and Bishan.