Singapore’s reputation as one of the world’s most expensive cities often overshadows a delicious truth: you can eat exceptionally well here without breaking the bank. While the recent GST hike has pinched wallets across the island, savvy diners know that affordable, quality meals exist far beyond the hawker centres. This comprehensive review explores 28 establishments serving outstanding food for around $10 or less, proving that budget dining in Singapore doesn’t mean compromising on taste or experience.
The Dim Sum Champions
Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant – Rochor
Price Range: From $1.60 | Operating Hours: Wed-Mon 7am-4am
Leading our list is Swee Choon, a beloved institution that has transformed the dim sum experience from expensive yum cha ritual to accessible everyday pleasure. Starting at just $1.60 per dish, this Jalan Besar establishment offers remarkable value without sacrificing quality.
The signature mee-suah kueh stands as the restaurant’s crown jewel – a delicate pastry that showcases traditional craftsmanship at its finest. The Portuguese egg tarts deliver flaky, buttery layers encasing rich custard, while the salted egg liu sha bao ($5.10) oozes with that coveted golden yolk filling that has captivated social media feeds across the island.
What truly sets Swee Choon apart is its late-night appeal. As one of Singapore’s premier supper spots, queues stretching well into the early morning hours are common. The congee with minced pork and century egg ($3.90) provides soul-warming comfort after a night out, while the chee cheong fun (from $2.40) offers silky, satisfying simplicity. This is dim sum democratized – accessible, affordable, and authentically delicious.
Traditional Kopitiams: Heritage on a Budget
Killiney Kopitiam – River Valley
Price Range: From $2.80 | Operating Hours: Daily 6am-6pm
As Singapore’s oldest coffee shop, Killiney Kopitiam represents living history. That you can enjoy nasi lemak for $2.80 in the heart of town speaks volumes about their commitment to accessibility. This isn’t tourist-trap nostalgia – it’s genuine local comfort food served with zero pretension.
The menu reads like a greatest hits of Singaporean cuisine: mee rebus ($5.20), mee siam ($5), and laksa ($5.20) all clock in under $10. The beauty lies in their consistency – these aren’t revolutionary interpretations, but reliable, well-executed classics. Add grass jelly with longan ($3) and coffee (from $1.90), and you’ve experienced a complete traditional breakfast for under $10.
Great Nanyang Heritage Café – Multiple Locations
Price Range: From $4.80 | Operating Hours: See website
While Killiney leans into its heritage naturally, Great Nanyang Heritage Café consciously recreates the past. The interior design transports diners to kopitiams of the 1950s-80s, complete with period-appropriate details that make Instagram hearts flutter.
The food balances nostalgia with creativity. Traditional offerings like dry mee siam (from $8.90) and hor fun with egg ($6.90) anchor the menu, while innovative dishes like curry leaves french fries ($4.80) and chicken floss thick toast ($4.80) demonstrate that heritage doesn’t mean stagnation. With four locations across Singapore, accessibility matches affordability.
Noodle Excellence Across Cultures
Prince Noodles – Kallang
Price Range: From $6 | Operating Hours: Daily 11am-11pm
Specialization breeds excellence, and Prince Noodles exemplifies this principle. Their laser focus on KL-style dry ban mian (pan mee) has cultivated a devoted following. The minimalist menu – just their signature noodles in three varieties (you mian, mee hoon kueh, or ban mian) plus two dumpling types – signals confidence in their craft.
Starting at $6 per bowl, the value proposition is strong. While adding sides like chive and pork dumplings or chicken karaage pushes the total to $11, the quality justifies the slight budget overage. This is noodle-making elevated to art form, where simplicity allows each element to shine.
Tangled Pasta – Multiple Locations
Price Range: From $6.90 | Operating Hours: See website
Fresh pasta under $10 sounds almost impossible in Singapore’s dining landscape, yet Tangled Pasta delivers exactly that. Their commitment to natural ingredients – no food coloring, no preservatives – sets them apart in the fast-casual space.
The build-your-own concept (from $6.90) offers genuine customization with squid ink spaghetti, mushroom or beetroot pappardelle, and spinach penne as bases. With over 20 topping options, each visit can yield different combinations. House pastas (from $9.90) provide curated options for those overwhelmed by choice. Five locations, including a takeaway-only kiosk at Bugis Junction, make access convenient across the island.
Dumpling Darlings – Tanjong Pagar
Price Range: From $8 | Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-10.30pm
This Amoy Street gem proves that fast-casual can coexist with quality. The menu’s deliberate simplicity – dumplings or noodles, preferably both – forces excellence in execution. Noodle bowls (from $9) come in enticing flavors: miso mushroom, braised pork, and Sichuan pork each offer distinct profiles.
The dumplings ($8 for five pieces) represent the heart of the operation. Crowd favorite crispy pierogis ($8) stuff smoked bacon, truffle potato, caramelized onion, cheddar, and sriracha cream into parcels that somehow balance indulgence with that crucial “one more, please” quality. This is lunch done right – quick, satisfying, and memorable.
Southeast Asian Authenticity
Thai Tantric – Orchard
Price Range: $8-9 | Operating Hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-10.30pm
Orchard Tower doesn’t typically inspire culinary pilgrimage, yet Thai Tantric on the third floor rewards adventurous diners. Authentic Thai food at $8-9 per main represents exceptional value in this high-rent district. Generous portions amplify the value proposition.
The Thai-style char kway teow ($8), known as pad see ew, delivers proper wok-hei – that elusive smoky char that separates good from great. Flat noodles slicked with dark soy sauce achieve the slightly charred edges that signal masterful heat control. In an area dominated by expensive options, Thai Tantric stands as proof that good food needs neither premium location nor inflated prices.
Ba Buông Bánh Mì – Jurong East/Yishun
Price Range: From $5 | Operating Hours: Daily 9am-9pm
Vietnamese-owned and operated, Ba Buông Bánh Mì brings authenticity to the west. Banh mi from $5 already impresses, but the heo quay (roast pork, $7) elevates the experience. Crispy pork skin shatters satisfyingly against tender, juicy meat, all cradled in soft, fluffy bread that somehow maintains structural integrity despite the filling’s heft.
The $8.50 combo including traditional Vietnamese coffee represents remarkable value. For those preferring sweeter notes, ca phe sua dua (coconut milk coffee, $2.50) offers tropical refreshment. Two locations in Jurong and Yishun make this accessible to western and northern residents.
Hjh Maimunah – Geylang
Price Range: From $4 | Operating Hours: Tue-Sun 8am-7pm
Award-winning nasi padang draws queues before lunch service begins, and deservedly so. Only early arrival guarantees access to stellar beef rendang and sambal goreng before they sell out. The tauhu telor disappears particularly quickly, its egg-and-tofu combination proving irresistible.
Beyond standards, Hjh Maimunah offers rarities like lemak siput sedut – sea snails in coconut-rich broth that showcase Malay cuisine’s depth. Starting from just $4, this represents some of Singapore’s best value dining. For those deterred by queues, Hjh Maimunah Express at Hong Leong Building’s basement provides alternative access.
Indian Excellence: From Street Food to Tradition
Mr. and Mrs. Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata – Marine Parade
Price Range: From $1.50 | Operating Hours: Thu-Tue 6.30am-1.30pm
This Joo Chiat institution has perfected the crispy coin prata format. While roti prata generally offers budget-friendly eating, the Mohgan’s version deserves special recognition for its crackling texture. Plain prata from $1.50 and egg prata at $2 provide gateway experiences, but the true revelation comes when dunking these discs into fish or mutton curry.
The caveat: this small stall runs out early and frequently. Securing a taste often requires multiple attempts, but persistence rewards with some of Singapore’s finest prata. Arrive early, ideally before the lunchtime rush.
MTR – Kallang
Price Range: From $6 | Operating Hours: Tue-Sun 8.30am-3pm, 5.30pm-10pm
The Singapore outpost of Bangalore institution Mavalli Tiffin Room brings Karnataka-style thosai to the island. Made from fermented rice and black lentils following a 60-year-old recipe, these thosai ($6 for plain) require no modification. Each piping hot sheet arrives hearty, moreish, and sinfully ghee-laced, served with sambhar and chutney.
For spice enthusiasts, the masala thosai ($7) adds kick without overwhelming the fundamental excellence of the base. This isn’t fusion or interpretation – it’s authentic South Indian cuisine transported intact to Singapore.
Azmi Restaurant – Rochor
Price Range: From $1.20 | Operating Hours: Daily 8am-10.30pm
This no-frills Little India joint champions simplicity. Ask any connoisseur and they’ll confirm: chapati (from $1.20) pairs best with mutton keema ($4). The ritual unfolds beautifully – tear warm flatbread, scoop devil-red minced mutton mixed with potato and peas, add cucumber or onion slice, stuff it all in as keema dribbles down your hand. The mess becomes part of the experience.
The chana masala (chickpea curry) commands its own following, demonstrating that multiple paths to excellence exist within one focused menu. This is street food at its most honest – delicious, messy, memorable, and cheap.
Komala Vilas – Rochor
Price Range: From $10 | Operating Hours: Daily 7am-10.30pm
Operating since 1947, Komala Vilas has perfected the vegetarian thali experience. The whopping vegetable biryani set ($10.50) arrives on metal trays laden with saffron rice, chapati, and an assortment of curries, pickles, and sauces. This represents hearty, substantial eating that happens to be vegetarian.
The thosai meal ($10) offers choice between paper thosai (thin and crispy) or masala thosai (flavor-packed and spiced). Both come accompanied by vegetables, vegetable curry, dhal, raita, payasam, appalam, and pickles – arrive hungry, leave satisfied.
Japanese Value: Beyond Ramen
Katsu-an – City Hall
Price Range: From $5.90 | Operating Hours: Daily 10am-10pm
Japanese food’s reputation for expense makes Katsu-an’s pricing remarkable. Crispy pork loin katsu with fluffy eggs and rice starts at $5.90. Adding a gooey soft-boiled egg costs just $1.20 – a small upgrade for significant impact.
The teishoku sets (from $7.90) include loin katsu, rice, soup, and side dish, providing complete meals that satisfy both hunger and budget. The absence of service charge (only GST applies) further enhances value. This is Japanese comfort food stripped of pretension and accessible to all.
Tenya Singapore – Multiple Locations
Price Range: From $9.50 | Operating Hours: See website
This heritage chain from 1980s Tokyo operates over 100 outlets in Japan and four in Singapore. Their secret weapon: a special tempura-frying machine producing over 1,000 perfectly crisp pieces hourly. This efficiency enables Tenya to price its signature namesake bowl at just $9.90, crowned with prawn, redfish, squid, pumpkin, and French beans.
The less rice option saves $0.50, while the equally delicious vegetable tendon ($9.50) proves that plant-based eating need not sacrifice flavor. This is industrial efficiency serving traditional quality.
Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen – Multiple Locations
Price Range: From $9.90 | Operating Hours: See website
Halal-certified ramen fills a crucial niche, and Ichikokudo delivers with Hokkaido wheat flour noodles in chicken-based broth fortified with vegetables, kelp, and bonito flakes. The clear shoyu ramen ($9.90) features chicken chashu, marinated egg, seasoned bamboo shoots, aosa seaweed, and shredded white leek.
Reduced oil content and clean-tasting broth make slurping the entire bowl effortless. Four locations across Singapore ensure accessibility for those seeking halal-certified Japanese comfort food.
Yakiniku-Go – Multiple Locations
Price Range: From $9.90 | Operating Hours: See website
Smokeless barbecue via electric grills eliminates the lingering odor issue while maintaining the interactive dining experience. The $9.90 Hero Set delivers mega value: 100-gram Oyster Blade steak, shiitake mushroom, onion, rice, soup, and choice of kimchi or salad.
Six heartland locations make yakiniku accessible beyond premium establishments. Following their social media reveals rotating promotions including 50% discounts and one-for-one deals, making already affordable meals even cheaper.
Singapore Classics Reimagined
Sungei Road Laksa – Rochor
Price Range: $4 | Operating Hours: Thu-Tue 9.30am-4pm
For traditional Katong laksa, Sungei Road delivers quintessential excellence at $4. Topped with cockles, green leaves, and sauces, the rich, textured broth demands slurping to the last drop. At this price point, ordering a second bowl when extra hungry inflicts minimal financial damage while maximizing satisfaction.
This represents Singapore’s hawker heritage at its finest – no-frills presentation, maximum flavor, impossible-to-beat value.
East Treasure Speciality Prawn Noodle – Marine Parade
Price Range: $7.80 | Operating Hours: Daily 9am-10pm
This homely joint distinguishes itself by offering both local and Penang-style prawn noodles. The $7.80 bowl includes three palm-size prawns, thick pork belly slices, crunchy beansprouts, kangkong, and that crucial umami-rich broth. For those who prefer avoiding prawn-peeling, the pork rib noodle ($7.80) maintains the hearty prawn soup base.
The first soup refill comes free – generous service that amplifies already strong value. Prices match typical coffee shop offerings, but consistency and quality guarantee satisfaction.
ALC Rice Bowls – CBD
Price Range: From $8.80 | Operating Hours: Daily 10.30am-8.30pm
What began as a Yishun Park hawker stall has successfully transitioned to the CBD. The menu combines modern Hakka rice bowls (from $8.80) with freshly made min jiang kueh (from $1.80) – an unusual but appealing pairing.
The Hakka vegetable rice bowl exemplifies balance: homemade potato salad, coleslaw, tofu, and quintessential mani cai (sayur manis) atop fluffy rice. Adding homemade Hakka meatballs ($1.60) provides protein without significant cost increase. This is hawker food evolved for office workers without losing soul.
Seng Kee Black Chicken Herbal Soup – Bedok
Price Range: From $5.80 | Operating Hours: Daily 11.30am-1.30am
Renowned as an eastern supper spot, Seng Kee’s famous herbal mee sua (from $5.80) transcends its late-night reputation. Each nourishing bowl swims with vermicelli and slices of pork, kidney, and liver. Herbal black chicken soups boiled with ginseng or cordyceps offer traditional Chinese medicinal benefits alongside flavor.
For wok-hei enthusiasts, the crispy JB pan-fried bee hoon ($10.80) slightly exceeds budget but delivers that elusive breath-of-the-wok quality. Operating until 1:30am makes this essential knowledge for night owls.
International Flavors
Lechon Republic – Novena
Price Range: From $8.50 | Operating Hours: Tue-Sun 11am-8.30pm
Cebu’s pride arrives in Singapore via this casual joint specializing in crisp-skin hogs. The lechon paksiw ($8.50) represents flavor explosion: crackling skin yielding to tender meat and juicy fat layers, coated in lechon sauce with beef stock and bay leaves. Including rice and drink makes this exceptional value.
While slightly over budget, the lechon kare-kare meal ($11.30) and chopped lechon meal ($12.80) offer alternative ways to enjoy this Filipino specialty. For those unfamiliar with lechon, the $8.50 introduction provides perfect gateway experience.
Meatsmith (Telok Ayer) – Tanjong Pagar
Price Range: $10 (promotional) | Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 11.30am-9.30pm
This Nashville, Memphis, and Austin-inspired smokehouse offers its Meatsmith Cheeseburger for $10 on Tuesdays only – a significant discount from the regular $16 price. The hefty grilled and smoked patty provides genuine American barbecue quality at budget pricing.
Thursday’s $10 pulled pork sandwich represents another worthwhile promotional visit. Strategic timing turns premium smokehouse food into budget-friendly reality.
Sonny’s Slice Shop – CBD
Price Range: From $7.80 | Operating Hours: Tue-Sun 4.30pm-11pm
New York-style grab-and-go culture manifests in these 48-hour fermented dough pizzas using San Marzano tomatoes and custom toppings. Sold by the slice rather than whole pies, Sonny’s makes artisanal-quality pizza accessible.
Low-gluten 00 flour and fresh beer yeast create crusts that are simultaneously crispy and chewy. The “I’m Going Green” ($7.80) challenges preconceptions about vegetarian pizza, with mushrooms and rich bechamel sauce proving that meat-free can be craveable. This represents pizza evolution – not quite artisanal, but delicious nonetheless.
Cafe Culture Without the Price Tag
Slow Bakes – Yishun
Price Range: From $1.80 | Operating Hours: Daily 7am-2pm
This breezy brunch café overlooking Yishun Pond delivers traditional Singaporean breakfast with views – all under $10. Artisanal toast, soft-boiled eggs, and freshly brewed Nanyang coffee (from $1.80) showcase local breakfast traditions elevated slightly.
Fresh bakes from $2.80 demonstrate that quality pastries need not command premium prices. The early 2pm closing time requires early rising, but rewards with a slice of heartland paradise that tourists rarely discover.
Super Simple – Multiple Locations
Price Range: From $9.90 | Operating Hours: See website
Customizable salads starting at $9.90 challenge perceptions about healthy eating’s cost. Over 30 options spanning bases, toppings, and dressings enable building perfectly personalized salads.
For choice-overwhelmed diners, the “No Fuss” house salads (from $9.90) provide recommended pairings. Multiple locations including International Plaza, SBF Center, China Square Food Centre, IOI Central Blvd Towers, CIMB Plaza, and Galaxis ensure convenience across the business district.
Michelin on a Budget
Liao Fan Hawker Chan (Chinatown) – Chinatown
Price Range: From $6.80 | Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 10.30am-9pm
Once known as the world’s cheapest Michelin meal, chef Chan Hon Meng’s air-conditioned restaurant seats 80 and serves the dishes that brought fame. The soya sauce chicken rice (from $6.80) earned the Michelin recognition, though insiders know the char siew deserves equal attention.
Long queues at Chinatown Complex are now avoidable via this newer location. While no longer strictly a hawker stall, prices remain remarkably accessible for Michelin-associated dining. This represents democratized fine dining – excellent food without exclusivity.
Hong Kong Comfort
So Good Char Chan Tang – Multiple Locations
Price Range: From $4 | Operating Hours: See website
This casual joint delivers well-made Hong Kong classics spanning dim sum, BBQ meats, noodles, and rice. Shrimp wonton noodles ($8.30) and curry beef brisket rice ($9.50) satisfy cravings without straining budgets. Silky steamed rolls from just $4 per serving enable light eating at even lower price points.
Off-peak visits unlock epic savings with hearty set meals from $7. Seven locations including Capitol Piazza, 111 Somerset, Midview City, Hong Leong Building, Republic Plaza, 100AM, and i12 Katong provide wide accessibility.
The Verdict: Budget Dining Excellence
Singapore’s cheap eats scene extends far beyond hawker centres, encompassing diverse cuisines, dining formats, and experiences. From $1.20 chapati at Azmi to $10.50 vegetarian biryani sets at Komala Vilas, quality and value coexist across the price spectrum.
Several themes emerge from this comprehensive survey:
Heritage Matters: Establishments like Killiney Kopitiam, MTR, and Komala Vilas prove that longevity signals reliability. Decades of operation refine recipes and processes, delivering consistent quality.
Specialization Succeeds: Prince Noodles’ focused menu and Sonny’s Slice Shop’s dedication to pizza demonstrate that doing fewer things enables doing them exceptionally well.
Location Flexibility: While CBD locations like ALC Rice Bowls and Dumpling Darlings maintain affordability despite premium rents, heartland gems like Slow Bakes and Yakiniku-Go prove that moving beyond central areas rewards exploration.
Promotional Savvy: Meatsmith’s Tuesday burger special and Yakiniku-Go’s rotating social media deals show that following restaurants digitally unlocks additional value.
Cultural Authenticity: Ba Buông Bánh Mì’s Vietnamese ownership, Thai Tantric’s genuine Thai cooking, and Hjh Maimunah’s Malay mastery demonstrate that authenticity need not command premium pricing.
Modern Efficiency: Tenya’s tempura-frying machines and Tangled Pasta’s fresh pasta systems prove that technology can democratize quality food.
The most expensive city in the world? Perhaps. But Singapore’s cheap eats scene reveals a parallel reality where $10 buys satisfaction, quality, and often, genuine culinary excellence. From dawn dim sum at Swee Choon to late-night herbal soup at Seng Kee, budget dining in Singapore offers 24-hour possibilities.
The key lies in knowing where to look – and now you do.
- Limited Information: Most establishments appear to be dine-in focused
- Takeaway Available: Several hawker stalls and coffee shops
- No Delivery Mentioned: For most locations
Tourist Accessibility:
- Highest Value: Maxwell Food Centre, Tong Ah Eating House, Original Katong Laksa, Atlas Bar
- Moderate Accessibility: Most hawker centres and established restaurants
- Advance Planning Required: The Ampang Kitchen, Burnt Ends reservations
Cultural Significance:
- Historical: Tong Ah (1939), Singapore Zam Zam (1908), Song Fa (1969)
- Heritage Preservation : Kim Choo Kueh Chang, Tan’s Tu Tu Coconut Cake
- Modern Innovation: Burnt Ends, Cloudstreet, % Arabica
Cooking Techniques Highlighted:
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