Budget Places to Eat in Singapore – Everyone in Singapore seems to love eating out, no matter where you go and what ethnicity of people you encounter.
Most restaurants are open 24/7 and they are always packed no matter what time you decide to go – and they serve some of the most varied and the most delicious cuisines in south-east Asia. Singapore may host some very expensive gourmet restaurants, but that doesn’t mean that there are no options for those on a limited budget.
To give you an idea of where to go, here are some of the cheapest places to eat in Singapore on a budget.
1. Lola’s Cafe
Lola’s is a no-frills little café, but it sure packs in a powerful punch. This restaurant is famous for its casual food, and for their delicious brunch that is served till 3 pm. So if you’re in the mood for a late breakfast, you know where to go. The icing on the cake? There are no taxes of any sort whatsoever.
2. Nana Thai
As far as places to eat in Singapore on a budget go, Nana Thai can rightly be counted as one of Singapore’s best-kept secrets. Here you can find some of the most authentic Thai food in the country – and the prices are just to die for. The only drawback is the seedy location, in the middle of the Golden Mile Thai discos, but it is really so good you will soon learn to overlook this minor detail.
3. Maki San
If you love to customize your food, you need to head over to Maki San pronto. Here you can create your own sushi, anyway you like – even with brown rice. And if you’re super thrifty, their packaging is so adorable you can even convert it into a sassy little wallet.
4. Swee Choon Dim Sum
If you are suffering from dim sum craving in the middle of the night, yet are looking for budget places to eat in Singapore, you need to go to SweeChoon. Located next to a club, it is also perfect for when you’ve spent too much money at the club but are still starving. It’s even great if you don’t intend to go clubbing – they open at 6 pm, making them a great option for an early dinner. And you absolutely cannot come out of there without trying out their salted egg yolk custard bun.
5. Food For Thought
Located inside the Botanic Gardens, this is a perfect place to stop over and grab a bite to eat after you’ve thoroughly explored the gardens. They have a fantastic breakfast and they’re a great place to hang out when you aren’t in the mood to deal with all the hustle and bustle of the nearby Orchard Road.
6. La Petite Cuisine
If the first word that comes to your mind when you think about French cuisine is “expensive”, this place is out to prove you wrong. Here you will find none of the fancy pants French food with names you can’t roll around your tongue. The food is unpretentious, and absolutely amazing. True, some of the items on the menu are a bit on the pricey side, but if you stick to the basics, you can come out with an excellent meal in just under 20 dollars.
7. Eighteen Chefs
18 Chefs is the place you need to head to if you are looking for some quirky concepts for your food. This is probably the only place in Singapore where you can drink your egg with a straw or eat a dessert from a jar. The entire place is staffed by ex-convicts who are looking for a second chance at life – so eating here means you’re actually supporting someone’s chance at a new life too. And if you produce your student card, you can get 2 dollars slashed off from your total bill.
8. Saizeriya
Saizeriya is a well-known chain of Italian family style restaurants known for its ridiculously low prices. You will find the usual pizza and pasta on their menu, but you will also find some dishes like Paella and French Escargot which are basically not Italian. Saizeriya would be your new favorite place if you are a student on a tight budget.
9. Astons
Here is one place that is wildly popular between adults as well as students, because of all that good food available at extremely affordable prices. The even have an outlet located within the campus of National University of Singapore, so you can get a very good idea of how pocket-friendly they are.
10. Charlie & Co.
This burger joint has only recently come to Sydney, and every time you pass by it, you can tell by the crowds that it is going to be good. If you really have a meager budget opt for one of their set meals, in which you get a drink and a serving of sea salt fries in less than $10!
11. Saveur
If you have ever been on the lookout for cheap grub in Singapore, you would definitely have come across Saveur. This chain was responsible for making French cuisine accessible to the masses, and they were the inspiration behind the Poulet chain of restaurants. The drawback here though is that it is always full as it is hugely popular, so you have to go there super early in order to avoid long queues.
12. Concetto by Saveur
Concetto has been introduced by the same people who were responsible for the concept of Saveur. The owners have attempted to do the same thing with Italian food that Saveur has done with French food – in other words, make it accessible to the masses. You can tell by the huge crowds that they have succeeded.
13. Little Hiro
Formerly known as Burger Shack, this burger joint has now transformed into a pocket friendly haven for Hawaiian Japanese cuisine, making it a huge hit among students. This place is great if you are looking for burgers and French fries for a fantastic price.
14. The Sushi Bar
This place is one of the crown jewels of Far East Plaza, and as anyone who lives in Singapore knows, this means that it’s a haven for anyone looking to grab amazing deals, making it one of the top few budget places to eat in Singapore. The food servings are huge, which means you can take a friend along and split the food – and the bill – and further reduce your expenses.
15. Drury Lane
Located on two stories, this quaint little café has all the regular café food options, but what makes its stand out is its ambience. It provides much-needed stress reduction after a long day at work.
