If You’re Living On A Budget, Here’s A List Of Crazy Cheap Eats In S’pore For Under $2

Don’t you just miss the days when life was simple, cartoons were great and food was cheap?

Now that we’ve grown up, life isn’t simple and cartoons have gone to shit. But we can still hope for cheap food. And the good news is, while prices have gone up in the last decade or so, there are some places that are still selling food at prices of the past.

So here’s a list of places that are still offering food below $2.

1. Cendol (Makan Melaka)

Because Singapore’s been experiencing a heat wave recently, we’re all clambering for the nearest air-conditioned shelter. And if that’s not available, a cold drink or dessert will have to do.

At Makan Melaka, they’re serving up a classic Singaporean dessert for less than $2. Their Cendol Melaka ($1.50) is made fresh daily.

[caption id="attachment_34531" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Image Credit: Burppler Julius Lim[/caption]

You can also get the Cendol Melaka with Glutinous Rice for just $1.80.

Though the original Cendol Melaka is good on its own, other toppings such as corn and red bean are also available.

Makan Melaka
Address: Blk 1 Changi Village, Singapore 455207
Opening Hours: Wed – Fri & Sun: 8.30am – 10pm, Mon: 9am – 10pm, Sat: 8.30am – 11.30pm, Tue: 8.30am – 10pm, 11pm – 12am

Address: 492 Jurong West Ave 1, #01-70 Singapore 640492
Opening Hours: Daily: 7am – 7pm
Website

2. Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow

One of Singapore’s (debatable) most iconic dishes is Char Kway Teow. Waxed sausage slices, clams, beansprouts, and fishcake slices are stir fried with flat rice noodles (kway teow), yellow egg noodles and dark soy sauce.

The result is a dark and sticky sweet plate of kway teow full of flavour and wok hei. And that’s exactly what you’ll get for $2, at Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow.

[caption id="attachment_34532" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Image Credit: Burppler Joe Yang[/caption]

As with most Char Kway Teow stalls, there’s the option of not having clams in your order. Personally, I don’t like clams in my Char Kway Teow.

You can also choose to order your Char Kway Teow with just kway teow and not a mix with yellow egg noodles.

If you’re looking for a simple, cheap, decadent plate of Char Kway Teow, this is it.

Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow
Address: 30 Seng Poh Road, #02-11 Tiong Bahru Market, Singapore 168898
Opening Hours: Thu – Tue: 11am – 10.30pm, Wed: Closed

3. Hum Jin Pang

Located in Maxwell Food Centre is a peculiar Hum Chin Peng (deep fried dough fritters) stall.

[caption id="attachment_34533" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Image Credit: Time Out[/caption]

Aptly named Hum Jin Pang (no confusion here), what’s unique about this stall is that customers get to fry their own hum chin peng, coat it with sugar and pack it.

Crisp on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside, these traditional snacks prove that old truly is gold.

[caption id="attachment_34534" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Image Credit: Medium[/caption]

While some may argue that this is beyond self-service, please calm yourselves.

This practice is almost 3 decades old and it was started because customers in the past saw how busy the then-owner Li Zao was, and would offer to help him by frying their own hum chin pengs.

Smaller in size than what you might find elsewhere, Hum Jin Pang’s dough fritters come in two varieties – Five Spice Salt and Sweet Red Bean.

At six pieces for $1, these fritters are ridiculously cheap.

Hum Jin Pang
Address: Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur St., Singapore 069184
Opening Hours: Daily, 2.30pm – 8pm

4. Naan With Curry (Pak Kashmiri Delights)

I know of friends who have intense cravings for naan. While I don’t understand it, they’ve mentioned a certain place in Tekka Market, serving up $1 naan.

Enter Pak Kashmiri Delights, this unassuming Indian stall sells a variety of naan and curries. That’s not all, they make all their naan from scratch in the traditional tandoor.

[caption id="attachment_34535" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Image Credit: Facebook User Hady Jay[/caption]

The Plain Naan will set you back $1. Yeap, $1. For a HUGE piece of fluffy naan. For $2, you can get both the Plain naan and the Garlic naan.

Because their naan is baked in the traditional tandoor, each piece is specked with charred bits giving the naan an additional flavour profile.

While the curries will cost more than $2, if you’re willing to burst your budget a little, it’s definitely worth it.

Pak Kashmiri Delights
Address: 665 Buffalo Road, #01-250 Tekka Market, Singapore 210665
Opening Hours: Daily: 7am – 11pm

5. Rickshaw Noodles

Back at Maxwell Food Centre once again, is another stall that’s keeping a traditional dish alive, Zhong Guo Re Shi (Rickshaw Noodles).

Rickshaw noodles date back to the early days of Singapore, when vendors would peddle the noodles on a rickshaw.

While rickshaw noodles aren’t specifically defined, the stall here sells simple comforting noodle soups which are perfect on a cold day (kinda like Chicken Noodle Soup).

If you’d like a soupy option, go for the Yellow Egg Noodle Soup ($1) which comes with chye sim, carrots, dried shrimp and garnished with shallots.

[caption id="attachment_34536" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Image Credit: SG Food On Foot[/caption]

There’s also the Mee Sua ($1) which comes with shitake mushrooms, chicken and fried shallots.

You can also choose from an array of ngoh hiang and fried food available. Quite a throwback to simpler times with simple food and simpler budgets.

Zhong Guo Re Shi (Rickshaw Noodles)
Address: Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-87, Singapore 069184
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu & Sat – Sun: 6.30am – 1.30pm, Fri: Closed

6. Junshin Express

Hidden in the basement of Bedok Mall, is Junshin Express. This halal-certified sushi joint sells sushi for just 50 cents per piece.

[caption id="attachment_34537" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Image Credit: @krizzyliecious[/caption]

Yeap. 50 cents per piece is quite a steal considering that sushi isn’t usually cheap and even if it is, the lowest we’ve seen (till now) is $1.20 per plate.

A budget of $2 will net you 4 pieces of sushi. While it might not be filling, it’s perfect for a snack or if you just feel like eating something to occupy your mouth.

Currently, their only outlet is in the East. Here’s hoping they’ll open an outlet in the West.

Junshin Express
Address: 311 New Upper Changi Road, #B2-20 Bedok Mall, Singapore 467360
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6440 2893
Website

7.  Chicken Rice (820 Hainanese Chicken Rice)

Chicken rice is also one of Singapore’s most iconic dishes. Probably the most iconic.

[caption id="attachment_34538" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Image Credit: Yelp[/caption]

820 Hainanese Chicken Rice sells their standard chicken rice for just $2. They do have other add-ons such as the braised egg and gizzards.

Where else can you find $2 chicken rice? Do NOT say Ananas.

820 Hainan Chicken Rice
Address: 823A Tampines Street 81, Singapore 521823
Opening Hours: Daily: 9am – 9pm, Closed: Alternate Mondays

Also read The First-Timer’s Guide To Food In Katong That Isn’t Just Laksa

Singaporeans, Here’s What Your Go-To Hawker Food Says About You

It’s no secret that we Singaporeans love our food. We will queue for them, travel for them, pay for them; we will go to any lengths to get ahold of the foods we love.

While we’re always on the lookout for the next big food craze, we’ll admit, there’s a special place in our hearts for our very own local delicacies – our messy, greasy plates of char kway teow, our savoury, vinegary bowls of bak chor mee, our deliciously sinful, spicy bowls of laksa…

Most of us have a go-to local dish – the dish we head straight for when we’re in a food court; the one we miss when we’re out of the country; the dish we absolutely cannot imagine our lives without.

Whatever your go-to may be, it reveals plenty about you. Here’s what your go-to Singaporean food says about you:

1. Yong Tau Fu

[caption id="attachment_29446" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Yong Tau Fu from Ding Hao Yong Tau Fu (Image Credit: Deliveroo)[/caption]

You’re either someone who is very health conscious, or someone who likes to feel like you’re making at least some healthy choices in your life. You can be a picky eater, and when ordering food online, you will browse through the entire Deliveroo catalogue until you find something that perfectly suits your mood.

You like feeling like you’re in control at work, at home, and in life in general. You’re careful, meticulous, and reliable. You prefer to err on the side of caution and more often than not, you stick with the safer option.

2. Chicken Rice

[caption id="attachment_29447" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Chicken Rice from Buffet Town (Image Credit: Deliveroo)[/caption]

You like your food like you like your days – good, but in a safe, predictable kind of way. You are a creature of habit and you truly believe you can eat chicken rice every single day.

You take great comfort in routine and familiarity, and you are faithful and loyal to the people and the things you love. You are simple, easy-going, and you don’t sweat the small things.

3. Laksa

[caption id="attachment_29448" align="aligncenter" width="1431"] Image Credit: AspirantSG[/caption]

You live for a bit of risk. You’re adventurous, fiery and passionate. You say go big when others say play it safe. You’re always jio-ing your friends to try cool new eateries with you and you’re often drawn to the most unusual items on the menu.

The Deliveroo catalogue is like a playground to you, and you often have a hard time nailing down what to eat, and where you should even order from. Novelty and things that are outrageous excite you, and you constantly seek out these experiences in your life.

4. Bak Chor Mee

[caption id="attachment_29449" align="aligncenter" width="1192"] Bak Chor Mee from Yammee Teochew Fishball Noodles (Image Credit: Deliveroo)[/caption]

You’re someone with very particular tastes. With food and with every other aspect of your life, you know exactly what you want, and you will go out of your way to get it. You have your go-to pick for everything from the supermarket, to the place you do your hair, to the app you use to order your food. If Deliveroo is your go-to, there’s a good chance you’re sticking with it till the end of time.

While you do get distracted once in a while, you always remember to get back on track – that’s just the laser-focused kind of person that you are.

5. Char Kway Teow

[caption id="attachment_29450" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image Credit: Burpple[/caption]

Your favoute phrase is ‘treat yo’self’ and you whip it out as often as you can. You love indulging in the things that make you happy and you couldn’t care less what others have to say about it. You’re independent, smart, sassy, and have a mind of your own. Whether it’s bubble tea, pasta, or Chinese food, your Deliveroo order is always at least a little bit different from the rest – and you take pride in that individuality.

Aside from the ones closest to you, what others say or think about you and your decisions don’t faze you. When your mind is made up, there’s no stopping you.

6. Cai Fan/Nasi Padang

[caption id="attachment_29451" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Image Credit: Malay Mail Online[/caption]

You’re an impatient character and you want your food, chop chop, right now. You don’t ask for your food to be amazing – decent is good enough. While you’re normally quite sui bian when it comes to food, you like to spoil yourself once in a blue moon. That’s when you go all out, ordering all the delicious grub you’ve heard and read about.

That said, food is not where your passion lies. You prefer to spend your time, effort, and energy improving yourself, nurturing your interests, or on your work; these are the things that give your life meaning, and you pour yourself wholeheartedly into them.

7. Roti Prata

[caption id="attachment_29452" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Roti Prata from Casuarina Curry (Image Credit: Burpple)[/caption]

You’re the life of the party. You have plenty of close friends, and you’re the person everyone calls (or texts) to talk to in the middle of the night. You’re outgoing, extroverted, a little bit cray, and you believe in making good memories over food.

To you, both with food and with people, the more, the merrier. You’re always that person who orders extra sides to share – and you’re happy to pay for it too. You’re all about having a good time, and your infectious energy never fails to light up the whole room.

Were your food “readings” accurate?

We Singaporeans are spoiled for choice when it comes to good food. Now, we’re even more spoiled by Deliveroo, who will bring all these tasty hawker staples right to our door step! (Well, all except for cai fan, but you can always order tze char and make your own cai fan.)

Whether you’re up to your neck in work at the office or decide to spend a lazy day at home, Deliveroo is just a couple of clicks away, and they’ll have all your dining needs covered!

This article is written in collaboration with Deliveroo.  

Also read Lady M Created A Light-Up Lantern For Its Mooncakes, Because Boxes Are So Mainstream

We Uncovered The Hidden Char Kway Teow Gems In Singapore. You’ll Be Surprised.

On the list of any Singaporean’s top five national food, one can undoubtedly find Char Kway Teow; because why not? Char Kway Teow is in fact, quintessentially a Singaporean dish.

Think about it, Char Kway Teow is relatively affordable (averaging $3 per plate),  full of flavours, can be quickly prepared (talk about efficiency), and is simply just shiok.

Read any article that promises a write-up for the best Char Kway Teow in Singapore, and you’ll probably recognise the same recycled popular Char Kway Teow enclaves. No.18 Zion Road, Hill Street, Circuit Road, Heng Huat, Outram Park @ Hong Lim.

For the adventurous foodies, it is simply unsatisfying to just dine at the “won’t go wrong” choices. After all, some of the greatest joy in eating is discovering surprisingly delicious and affordable food fare in uncharted territories.

At Discover SG, we did the hard work and present 10 obscure Char Kway Teow in Singapore that gives the oft-mentioned Char Kway Teow stalls a run for their money.

1. Fried Kway Teow Mee @ Seah Im Food Centre

[caption id="attachment_12549" align="aligncenter" width="550"]VINTAGE Image Credits: Screenshot

2. Chomp Chomp Char Kway Teow @ Chomp Chomp Food Centre

[caption id="attachment_12551" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Image Credits: Burpple Image Credits: 20 Kensington Park Road, Chomp Chomp Food Centre, Stall 35, Singapore 557269
What Time? 4pm-12am (Daily), Closed on Alternate Tuesday
Damage Leh? SGD$3

Screenshot

3. Apollo Fresh Cockles Fried Kway Teow @ Marina Parade Food Centre

[caption id="attachment_12636" align="aligncenter" width="699"]APOLLO FRESH COCKLES Image Credits: apollo

4. Green Sky Char Kway Teow @ Bedok Food Centre

[caption id="attachment_12559" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Image Credits: Burpple Image Credits: hums and tau gey (Beansprouts) give the dish an extra crunch. Beyond the traditional Char Kway Teow with hums, there is also Seafood Char Kway Teow for the seafood lovers.

Beyond the palates, Green Sky is probably one of the most inclusive stalls on this list. Their Char Kway Teow is Halal-Certified. In keeping up with the times, Green Sky also has a FaceBook page as well.

A hidden gem indeed.

Where? 1 Bedok Road, Bedok Corner Food Centre, #01-14, Singapore 469572
What Time? 11:00 am – 9:30 pm on Mondays, 11:00 am – 9:30 pm on Tuesdays to Sundays
Damage Leh? Cockles Char Kway Teow @ SGD$3/4/5, Seafood Char Kway Teow @ $4/5

Screenshot

5. Dong Ji Char Kway Teow @ 51 Old Airport Road Food Centre

[caption id="attachment_12563" align="aligncenter" width="700"]DONG JI Image Credits: screenshot

6. Choon Hiang @ East Lagoon Food Village

[caption id="attachment_12610" align="aligncenter" width="699"]choonhiang Image Credits: SuperAdrianMe[/caption]

The East Coast Lagoon stall has been gathering popularity in recent years for both of their popular accolade-worthy dishes, Char Kway Teow and Fried Hokkien Mee.

Although it is the Fried Hokkien Mee that is more popular at Choon Hiang, the Char Kway Teow is equally delicious. This dish is a good balance of fresh hums, aromatic wok hei, tangy eggs, and perfectly fried noodles. The East Coast Lagoon stall offers a wholesome plate of Char Kway Teow.

Choon Hiang is currently managed by FaceBook page.

At this rate, it won’t take long before the queue at Choon Hiang starts to stretch out of East Lagoon Food Village. Feast on it while the waiting time at the queue is still wait-able

Where? #01-46, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, 1220 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 440000 
What Time? 12pm-10:30pm (Daily)
Damage Leh? SGD$3/4/5

21

7. Lai Heng Char Kway Teow @ Shunfu Mart Food Centre

[caption id="attachment_12566" align="aligncenter" width="700"]LAI Image Credits: Where? Shunfu Mart Food Centre #02-20, Singapore
What Time? 11am-8pm (Daily, closed on Mondays)
Damage Leh? SGD$2.50/3 + Otah (SGD$1)

shun

8. Ang Mo Kio Fried Kway Teow @ Ang Mo Kio Central Food Centre

[caption id="attachment_12608" align="aligncenter" width="699"]Image Credits: Burpple Image Credits: angmokio

9. Armenian Street Char Kway Teow @ Anchorvale Link

[caption id="attachment_12622" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Image Credits: Burpple Image Credits: an active FaceBook page. The Anchorvale Link outlet certainly retains tradition in the style and taste of the Char Kway Teows, it is surely worthy of a trip.

Where? Blk 303 Anchorvale Link, Singapore 540303
What Time? 1130am-7:30pm (Friday-Wednesday), Closed on Thursdays
Damage Leh? SGD$3/4

armenianstreet

10. Guan Kee @ Ghim Moh Market

[caption id="attachment_12614" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Image Credits: Guan Kee Image Credits: Guan Kee[/caption]

Together with Dong Ji at number 5 on this list, Guan Kee is one of the highest profiled Char Kway Teow stall on this humble list. This Ghim Moh Market stall shows multiple characteristics of a hugely well known hawker stall; long queues (FaceBook page. There’s a short video that quintessentially captures the spirit of the head chef behind Guan Kee when he is not behind his wok.

Where? #01-12 Ghim Moh Road Market and Food Centre, Blk 20 Ghim Moh Road, Singapore 270020
What Time? 9am-2:30pm (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) 8am-2:30pm (Fridays and Saturdays) Closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays.
Damage Leh? SGD$3/4/5

ghimmoh

And that’s a wrap up! 10 Unfamiliar Awesome Char Kway Teows around Singapore to try! What are you waiting for? Lace up your shoes and hunt these stalls down!

(Header Image Credits: Burpples and Guan Kee’s Facebook)

Also, read [NEW] A Poke Theory Serves Up Poke Bowls That Do Not Disappoint!