Looking for delicious food in Singapore without spending too much? You’re in luck!
This guide shares 10 tasty local dishes that are affordable and easy to find.
From flavorful curry chicken bee hoon mee to smoky grilled satay, these foods won’t break your budget. Be sure to try some of them because they are very delicious.
I hope this guide helps you discover where to find them, what to order, and how much to pay! 😊
1. Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee (Hong Lim Food Centre Food)
a. Overview
- History: Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee started in 1967. It’s a popular stall at Hong Lim Food Centre, now run by the founder’s son.
- Flavor: Their curry noodles are tasty and comforting, with a mildly spicy, creamy curry broth. It’s flavorful but not too thick or oily.
- Toppings: Comes with tender chicken slices, soft potatoes and tofu puffs (tau pok). The tofu puffs absorb the curry well.
- Recognition: Famous locally, featured in Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list multiple times, praised by food blogs and media.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Main Dish: Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee (rice vermicelli and yellow noodles in curry).
- Sizes and Prices: Small (S$6.50), Medium (S$7.50), Large (S$8.50). Medium is good for most appetites.
- Recommended Noodles: Mix bee hoon (thin rice noodles) and mee (yellow noodles) for the best texture.
- Must-have Chili: Don’t miss the sambal chili provided. It adds a nice spicy kick and extra flavor.
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Chinatown MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit E/ Exit G.
- Location: Stall #02-58/59 on the second floor of Hong Lim Food Centre.
2. Ji Ji Noodle House (Hong Lim Food Centre Food)
a. Overview
- History: Started as a street stall in the mid-1960s and moved to Hong Lim Food Centre in 1978. It’s now run by the third generation.
- Flavor: Serves Cantonese-style noodles with chewy egg noodles, savory sauce, and tasty toppings.
- Toppings: Roast pork (char siew), crispy and boiled wontons, braised mushrooms, leafy vegetables, and crunchy pork lard.
- Recognition: Featured annually in the Michelin Guide since 2016, known for high quality and generous portions.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Signature Char Siew Wanton Noodles (S$4.50–S$8.50): Egg noodles with roast pork, wontons, mushrooms, vegetables, and pork lard. Available dry or in soup, very popular choice.
- Curry Chicken Cutlet Noodles (S$4.50–S$8.50): Noodles served in mild curry sauce topped with crispy fried chicken. Good if you prefer curry flavors.
- Braised Chicken Feet Noodles (S$4.50–S$8.50): Soft braised chicken feet in tasty sauce over noodles. Try if you’re adventurous.
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Chinatown MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit E/ Exit G.
- Location: Stall #02-48 on the second floor of Hong Lim Food Centre.
3. Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original (Hong Lim Food Centre Food)
a. Overview
- History: Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original has been around since 1952, started by Ng Yong Cheong. Now run by his son, Peter, it’s a famous family-run stall at Hong Lim Food Centre.
- Flavor: Their curry puffs have a thin, crispy pastry filled with creamy potato curry, chicken, and egg. The spice level is mild and suitable even if you’re not good with spicy food.
- Fillings: Popular fillings include Chicken & Potato Curry (with egg), Sardine Curry, Fish Otah, and Yam. Each puff type has a colored dot on top for easy identification.
- Recognition: Featured in Michelin Guide (2017) and recommended by food blogs and local media.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Signature Dish (Chicken & Potato Curry Puff): A crispy puff filled with potato curry, tender chicken, and a slice of boiled egg. It’s the most popular item here.
- Other Options: Sardine Curry Puff (spicy sardines with potato), Fish Otah Puff (spicy fish paste), and Yam Puff (mildly sweet taro filling).
- Pricing: Each puff costs about S$2. Good value for size and quality.
- Tips: Puffs are freshly fried, served hot, and best enjoyed immediately. Buy more if you’re hungry as they’re delicious and affordable.
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Chinatown MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit E/ Exit G.
- Location: Stall #02-36 on the second floor of Hong Lim Food Centre.
4. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre)
a. Overview
- History: Famous stall opened in 1987, located at Maxwell Food Centre.
- Flavor: Chicken is tender, juicy, and silky. Rice is aromatic, cooked with chicken broth, ginger, garlic, and pandan leaves.
- Toppings & Condiments: Served with cucumber slices, chili sauce, ginger-garlic paste, and clear chicken soup.
- Recognition: Praised by Anthony Bourdain on his show; won against Chef Gordon Ramsay in a cook-off. Received Michelin Bib Gourmand award.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Chicken Rice (Small): S$5.00 (Roasted only) – Suitable for one person.
- Chicken Rice (Medium): S$6.00 (Roasted or Steamed) – Most popular choice.
- Chicken Rice (Large): S$9.00 (Roasted, Steamed, or Mixed) – Generous portion; good for sharing or big appetites.
- Half Chicken (No Rice): S$17.00 – Serves about 2–3 people, rice ordered separately.
- Whole Chicken (No Rice): S$32.00 – Serves about 4–6 people, ideal for groups.
- Extra Drumstick: S$5.00 per piece.
- Extra Wing: S$2.50 per piece.
- Extra Lower Chicken Thigh: S$12.00 per piece.
- Side Dishes:
- Oyster Sauce Vegetables: S$4 (S), S$6 (M), S$8 (L)
- Beansprouts with Cuttlefish: S$4 (S), S$6 (M), S$8 (L)
- Plain Beansprouts: S$3 (S/M)
- Chicken Gizzard/Liver: S$1 per piece or S$3 (S/M) per plate
- Braised Egg: S$1 per piece
- Plain Chicken Rice (No Chicken): S$1 per serving
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Maxwell MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit 2.
- Location: Stall #01-10/11 at Maxwell Food Centre.
5. Rojak, Popiah & Cockle (Maxwell Food Centre)
a. Overview
- Long-standing Stall: Famous stall at Maxwell Food Centre known for rojak, popiah, and cockles.
- Flavorful Rojak: Mix of pineapple, cucumber, bean sprouts, fried dough fritters, and tofu puffs in sweet-savory shrimp paste sauce with crunchy peanuts.
- Fresh Popiah Rolls: Soft crepes filled with stewed turnip, veggies, eggs and peanuts for extra texture.
- Popular Cockles: Freshly blanched cockles served with spicy chili sauce, perfect for seafood lovers.
- Recognition: Recommended by Michelin Guide for tasty and consistent food.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Rojak (Signature Dish): Available at S$5, S$8, S$10, and S$12 portions; tasty mix of fruits, veggies, fried fritters, and peanuts in a sweet-spicy sauce.
- Fresh Popiah: Two rolls for S$4; soft crepe filled with flavorful vegetables and peanuts, perfect for a quick snack.
- Fresh Cockles: Available at S$8, S$10, S$13, and S$15 per serving; freshly prepared and served with spicy dipping sauce.
- Cuttle Fish, Tau Pok, Yu Tiao, Century Egg Platter: Available at S$6, S$8, S$10, and S$12; great option if you enjoy assorted snacks.
- Recommended Combo: Try rojak with popiah for a balanced taste experience.
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Maxwell MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit 2.
- Location: Stall #01-56 at Maxwell Food Centre.
6. Liao Fan Hawker Chan (Chinatown)
a. Overview
- History: Started by chef Chan Hon Meng as a small stall in 2009, famous for affordable, delicious soy sauce chicken.
- Claim to Fame: Earned a Michelin star in 2016 as the cheapest Michelin-starred meal globally.
- Flavor: Famous for tender, juicy chicken cooked in a savory-sweet soy sauce with a hint of herbs.
- Toppings & Sides: Chicken is served on fragrant rice or noodles, topped with cucumber slices, braised soybeans, and often a tasty braised egg.
- Recognition: Featured in Michelin’s Bib Gourmand guide for quality food at affordable prices.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Signature Dish: Soya Sauce Chicken Rice (S$6.80) – flavorful chicken served over fragrant rice.
- Tourist Meal: Recommended combo of Soya Sauce Chicken, Char Siew, and Roasted Pork served with rice (S$11.80) – perfect to sample a variety of meats.
- Other Rice Dishes:
- Char Siew Rice (S$7.80)
- Pork Rib Rice (S$7.80)
- Roasted Pork Rice (S$7.80)
- Noodle Options:
- Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle (S$7.80)
- Char Siew Noodle (S$8.80)
- Roasted Pork Noodle (S$8.80)
- Pork Rib Noodle (S$8.80)
- Dumplings Char Siew Noodle (S$8.80)
- Dumplings Noodle (S$7.80)
- Sharing Platters:
- 2 Combination Platter (S$12.00)
- 3 Combination Platter (S$17.00)
- 4 Combination Platter (S$22.00)
- Side Dishes (optional extras):
- Braised Egg (S$1.20)
- Soya Bean Sprouts (S$3.80)
- Seasonal Vegetable (S$6.00)
- Fried Dumplings (S$5.00)
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Chinatown MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit A (Pagoda Street).
- Location: About a 3-minute walk from the MRT station to the restaurant on Smith Street.
Read More: Only 11 Best Things to Do in Chinatown Singapore
7. Allauddin’s Briyani (Tekka Centre)
a. Overview
- History: Allauddin’s Briyani is a popular, family-run stall at Tekka Centre, serving delicious briyani since the late 1960s.
- Flavor: Their briyani features fragrant basmati rice cooked with mild spices. It’s flavorful but not overly spicy, appealing to most tastes.
- Toppings and Sides: Each briyani comes with crispy papadum (cracker), pickled cucumber (achar), lentil curry (dalcha), and a boiled egg.
- Recognition: The stall has been recommended by the Michelin Guide and visited by local celebrities, making it a trusted local favorite.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Chicken Briyani (S$7): Signature dish with tender chicken leg, mild spices, and fluffy rice, served with standard sides.
- Mutton Briyani (S$7): Richer flavor, tender mutton pieces in spice-infused gravy; highly recommended if you prefer stronger tastes.
- Fish Briyani (S$7): A lighter alternative, offering fish pieces cooked in mild curry and served over fragrant rice.
- Fried Chicken Side (S$4): Optional add-on; crispy and juicy fried chicken thigh, good for sharing.
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Little India MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit C for direct access.
- Location: #01-232 at Tekka Centre.
8. Ar-Rahman Royal Prata (Tekka Centre)
a. Overview
- History: A popular prata stall at Tekka Centre run by a family with over 50 years of experience.
- Flavor: Crispy outside, chewy inside, with rich ghee flavor. Served with mild mutton dal curry or fish curry.
- Toppings: Wide variety including egg, cheese, banana, chocolate, and thin crispy “tissue” prata with syrup.
- Recognition: Frequently recommended by locals and featured in Singapore food guides as a must-visit prata stall.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Plain Prata: Classic crispy prata, minimum 2 pieces at about S$2.40 (S$1.20 each).
- Egg or Cheese Prata: Around S$1.80–S$2 per piece, filling and tasty.
- Tissue Prata: Thin crispy prata shaped like a cone with sweet syrup or condensed milk, around S$3.50.
- Banana Chocolate Prata: Sweet prata topped with chocolate sauce and banana, about S$3.
- Murtabak: Stuffed prata available with Chicken, Mutton, or Sardine fillings. Small (S$6), Medium (S$8), Large (S$10). Add cheese for an extra S$1. Great for sharing.
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Little India MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit C for direct access.
- Location: #01-248 at Tekka Centre.
Read More: Top 11 Things to Do in Little India Singapore
9. Satay Street (Lau Pa Sat)
a. Overview
- History: Satay Street at Lau Pa Sat is famous for grilled satay, operating nightly since 1996. The street transforms into a lively open-air eating area after 7 PM.
- Satay 8 Stall: Known as “Best Satay 7 & 8”, it’s one of the most popular stalls. They’ve been grilling satay since the late 1960s, attracting locals and tourists alike.
- Flavor: Satay here is charcoal-grilled with smoky, sweet-savory marinades (turmeric, garlic). Meat options include chicken, beef, mutton, and special prawn satay.
- Sides and Sauces: Your satay comes with thick peanut sauce, cucumber slices, onion wedges, and ketupat (rice cakes).
- Recognition: Featured by Michelin Guide and popular food shows, known especially for tasty prawn satay.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Mixed Satay Platter (Set A):
- Chicken: 10 sticks
- Mutton/Beef: 10 sticks
- Prawn: 6 sticks
- Price: S$28
- Perfect for sharing between 2-3 persons.
- Larger Sets Available:
- Set B (S$44): Chicken (15 sticks), Mutton/Beef (15 sticks), Prawn (10 sticks)
- Set C (S$70): Chicken (25 sticks), Mutton/Beef (25 sticks), Prawn (15 sticks)
- Set D (S$104): Chicken (40 sticks), Mutton/Beef (40 sticks), Prawn (20 sticks)
- Set E (S$140): Chicken (50 sticks), Mutton/Beef (50 sticks), Prawn (30 sticks)
- Set F (S$200): Chicken (75 sticks), Mutton/Beef (75 sticks), Prawn (40 sticks)
- Individual Meat Satay: Chicken, beef, or mutton satay costs about S$0.8 per stick. Usually ordered in sets of 10 sticks (S$8).
- Prawn Satay: Juicy grilled prawns at about S$2 per stick.
- Ordering Tip: If you order the Mixed Satay Platter but prefer not to have beef or mutton, you can request to replace them with chicken. Just let the staff know when placing your order.
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Raffles Place MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit I.
- Location: Walk straight along Robinson Road (about 5 minutes) towards Lau Pa Sat. You’ll easily spot the stalls and smell the grilled satay.
- Alternative MRT Stations: Telok Ayer MRT (Exit A, about 3 minutes’ walk) or Downtown MRT (Exit E, about 5 minutes’ walk).
10. Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow (Lau Pa Sat)
a. Overview
- History: Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow is a famous stall originally from Old Airport Road, now serving at Lau Pa Sat with over 30 years of experience.
- Flavor: Your char kway teow is freshly stir-fried, smoky (wok hei), slightly sweet and savory, not too oily, and can be spicy if you ask.
- Common Ingredients: Includes noodles, cockles, Chinese sausage, eggs, bean sprouts, and optional crispy pork lard bits.
- Recognition: Known from Michelin Bib Gourmand awards (2018–2023) at its original stall, making it a trusted choice.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Signature Dish (Char Kway Teow):
- Black version: Fried with sweet dark soy sauce, rich flavor.
- White version: No dark sauce, lighter and more savory.
- Prices: Small portion at around S$7.50, larger portions at about S$10 and S$15.
- Laksa (S$7.50): A tasty alternative, spicy coconut broth with noodles and seafood toppings.
- Other Options: They also offer Fried Hokkien Mee (from S$7.50) if you want something different.
c. Nearest MRT Station
- Station Name: Raffles Place MRT Station.
- Exit: Use Exit I.
- Location: Walk straight along Robinson Road (about 5 minutes) towards Lau Pa Sat.
- Alternative MRT Stations: Telok Ayer MRT (Exit A, about 3 minutes’ walk) or Downtown MRT (Exit E, about 5 minutes’ walk).
Extra Tip: Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (Clarke Quay)
a. Overview
- History: Started in 1969 by Mr. Yeo Eng Song as a street stall selling peppery pork rib soup. Now a famous Singaporean restaurant chain.
- Flavor: Clear, peppery soup made from pork ribs, garlic, and premium Sarawak peppercorns. Not herbal, but spicy and savory.
- Toppings and Sides: Often enjoyed with fried dough fritters (“you tiao”), braised pig’s trotters, braised intestines, salted vegetables, peanuts, and steamed rice.
- Recognition: Featured multiple times in Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list for affordable and quality dining.
b. What to Order & Prices
- Signature Dish – Pork Ribs Soup: Must-try peppery pork ribs soup (regular bowl about S$8.80). Soup refill is free, just ask.
- Premium Options: Prime Spare Ribs Soup or Premium Loin Rib Soup (around S$12.90).
- Side Dishes:
- Braised Pig’s Trotter (S$8.60), soft and flavorful in soy sauce.
- Braised Large Intestine (S$9.30), tender and savory.
- Homemade Ngoh Hiang (S$5.20), crispy pork roll.
- Vegetables like stir-fried kailan or cai xin (S$5.20).
- Dough fritters (“you tiao”) (S$2.30), perfect for dipping.
- Meal Costs: Expect around S$15–$20 per person for a complete, satisfying meal.
c. Nearest MRT Stations
- Clarke Quay MRT Station: Use Exit E; flagship store just 1-minute walk away, on New Bridge Road.
- Chinatown MRT Station: Exit into Chinatown Point mall (Exit E Downtown Line); restaurant on level 1 (#01-04).
- Somerset MRT Station: Exit D, walk 5 mins to The Centrepoint mall (Level 2 outlet).
- HarbourFront MRT Station: Walk to HarbourFront Centre mall (level 1 outlet).
- Changi Airport MRT Station: Visit outlet at Jewel Changi Airport, basement 2.
Read More: Top 10 Things to Do in Clarke Quay with My Itinerary
