This guide to Singapore’s Top 20 Inexpensive Restaurants was last updated on 1 May 2015.
Dining out is an expensive affair, and nowadays, it is very difficult to find a decent restaurant/cafe which has main courses for under $20. However, if you know where to go, there are still some hidden gems that are waiting to be discovered.
Here is a list of Singapore’s Top 20 Inexpensive Restaurants where you can go for a good meal, even on a budget.
Located at Gemmil Lane (a quiet corner off Club Street), Club Street Social is a chic restaurant/bar which does simple and well-made food — such as all day breakfast, salad, soup, crostini, tramezzini, panini — at reasonable prices.
5 Gemmill Lane, off Club Street
Tel: +65 6225 5043
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10.30pm
Sat: 9am – 10.30pm
Sun: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Raffles Place
It is a bright and cheerful spot that is tastefully designed to a laboratory theme. Think iced water served in beakers, and fruit juices served in test tubes and conical flasks. The menu is also specially designed to incorporate a fruity element; even their side salads for the main courses come with generous chunks of fresh fruits.
The must-try dishes are the Fish & Chips (S$19), Da Bomb Burger (S$19), Messy Big Breakfast (S$17) and Rainbow Cake (S$7).
351 Changi Road
Tel: +65 6677 6741
Tue to Thu, & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Eunos/Kembangan
The moment we stepped in to Hoopla Coffee & Kitchen, we knew we would fall in love with the cafe. It ticked all the right boxes: well-cooked comfort food at affordable prices (everything on the menu is priced below S$17); a welcoming and friendly environment where you can hang around with your friends; good coffee and homemade cakes; and for those who drive, inexpensive and convenient parking at Infinite Studios.
#01-05, Infinite Studios, 21 Media Circle
Tel: +65 6778 0051
Tue to Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: One-North
A neighbour to First Thai – and a better one at that – Jai Thai is a perennial favourite whenever we find ourselves at Bugis. Cheap and good sounds overrated, but it describes exactly every dining experience at Jai Thai. They fry one of the better Phad Thais in town, and at S$5, you get a generous serving that comes complete with prawns.
27 Purvis Street
#01-01 An Chuan Building
Tel: +65 6336 6908
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall
7 Clover Way
Tel: +65 6258 0228
Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 9pm
Sun: 6pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Marymount/Bishan
K. Cook Korean BBQ Buffet has just opened at Orchard Central for a few months, but it has already earned the loyalty of many customers for a simple reason. It is one of the most affordable Korean BBQ buffet restaurants in Singapore. Granted, the quality and variety of meat are not the best, but given the prices, there is really nothing to complain about.
Lunch: S$14.90++ (Mon to Fri), S$24.90++ (Sat, Sun, Eve of PH, & PH).
Dinner: S$24.90++ (Mon to Thu), S$26.90++ (Sat, Sun, Eve of PH, & PH).
#07-01, Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6884 7282
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset
KINSA SUSHI
Nestled in the quaint HillV2, Kinsa Sushi is made for the heartlanders and all who love a simple Japanese meal. Prices are not at all intimidating to say the least, and the menu is well-covered with the usual Nippon favourites prepared with premium ingredients.
The must-try dish at Kinsa Sushi is undoubtedly the Wagyon Don (S$24.80). Prepared with Grade A4 Kagoshima Wagyu and prized for its premium marbling, your don will be nothing but divine.
Equally good is the Kinsa Roll (S$14.80) – cucumber and avocado maki roll, wrapped with torched salmon and salmon roe, and jazzed up with a mentaiko that adds some cheesiness and saltiness to the fresh roll.
4 Hillview Rise
HillV2 #02-02
Tel: +65 67107278
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Fri, Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bukit Batok
Little Diner is a New York style restaurant and bar that serves honest and hearty comfort food at super reasonable prices. Some of the dishes that we love include Truffle Fries (S$9.50), Buttermilk Fried Chicken (S$18.50), Beef Burger (S$21.50), Truffle Mac & Cheese (S$20.50) and the Nutella French Toast (S$16.50).
789 Bukit Timah Road
Tel: +65 6466 4088
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village/Botanic Gardens
MIHARU SAPPORO RAMEN
The first few brands that we fell in love with when the ramen trend hit Singapore was Miharu Sapporo Ramen. It used to sit along Robertson Quay, at Gallery Hotel. When the hotel ceased operations, Miharu fans were left upset and deprived of their favourite Sapporo ramen. However the good news is that NOW, they are exclusively at Millenia Walk and you can enjoy a bowl of Miharu’s goodness!
Rejoice, ramen fans! The outlet at Millenia Walk is slightly bigger and very comfortable, while your favourite ramen with the famous Nishiyama noodles specially imported from Japan, and rich miso broth is still flavourful as always. Our favourite ramen is most definitely the Tokusen Miso Ramen with a special miso blend (S$14.80++).
Millenia Walk #01-06
9 Raffles Boulevard
Tel: +65 6733 8464
Daily: 12.00pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade
While Nakhon Kitchen is more of an eatery than a restaurant, it is a popular option for many because of its affordable and authentic Thai food. Perennial favourites include Pad Thai, Beef Kway Teow, Green Curry Chicken and Stir-fried Pork with Thai Basil.
212 Hougang Street 21 #01-341
Tel: +65 6286 8785
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Kovan
Nouvelle Fusion Kitchen & Bar takes centre stage at SCAPE as an edgy fusion restaurant with signature tapas conveyor belt. It is uncommon to see anything other than sushi on conveyor belts, and Nouvelle Fusion Kitchen & Bar sure wins for novelty. Here’s other tidbit – the fusion tapas conveyor belt items are all at a flat price of S$1.50 per plate.
Besides tapas, Nouvelle Fusion Kitchen & Bar also serves classy fusion mains with equally reasonable price tags. Think risotto, duck confit and so much more.
Scape, #03-03,
2 Orchard Link,
Singapore 237978
Tel: +65 6834 4063
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset
NUDE SEAFOOD
NUDE Seafood draws its name from the words ‘Nutritional’ and ‘Delicious’, with their dedication in serving fresh seafood at super affordable prices.
NUDE’s emphasis on the usage of quality catches cooked in the simplest of methods is simple – to let the freshness of the ingredients take the centre stage.
There are only five items on the menu, and most of them are reasonably priced between S$16 to S$22. We enjoyed their Salmon (S$16), a sashimi-grade fish and smoked with hickory sauce, served with “Forgotten Grains” such as red rice, chickpeas, oats and almonds – grains that are rarely eaten and thus, its name.
Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3
12 Marina Boulevard, #01-02
Singapore 019982
Tel: +65 6443 1167
Mon to Fri: 8am – 8pm
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
Nearest Station: Downtown
RYOSHI SUSHI IKEIKEMARU
Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru may be a conveyer belt sushi restaurant, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that they are a medicore joint. They have surprisingly fresh sushi at pocket-friendly prices – definitely worth a try when you are craving for Japanese food.
Ryoshi Sushi is also listed in our guide to the most affordable sushi restaurants in Singapore.
177 River Valley Road
Basement 1 Liang Court
Tel: +65 6337 1022
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay
Saveur Restaurant at Purvis Street has done a good job by serving inexpensive French food. The long line of hungry patrons during meal times is a testament to its popularity.
It is probably impossible to find another place that gives you Pan Seared Foie Gras for $8, and Duck Confit for $9.90. Saveur is still worth a try for those who are dining out on a budget.
5 Purvis Street #01-04
Tel: +65 6100 1788
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall
SIN LEE FOODS
A notch above the rest – that’s how we’d describe Sin Lee foods. It is different from most of the cafes that serve your typical brunch fare like Eggs Benedict and Pancakes. The offerings here are creative, well-cooked and refreshing.
Our favourite dish was the Soft Shell Crab Bun (S$19). A well-seasoned breaded soft shell crab with kimchi aioli and house slaw sandwiched between a toasted bun – we’d come back again for this. Other dishes that are worth trying include The Breakfast Tortilla (S$19) and Aburi Broccoli Salad (S$12).
The much-lauded Fried Chicken & Waffles (S$21.90, on the other hand, did not live up to the hype. The waffle and the melted maple butter were excellent, but the fried chicken was slightly underwhelming.
4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee
Tel: +65 6377 3170
Tue to Fri: 11am – 9pm
Sat: 9.30am – 9pm
Sun: 9.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru
SPATHE PUBLIC HOUSE
Housed in a historic brick and timber shophouse along Mohamed Sultan Road, Spathe Public House encourages communal dining by serving dishes with hearty portions that are perfect for sharing.
The food is relatively inexpensive – Spathe Classics include Crispy Black-inked Hake (S$18), Spathe Cheese Burger (S$14) and Homemade Salt Beef Sandwich on Ciabatta (S$22). We also highly recommend the Belgian Waffles & Fried Chicken (S$17), which is one of the best we’ve had in town.
8 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-01
Tel: +65 6735 1035
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay
SUPPLY & DEMAND
With its al fresco area and a rooftop bar, Supply & Demand Modern Bistro & Rooftop Bar at Esplanade Mall is a great place for a relaxing meal. They focus on Italian and South East Asian cuisines, and you may expect a combination of mouthwatering street food – from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Burma – presented in a modern way.
Most of the pastas, pizzas and main courses are priced below S$20. Come with a big group and order a variety of dishes to share.
#01-13 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6336 0588
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 2am
Sun: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Esplanade
This relatively new addition to the cafe scene is a pleasant one. Spacious, dimly-lit and sexy, very good green tea latte and more. Fronted by the guys behind label Benjamin Barker, The Assembly Ground at The Cathay is fast becoming our favourite spot to have a break when we are at the Dhoby Ghaut area.
On the food menu, they’ve got you covered with appetisers, sandwiches and burgers, salads and soup, pastas and pizzas and brunch food. Among the many, the Porcini Cream pasta (S$17.50) deserves a mention. Think a trio of mushrooms, truffle-scented egg and generous amount of shaved parmesan.
As fans of scrambled eggs, we had to try the Omega 3 Scrambled Eggs (S$14). A shame it was not as runny as we’d like it to be. Other outstanding creations to order include the Ragout of Beef with Rosti (S$22), Beef Chilli Fettucine (S$16) and The Assembly Wagyu Burger S$24).
#01-21 The Cathay
2 Handy Road
Tel: +65 67333375
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut
TAMOYA UDON
This udon specialist from Japan serves cheap and delicious handmade udon. This is a place where regulars come back again and again for a quick fix.
177 River Valley Road
B1 Liang court
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay
101 Thomson Road
United Square #B1-07
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Novena
This Japanese casual dining restaurant serves surprisingly decent food at affordable prices. Most of the dishes are priced below S$15, and there are several value-for-money sets at S$9.90.
Meidi-ya Supermarket
177 River Valley Road
#B1-50 Liang Court Shopping Centre
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay
For more recommendations, read our guide to Singapore’s Top 10 Budget Restaurants in Orchard Road.
Awesome list. Definitely will check them out!
I like your new layout, simple and clean.
You should try Sarnies cafe on Telok Ayer. They have the most amazing sandwiches (roast-chicken, steak, schnitzel) for around SGD12. The sandwiches are huge too, can definitely share between 2 people
Great recommendations!
I think new Vietnamese restaurant Wrap & Roll should also be on your list! Never had such great variety of Vietnamese cuisine in Singapore before and the Banh Xeo is just addictive!
Thanks for the recommendations! now
I’ll have more options as I dine out. Should include Blackbird Cafe at Handy Road too
I love their coffee and their signature Seafood Risotto! And it’s also less than $20.
just stumbled upon your list. My add: Café Iguana in Clarke Quay. Superb Mexican food and hands down the best margaritas in Singapore!
Please intro some nice restaurants on chicken dishes.. My mum doesn’t like beef and lamb.. Had a hard time searching for nice restaurant with tasty chicken dishes T_T
Try Mis En Place!! 39 East Coast Rd!
)
Try out Chuckwagon BBQ & Grill
it’s at 7 Portsdown Road (next to Temasek Club. They have really good western food and It’s a place to relax with your friends or family.They even have Happy Hour!!
Fantastic Blog – very useful and informative indeed !
Thumbs Up !!!
Cheers//
Great list, we seem to like the same places, I think Park in Holland Village should be on your list amazing food and very reasonable
Good recommendation…please add more…like Chinese resto…
Excellent list!!
Looking for good places like cafes and such I now have options. will be trying them out asap.
Saveur has a new outlet in Far East Plaza Basement.
#01-07B, Far East Plaza, 14 Scott’s Road
Perhaps you would like to update it.
Are the prices in US$ or SGD?
PLEASE, listen to me. With reference to “GRUB”, that place is horrendous (not the ambience though). Expect to wait at least 1 hour before you get seated. The menu is limited in range of choices and sure, you might think they would focus on the few dishes they serve, you are dead wrong. The portion is atrociously small even for a thin person like myself; and you’ll be paying at least $20 for 1 meal, possibly inclusive of GST. The food quality isn’t fantastic either. Service is decent because the service staff are friendly, but they might be short on manpower during peak hours. Save your money and time by avoiding this place AT ALL COSTS.
TL;DR
Food is below average, portion is for babies (not kidding), with the price you pay, you might as well go for a decent $30 buffet. Only thing good about the place is the ambience.
Been to both La Petite, the one at Upper Thomson Road seems to do a better job with the dishes compared to the one at Bukit Timah Road when I visited so my personal suggestion is to go for the Upper Thomson Road outlet.
If you want the best food for very little money: go hawker. My favourite lunch at the market is a masala thosai, sets me back 1.80
Actually, we just tried one of your suggestions, the Canopy, loved it! And the vegan place next door as well…
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try baci italian cafe in 112 katong , its very cheap and the food is amazing
you mentioned Oriole Cafe in your introduction, but it is not listed “in this list.” did it not make the cut?
Should add in penny university!! the food there is unique and tasty with good ambience and acceptable service, definitely a must-go if wallet is feeling thin but stomach’s craving for some cafe food
The service and food at La Petite Upp thomson is really bad- food came all at once, which is the most basic no-no in a french eater or at least if u r posing as one.
Duck was too dry. Even the mushroom soup was bad, which says it all….
Suggest that this restaurant Chef’s Hats at Hougang Green should be on your list too! provides quality food yet reasonable pricing. Simply love the salmon (sashimi grade) & aglio olio pasta. serve live oysters & mussels too!
Highly reccomend Fat Cat at HV, excellent Thai and Indian food, great prices, service team very friendly. Good happy hour drink deals as well, tucked down the quieter end away from the crowds. Recently moved from Serrangoon to HV, Chef Nang and team continue to deliver authentic meals, emsure you ask for chef to add chili if you like more spice!
The last time I was at Big Mama the power kept going on and off. Like every 2 minutes. I got dizzy and nauseous from the flicking of the lights which was compounded only by it getting so very hot. What a ruined experience. We were offered a free cola for our troubles. Um, thanks but no thanks. We’re going to have a meal for 4 that costs $130 and all you can offer us is a free coke?
Suggest flavour flings at Hougang. Very decent food and below $20.
Flavour Flings cafe at hougang, new in the heartlands, affordable prices (less den $20) and great food!! Very unqiue and awesome ambience. Shld try their pancakes!
There is another location for TAMOYA Udon. Its at B1 of Chinatown point.
I did not expect to pay only $90+ for 10 pax at the ever popular best hawker steamboat in Singapore. Go tryAh Pang Steamboat Sea Food at 159 Mei Chin Food Center. The quality of the Steamboat is Unbelievably good! Must also try their Zhi char Red Wine Paste chicken soup and hot plate oyster egg. Tel 64768158
Yayoiken Japanese Resturant is recommended! Affordable and free-flow rice! More than one outlet. One outlet is at 100AM shopping centre. It is located in the same building as Amara Hotel
What’s the restaurant in the first picture? The one with the lobster squid ink burger?
Thought you should check out 23Jumpin at Irving Road, their price is absolutely cheap for cafe!
Cheap and reasonable food at Riz Cuit. Kitchen be surprise with their. Chocolate rendang bake rice ! Awesomeness great service Wifi and charger provided !
Always enjoy a place where we don’t have to pay high prices for good food, yet helping socially needy people (social enterprise), you can try Olivo Bistro and Bakery.
The pizza, pasta, interesting burgers/sandwiches (chilli crab burger and roast pork sandwich, just name a few), cakes and drinks are reasonably priced and of good standard. Ambience is good too for a chill out .
The Provision Shop is a complete shame! Food sucks and portion is small too. The salad in my sandwich was so old it actually turn brown! DISGUSTING!! Because the portion was so small, I had to order dessert to fill me up. The cakes were also not fresh, left in the fridge likely for a week or so? The cheesecake has a “crust” on the outside bcos it has dried up in the fridge! Ask the staff if they forgot to mark out the cakes and staff said they never mark out cakes until someone complains?!! DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY IN THIS PLACE! IT’S NOT WORTH IT!!!!!!
Tried Little Diner a few days back, great place and great food! Thanks for the suggestions!
helped me alot
Tried this newly opened restaurant MEAT n’ CHILL a few days back. It’s further down little diner at bukit timah. Price is very reasonable and thier Pork ribs is amazing… Tender and generous portion at only $19 ( I think) . Worth to check it out!
Great spicy chillie Ah Sum steam fish! Also must try their hot plate oyster egg (oyster BIG and FRESh, $12 only!) Venue: Ah Pang Steamboat Seafood 159 Mei Ling Street.
Doesn’t ‘inexpensive’ already mean ‘won’t burn a hole in your pocket’?
Just saying.
Great list! Cheers.
How is this inexpensive. You must be generating too mch monry from your website to even realize that the prices are standard price. What a misguiding post
@Jonathan Most of the places that we’ve listed in this guide serve main course that are under S$20. If you think that this is too expensive, why don’t you give some suggestions on restaurants that actually serve main courses for under S$10?
Totally missed out Slake in Opera Estate from.this list!
Try ‘Scrumptious’ which is located at 200 turf club road! It’s really affordable, great ambience and some of their dishes are literally to die for. My personal favourite would be the ‘cajun chicken’. Yum!
Agree with Jonathan. some of the restaurants don’t deserve to be here. For example ramen, most ramen are priced at around 12-15..
The closest station to Saveur is Bugis, not City Hall But good list!