Singapore Changi Airport is more than just an ordinary airport, it is a delectable gourmet world with many restaurants, eateries and cafes serving cuisines from all over the world. And we swear this feature will have you develop a newfound love for dining at an airport.
Whether you are in transit, need to fill your tummy before a flight, or just simply want a good family dinner, our airport can be your answer for any occasion and with this post, we will prove the typical perception of airports having the worst food options wrong. Yes, you’ve got that right – you do not have to settle for horrible food with ridiculous price tags. Whatever your craving is, however much your budget is, even if you are on a mission to catch your plane and running out of time, there will always be food. You just have to decide what cuisine you like.
Changi Airport is kindly giving away 3 X S$50 Changi Dollar Vouchers which you can use at your favourite shops or restaurants at the airport. To win the vouchers, leave a comment in this post to tell us your favourite dining option in Changi Airport. For more details of the giveaway, please read more at the end of this post.
Welcome to a gastronomical experience at our lovely world class airport. Here is a guide to dining at Changi Airport, featuring 20 restaurants, eateries and quickbites in the public and transit areas.
QUICKBITES AT CHANGI AIRPORT
Spent too much time shopping at the duty-free shops that you do not have much time left to have a proper meal before catching your flight? Or just feeling peckish and want a snack? There are many food and beverage outlets at Changi Airport that offer ready-to-eat items and simple snacks that you can just grab and go. There will not be anymore reasons to go hungry when you are at the airport – even if you are running late.
Gong Cha (T2 Public Area)
For as far as we are concerned, bubble tea makes one happy. And it is definitely a good idea to grab a cup of your favourite sweet drink before your flight. Pudding Milk Tea for us, please!
Terminal 2 Arrival Hall (South)
Daily: 24 hours
Killiney Kopitiam (T2 Transit Area)
We miss local food the most whenever we travel overseas, so we always make sure to satisfy our craving for our favourite kaya toast. Killiney Kopitiam, one of the most established names for kaya toast and local coffee, is the place to head to. Fuss-free and comforting!
Terminal 2 Departure Transit Lounge (South)
Daily: 24 Hours
Terminal 2 Departure Transit Lounge (Central)
Daily: 6am – 1am
Paris Baguette (T2 Public Area)
Fans of Paris Baguette will be delighted to know that the famous Korean bakery chain is now open at the airport. Besides their signature pastries, cakes and breads, sandwiches and salads, the branch at Changi Airport is also serving an exclusive brunch menu.
Terminal 2 Arrival Hall
Daily: 24 Hours
Toast Box (T3 Public Area)
Another place that we always frequent is Toast Box because it not only has popular local classic dishes – like kaya toast, laksa, curry chicken, and peanut butter thick toast – but it also opens for 24 hours, making it the perfect place to have a quick bite.
Terminal 3 Departure Check-In Hall, Level 2
Daily: 24 Hours
Tip Top (T2 Transit Area)
Pick up a piece of Curry Puff – the locals’ favourite snack – and enjoy the fragrance of the curry and diced potatoes from Tip Top, an established brand since 1979.
Terminal 2 Departure Transit Lounge (Central)
Daily: 6am – 1am
DINING AT CHANGI AIRPORT PUBLIC AREA
The best thing about Changi Airport is the mind-boggling selection of F&B outlets; even when you are not hungry, you feel compelled to dine there. Whether you are going for a holiday, sending your loved ones off, or to simply hangout and have a meal – there is always something to eat at Changi Airport. Here are some of the restaurants and eateries in Changi Airport’s public area that you should include in your list:
Central Thai (T2 Public Area)
From tom yum to Thai mango salad, green curry seafood and phad thai, Central Thai serves a great variety of classic Thai dishes prepared by native Thai chefs at pocket-friendly prices.
Terminal 2 Viewing Mall, Level 3
Daily: 10.30am – 11pm
Itacho Sushi (T3 Public Area)
Salmon skin sushi for S$0.40 – everyone will know Itacho Sushi because of this. But more than that, they offer a wide variety of sushi creations at very pocket friendly prices. When dining at Itacho, treat yourself to a selection of makis, rolls and nigiris made with fresh ingredients.
Our picks have got to be the wagyu nigiri – quality beef that is so rich in flavour and well-marbled, the salmon aburi that is torched to perfection, and sweet makis with creamy avocado and soft-shelled crab. Itacho Sushi always satisfies.
Terminal 3 Level 3
Daily: 10.30am – 11pm
Gurney Drive (T3 Public Area)
Gurney Drive presents the best of Penang hawker food like Penang laksa, prawn noodles, and char koay teow – which was, in particular, quite a plate of heaven with a generous serving of juicy prawns and sausages atop rice noodles. The food is pretty authentic and pleasantly affordable.
Terminal 3 Viewing Mall, Level 3
Daily: 10.30am – 11pm
Dian Xiao Er (T3 Public Area)
This traditional Chinese restaurant is another popular haunt for families to have a simple and casual meal. Its renowned herbal roast duck is always immensely satisfying.
Terminal 3 Level 3
Daily: 10.30am – 11pm
O’Coffee Club (T3 Public Area)
Need some sugar rush? Go for O’Coffee Club’s signature Mudpies. The picture speaks for itself.
Terminal 3 Departure Check-in Hall
Daily: 24 Hours
Ramen Champion (T3 Public Area)
Pork base, chicken base, miso base… whatever you are feeling, Ramen Champion has a bowl to feed that craving. Our favourite has got to be Keishoken by Chef Kazuo Sukuraoka, who exhibited his concept of colors via the toppings – black, red, orange and yellow. The red topping deserves a special mention for its sizzling spiciness atop rich pork broth.
Terminal 3 Basement 2
Daily: 10.30am – 11pm
Saboten (T1 Public Area)
Tonkatsu is ever popular, and Saboten does theirs well. Which explains why they are always packed, but we really would not mind the wait just to have a serving of the gorgeously-fried hire Katsu (pork tenderloin cutlet); we never leave Saobten without a serving of that. And the cheese katsu is a fabulous alternative that we always add-on, too! The various sets is another reason why Saboten is an ideal option for families.
Terminal 1 Viewing Mall, Level 3
Daily: 8am – 11pm
Seafood Paradise (T2 Public Area)
If you need your crab fix before your holiday, or if you are returning from a holiday with a major craving for our local crabs, head to Seafood Paradise and indulge in a luxurious seafood spread. Crabs aside, we really love their cheese lobsters – fresh, chunky crustaceans lavishly soaked in a bed of cheese. Eat it with deep-fried mantou! Also, the cuttlefish with kangkong is a favourite among locals, too!
Terminal 2 Viewing Mall
Departure Check-in Hall, Level 3
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Soup Restaurant (T2 Public Area)
Serving an unparalleled menu of daily brewed soups, families can always count on Soup Restaurant for a good meal. Its quality comfort Chinese food with reasonable price tags includes the all-time favourite Samsui Ginger Chicken.
Terminal 2 Viewing Mall
Departure Check-in Hall, Level 3
Daily: 10.30am – 11pm
Swensen’s (T2 Public Area)
We always end up at Swensen’s when we are back in Singapore on a midnight flight because it opens for 24 hours, and also because of the variety of dishes on the menu – there is something for everyone to choose from.
Terminal 2 Arrival Hall
Daily: 24 Hours
DINING AT CHANGI AIRPORT TRANSIT AREA
We are huge advocators of arriving and checking in early at the airport so as to enjoy the facilities and amenities. Treat yourself to a good meal before your flight! With so many restaurants and eateries in the transit areas, you will be spoiled for choices on what to eat. Here are some places that you can go.
Cedele (T2 Transit Area)
The ladies’ favourite, Cedele, offers a delicious and healthy menu of sandwiches, soups and desserts that are prepared using the freshest ingredients.
Terminal 2 Departure Transit Lounge
Daily: 24 Hours
La Cave Wine Bar (T1 Transit Area)
Head to the rooftop Cactus Garden to enjoy fresh air and a pint of beer or glass of wine at La Cave Wine Bar.
Terminal 1 Departure Transit Lounge
Daily: 7am – 2am
Peach Garden Noodle House (T1 Transit Area)
Signatures like the wasabi salad cream prawn, golden salted yolk prawn, braised ee fu noodle with baby lobster, and to-die-for custard buns is why this casual dining eatery has our loyalty. Peach Garden always dishes out consistently good Chinese food that is hard to not love.
Terminal 1 Departure Transit Lounge
Mezzanine Level 3
Daily: 6am – 12am
Tai Hing (T2 Transit Area)
Tai Hing is one of the most well-known roast meat restaurants in Hong Kong, with more than 30 branches dishing out its much-lauded roast goose and other cooked dishes. If you are not heading to Hong Kong anytime soon, we would definitely recommend coming here for a meal before going off for your holiday.
Terminal 2 Departure Transit Lounge
Daily: 24 Hours
The Green Market (T1 & 2 Transit)
For the health conscious, head over to The Green Market, a modern casual Japanese Restaurant that offers a salad and appetiser buffet (11am – 1am) for S$20.
Terminal 1 Departure Transit Lounge
Daily: 6am – 1am
Terminal 2 Departure Transit Lounge
Daily: 6am – 1am
Changi Airport x ladyironchef Giveaway
1. 3 X S$50 Changi Dollar Vouchers
2. Leave a comment in this post to tell us which is your favourite dining option in Changi Airport and why?
3. Closing Date of Contest: 17 March 2013 2359 Hours
4. Winners will be notified by email
// Updated on 18 March: The three winners are Chan Jian Da, Theresa, and Sean.
We can stay at the airport for a week and not run out of ideas on where to eat! Have you shortlisted your favourites, and mapped out an eating plan for your next trip to the airport? And if you have time after your meal, remember to check out the other wonders. Read our previous guide on 12 Things You Never Knew about Changi Airport.
For more information, go to www.changiairport.com. Follow Fans of Changi on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest updates.
This post is brought to you by Singapore Changi Airport.
Gurney Drive. Visited Penang in October, & fell in love with their kuay tiao kia & laksa. Authentic Penang food at the comfort of our own home, also minus the hassle of booking an air ticket! Saves time & money!
Before i fly, i always make sure i have the best traditional coffee which i could not experience in other countries especially western countries.
The coffee in killiney at changi airport never failed me even once. It perked me with the fragrance and aroma of coffee unlike other coffee. Its the only coffee i will walk a long distance to buy that coffee even if i had only 10 minutes before departure!
Definitely swensens!!! Love their fish and chips and I’m a mad ice cream lover! But Ramen champion looks incredibly delicious as well! Yum!
I would definitely choose Dian Xiao Er as it’s the best dining place for the young and old. We will bring our grandparents, parents and kids to the airport for a fun day out followed by a great dinner at Dian Xiao Er which always sum up a warm and happy family outing!
Dear Swensen’s, it has to be you. In Changi Airport’s dynamic food scene, you have been a stable fixture with aged sundae creations – hardly exciting for a planned visit. But the memories of yesteryear study dates, birthday celebrations, family outings, and episodes of tumultuous teenage angst beckon now. You were a destination and refuge. It was always a treat to go to Swensens at Changi Airport, and watch the planes fly. Let me bring my toddler – the next generation, to create his memories and for me to experience my own.
Soup restaurant. After a trip, all I want is some hearty homey food.
My favourite dining option in Changi Airport would be Toast Box (T3 Public Area) as the toast, kaya and butter and the eggs, coffee and tea always remind me of home whenever i returned from overseas
Killiney Kopitiam is my must-go dining place whenever I have flights that depart or land at Changi Airport. It represents a plethora of food choices that reflects our multi-cultural heritage, and one can always see friends and family digging into the wallet-friendly dishes. Of all the stalls, the handmade noodle soup tempts me the most as the noodles are springy, and the stock has a well-developed taste. I would return again and again just for this dish alone. Highly recommended!
Definitely Swenson’s. It’s almost as synonymous as Changi Airport. It’s the “In” place to dine when my parents brought us to airport for outings. It is the place I satisfied my western food cravings when me and my friends studied for our exams at the airport. Only the “Volcano” is worthy as the reward for ourselves later when we received our results. Swenson’s is also frequented by me and my then boyfriend now husband for many of our numerous dates. We still pop by Swenson’s for nostalgia. Birthday celebrations are a bit more special, nhwhen we celebrate at Swenson’s, now that we have two more kids to join in the fun.
The airport is a place mixed with sorrow and joy, and more than often, it’s a place where we welcome our loved ones and thank god for their safe flight. I will always find myself reintroducing them to Chinese food whenever they touch down, simply because embracing our roots is the first thing that comes to my mind! So no matter which part of the world I am in, I’ll always keep my heart close to our culture, and I cannot love Peach Garden anymore for the down to earth yet warm feeling I get every time I dine there!
I simply loves the Saboten at Changi !! The Katsu is simply wonderful !!
seafood paradise!
It has to be Toastbox at T3 Public Area. Every time after a long flight, i look forward to having my favourite toast and coffee accompanied by a cup of warm coffee. When i look around, i see everyone enjoying their toast and coffee and having conversations, thats when i know i am home. That warm fuzzy feeling is something that makes me realise that Singapore is home to me.
Gurney drive for me!! Simply loved the Penang Kwan Teow and their laksa! Conveniently located in T3, easily accessible by bus/ mrt too!
Killiney kopitiam. Recently i got the chance to fly to Indonesia for work, and am going on a short trip to Malaysia soon. And i would usually take the earliest flight out, so what i can’t live without is my coffee mix in the morning. In my opinion Killiney serves one of the best traditional coffee you can find in Singapore. Other than that you can find all typed of food for the day, from half-boiled eggs with toast for breakfast or teabreak, to their yummylicious chicken rice for lunch/dinner. You can never fail to find food that promotes Singapore at anytime of the day. Afterall, it’s at our airport isn’t it?
Whenever my hubby and me have to meet friends in Changi airport, we always go to Dian Xiao Er. Lesser crowd and food is nice too. Whenever we feel like going to airport and spend half a day. Dian xiao Er would be our choice again. Their authentic herbal roast duck always is our favorite whenever we visit. The quite environment allows us to be relax and enjoy more.
Definitely Swensens! From starters to desserts, there are plenty of choices! And yes, I’m a member of them! Being in my favorite place Changi Airport and my favorite restaurant Swensens, it’s killing two birds with one stone! Thumps up!
Itacho Sushi – fresh sashimi & yummy sushi!
toast box or killiney whenever visit Changi Airport for pick up, flying off, meet friends. love the locally toast bread plus the cup of warm teh-si cum half boiled eggs….goodness!
It has to be Itacho Sushi! Located away from town (Orchard), Itacho Sushi in Changi Airport offers not just a place for real Japanese food, but a place for everyone to gather and spend time together. I love the fact that it is located in Changi Airport as the place offers a quiet and peaceful environment suitable for families and friends to bond together. Families with children can visit the event area set up by Changi, while friends can simply sip a cup of coffee at a cafe or coffeeshop.
Of course it’s Ramen Champion (T3 Public Area)!They serve the most authentic and savouring ramen that will excite you taste buds.It is a must have after coming back after a long flight.I am able to relax and enjoy the best ramen right at the doorstep of airport without having to go far.This is why Ramen Champion is my first option to go when thinking of a place to dine!
Dianxiaoer!!! Love their yummy herbal duck!
Tai Hing Hong Kong Roast. Their iced milk tea served in a bowl of ice is to die for!
I love the ayam penyet at T1 staff cafeteria! It’s filing and h price for such a meal is reasonable.
Itacho at T3 serves one of the freshest sushi… Perhaps it’s got to do with it being at the airport – straight from the plane
there are typically queues as with any good food. But a great place to catch up with a friend or 2… Or a business associate. Airport staff get great lunch deals too. Wish I had this more often while i still had the privilege.
Last time we enjoyed a meal at Tip Top. We are flying in on this Thursday the 20th and staying overnight in the Ambassador Transit Hotel. So we will be looking for a place to eat.
Peach garden noodle house offers a fabulous option for us. My wife is crazy noodle queen and is looking forward to dine there when we are going on vacation in a month time.
Definitely Earle Swensen’s at Terminal 3! My family always visits terminal 3 because it feels more like a shopping center rather than an airport and we love that the airport is very family friendly. We always end up at Earle Swensens as it is at the corner of the top level and very quiet. The food is extremely good and the service is efficient. In addition, their salad bar offers a wide range of cold dishes as well! (:
Toast Box! As the flight i chosen normally early morning either depart or arrive. As a Singaporean, every morning is a must to have the typical breakfast – toast bread, half-boiled eggs and tea as my meal which give my energy to start my brand new day!
Saboten. It’s an authentic Japanese experience. A travel inside the airport.
Gurney drive, craving on ALL the dishes… Laksa, yummy….char kwe thaw…deliciousness …sometimes with only 2 hours transit it’s not enough to venture CHANGI airport…. We’ll be back in two months, and maybe with the free voucher we will have more stalls to visit! Keep up the good work… Greetings from USA…
Favourite place is changi airport t2 staff canteen. Lovely hokkien mee!
Fav dining spot: Swensens!!
Cuz there’s something for everyone! Who can say no to ice cream? :p
My favorite dining experience would definitely be TCC – The Connoisseur Concerto located at Terminal 3 Arrivals area. It has always been my tradition to dine there with different purposes. It has this perfect balance of luxury and comfort ambience that adds to the appetizing wide variety of sumptuous meals and drinks that they offer. More importantly, I always pick the window seat to have a full view of my loved ones arriving, picking up their luggage, waving at them and quickly joining me straightaway for a good catching up over TCC’s finely presented dishes and freshly brewed coffee.
Pacific Coffee @ Terminal 1
Love their coffee, I have been a fan of Pacific Coffee since I tried it in Hong Kong, yr 2007. I like the buttery croissant with a hot cup of Cappucino, a great combo for my brekkie just before I head to the gate. At least I have a decent filling before I had to be served by “chicken or fish” type of meal.
Swensens, with it’s wide variety of food and ice-creams and consistent quality is something I look forward to at Changi airport. Also the fact that it was one of the first ‘International’ chains when the airport was first opened brings back many fond memories of dining there! My favourite dining choice at the airport is definitely Swensens!
Every time I touch down back at changi airport, toast box is a must-go. The aroma of the coffee, the soft fluffy toast and half-boiled eggs. Always reminds me that im back at where home is <3
My favourite restaurant is Dian Xiao Er because of their yummy herbal roast duck. My whole family love it as well.
My favourite dining spot is Gurney Drive! Last chance to eat singapore’s food before I fly off to another country!
Mine would be Chinta Manis at T2 Arrival Hall!
Being a Peranakan myself, I would definitely prefer to have a meal close to my heart. Chinta Manis has really good dry mee-siam, almost like my grandma’s. Furthermore, it is 24 hours, so I can enjoy a good meal no matter what time my flight is
Because! their tonkatsu can make a food lover(read:pig) like me fly!
Seafood Paradise! It’s a good place to have a family meal and enjoy such great seafood together! Their signature creamy butter crab never fail to please our palettes yummmm..
Itacho Sushi is my family’s favourite dining option at Changi Airport!! The wide variety of sushi ensures that there is something to suit each of our taste buds and their lunch time set offers are also extremely affordable! Having said that, we also love the other dining options such as Swensen’s which my family has been frequenting since I was in primary school! I simply love their ice cream cakes which I still purchase for birthdays and their sundaes. On other occasions, we would visit Ya Kun or Toast Box for some light bites.
It would be toast box!!! not that it is unique or anything, but it is really very localised and best part is you can find both sweet and savoury food items both traditional and fusion. Light or heavy meals to suit those looking forward for a full meal or a light quick bite to set aside some space for the airplane meal. It is near to the transit also and convenient as well as fast for people rushing for time being in quite a anxious society.
Toast Box is my favourite dining option! I love Singapore food, and having some teh and bread spread with butter and kaya would fix my craving before I head overseas! My family always ends up at Toast Box whenever we are in the Airport, perhaps because for the homeliness feeling that it brings =)
I am a food lover who loves hanging out in the airport so much since young!
I have many favourites when it comes to dining in the airport. Swenses is definitely one of the many because i love their masak merah ayam (which is available only in T2 Changi Airport outlet’s!) hehehe. Not too long ago, i have discovered another drooling food outlet Penang Culture. Surprisingly their GST is really LOW! They serve good curry chicken and seafood platter that made me want me to come back for more! ^^ It all boils down to my budget and who i was going there with actually. After a good meal, i will always head down to T3 last for a bubble drink from Koi and some nice cupcakes from Butter Studio to bring home! Butter Studio has closed but Twelve cupcakes is opening soon! Hehe. My younger siblings like to go there even it means just having simple KFC, Pastamania not forgetting our favourite donuts (I cannot remember the name but its in T3!)
)
My kids and I frequent Changi Airport T3, mainly for the kids internal playground and the slides and while they’re there I would sip a cup of coffee at Starbucks and read my online books. It’s like our central meeting place, I get to see the kids running around safely and they’ll drop by to ‘visit’ me during their water-breaks. Works out well. Couldn’t ask for more!
I will definitely go for ToastBox. They offer a wide area for all the dine in customers to accomodate large number of people & they also serve in the fastest way possible as needed in a fast paced airport environment while still maintaining excellent service. Having their kaya toast & coffee as my all time favorite comfort food will always be the best satisfying quick bite even at night as they are open 24/7. ToastBox will be the best dining place for me.
My fave dining spot: Ramen Champion!!
Swensen our All-Time-Favourite with the kids. A salad bar for appetizer followed by our main and also kids menu for the kidz and the best part DESSERT~ ice cream for the kids as well as the adults ALL in ONE place. What more could we ask for!