Dining out in Singapore can be very cheap, and it can be a costly affair too. Sure, you can do the budget way and have hawker food every day, but eating is also a form of social activity and there are many times that call for a proper meal at a proper outlet. And inevitably, that would mean spending more and S$3 for a plate of chicken rice no longer applies.

But we are fortunate enough to be in Singapore – the land of food. And the possibility of a pig flying is higher than you running out of dining options here. Dining out need not be expensive, really.

Amidst rising living costs and stagnant salaries, here’s sharing 20 Singapore Restaurants’ Dishes that are priced S$20 and under. Your bank account will thank us, but your jeans might not.

#1 ARTISTRY – BIG BREAKFAST

Brunch was never meant to be expensive, so we are happy that Artistry kept their classic Big Breakfast at an affordable S$15. While most places overcharge for this popular brunch favourite, head down to Artistry for some eggs and sausage goodness without burning a hole in your pocket!

17 Jalan Pinang
Tel: +65 6298 2420
Tue to Sat: 10am – 11.45pm
Sun: 10am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

#2 BOUFE – EGGS BENEDICT

Eggs Benedict sounds so common, but we have to give it to Boufe for doing theirs really well. At S$16, it comes with a generous portion of homemade brioche with honey baked ham and perfectly poached eggs with a runny center, generously drizzled with creamy hollandaise sauce that is made in-house.

308 Tanglin Road
Phoenix Park
Tel: +65 6734 7656
Tue to Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard/Redhill

#3 CHIKUWA TEI – TENCHA SOBA

There are many reasons why we love Chikuwa Tei, and one of them is its Tencha Soba (S$14). When all you want is comforting Japanese food, a serving of cold, green ten soba noodles and tempura moriawase will do the trick. And Chikuwa Tei’s version never fails.

9 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-01
Tel: +65 6738 9395
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#4 DANCING CRAB – POPCORN SHRIMP PO’ BOY SANDWICH

A cheaper alternative to lobster roll is Dancing Crab’s Popcorn Shrimp Po’ Boy Sandwich. Quite essentially a prawn roll, this item is no less satisfying. It is S$15 for a set of two rolls and lots of cajun fries – how does that sound? Value for money, right? We told you so.

The Grandstand #01-20/21
200 Turf Club Road
Tel: +65 6466 3303
Tue to Fri: 5pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

#5 DEPARTMENT OF CAFFEINE – LUNCH PLATE

For a fuss-free meal, Department of Caffeine has dishes from the counter which are prepared readily. A main course and regular salad is only S$15 – you get to choose between roast chicken and poached salmon for the main course; and for the salad, they have roasted beetroot, soba noodles or roasted cauliflower. Wholesome and freshly prepared in-house daily, this makes one of our all-time lunches.

Department of Caffeine
15 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 6223 3426
Mon to Fri (except Wed): 10.30am – 7pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

#6 FIVE & DIME – MENTAIKO PASTA

At S$18, this pasta at Five & Dime is a crowd’s favourite. Creamy, flavourful, and very filling. A huge portion of spaghetti that is generously covered in mentaiko sauce, this is for those who like a heavy lunch that packs a punch.

Five and Dime Eatery
297 River Valley Road
Tel: +65 9236 5002
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12 midnight
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#7 FRESH FRUITS LAB – FISH & CHIPS

Fresh Fruits Lab prides itself on inculcating fresh fruits into their food and drinks! Well, as its name suggests, it is a heaven for all fruits lovers. Its Fish & Chips (S$19) is easily our favourite dish there. Beer battered pacific dory fried to a golden perfection, and the end result is skin so crispy, with beautiful sweet white flesh on the inside. The serving is very generous, and it comes complete with steakhouse frittes and homemade tartare.

351 Changi Road
Tel: +65 6677 6741
Tue to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 11pm
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/Kembangan

#8 GINZAWA – KUROBUTA TSUKE SOBA

This may not be the cheapest soba in town, but it is nothing less than value-for-money. At S$20, the Kubobuta Tsuke Soba at Ginzawa, an underrated Japanese restaurant at Palais Renaissance, features icy cold buckwheat noodles served with thinly-sliced black pork and yuzu-perfumed dipping sauce.

Ginzawa
390 Orchard Road
Palais Renaissance #01-07
Tel: +65 6736 0100
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#9 HANWOORI KOREAN RESTAURANT – SPICY BEANCURD STEW

Located in the buzzing Serangoon Garden enclave, Hanwoori Korean Restaurant is one of those under-the-radar restaurants that only Korean food lovers in the know and residents will find their way here.

During lunch times on weekends, you will find several S$10 nett options such as Spicy Beancurd Stew and Kimchi Jjigae. The options are usually on rotation, and they come along with an impressive spread of banchan (side dishes).

76 Serangoon Garden Way
Tel: +65 6283 6339
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#10 HYDE & CO – TRUFFLE MAC & CHEESE

Instead of being drenched in cheeses, each macaroni is perfectly coated with just the right amount of cream cheese.

The aroma and taste of truffle oil in this plate sure kicked it up a notch for us. Baked with mushrooms and bread crumbs for added texture, Hyde & Co.’s Truffle Mac & Cheese (S$18) wins a nod from us.

785 North Bridge Rd
Singapore 198753
Tel: +65 6635 5785
Mon: 11am – 6pm
Wed – Sat: 11am – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 6pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Lavender or Bugis

#11 JING HUA XIAO CHI – CHINESE PIZZA

Jing Hua Xiao Chi is a casual chic Chinese restaurant at Palais Renaissance that serves a concise and inexpensive menu, making it a good place for an intimate business lunch or a casual dinner date.

On its all-day menu, you have to zoom straight in to the Jing Hua Signatures. The Chinese Pizza (S$10.80) is flaky, savoury pastry with generous fillings of meat and vegetables – quite unlike your usual Chinese food, no?

390 Orchard Road
#B1-04/05 Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 6733 8231
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#12 LITTLE DINER – NUTELLA FRENCH TOAST

Nutella, Nutella and more Nutella in Little Diner‘s version of stuffed French Toast (S$16.50) which is served during weekend brunch. At S$16.50, this is a notch above your usual French Toast. Thick brioche with a crunchy cereal crust, lavishly stuffed with everyone’s favourite hazelnut spread, topped with fried bananas and drenched with chocolate sauce. What’s a better word than ‘heavenly’?

789 Bukit Timah Road
Tel: +65 6466 4088
Tue to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village/Botanic Gardens

#13 NAKAJIMA SUISAN – SABA MIRIN SET

Do you always see a queue at the corner of Takashimaya’s food court? That is because Nakajima Suisan Grilled Fish is there, and they have been around since we were students! We have loved their affordable sets since, and it is something that we always turn to when in doubt. The Saba Mirin Set is the most popular. At S$11.50 per set, it comes with a huge slab of saba, a side salad, rice and miso soup.

391A Orchard Road Basement 2
Takashimaya Food Hall Ngee Ann City

#14 PINT & CURRIES – CHICKEN VINDALOO WITH CHEESE & GARLIC NAAN

Nestled in the heart of Clarke Quay, Pint & Curries offers an affordable supper menu of North-Indian curries and well-loved crafted beers. Our favourite is the Chicken Vindaloo (S$12). The boneless chicken in the spicy gravy is exceptionally sweet and succulent, and you have to eat it with the Cheese & Garlic Naan (S$4.50) that is fresh and fluffy from the oven.

#01-14, Clarke Quay
3D River Valley Road
Tel: +65 6337 4616
Daily: 7pm – 4am
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#15 POULET – POULET ROTI WITH MUSHROOM CHARDONNAY SAUCE

This is a perennial favourite, we know. It is ours too. Nothing a simple roast chicken dish can’t do, right? The queues at every outlet are the best testaments to the brand’s popularity, and any time is a good time for a Poulet Roti with Mushroom Chardonnay Sauce (S$15.90 for half chicken).

HarbourFront Walk
#01-175/176/177
Tel: +65 6376 9087
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

#17 SUNDAY MARKET – SIRLOIN RENDANG TOAST

Sunday Market is a quirky space with brick walls in the prettiest hues of rust, spotting irregular display of paintings sporadic plant arrangements, and filled with chitters from a hipster crowd. A Rendang Toast is what you’d least expect for brunch, but the Straits-style item is a delightful twist to the usual toast. At S$15.90, this is a non-mainstream cafe item to try!

Sunday Market
22 Lim Tua Tow Road
Mon to Fri: 1am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#18 THE REFINERY – PULLED PORK RICE BOWL

The newest addition to Jalan Besar neighbourhood is The Refinery, a 3-storey space housed within a industrial building at King George’s Avenue. The concept includes a restaurant on the ground level, a bespoke cocktail bar on the second level, as well as a workspace area on the third level.

On the lunch and brunch menus, you can find several creative dishes such as Gyuniku Donburi (S$14), Pulled Pork Rice Bowl (S$10), and Spicy Pulled Pork Mee (S$12). Most of the items are affordably priced under S$16.

115 King George’s Ave
Tel: +65 6293 0461
Tue to Sun: 6pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Lavender

#19 TOLIDO’S ESPRESSO NOOK CAFE – ROSTI

Sitting in the heart of Crawford, just 5 minutes away from Bugis and Haji Lane, Tolido’s Espresso Nook has its series of specialty brews that come with photo-worthy latte art. And what we totally dig is their rosti. Tolido’s do a really mean rendition! Served with an egg, the Rosti comes in various combinations – with cheesy sausage (S$14.90), smoked Bratswurst (S$16.90) and smoked salmon (S$20.90).

Block 462 Crawford Lane #01-63
Tel: +65 6648 0178
Tue to Thu: 9.30am – 7pm
Fri & Sat: 9.30am – 10pm
Sun: 9am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

#20 XIN CUISINE – DIM SUM

Dim Sum is another reason why you should head to Xin Cuisine. Most of the dim sum are reasonably priced at S$4.50 per basket. The dim sum menu is available daily, and on Sundays and Public Holidays, the menu features additional items.

The classic offerings – including Siew Mai, Xiaolongbao, Har Gau – are all nicely executed, but if you are there for yum cha with your family on Sundays, you can look forward to other noteworthy creations that include Steamed Melon Ring with Shrimp, Pork Paste in Abalone Sauce (S$4.50 for 3 pcs), Steamed Cuttlefish with Spicy Sauce (S$4.50), Baked Chocolate and Custard Bun ($ 6.00 for 3 pcs) and Deep-fried Bacon and Crab Claw with Salad Sauce ($9.00 for 3 pcs).

#04-00 Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road
Tel: +65 6731 7173
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram

For more recommendations, read our guide to Singapore’s Top 20 Inexpensive Restaurants.