Whenver someone talks about dining at Orchard Road (or anywhere else nearby), most people are quick to assume that it would be an extravagant wallet-damaging meal. While there are many fine dining restaurants in this vicinity, there is also a sheer number of budget-friendly eateries. Yes, you can find a bowl of noodles at S$5 and below if you search hard enough!

From Far East Shopping Centre, Golden Mile Complex to Orchard Towers, here are 8 Old Shopping Malls In Singapore where you can find lots of cheap food options.

#1 CUPPAGE PLAZA

Cuppage Plaza might be notorious for its Japanese restaurants and Japanese KTV bars, but the old mall is also home to economical food stores on its first floor, namely Orchard Yong Tau Fu and Angel Kitchen.

5 Koek Road
Singapore 228796
Tel: +65 6734 1413
Nearest Station: Somerset

#2 FAR EAST PLAZA

Far East Plaza is every teenager’s go-to paradise for trendy accessories and clothing, but the shabby-looking shopping centre also sells cheap Asian fares at its ground storey and top storey. We love Hainanese Delicay’s fragrant chicken rice, Graffiti Cafe’s wanton mee, Good Morning Nanyang Cafe’s kaya toast and Hong Hu Express’ minced pork noodles.

14 Scotts Road
Singapore 228213
Nearest Station: Orchard

#3 FAR EAST SHOPPING CENTRE

Far East Shopping Centre is dark and gloomy – not quite a destination you ever thought of dining at. But hidden inside this dimly lit mall is a plethora of economy rice and yong tau foo stores where you can have a satisfying meal at just S$4.

545 Orchard Road
Singapore 238882
Nearest Station: Orchard

#4 GOLDEN MILE COMPLEX

A trip to Golden Mile Complex is akin to visiting The Land of Smiles. The mall is dotted with endless Thai restaurants, many which open till very late or are open 24/7. For a cheap Thai meal, head over to Golden Mile Complex’s Nana Original Thai Food and Diandin Leluk.

5001 Beach Road
Singapore 199588
Nearest Station: Lavender / Nicoll Highway

#5 MIDPOINT ORCHARD

We bet most of you have walked past Midpoint Orchard for many years, but actually never set foot in this unassuming mall. After all, nobody talks about Midpoint Orchard. You probably did not even know about its existence! But located in the basement is JTown Cafe, which serves quite a fantastic spread of Indonesian delicacies at affordable prices.

220 Orchard Road
Singapore 238852
Tel: +65 6732 1718
Nearest Station: Somerset

#6 ORCHARD PLAZA

When the beauty parlours, tailor shops and tuition centres at Orchard Plaza shut their doors, skimpily-clad exotic-looking oriental women are seen lurking around the shopping centre. Dodgy businesses aside, there are still eateries that you could visit for a cheap, good meal. Visit the 24/7 Al Madinah Restaurant and treat yourselves to tom yam soup and murtabak.

150 Orchard Road
Singapore 238841
Nearest Station: Somerset

#7 ORCHARD TOWERS

If you thought visiting Orchard Plaza at nighttime was intimidating, then you clearly have yet to venture into the infamous Orchard Towers. Admittedly, a trip afterhours here sunset could make one feel queasy. If that issue is a concern, why not visit in daytime and check out the basement’s selection of cheap hawker fare and Thai restaurants.

400 Orchard Road
Singapore 238875
Nearest Station: Orchard

#8 SUNSHINE PLAZA

Sunshine Plaza has the largest number of printing shops in Singapore. The next time you are running your print errands, do make it a point to have a meal there. After all, Sunshine Plaza is also where you can fill your tummies up with delicious but inexpensive food. Parklane Zha Yun Tun Mee House and Thai Gold Food are two recommended value-for-money eateries.

10 Prinsep Link
Singapore 187948
Nearest Station: Bugis