With swanky malls like ION and 313 Somerset, who even goes to the older drabby ones such as Far East Plaza? Unless you’re thinking of getting a piercing or tattoo, you’d probably not set foot in there.

Well, then you’re missing out. As shabby as Far East Plaza looks in comparison to its glammed-up neighbours, this shopping centre is an absolute gem for affordable eats in the town area.

Whether you’re in the mood for a spicy Thai dinner or hearty zi-char feast, you can always fall back on this mall. We’ve put together a list of budget-friendly eateries at Far East Plaza for budget days.

CAHAYA MUSLIM RESTAURANT

Cahaya Muslim Restaurant is an eatery on the level 5 of Far East Plaza which offers an impressive range of halal Chinese cuisine, with the likes of claypot rice, wanton noodles and even zi-char-style dishes.

Go for their Cereal Prawns (S$15/S$21) if you’re craving something fried and buttery and pair it with their Seafood Fried Rice with Chicken Topping (S$7.50) for a hearty meal.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-91/92
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6734 8434
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/jyynius.eats/

CROSS STRAITS RESTAURANT

If you’re bent on getting a fix of comforting fish soup in Orchard, you’d better head down to Cross Straits Restaurants early. This popular, modest eatery does a pretty solid bowl of Sliced Fish Soup (S$5.80), which draws in sizable crowds during lunchtime.

They also do a mean Fried Tofu with Thai Chili Sauce (S$4.80). Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these golden cubes shockingly good.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-91/92
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6735 2779
Daily: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

GREENVIEW CAFE

Ban mian stalls are a dime a dozen, but those that make their own noodles are rare gems — Greenview Cafe is one of them. This hidden eatery does some of the best handmade mee hoon kueh we’ve ever tried.

Their Dry Mee Hoon Kueh (S$4.80) is a must-try. The irregularly-shaped kueh is excellently bouncy with a nice resistant bite. Tossed in a savoury, mildly spicy sauce, the doughy morsels are insanely addictive.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #04-96
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6734 2312
Mon to Sat: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

HAINANESE DELICACY

Mention “Far East Plaza chicken rice” to any foodie and they’ll immediately know what you’re talking about. Hailed as one of the best places for chicken rice in Singapore, Hainanese Delicacy has been tossing out impeccable plates of chicken rice for decades.

Whether you get their roasted or steamed chicken, expect only the most tender and silken meat. Heck, even the breast meat tastes almost as soft as fish. Their Half Chicken (S$20) is good for sharing among three to four pax.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-116
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6734 0639
Tues to Sun: 10.15am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/eatwhatah/

HONG HU EXPRESS

Hong Hu Express is a great option for those weekend nights when you’re out with friends looking for dinner but all the budget-friendly spots seem to have a full house. Modestly dressed with plain tables and empty walls, this place’s interior certainly doesn’t match up to the quality of their food.

Their comforting Chinese fare ranges from You Mian (S$3.50) in robust broth to a tom yum rendition, which really packs a punch. Add on some Pan-fried Dumplings (S$6) for an appetiser you won’t regret.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-98
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6732 5089
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/foodlovesme0315/

KRAPOW THAI STREET FOOD

Kra Pow Thai Street Food sits on the third level of Far East Plaza as a hotspot for dedicated Thai food lovers. This places dishes out solid Thai rice and noodle dishes, as well as a plethora of delicious sides at reasonable prices.

One of their more well-known dishes is the Drunkard Noodles (S$7.80) which features dry kway teow coated in a piquant mix of ingredients such as soy sauce, fish sauce, holy basil and garlic.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #03-26/27
Singapore 228217
Tel: +65 6734 1946
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Photo Credit: https://facebook.com/kitchenmaddies/

MADDIE’S KITCHEN

Yes, you’ve had Hainanese pork chop curry rice, but have you seen pork chops as huge as the ones from Maddie’s Kitchen? This humble-looking eatery in Far East Plaza serves up not-so-humble dishes, from zi-char-style fare to curry rice.

Apart from their fantastic Hainanese Curry Pork Chop Rice (S$4.80), they also do an outstanding Oyster Omelette (S$10.80/small, S$15.80/medium, S$20.80). Be sure to get there early because the wait can stretch beyond 45 minutes during peak periods.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #02-10/11/12/13
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6365 0501
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

NEW STATION SNACK BAR

Fans of Salted Egg dishes have probably heard or been to New Station Snack Bar. This name has become inextricably tied to their famed Salted Egg Pork Ribs Rice (S$6.50), which commands snaking queues during meal times.

While their star dish is undeniably good, their renditions of claypot rice will steal the spotlight. Dangerously smoky, their Claypot Rice — Chicken (S$6) has an excellently charred aroma and is downright delicious.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-95
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6734 2862
Sun to Fri: 11.30am – 9pm
Sat: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

PUNCAK HALAL RESTAURANT

One of the most popular Halal eateries in Orchard Road, Puncak Halal Restaurant certainly makes its presence known with its bustling lunch crowds. Hungry diners flock here for their popular — wait for it — Honeydew Roasted Chicken Noodles.

As bewildering as it sounds and looks, this traditional dish surprisingly works. But for the less adventurous, they offer a steady range of noodles and rice dishes. Their crispy wantons make for a great appetiser too.

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-94
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6738 4348
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

WOK WEI KITCHEN

For a comfortable, unpretentious zi char meal that won’t burn your wallet in town, hit up Wok Wei Kitchen. Their homely fare is well-executed, ranging from fantastic Imperial Pork Ribs to mouthwatering Sambal Kang Kong.

Get spoilt by their S$18 Zi Char Set which comes with three decently-portioned dishes and rice, great for sharing between two or three people!

14 Scotts Rd, Far East Plaza, #05-100/101
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 6909 7854
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

New Station Snack Bar nestled in Far East Plaza is where you can find affordable Chinese food in town. This small eatery has been highly raved about for serving delectable pork ribs, chicken wings and other side dishes.

Conveniently located within walking distance from Orchard MRT Station, this is one great destination for a wallet-friendly meal.

You would think that such a casual dining place would be rather limited when it comes to options on the menu but that was not the case at New Station Snack Bar. Catering to both single diners and those in groups, you can pick between individual dishes or savoury sides a la tze char style.

If you are dining alone, there is the Seafood Hor Fun Soup (S$5), Hokkien Mee (S$5) and Claypot Rice or Noodle with a meat of your choice (S$5.50/S$6).

They also have the classic dishes such as Chye Por Omelet (S$8/S$12), Sweet & Sour Pork (S$11/S$17) and Spring Onion & Ginger Sliced Fish (S$11/S$17).

But the Salted Egg Pork Ribs Rice (S$6) is the real star. Crispy and well-done pork ribs drenched in tasty salted egg yolk sauce; we love that the sauce is rich and extremely flavourful with a hint of curry from the curry leaves.

It is one of our go-to one-dish meal when we are in Orchard Road.

And if you are a fan of spicy food just like us, you will enjoy the tinge of spice that comes along with chopped fiery chilli padi. We recommend mixing up the white rice with the sauce.

Here’s a tip: If you order the a la carte portion as a sharing dish instead of the individually portioned rice set, the ribs will come with a lot more sauce and curry leaves!

New Station Snack Bar
14 Scotts Road
#05-95 Far East Plaza
Singapore 28213
Tel: +65 6734 2862
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Trends come and go, our preferences in life change all the time, but for some unbeknownst reason, salted egg yolk-anything is always a favourite. We don’t know if it is solely a Singapore thing, but we are just so thankful to whoever decided to put the eggs through the brining process. Everything is better with salted egg yolk; that is just about right.

And we want to profess our love for salted egg yolk anything. Here, we have a list of Singapore’s Must-Try Salted Egg Yolk Dishes. Join us in this epicurean journey as we glorify the highly-coveted preserved egg and embrace all its goodness!

TSURAI SPICY SALTED EGG FISH SKIN

Tsurai Spicy Salted Egg Fish Skin is the newest fish skin snack in the market and quite possibly one of the best fish skin snacks in Singapore. Any time is a good time for fish skin. This is one of the best things to snack on.

The Salted Egg fish skin snack is one flavour that will please everyone, and it will never go wrong. So good, you can eat it on its own. Or use it as dunks for your steamboat! The Salted Egg flavour is slightly spicy, so the kids may want to go easy on this.

Source: Antoinette’s Facebook

ANTOINETTE PATISSERIE SALTED EGG YOLK CROISSANT

The original salted egg yolk croissant was first created by Urban Bakery Works in Hong Kong. The trend has been catching up in our region, with Antoinette joining Flavours Fling Cafe the liu sha croissant battle in Singapore.

Antoinette’s Salted Yolk Lava Croissant (S$6.50) is now available at their Penhas store from 11am. On 10 Feb, it will start to sell the croissants at the Mandarin Gallery and Sofitel So Singapore outlets at 1pm daily.

30 Penhas Road
Singapore 208188
Mon to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 10am – 11pm
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

ARBITE CAFE SALTED EGG YOLK FRIES

Fries all day, every day. All the better if they are coated with salted egg yolk sauce! Arbite dishes up a really mean serving for less than S$10, so this works really well as a sharing dish. Even better if you have it all to yourself. Huh, what sore throat?

66 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555962
Tel: +65 6287 0430
Tue to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

BEER MARKET SALTED EGG YOLK PIZZA

Strategically located at the bustling Clarke Quay, Beer Market is not your ordinary pub. Or bar. Beer Market is a place that is committed to offering a myriad of beers and a comprehensive food menu. The Salted Egg Yolk Pizza (S$21.90) has our votes. Be sure to get the sinfully good Salted Egg Yolk Wings.

#01-17 & #02-02, Clarke Quay
3B River Valley Road
Singapore 179021
Tel: +65 9661 8283
Sun to Thu (Except Mon): 6pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 6pm – 3am
Eve of PH: 6pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

DRURY LANE CREAMY SALTED EGG YOLK EGGS BENEDICT

Eggs Benedict is mainstream no more because the people at Drury Lane have got some tricks up their sleeves. Why, of course! Do a salted egg yolk sauce instead of the ubiquitous Hollandaise! And instead of the usual ham, you get fried bacon! We suggest you hide your weighing scale before you head down to Drury Lane.

Drury Lane
94 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088515
Tel: +65 6222 6698
Mon, Wed & Thu: 9am to 8.30pm
Fri: 9am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

FAT CAT ICE CREAM BAR CHARCOAL WAFFLES WITH SALTED EGG YOLK SAUCE

This waffle needs no introduction by now, right? Also listed in our Guide to Most Unique Waffles in Singapore, FATCAT does it right with their Charcoal Waffles with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce (S$11.50 with a scoop of premium ice cream). A real treat to combat the heat, while seeking solace in heavenly salted egg yolk sauce.

Bedok North Avenue 2
#01-25 Block 416
Singapore 460416
Tel: +65 8201 1201
Mon, Wed to Thu, Sun: 1pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 1pm -11pm
(Closed on Tue)
Nearest Station: Bedok

IMPERIAL TREASURE FINE DINING SALTED EGG YOLK SQUID

Sure, salted egg yolk squid is getting pretty ubiquitous and it is not that unreachable. But few places do their salted egg yolk dishes as well as Imperial Treasure Fine Dining. The Salted Egg Yolk Squid (S$22) is our pick, but if you are not a fan of squid, go for the Salted Egg Yolk Prawns (S$28)

Now, you have to trust us on this because we’ve been there many times and they never disappoint. Totally worth the splurge!

#L2-04, Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 7788
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

MITZO DEEP-FRIED PRAWNS WITH SALTED EGG YOLK

If you don’t already know, Mitzo is the sexiest Chinese restaurant in town, and one that had us falling head over heels in love with with a recent visit. In its menu of delicate Cantonese dishes sits the unassuming Deep-fried Prawns with Salted Egg Yolk. A classic rendition of the local favourite; date nights just got tastier. Literally.

270 Orchard Road
Grand Park Orchard
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm to 12midnight
Nearest Station: Somerset

OPERATION DAGGER SALTED EGG YOLK COCKTAIL

Even with an address, locating the bar is a task in itself. This under-the-radar speakeasy has no signs, so keep your eyes peeled for their logo scrawled on the wall. And when you finally find them, treat yourself to a Salted Egg Yolk Cocktail (S$25)!

7 Ann Siang Hill
Singapore 069791
Tel: +65 9296 4704
Tue to Sat: 6pm to 12am
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

NO SIGNBOARD SALTED EGG YOLK CRAB

No Signboard is a stalwart in Singapore. Famed for their seafood, No Signboard is the place to bring your overseas guests to for a truly local-style indulgent, and please do not do that without ordering the Salted Egg Yolk Crab, ok?

414 Geylang Road
Singapore 389392
Tel: +65 6842 3415
Daily: 12pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Aljunied

SIN LEE FOODS SWEET POTATO FRIES WITH SALTED EGG YOLK SAUCE

This retro-themed cafe has been getting quite a bit of attention for their concise but impressive menu. Don’t expect your typical cafe fare; you won’t get it there. But their creations are worth the trip down, especially their famous Sweet Potato Fries with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce.

4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee
Singapore 162004
Tel: +65 6377 3170
Tue to Fri: 11am – 9pm
Sat: 9.30am – 9pm
Sun: 9.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

SINPOPO SALTED EGG YOLK COOKIES

Sinpopo’s Prosperity Hamper (S$88) will include 1 Gula Melaka Cake (5×5?), 2 bottles of Sinpopo Sugee Biscuit and 2 bottles of the Salted Egg Yolk Cookies - with 8 Mandarin oranges to complete, no less.

The Salted Egg Yolk Cookies are Sinpopo’s newest creation and they combine the best in a butter cookie with the much loved fragrance of salted egg yolk and curry leaves.

458 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Dakota

TASTE GOOD SALTED EGG YOLK CHICKEN

Taste Good at Sim Lim Square does a salted egg yolk chicken that is served with a fried egg atop rice. Every bite had us falling in love, and the richness and creaminess of the salted egg yolk that combines with the crispiness of the chicken is totally to die for.

Sim Lim Square #02-04
Singapore 188504
Tel: +65 6336 6298
Nearest Station: Bugis

TART BLANC SALTED EGG YOLK TART

This cute little patisserie that specialises in tarts deserves a huge shout-out. Sitting inside Millenia Walk, Tart Blanc is a real gem. The tarts are baked fresh daily, and there are different surprises every day. Of course, if you see the Salted Egg Yolk Tart (S7.50), you know that is the one to go for.

Millenia Walk #01-102
9 Raffles Boulevard
Singapore 039596
Tel: +65 6238 6893
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

THE REFINERY SALTED EGG YOLK ONION RINGS

The Refinery’s Salted Egg Yolk Onion Rings had us at hello. Thick cuts of onions coated with beer batter, deep fried, then lavishly coated with salted egg yolk sauce… no, you better taste it for yourself and enlighten us – what adjective is better than ‘best’?

115 King George’s Avenue #01-02
Singapore 208561
Tel: +65 6293 1204
Tue to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 12midnight
Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 1am
Sat: 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 1am
Sun: 11am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

TIAN WAI TIAN SALTED EGG YOLK PORK RIBS

This unassuming eatery is ever crowded. Well-loved for their fish head steamboat, a meal here is local-like and fuss-free, but most comforting. And we need you to know this – they serve the best Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs (S$10) in Singapore. Absolutely nothing beats this!

1383 Serangoon Road
Singapore 328254
Tel: +65 9172 2833
Mon to Fri: 11am – 2pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Boon Keng/Potong Pasir

TOM PALATE SALTED EGG YOLK ICE CREAM

At Tom’s Palette, all ice cream are made in-house with less cream, sugar and less air beaten in for a richer taste. Having the Salted Egg Yolk Ice Cream (S$3.20) is like eating spoonfuls of smooth salted egg yolk custard, with textures similar to that of Italian gelato.

Tom’s Palette
Shaw Towers
100 Beach Road
Singapore 189702
Tel: +65 6296 5239
Mon to Thurs: 12pm – 9:30pm
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 10pm
Sun: 1pm – 7pm (Closed on the last Sunday of the month)
Nearest MRT: Bugis

TUNGLOK SIGNATURE SALTED EGG YOLK FISH SKIN

We always love a good dim sum meal at TungLok Signatures, but apart from the regular suspects, we need to have a serving of this Crispy Fish Skin with Salted Egg Yolk (S$10) on our table. Better than potato chips, this has us munching non-stop!

1 Harbourfront Walk, VivoCity #01-57
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 9555
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun & Public Holidays: 11am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

TWENTY GRAMMES CHARCOAL WAFFLES WITH HOMEMADE SALTED EGG YOLK SAUCE

Besides Fatcat Ice Cream Bar, another place that you should try is Twenty Grammes. The Charcoal Waffle (S$8.50) at Twenty Grammes was definitely on point. The crisp outer layer, coupled with the addition of an ultra-rich and slightly thicker salted egg yolk sauce, is such a divine combination. The sauce is served in a huge and generous pot and we could not have been delighted and satisfied. It is an additional S$3.50 for one scoop of ice cream on top and S$6.50 for two.

753 North Bridge Road
#01-01
Singapore 198721
Tel: +65 6717 1733
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Bugis

7KICKSTART LIU SHA FRENCH TOAST

7Kickstart Cafe at the Singapore Art Museum has been gaining popularity for its Liu Sha French Toast (S$13). The generous portion of salted egg yolk sauce was divine; creamy and savoury, with that slight hint of sweetness.

71 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189555
Tel: +65 8389 7877
Mon & Tue: 8am – 8pm
Wed to Fri: 8am – 10pm
Sat: 10am – 8pm
Sun: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Bras Basah