Singapore according to the various cost of living surveys is today one of the most expensive cities on earth. Nonetheless, this small S.East Asian city-state with its plethora of attractions and much lauded culinary scene continues to feature as a hot favourite on the travel circuit.
Singapore’s gastronomic landscape is home to a wide array of restaurants and eateries. In fact, the city is known for its plentiful hawker centers and food courts which dish out multi-ethnic eats at extremely wallet-friendly prices. However, aside from these hawker centers, the city is also home to quite a few well-priced restaurants where you can enjoy a good meal without burning a hole in your wallet.
Little Diner
Little Diner, as its name suggests, is a cosy eatery located in the heart of Singapore’s lush Bukit Timah neighborhood. The owners of this all day dining cafe claim to draw inspiration from the diverse eateries of New York City’s Lower East Side. Little Diner offers a menu that features comfort and familiar western eats like burgers, Mac n Cheese and more. The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, brunch and offers a kid’s menu apart from hosting ‘happy hour specials’. Little Diner is closed on Mondays.
Toss & Turn
Fresh and hearty salads are an ideal antidote for combating Singapore’s perennially muggy climate. Toss&Turn is housed in the luxe environs of the ION Orchard mall on Singapore’s main shopping drag, Orchard Road and it offers patrons a chance to design their custom leafy meals. You can do so by first choosing a salad base and then building your salad by adding two protein or deli selections and four vegetable or crunch additions. A choice of dressing then completes your salad. Aside from salads, the eatery serves soups, sandwiches and wholesome dishes like Lasagne.
Orange Lantern
The Orange Lantern chain of Vietnamese restaurants offers traditional Vietnamese fare like pho(noodle soups), rice paper fresh rolls, mango salad, beef stew rice noodle and avocado shakes and more.
Food for Thought Cafe
The Food for Thought chain of casual dining eateries is housed in some of Singapore’s most well-known attractions like the Botanic Gardens, the National Museum and the Singapore Art Museum. The casual dining cafes serve a menu that feature a selection of comfort eats such as soups, salads, burgers along with an assortment of local dishes.
Nakhon Kitchen
Nakhon Kitchen has been delighting diners with its authentic Thai fare for some years now. The restaurant operates from two locations in Singapore. One branch is located in the charming, expat-heavy enclave of Holland Village while the other is in Hougang in the northern half of the city. Enjoy Thai food staples like Tom Yum Soup, Green Curry, Pad Thai and Pandan Chicken at extremely wallet-friendly prices at Nakhon Kitchen.
Ananda Bhavan
Ananda Bhavan, which opened for business in 1924 on Selgie Road in the Little India enclave of Singapore, is the oldest Indian vegetarian restaurant in the city. In recent years, this popular restaurant has expanded and now operates from four locations. Three of these locations are within the Serangoon Road area while one outlet is situated at Terminal Two of Changi Airport. On offer at Ananda Bhavan is a menu that features North Indian, South Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes.
La Petite Cuisine
La Petite Cuisine is a well-entrenched player on Singapore’s dining scene. This rather rustic French bistro is located on the lower level of Serene Centre on Jalan Serene near Orchard Road. The menu at La Petit Cuisine offers staples of French cuisine like duck confit, escargots, foie gras, chicken liver salad, beef steak and more. Portions at the restaurant are substantial, and you can expect to pay S$20 to S$30 per head for a good meal.
Bar Bar Black Sheep
Bar Bar Black Sheep is the name of a chain of casual dining cafes that operates from various locations around the island. These cafes offer an assortment of beers, wines and spirits along with well-mixed cocktails. The food menu at the cafe features North Indian, Japanese and Western dishes and ensures that the cafe caters to diverse tastes and preferences
Flock Cafe
Located in the trendy, hipster neighborhood of Tiong Bahru, this family-owned and stylish cafe is known for its reasonably priced eats. The menu offerings at Flock Cafe include all-day breakfast items, sandwiches, pasta and baked goods. Do try the highly recommended Pork Cheek Gruyere Sandwich and the Portobello Mushroom Salad.