Are you heading to Singapore? It’s a city known for its incredible food fusion, with cultures from all over East and Southeast Asia contributing to its unique mix of flavors and dishes. However, Singapore is also known to be one of the most expensive countries in Southeast Asia, so New York travel company AllTheRooms has rounded up the top six budget restaurants in the city.
From the city’s best dim sum joints to delicious bowls of piping-hot Ramen, here are the top picks:
1. A Noodle Story
A Noodle Story is one of Singapore’s top cheap noodle eats and everybody knows it. Tourists and locals alike head to the ramen joint and there are long lines. Don’t be put off as it’s definitely worth the wait! The street food stand serves up some of Singapore’s finest ramen, topped with chilli oil, spring onion, pickled-eggs and prawns cooked in potato peels.
2. Lau Pa Sat
Lau Pa Sat is one of the most popular food markets in the city and it’s known for its delicious satay sticks. Head to the stalls to the right of the entrance and you’ll find stands serving up satay. Chicken and beef satay are the most popular choices, but you can also get chilli crab and succulent grilled Tiger prawns on sticks. It’s around $2 per satay stick, making it budget-friendly. Visitors claim it’s the best satay in the city. The market itself is a great place to visit — it’s set in a historic, 19th-century building and has a buzzing atmosphere with tons of food stalls.
3. Swee Choon
Swee Choon is known as one of the top budget dim sum restaurants in Singapore. It’s located down a back alley in the district of Little India and draws in locals and tourists alike. Top picks include the salted egg custard bun and the beancurd wrapped shrimps. It’s usually open until 4 am — so in the early hours of the morning it’s a top destination for clubbers on their way home.
4. Tamoya Udon
Tamoya Udon is a build-your-own noodle bowl joint. It sells delicious bowls of steaming hot udon noodles, and you select your add ons at the counter. The udon noodles are served al dente in a light broth. Try the beef sukiyaki udon or the double tempura vegetable udon. If you want something cold on a hot day, the restaurant also offers up cold udon noodles — the cold egg udon is a popular choice. If you’re a bit more hungry, there are plenty of tempura options for you to add to your dish, including fried shrimp and fried egg tempura.
5. Ajumma’s
Ajumma’s is a great place to head if you want to sample some Korean food on a budget. It’s located in the Dhoby Ghaut district, which is known for its large Korean community. Most dishes on the menu are under $10. Top picks include the beef bulgogi the and kimchi ramyeon.
6. Sungei Road Laksa
Sungei Road Laksa serves up delicious bowls of Laksa soup made from coconut milk, spices and chicken, prawn or beef. People flock to the stall to sample it’s cheap bowls of Laksa, which is around $3 for a bowl. The stall uses charcoal to cook the broth, giving it a delicious, smoky flavor.
