Is there cheap hawker food in Singapore? Isn’t Singapore expensive?! This is what I usually get from people when they see me in Singapore but in this post, I will share with you all the cheap eats under $10 SGD ($7 USD)!
Reader Mail: Hi Trisha! I saw your food adventures in Singapore but did not find a post on the blog. Your food stories are amazing and I know you went with some locals on your trip to SG.
Can you please recommend cheap hawker food in Singapore? Center of the city? I only have 4 days in Singapore and would like to eat Hawker as much as I can. Thanks a lot!
– Rachel Finlayson, Australia
Dear Rachel,
Thank you so much for reaching out! I was frequently in Singapore when I was living in Asia and Hawker stalls are the best! Singapore is a notoriously expensive country but they are also voracious eaters, hence the cheap hawker food in Singapore.
There are many to choose from but in this post, I will only be giving you 15 stalls – no duplicates in what food they serve so you’ll have a lot of options!
Many skip Singapore because of its high cost of travel but little did people know that the food culture here is very cheap and vibrant.
I hope you enjoy your stay in Singapore and let me know if you need me to connect with locals who can take you around the city. Have fun!
Xx,
Trisha
What’s so special about Singapore’s hawker culture?
In Singapore, hawker is not about eating or food in particular but it strongly portrays the Singaporean way of life. This is how they are! They chat, drink, sit, eat with all their friends at hawker centres. It is something that is part of their daily life because it brings them together.
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Introducing Nasi Lemak: the star of Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore.It’s loud. There are long lines in every stall. You see people everywhere. You smell food from different directions. Hawker is a place where you can see, hear, smell, feel, and taste food.
15 cheap hawker food in Singapore: under $10 SGD
Since we are talking about the price here, I won’t describe the food in so many words. The only important thing you need to know is that all these are good. Some even have Michelin stars!
Enjoy and let me know your favorite!
#1: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice: $3.60 USD
Singapore has a lot of Chinese food influence and Hainanese Chicken is the most popular. Originally from Hainan, China, this dish is definitely a favorite. I can’t remember how many times I had this in Singapore and in different places – it’s super tasty!
Poached chicken and seasoned rice, served with chili sauce – you can get this at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice for only $5 SGD ($3.60 USD) and it’s really good for its price! Watch out for the long lines though – this place is always full!
➢ Get directions to Tian Tian
#2: Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa: $5.75 USD
If you like spicy, then Laksa is the perfect noodle soup for you! Made with thick wheat noodles (or rice vermicelli), fish/prawns, chicken, and spicy curry coconut milk on tamarind. This dish is not only common in Singapore but also in Malaysia, Indonesia, and some parts of Thailand.
Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa is the most legitimate go-to place for laksa, especially if it’s your first time trying it. Enjoy this meal for only $8 SGD ($5.75 USD)!
➢ Get directions to Famous Sungei Road
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Hainanese rice? You can eat it anytime of the day!#3: Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce chicken rice and noodle: $2.73 USD
One of the first two street food stalls in the world to get a Michelin star, this place is always packed as voracious eaters in Singapore are always craving for the soya sauce chicken! I’ve never seen any country eat noodles and rice at the same time (except for Japan) and Singapore seems to be enjoying this combo.
For $3.80 SGD ($2.73 USD), you can get a soy sauce chicken rice while soy sauce chicken noodle is at $4.80 SGD ($3.45 USD). There are also options for char siew, roasted pork, and pork ribs, all under $5 SGD ($3.59 USD).
They also sell whole chicken (you can see them slow cooking in front of the stall) for $25 SGD good for big groups. Vegetable sides like soy bean sprouts and Thai-style tofu are also available. Want extra rice? It’s less than a dollar (in SGD and USD) so go for it!
#4: A Noodle Story: $3.95 USD
Although Singaporean food is really hard to define, Singaporeans have adopted different types of food from Malaysia, China, and some parts of Southeast Asia in their own style and liking.
At A Noodle Story, you will get to experience original Singapore-style ramen for only $5.50 SGD ($3.95 USD)! These noodles are freshly made and always run out fast so take note that A Noodle Story has a mid-day break from 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm.
In total, they operate 2 hours for lunch and 2 hours for dinner. Make sure to get here early! Seriously 30 minutes – 1 hour before opening!
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Soya Sauce chicken rice and noodles: Only $2.73 USD for this? No way!#5: Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee: $2.87 USD
Made from flat rice noodles and stir-fried in pork fat over very high heat. Dark soy sauce, chili, prawns, chives, Chinese sausages, this dish, although not my favorite is really delicious!
I first tried it in Sarawak but in Singapore, they do it differently. Sure, it’s only $4 SGD ($2.87 USD) but because of the high-fat content, it is considered unhealthy food so I don’t advise you to have this every day.
Worth trying if you are in Singapore as it is really different from that of its neighbors, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.
#6: Chey Sua Carrot Cake: $2.88 USD
Insanely good crispy carrot cake for only $4 SGD ($2.88 USD). I’ve only been here once and among my friends, I was the only one who digs this dish.
For some, it can be a bit bland so make sure to add chili sauce. The line here is also insanely long – there could be a waiting period of 40 minutes to 1 hour!
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Carrot cake, please!#7: Koo Kee Yong Tau Foo Mee
A Hakka Chinese cuisine, yong tau fu is tofu filled with ground meat mixture or fish paste. Some include veggies and mushrooms in their variation.
It can be eaten dry or as a soup dish but here in Koo Kee, they serve dry noodles topped with minced meat. Enjoy this treat for only $5 SGD ($3.59 USD)!
#8: Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake: $1.44 USD
This delicacy is also of Chinese descent, made of oysters, bean sprouts, and green onions, mixed with tapioca starch, and then fried with eggs.
Ready to serve when it reaches its golden brown color. It’s basically just an omelet but at Maxwell Fuzhou, they were inventive in their visual presentation.
Many say that this traditional Fuzhou snack is close to extinction as few people make it. Go give it a try for $2 SGD ($1.44 USD)!
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Not for everyone but I like it!#9: Wan Xing Nasi Lemak: $2.16 USD
Nasi lemak is a Malay fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. You will find it everywhere in Malaysia but in Singapore, it is also a thing.
I found the many variations of Nasi lemak in countries like Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia as they are all culturally distinct. Enjoy a classic Nasi lemak at Wan Xing for only $3 SGD ($2.16 USD)!
#10: Koh Brother Pig’s Organ Soup: $3.6 USD
That may NOT sound good to you but I highly encourage you to try this delicacy when you come to Singapore. Originally from Chaozhou, China, it is usually served with side dishes such as braised pork leg, braised tofu puffs, hard-boiled eggs, and salted vegetables.
The broth is boiled with a mixture of pig offal including liver, intestines, stomach, pork meat, some salted vegetables, and crispy garlic slices. Top it with chili sauce for an extra adventure. Don’t forget to order rice! This dish is only $5 SGD ($3.6 USD)!
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See, it does not look that bad!#11: Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh: $3.59 USD
Bak koot teh means “meat bone tea” and comes from the Hokkien dialect. It is pork ribs simmered in a complex broth of herbs and spices like star anise, cinnamon, fennel seeds, and garlic. The process is usually done for long hours so the soup can extract the meaty flavors.
I am not a pork eater but I tried it anyway. Personally, I think it is very similar to the Philippines’ nilaga dish, only without the vegetables and banana. This dish is only for $5 SGD ($3.59 USD).
#12: Lao Ban Soya Beancurd: $1.44
Lao Ban is already an institution in Singapore with many branches all over the country. Enjoy this dessert for only $2 SGD ($1.44 USD). I’m not a fan of sweet stuff so I am not that enthusiastic about it. But this bean curd is always a YES whenever I am in SG.
Lao Ban is already an institution in Singapore with many branches all over the country. Enjoy this desert for only $2 SGD ($1.44 USD).
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Bak Koot Teh: a must in Singapore!#13: Yuan Chun Famous Lor Mee: $2.16 USD
Once again hailing from the Chinese-Malaysian fusion, lor mee is a noodle dish made with thick gravy sauce. The gravy is made out of corn starch, spices, and eggs. Some things they add to this dish include ngo hiang, fish cake, fish, round and chicken/pork dumplings.
Add a little vinegar, chili, and garlic for a perfect taste! For only $3 SGD ($2.16 USD), you’ll definitely have this over and over again!
#14: Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee:
This dish from China’s Hokkien cuisine is commonly egg or rice noodles stir-fried with egg. Pork, prawns, and squid are the usual meat accompaniment. It’s served with veggies and small pieces of lard.
Add sambal sauce and lime for a flavored twist! This prawn mee only costs $3 SGD ($2.16 USD).
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It’s always a YES for lor mee!#15: Hai Nan Xing Zhou Beef Noodle: $2.88 USD
The sauce may look unpleasantly dark in the beginning but when this beef noodle with brisket and beef balls is one of a kind and considered a unique fusion in Singapore. Indulge on a big bowl of beef noodles for only $4 SGD ($2.88 USD)!
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Trisha is one of those people who left their comfortable life to travel the world and learn about life. Her style is to stay in one place she likes for 3 months (or more) to know what it feels like to eat, cook, speak, and sleep in another culture that isn’t hers. She’d like to believe she’s not traditionally traveling but she just chooses to be somewhere else all the time. In no particular order, her favorite cities in the world are Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Mexico City, and Tel Aviv.
John Ravi
Sunday 13th of March 2022
Hi Trisha,
What an amazing share! My cousins live in Singapore, and my sister and I are thinking about visiting them soon. I love the local food, and I was so excited to try it out again. I really appreciate you sharing about your favorite hawkers, I am really looking forward to trying them all out, but I will definitely be trying most of them. Thanks a lot for such an amazing share. My sister and I are total foodies, and I am sure she will love these too.
Suruchi
Wednesday 28th of August 2019
Singapore seems like a street food hub. My husband is going to love trying all these. But being vegetarian I think I will have a tough time and can only try the carrot cake. Thanks for compiling this guide.
Nisha
Wednesday 28th of August 2019
First, the comments like this motivate us to write more & more. Isn't it? :)
It's really hard to believe that one can have a meal under $10 in Singapore. But you showed us. I already found some of my favourite here. :) Fried Kway Teow Mee, Nasi Lemak, Soyabean curd, fried prawn mee.
sherianne
Wednesday 28th of August 2019
The Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle looks soooo good I can understand why it has a Michelin star! The Chey Sua Carrot Cake is intriguing but not sure about that line
Rosemary
Wednesday 28th of August 2019
Some of my favorite dishes and places...like Tian Tian. The best!! Loved the bean curd dessert as well, though we had it somewhere else, though. Quite tasty. Great yummy pictures!!