Best affordable food places in the CBD
The first thought that comes to mind when I think of the Central Business District (CBD) is fancy restaurants, which equates to expensive food. But having been to a fair share of eateries in the area, I’ve learned that there are plenty of wallet-friendly options if you look closely enough. Here’s a guide to 15 cheap food places in the CBD that promise quality, accessibility, and affordability.
1. Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe
There’s nothing like kopitiam classics that are delicious and wallet-friendly, and Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe is a spot that ticks all the boxes. They have an extensive menu at affordable prices and a quaint ambience that momentarily takes you back in time. Their first outlet is conveniently located in Tanjong Pagar at Craig Road, making it the perfect breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot for those working in the area.
We recommend getting the Signature Hainanese Chicken Cutlet ($15.90++), which gives you a crispy, well-marinated chicken cutlet. Though deep-fried to achieve that perfect crunch, the meat within remained tender and juicy, made even tastier when paired with the house-made gravy. To go with your hearty main, get a cup of their Hor Ka Sai (from $3++), which is essentially a delicious mix of Milo and coffee.
Read our Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe review.
Address: 5 Craig Road, Singapore 089665
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 8:30pm
Website
Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
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2. Keen’s Bagelry
Save Keen’s Bagelry to your to-visit list for bagels under $20. Located near Downtown MRT Station, the popular bagel store reopened in 2024 with more interesting flavours to try, including bagelwiches and plain bagels paired with three different spreads of your choice: Maple Butter ($6.50), P&J ($7.50), and Scallion Cream Cheese ($7).
If you love a classic egg and cheese combination, go for their Hashstack ($13.50) bagel. It’s loaded with crispy hashbrown, melted cheese, creamy Hokkaido milk scrambled eggs, and house-made truffle mayo. This bagelwich alone is incredibly delicious, but we recommend adding Streaky Bacon ($4) for something more filling and flavourful. Keen’s bagels are all under $20, so you can enjoy a filling brunch or lunch without breaking the bank! They also serve Americano ($5) and Cafe Latte ($6), both perfect with bagels if you ask me.
Read our Keen’s Bagelry review.
Address: 12 Marina View, #02-19/20, Asia Square Tower 2, Singapore 018961
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 2:30pm, Sat 9:30am to 3pm
Website
Keen’s Bagelry is not a halal-certified eatery.
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3. SOTBOX
SOTBOX is for the busy bees working around Suntec City. This pick-and-go gimbap kiosk has an affordable range of rolled rice with different ingredients, spanning veggies and meat, depending on what you like. Fun fact, they are helmed by the same team behind Sotpot restaurant, a popular spot for Korean rice pots located at the same shopping mall!
You can’t go wrong with their Classy Classic ($8.50) gimbap, which comes with 10 pieces and comprises all things delicious and healthy: rice, egg, ham, pickled radish, carrots, and cucumber. Other popular flavours include Beef Bulgogi ($9.50) and Tuna Mayo ($9.10). Aside from gimbap, you’ll also find snacks such as Tteokbokki ($5.90) and Korean fried chicken drenched in Soy Chilli ($9.50) and Sweet Garlic ($9.50) sauces.
Read our SOTBOX feature.
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #B1-157, Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 8:30pm
Website
SOTBOX is not a halal-certified eatery.
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4. Tokyo Soba
If you love soba as much as I do, you would have heard of Tokyo Soba, a cosy, hole-in-the-wall eatery in Tanjong Pagar with nett prices. The ingredients you find in a bowl of their soba are all imported from Japan, so you’re guaranteed an authentic taste.
During our visit, we tried their popular Duck Breast Soba ($18), starring a hot broth made using dashi and soy-based tare, fresh buckwheat soba, and juicy duck breast meat. We liked that the broth was light, with the duck meat absorbing all the sweet-umami goodness. You can also get Katsuni ($9.50) alongside your noodles for a hearty meal. For the uninitiated, this is essentially pork katsu cooked in an egg mixture and white pepper marinade.
Read our Tokyo Soba review.
Address: 12 Gopeng Street, #01-12/13/14, Icon Village, Singapore 078877
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Tokyo Soba is not a halal-certified eatery.
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5. Kamal’s Restaurant
Kamal’s Restaurant, a shophouse eatery specialising in fried chicken briyani, is an easy four-minute walk from Telok Ayer MRT Station and in the vicinity of Maxwell Food Centre. It gets packed during peak hours, so we encourage you to come down slightly earlier before the crowd thickens.
We had to try the signature Fried Chicken Briyani ($8), which goes for $7 during lunch. It features a pile of basmati rice topped with deep-fried chicken thigh and a crispy papadam. Though the chicken was slightly dry, we enjoyed the aromatic notes of turmeric, masala and more. Turns out, their basmati rice—made with a variety of herbs and spices—was the real deal here as it was fluffy and flavourful. Besides briyani, there’s the buttery, golden brow Plain Prata ($1.50) and Egg Prata ($2) for a lighter meal.
Read our Kamal’s Restaurant review.
Address: 7 Stanley Street, Singapore 068726
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 6pm, Sat 7am to 3pm
Tel: 6221 7677
Kamal’s Restaurant is a Muslim-owned eatery.
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6. Fun Wan
Fun Wan, a cheeky name that translates to “rice bowl” in English, serves up affordable zi char options all in a single bowl. You can choose to dine in or takeaway, though we recommend the latter as their 40-seater space gets packed during peak hours. FYI, the eatery is a quick four-minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station.
Think of this eatery as a cai png stall, where you can pick the ingredients you want in your rice bowl with their Build Your Fun Wan option that’s priced at $10.90+. The bowl comes with your preferred choice of protein, carbs, and sauce, alongside some tangy achar, sous vide egg, and seasonal vegetables.
Read our Fun Wan feature.
Address: 77 Robinson Road, #01-04, Robinson 77, Singapore 068896
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 10pm
Website
Fun Wan is not a halal-certified eatery.
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7. Thachang
Thai restaurants are aplenty in Singapore, but not all offer a robust, comforting bowl of Thai boat noodles. Thachang is one of the few that does it right, and we’re sure this Telok Ayer restaurant will tickle your fancy if you appreciate the noodle dish. Plus, it’s just four minutes away from Telok Ayer MRT Station by foot.
We really enjoyed the Special Pork Boat Noodle ($10.90++), consisting of liver, chewy pork balls, and tender pork slices. An equally delicious alternative is the Special Beef Boat Noodle Soup ($11.90++), boasting a rich, flavourful beef broth perfect for a rainy day. You get a generous portion of beef slices, beef balls, and chewy rice noodles!
Read our Thachang review.
Address: 171 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068621
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 10pm
Website
Fun Wan is not a halal-certified eatery.
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8. Tori San
Image credit: Tori San via Google Maps
For hearty and comforting noodles in the CBD, look no further than Tori San, a new eatery serving up Tokyo-style toripaitan ramen in Telok Ayer. The brand actually originates from Taiwan, where they currently have six outlets.
Image credit: Tori San via Google Maps
Their most popular dish is the Signature Toripaitan Chicken Broth Ramen ($12.90++), which features chicken breast, grilled chicken meatballs, springy noodles, and their house-made chicken broth. Regulars praise the broth as clean, light, yet flavourful. The meat is also said to be tender and perfectly cooked. Other must-tries include the Sakura Yuzu Broth Ramen ($12.90++) and Truffle Umami Toripaitan Chicken Broth Ramen ($13.90++)!
Read our Tori San feature.
Address: 116 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068585
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Tori San is not a halal-certified eatery.
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9. Qin Ji Rougamo
Lots of people working around Tanjong Pagar and Raffles Place flock to Qin Ji Rougamo during their lunch hours, a popular chain from China selling rougamo AKA Chinese burgers. In case you didn’t know, rougamo is a street food item originating from the Shaanxi Province. This snack makes for a great pick-me-up on the go.
It’d be remiss of you to leave without trying their signature Chinese burgers, so we recommend getting the Qin Ji Pork Rougamo ($5.80), a crispy pastry loaded with juicy shredded pork that’s slow-cooked for about 10 hours. Otherwise, the Black Pepper Beef ($5.80) is a great alternative with a mild kick of spice thanks to the pepper bits. Having the rougamo alone isn’t filling, so get a bowl of the Sour & Spicy (Potato Noodle) With Minced Pork ($7.80), featuring silky noodles submerged in a tangy-spicy broth.
Read our Qin Ji Rougamo feature.
Address: 7 Wallich Street, #B2-04, Guoco Tower, Singapore 078884
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Qin Ji Rougamo is not a halal-certified eatery.
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10. Chengdu Bowl
Here’s a popular spot for legit Sichuan food in the form of mains, tapas, and grain bowls: Chengdu Bowl. The chain has multiple outlets across the island, including Marina One and Ocean Financial Centre, both in the CBD.
You can build your own bowl here, with prices starting at just $9.80 for the smallest option: one base, three sides, one protein, and one sauce. If you’re in a hurry, select from their recommended bowls, including the Mala Kungfu Chicken Bowl ($13.80) and Chengdu Charging Bull Bowl ($14.90), both filling and flavour-packed.
Read our Chengdu Bowl review.
Website | Full list of outlets
Chengdu Bowl is not a halal-certified eatery.
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11. Onori
In the mood for a light yet satisfying lunch? We’ve got you. Onori is a new Japanese eatery at Far East Square serving premium handrolls from $3.50+. There are 12 handroll flavours to choose from, so you can mix and match to create a set! Get them in sets of three, four, and five for $11.90+, $14.90+, and $17.90+, respectively.
Each roll is made to order with Akitakomachi rice that’s steeped in red vinegar and kombu to achieve a richer flavour. Those who love seafood should get the Hotate w Uni Paste ($7+), which combines soft, buttery scallops with uni paste, fresh jellyfish, and thin sheets of shio kombu. The whole shebang is finished with flying fish roe and crispy rice cracker balls for added crunch. We enjoyed the Snow Crab & Negitoro ($6.50+) too, stuffed generously with shio koji negitoro, AKA fatty tuna in a fermented marinade, shredded snow crab, cucumber slices, sake lees, and a refreshing yuzu marmalade.
Check out our Onori review.
Address: 135 Amoy Street, #01-03, Far East Square, Singapore 049964
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 8pm, Sat 11:30am to 2:3pm
Tel: 6298 2236
Website
Onori is not a halal-certified eatery.
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12. The Test Kitchen
Those working in Chinatown might be familiar with The Test Kitchen, a new-ish bakery-cafe run by local actress Rebecca Lim’s brother. During lunchtime, from 11am onwards, they offer a small selection of rice bowls and sandwiches.
We tried and loved the Babe’s Bali Assam Baggie ($14), where a thick slab of deep-fried pork belly was stuffed into a crispy house-made baguette, complete with pickled cucumber and sambal matah. The Roast Beef Baggie ($15) is another highlight; we were impressed with the tender roasted Wagyu slices, perfectly cooked to medium rare. Don’t miss out on their mezze bowls too, starring your choice of protein (or veggie) with kale and quinoa salad, hummus, and toasted sourdough.
Check out our The Test Kitchen feature.
Address: 18 Cross Street, #01-13, Cross Street Exchange, Singapore 048423
Opening hours: Mon-Tue 8:30am to 4pm, Wed, Fri 8:30am to 4pm, 6:30pm to 9:30pm, Sat 8:30am to 2pm
Website
The Test Kitchen is not a halal-certified eatery.
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13. Golden Nur
Family-run Golden Nur is a popular stall at Market Street Hawker Centre that often sees snaking queues of customers, all eager to get their chicken briyani and roti prata. Do note that there are three mealtimes here, with different items served respectively: breakfast, lunch, and tea.
Those dropping by for breakfast can enjoy their Plain Prata ($1.20) or Egg Prata ($1.70), while the highlight comes during lunchtime: the Crispy Chicken Briyani ($6.50). For this wallet-friendly price, you’re served a hearty portion of yellow basmati rice topped with a whole deep-fried chicken leg. We had no complaints about the meat—it was tender, juicy, and well-seasoned throughout. It tasted even better when paired with the crispy batter bits that came atop the chicken leg.
Read our Golden Nur review.
Address: 86 Market Street, #03-11/12, Market Street Hawker Centre, Singapore 048947
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm
Tel: 9060 4355
Golden Nur is not a halal-certified eatery.
14. BHC Chicken
BHC Chicken needs little introduction. This Korea-famous fried chicken chain was the talk of the town when they finally reached our shores in early 2024! During our visit, we tried a good variety of their offerings, enough to fill up two long tables. We had a couple of favourites, from small bites to mains that we recommend sharing with your dining companion(s).
Start your meal with their Cheese Balls ($7.90++), starring five crispy balls packed with hot, stretchy mozzarella cheese. Then, dig into the signature Bburinkle (from $18.90++), which is essentially fried chicken covered in BHC’s secret seasoning that’s equally sweet and cheesy. If you appreciate spice, get the Macho King (from $18.90++) instead.
Read our BHC Chicken review.
Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-332A/332, Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
BHC Chicken is not a halal-certified eatery.
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15. Gyoza-San
Dumpling lovers are in for a treat at Gyoza-San, a halal gyoza kiosk offering eight different types of dumplings at affordable prices ranging from $6.50 to $7.50. Even better, all dumplings are pan-fried upon order so that you can enjoy them in their best state. FYI, there are no seats for you to dine in here, which means only takeaway is available.
Many of us can’t say no to the Sichuan peppercorn and chilli flavour, AKA Mala ($6.90), which is the perfect treat if you’re looking to relieve your stress with something spicy and numbing. For something less spicy and more tangy, get the Tom Yam Kung ($7.50). This dumpling comes packed with tender chicken, alongside tom yum sauce on the side for dipping.
Read our Gyoza-San review.
Address: 30 Raffles Place, #B1-29, CIMB Plaza, Singapore 048622
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 3pm
Website
Gyoza-San is a halal-certified eatery.
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Guide to cheap food places in the CBD
Our guide to affordable food spots in the CBD will surely come in handy for those working or studying in the area, especially in the face of inflation and rising costs of living. If you’re on a budget, read our guide to the best cheap restaurants in Singapore. Alternatively, check out these best stalls for $3 or less dishes in Singapore.
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