Best secret staff canteens and food courts in Singapore
Hidden inside office buildings, industrial estates, and showrooms, most staff canteens are reserved for employees. There are, however, several lesser-known spots scattered across the island that are open to the public, dishing out generous portions at affordable prices. To help you save on your next meal, check out this list of the best secret staff canteens in Singapore serving everything from Klang BKT to chicken chop.
1. Billion Food Point at International Business Park
Located deep inside Jurong is Billion Food Point, a go-to lunch spot for many office workers at International Business Park. The staff canteen boasts a huge space, with nine stalls to choose from, including Thai, Japanese, Korean, and Malaysian cuisines. Better yet, the food court is air-conditioned, so you can enjoy your meal in comfort.
One look at the snaking queues and you’ll know that Mama’s Thai Kitchen is a favourite. The stall offers an extensive selection of dishes, including rice, soups, noodles, and side dishes. If you’re feeling spoilt for choice, the Stir Fry Hor Fun ($6) is a safe bet, featuring silky hor fun, tossed with eggs, kailan, and your choice of prawns, pork, or chicken, in a sweet-savoury sauce.
Another standout is the Bak Kut Teh stall, which serves Klang BKT. Priced at $6.50, their signature Bak Kut Teh comes filled with pork ribs, beancurd skin, juicy mushrooms, cabbage, garlic cloves, house-made pork meatballs, and pork belly slices, all submerged in a soothing herbal broth.
Read our Billion Food Point at International Business Park feature.
Address: 31 International Business Park, Creative Resource Building, #02-02, Singapore 609921
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 6:30pm, Sat 7am to 2pm
Website
Billion Food Point at International Business Park is not a halal-certified eatery.
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2. Thye Hwa Heng Canteen
Just a few blocks away from the bustling Paya Lebar shopping district is Thye Hwa Heng Canteen, an old-school canteen adorned with red-brick walls, makeshift planters, and colourful Chinese lanterns.
Inside, you can expect to find no-frills, comforting local fare. Fans of wonton mee shouldn’t miss Kim Kee Noodle, a nearly three-decade-old stall with a “Makansutra Two Good” award. Their Dry Wanton Mee ($4) features springy mee kia, topped with a load of char siew, fried wonton, and fresh choy sum, tossed in a sweet-savoury soy sauce. You also get a bowl of soup on the side, filled with pork and prawn-filled dumplings, too!
There’s also the popular Indian Muslim Food stall, which offers prata from just $2. Choose between their Plain Prata ($2 for two) and Egg Prata ($3 for two), where each plate comes with a bowl of Fish or Dhal Curry.
Read our Thye Hwa Heng Canteen feature.
Address: Thye Hwa Heng Canteen, 29 Eunos Avenue 6, Singapore 400029
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 8:30pm, Sat 7am to 8pm
Tel: 6747 9645
Thye Hwa Heng Canteen is not a halal-certified eatery.
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3. Komoco Motors Cafeteria
If you’ve passed by Alexandra Road before, then you’ve probably noticed the row of car showrooms that line the street. They may not look like anything special, but tucked away inside one of these buildings is Komoco Motors Cafeteria, a small canteen offering tasty meals that deliver big on portions and flavour!
There are two stalls at this canteen, one selling cai fan and the other selling nasi padang. At the cai fan stall, point to the ingredients you desire, and the friendly auntie will load your plate up with a hefty scoop. Top picks here include Mapo Tofu ($2), Prawn Paste Chicken ($1), and Steamed Minced Meat ($2). For Muslim-friendly eats, head to the nasi padang stall instead, where meals start from just $4. We recommend getting their Assam Fish Curry ($4/$6), featuring okra, chillies, and large chunks of soft, flaky fish in a spicy-tangy sauce.
The cafeteria also offers several daily specials on their menu. When we visited, there were five options available, including Sesame Oil Chicken Rice ($5) and their Grilled Chicken Chop ($6), the latter starring a palm-sized chicken chop served alongside baked beans, crinkle-cut fries, and fresh tomato and cucumber slices.
Read our Komoco Motors Cafeteria feature.
Address: 253 Alexandra Road, Level 3, Komoco Motors, Singapore 159936
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 2pm
Tel: 6475 8888
Komoco Motors Cafeteria is not a halal-certified eatery.
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4. Foodie’s Clan Staff Canteen at Changi Airport T2
If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ll know that affordable food can be hard to come by at airports. But at Changi Airport, it’s a whole different story. Located at Changi Airport Terminal 2, the newly revamped Foodie’s Clan Staff Canteen offers a wide range of wallet-friendly eats, from local fare to Indonesian cuisine.
A standout here is Smashed, which offers fried Indonesian food such as Ikan Penyet ($8.90), Ayam Bakar ($8.90), and Ayam Penyet ($7.90). Their Ayam Penyet is a must-try dish, starring a crispy fried chicken thigh, served alongside an omelette, fluffy rice, and fresh lettuce. You can also pair your chicken with their house-made chilli sauces, ranging from their mild Signature Kicap Manis to their ultra-spicy Sambal Penyet.
For a refreshing drink, head to Piccolo Coffee. Apart from the usual latte or iced black, they also offer several unique blends, including the syrupy and bitter Tiramisu Latte ($5.50) and earthy-sweet Hazelnut Latte ($5.50).
Read our Changi Airport T2 Staff Canteen feature.
Address: 5 T2 Departure Drive, Carpark 2A, Level 3M, Changi Airport Terminal 2, Singapore 819643
Opening hours: Daily Mon-Fri 6am to 8pm
Website
Foodie’s Clan Changi Airport T2 Staff Canteen is not a halal-certified eatery.
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5. Wilmar International Headquarters Staff Canteen
Located in Buona Vista, Wilmar International Headquarters Staff Canteen offers a unique all-you-can-eat cai fan buffet, priced affordably at just $7 per person. FYI, while you can’t go for seconds or thirds, you’re free to bring a container with you to da bao any leftovers!
When we visited, there was a good mix of carbs, veggies, and proteins on display, including Tempura Shrimp, Steamed Eggs with Minced Garlic, and Chicken Rendang, the latter standing out for its mildly spicy, flavour-packed sauce. There’s also the Eggplant with Shimeji Mushrooms, which was juicy and fragrant.
FYI, while the buffet opens from 11:30am, we recommend heading down earlier, as the queue can get quite long during the lunch rush.
Read our Wilmar International Headquarters Staff Canteen feature.
Address: 28 Biopolis Road, Lobby 2, Level 4, Singapore 138568
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to sold out
Wilmar International Headquarters Staff Canteen is not a halal-certified eatery.
This $7 Cai Png Buffet Lets You Pile On As Much Food As You Want, Da Bao If You Can’t Finish
6. Lava Food House Canteen at IMM
Image credit: Tan Meng Geok via Google Maps
While IMM is known for its many outlet shops, few realise that it also houses Lava Food House Canteen, a low-key staff canteen tucked out of view on the fourth floor of the mall.
Image credit: Julia via Google Maps
Food at many nasi padang stalls is often priced high, but that’s not the case at Jumi’s Junior Kitchen, which offers several sets for under $6. You can’t go wrong with their Nasi Sambal Goreng Beef ($5.50), loaded with tender chunks of beef rendang, spicy sambal goreng with tahu and long bean, rice, and a crispy bergedil.
For something lighter on the palette, head to the Fish Soup stall instead, for a soothing bowl of Sliced Fish Soup with Rice ($5.50), starring soft, flaky sole fish, lettuce, tomatoes, and crispy fried onions, in a clear, comforting broth.
Address: 2 Jurong East Street 21, Level 4, IMM Building, Singapore 609601
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am to 6pm, Sat 7:30am to 4pm
Lava Food House Canteen at IMM is not a halal-certified eatery.
7. NorthSpring Cafe
Image credit: Micah Lim 林益才 Real Estate Singapore via Google Maps
All the way at NorthSpring BizHub, in the heart of Yishun’s industrial district, is NorthSpring Cafe. This modest food court is known to draw steady lunch crowds, as it’s one of the few convenient spots nearby for a proper meal within the business hub.
Image credit: Wilson Young via Google Maps
A popular stall here is Top Corner Western Food, which is said to attract long queues for its juicy grilled pork chops. Priced at just $6, their Pork Chop comes with three sides of your choice, such as Spaghetti, French Fries, and Caesar Salad. You also get to choose what sauce you want your chicken to be prepared with: Japanese Curry, Black Pepper, Mushroom, or Barbeque.
If you’re craving local food, then head to Al Tamiz Indian Food instead. The stall offers various types of Muslim Indian food, including mee goreng, prata, thosai, murtabak, and briyani. Their Nasi Briyani Chicken ($6) is a top seller, featuring a whole fried chicken leg on a bed of fluffy and aromatic briyani, served alongside house-made achar.
Address: 9 Yishun Industrial Street 1, NorthSpring BizHub, Singapore 761316
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 2:30pm, Sat 10am to 2pm
NorthSpring Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
8. Boh Geh Uncle Canteen
While not technically a staff canteen, Boh Geh Uncle Canteen deserves a special mention on this list. Hidden in the lush greenery of Seletar, this old-school canteen is possibly the last remaining “kampung” cafeteria in Singapore. In fact, the eatery has been around since 1969, even serving as a Corporal’s Mess for the British army at one point.
Don’t expect anything fancy here—there are only three stalls in this canteen, selling cai fan, nasi padang, and drinks. Apart from choosing your preferred liao, the cai fan stall also offers various set dishes, including their Set B ($4): tender braised pork belly, pea sprouts, and brinjal, served with fluffy white rice. As for the nasi padang stall, we loved the fluffy Begedil (price TBC) and the crispy Fried Chicken Wing (price TBC), both of which paired perfectly with the house-made sambal that was sweet and spicy.
Read our Boh Geh Uncle Canteen feature.
Address: 398 Piccadilly, Singapore 798368
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am to 1:30pm
Website
Boh Geh Uncle Canteen is not a halal-certified eatery.
This Hidden “Kampung” Canteen In Seletar Has Been Around Since 1969
Where to find the best secret staff canteens in Singapore
Now that you know where the best secret staff canteens and food courts are in Singapore, keep this list handy for the next time you’re looking for a satisfying and affordable meal.
If you’re looking for more ways to stretch your dollar, check out our guide to the best budget-friendly hawker centres that accept CDC vouchers. Alternatively, read our guide to the best affordable food places in the CBD, with mains under $20.
15 Affordable Food Places In The CBD With Mains Under $20
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