10 Singapore hawker meals below $3 you won’t believe still exist
“Everything is so expensive! I only have S$3!”
Aye, we hear you. In this day and age, just existing is a rising cost that never seems to stop growing. Just when you think all hope is lost, some hawkers are still fighting against the tide.
Here are the best cheap eats that you can find in Singapore for S$3 or less. They’re also all ‘proper’ meals, not just snacks or desserts. We hope this list gives you more options to dine on a tight budget.
1. Everything at The $2.50 Shop
It’s all in the name: The $2.50 Shop is a Muslim-owned stall with over 14 dishes, and literally everything on the menu is S$2.50 each.
The stall is run by Hani Isnin-Racine and her parents, and is an initiative to help lessen the burden of the more vulnerable members of her community. They open at 3.30am and start preparations from 1am. I don’t know about you, but I’d be in bed doom-scrolling on my phone at that hour instead of being productive.
Diners will be absolutely spoiled for choice. The Nasi Rawon (S$2.50), comes with an option to have it either with Cuttlefish or Paru (beef lung). It’s topped with a generous serving of serundeng, a kind of spicy grated coconut, accompanied by sambal goreng, half a bergedil, a bowl of beef stock, and sambal belacan. For the price point, this is incredibly generous.
Additional dishes include Lontong, Mee Goreng, and a variety of Malay kueh. Each kueh is just S$0.80 for 1, and S$2 for 4.
1 Jalan Kukoh, Singapore 161001
+65 9097 2420
Daily: 3.30am – 2pm
2. S$2.80 laksa at 63 Laksa
Fans of laksa should no doubt be familiar with Sungei Road Laksa at Jalan Besar. Laksa 63 serves what is described as “Sungei Road-style” laksa, which is a recipe based off that stall. The original is famous for being cooked on a charcoal stove, but here at 63 Laksa, a gas stove is used instead to keep soot and mess at a minimum.
There are no chopsticks here, just a spoon. The noodles and ingredients are prepped in a way that facilitates chopstick-free consumption, which is very convenient for slurping down this bowl.
A small bowl will set you back just S$2.80 and is filled to the brim, and has a pleasant aroma of coconut milk. Floating within are ample bits of fish cake. The gravy might be on the thinner side, but for S$2.80, it’s a wholesome bowl.
20 Ghim Moh Road, Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre, #01-20
Singapore 270020
+65 6513 8833
Tue to Sat: 8am – 2pm
Sun: 8am – 1pm
Closed on Mon
3. $2.80 nasi lemak at Xiang Ji Cooked Food
I love nasi lemak – there is nothing like a good one in the morning to start my day right. The only thing that could make it better is if said nasi lemak is at a very low price. That’s exactly what you get at Xiang Ji Cooked Food at Upper Boon Keng Food Market.
Despite the affordable price, the stall does not skimp on the portions of rice, ikan bilis, chicken wing or egg in their Nasi Lemak Set A (S$2.80). However, that’s only guaranteed if you get in early for either the breakfast or lunch sessions. On most days, they run out before the queue does. They also sell Lontong for the same price point.
17 Upper Boon Keng Rd, Upper Boon Keng Market & Food Centre, #01-69, Singapore 380017
Fri to Wed: 6.30am – 1.30pm
Closed on Thu
4. S$2 vegetarian mixed veggie rice at Chang Le Vegetarian Food
I like saving the planet, but I also like saving my bank account. If you’re like me, then head on down to Chang Le Vegetarian Food at Upper Boon Keng Market and Food Centre. Almost everything at this very unassuming stall costs less than S$3, and their dishes contain no animal products, garlic or onion.
The Vegetarian Mixed Veggie Rice with Any 3 Veggies (S$2) is a steal and you can opt for brown rice for just another 50 cents. They sell one other dish, the Vegetarian Noodles (S$1) but that is just plain bee hoon or kway tiao. Adding additional curry vegetables or any 3 vegetable dishes to it and the price doubles to a still-meagre S$2. Add-ons range from just S$0.50 to S$1 for items like Yam Rolls, Ngoh Hiang, Spring Rolls and Drumstick.
17 Upper Boon Keng Rd, Upper Boon Keng Market & Food Centre, #01-63 Singapore 380017
+65 9871 5336
Thu to Tue: 6am – 2pm
Closed on Wed
5. S$2 bak kut teh at Xian Jin Mixed Vegetable Rice
There are cheap hawker dishes, and then there is Xian Jin Mixed Vegetable Rice, a stall where everything costs just S$2. Here are just a few of the choices you have: Seafood Soup, Tofu Minced Meat Soup, Sliced Fish Soup, Century Egg Minced Meat Porridge, Sliced Pork Porridge and Bak Kut Teh.
You can also get Cai Fan (with 3 items) for the same price point as well, which is truly mindblowing in this economy.
You can add a variety of sides such as You Tiao, Pig’s Skin, Peanuts and Tau Pok for just S$0.50. Carbs are also the same price, with a choice of different noodles and rice. They don’t skimp on the portions, either. Each is sufficient for a quick meal and would fill you up.
Blk 216 Bedok North Street 1, Bedok Food Centre And Market, #01-02
Singapore 460216
Daily: 7am – 4pm
6. S$2.50 white carrot cake at Hong Heng Fried Carrot Cake
The confusingly-named hawker classic carrot cake (or chai tow kway) is a local favourite. (Why name it “carrot cake” when it hasn’t a shred of carrot? These questions demand answers!) Hong Heng Fried Carrot Cake offers both White and Black Carrot Cake at S$3, with larger serving sizes available for S$4 and S$5 if you’re feeling a little bit more spendthrift that day. The stall draws constant queues and you should be prepared to get out of bed early if you want a share.
The stall has been in business for over 4 decades, and it’s a favourite for many who stay in Bedok. The White Carrot Cake is the preferred version at this stall, with the springy radish cake cubes leaning towards being a little softer. Make sure to get it with the spring onions to cut through the grease and add an extra pop of fragrance.
Blk 216 Bedok North Street 1, Blk 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market, #01-71, Singapore 460216
Tue to Sun: 5am – 1.30pm
Closed on Mon
7. S$2.50 ban mian at Madam Chua 133 面粉粿 Bee Hoon Kueh
Formerly known as 133 Mien Fen Guo Ban Mian, Madam Chua 133 面粉粿 Bee Hoon Kueh has been around since 1999. Easily sporting one of the longest queues in the market, every bowl of noodles is prepared fresh on order. If you want to grab a bowl, make sure you come early, because they sell out before lunchtime.
For S$2.50, you might think that the Ban Mian Soup would skimp on the ingredients. But no – there’s a generous helping of chewy noodles, meatballs, spinach, and even fried ikan bilis. The meatballs are well-seasoned too! Don’t let the plain appearance of the soup fool you – the clear broth is packed with a hearty, porky goodness and a strong hit of ikan bilis. No wonder they have queues.
216 Bedok North Street 1, #01-68, Singapore 460216
Wed to Mon: 5am – 10.30am
Closed on Tue
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8. S$2.50 kway chap at Feng Ji Kway Chap
How many things can you name that haven’t changed in over a decade? The price of the Kway Chap Set (S$2.50) at Feng Ji Kway Chap at Jalan Batu Hawker Centre is one of those few things. The owner explains that the set is mostly aimed at senior citizens and students to provide them with a more affordable option. It’s quite probably the cheapest kway chap in Singapore.
The kway is silky and the accompanying broth is relatively thick with a subtle garlic hint. Each serving comes with tender pork belly slices, small bits of pig’s intestines, tau pok and an egg.
For the price, the quality of the food is astounding and worth every cent. The pork belly almost melts in your mouth, and the intestines are cleaned extremely well and have zero funk.
Blk 4A Jalan Batu, Jalan Batu Hawker Centre, #01-20, Singapore 432004
Sat to Thu: 6.30am – 11am
Closed on Fri
9. S$2.50 cai fan at Lai Heng Economical Mixed Veg Rice
Located in Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre, this stall really puts the “economical” back in economical rice. Lai Heng Economical Mixed Veg Rice often sports long queues due to its pricing, which can be as low as S$2.30 for 1 meat and 1 veg. If you go for 2 meat, 1 veg, it increases to S$2.90 (not even S$3), which in this day and age is still insanely cheap.
Portion sizes aren’t stingy, either – you get a decent serving of items you order, and there’s plenty of choice. There’s fried cutlets, curry, chicken wings, braised items and many different vegetables. Don’t expect the food to win awards and shatter your world, but it is homely and will fill you right up.
22 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh, #01-07, Singapore 310022
Mon to Fri: 6am – 8pm
Closed Sat & Sun
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10. S$2.50 masala dosa at Sri Tiffin Stall
Dosa (or thosai as it’s sometimes called locally) is a savoury and thin pancake cooked on a hot griddle. It’s made from a batter that usually contains fermented pulses and rice flour, giving it a distinctive tangy taste. Usually eaten with curry and chutney, finding an affordable rendition isn’t as easy as it used to be.
One of the few places in Singapore that bucks that trend is Sri Tiffin Stall in Tekka Centre, near the heart of Little India, which sells Masala Dosa (S$2.50).
This isn’t just a plain dosa, but a masala dosa with filling. The dish consists of a delicious, hearty potato stuffing with the standard tomato chutney and sambar accompaniments. Speedy service is the cherry on top.
665 Buffalo Road, Tekka Centre, #01-224, Singapore 210665
Daily: 6am – 11pm
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