11 cheap budget buffets in Singapore below $25 [2024]
As with every cheap budget buffet list article, there is always a catch. The prices here do not include GST/service charge, so the total fee per pax might go above S$25 depending on the number of people you bring. This article works best to let you know exactly when and where to go to stretch your dollar.
Stop wasting your money on overpriced buffets that just aren’t worth it. If you have a craving for Korean BBQ and even budget dim sum buffets and want to stop worrying about the price tag, you’ve come to the right place. In the words of Taylor Swift, “I could show you incredible things.”
1. Lao Beijing High Tea
Looking for a way to jazz up your weekend high tea? Lao Beijing offers a delightful High Tea Buffet that’s sure to tantalise your taste buds and transport you to the streets of 1980s China. For just S$21.80++ per person, you can enjoy unlimited dim sum and chef’s special main dishes in a charming old-school setting.
Available on weekends and public holidays, this 90-minute feast features a wide array of 30 items on its menu. From classic Steamed Siew Mai to their Signature DIY Popiah, there’s sure to be something to satisfy your tummy.
For all you seafood lovers, you’re sure to enjoy their Deep-fried Prawn with Salted Egg Yolk and Fried Rice with Seafood, while those seeking a touch of spice can try the Mapo Tofu.
Of course, we can’t forget classic desserts such as Chilled Mango Cream with Pomelo, Sago and Diced Mango as well as their Aloe Vera with Lemongrass Jelly. Lastly, what is high tea without tea? Sip on their Chinese tea as you savour the flavours of authentic dim sum; enjoying a journey through time and taste.
10 Sinaran Drive, Square 2, #02-80, Singapore 307506
+65 6358 4466
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm & 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 5pm & 6pm – 10pm
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2. Annalakshmi
Annalakshmi deserves a spot on this list because of its unique dining concept— you pay as you wish. In fact, its name is derived from the Hindu goddess of abundance and nourishment.
This non-profit restaurant is run mostly by volunteers who dedicate their time to serving the community. Patrons who come here can eat as much as they want and pay any amount, allowing diners who are going through a tough time to enjoy the comforts of a home-cooked meal without having to worry about the cost.
The food here ranges from South Indian to North Indian cuisine and comes buffet-style, so you can help yourself to your favourite dishes as much as you want, such as soft bread, crispy dosas and hearty sambars.
6A Shenton Way, OUE Downtown Gallery, #01-03, Singapore 068815
+65 6339 9993
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 3pm & 6pm – 9pm
Closed on Mon
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3. Shabu Sai
Shabu Sai has seasonal soup broths from time to time, like their Gobo Herbal Chicken Soup or Cordyceps Flower Herbal Soup. I always fall back on the Tonkotsu soup base anyway, as it’s a safer option.
Its price deserves a shout-out, because despite COVID-19 and inflation, its 70-minute Weekday Lunch Buffet is priced at S$18.99++ per pax, even on Fridays. This includes free-flow pork collar, pork belly and chicken.
Adding on free-flow drinks and ice cream will set you back about another S$2.50, but generally, this budget buffet still falls below the S$25 range, not including GST.
Refer to locations, contact numbers and opening hours here.
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4. Al Jasra Restaurant
Al Jasra Restaurant is Singapore’s only prata buffet house, and if that doesn’t excite you, wait till you hear how much it costs— a mere S$7.90 per person. What a shocker, considering I can easily pay so much more for a single meal elsewhere!
Located near Kembangan MRT, this 24/7 prata house will allow you to fulfil your prata cravings any time of the day. Pick from over 16 prata varieties including both sweet and savoury, such as Egg & Onion Prata, Ikan Bilis Prata and Banana Prata. Eat it alongside the in-house curry, sip on a piping hot cup of teh tarik, and you’ll be set.
459 Changi Road, Singapore 419882
+65 6742 5786
Daily: 24 hours
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5. I’m Kim Korean BBQ
A stone’s throw away from SOTA, I’m Kim Korean BBQ’s Weekday Lunch Buffet is ridiculously priced at S$18.90++. Students have it even better, with a special price at S$15.90++. At prices like these, I dare say it is one of the best budget buffets for Korean BBQ in Singapore.
As per most Korean BBQ places, I’m Kim Korean BBQ has the standard meat cuts, such as Black Pepper Chicken, Marinated Pork Belly and Chuck Tender Beef. Dishes like Korean Ginseng Soup, Tteokbokki and Popcorn Chicken act as a lead up to the Korean meats.
Note that you’ll need to have a minimum group size of two persons to dine, and that its Weekday Lunch Buffet is capped at 90 minutes.
1 Zubir Said Drive, School of the Arts, #01-04, Singapore 227968
+65 6238 7218
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 4pm & 5.30pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11.30am – 4pm & 4pm – 10.30pm
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6. Swaad
Located in Little India, Swaad serves up vegetarian North Indian and Gujarati cuisine at budget-friendly prices– however, the real star of the show is their Special Weekend Buffet.
Priced from S$17.50++ per person, their spread includes street foos (also known as Chaat) such as Sev Papdi, Khaman Dhokla (savoury sponge cake), and Aloo Bhaji (potato fritter). For mains, you can expect dishes like Vegetable Pulao, Gujarati Kadhi (yoghurt-based gravy), Raita (mixed vegetables in yoghurt), and Jeera Rice (rice with cumin seeds).
Don’t forget to leave room for sweets such as Jalebi and Kheer (rice pudding). Also, quench your thirst with a refreshing glass of Chaas (North Indian buttermilk). Keep in mind that their menu changes weekly, but you can find more information on their social media pages.
If you’re a fan of Indian food or looking to try something different for a buffet, Swaad is a great, authentic place offering hearty North Indian and Gujurati fare. Their menu also follows the Sattvic diet which is believed to increase energy, happiness, calmness, and mental clarity – which means no food coma after you’re done!
70 Desker Road, Singapore 209593
+65 9872 7102
Daily: 11am – 10pm
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7. Crystal Cafe
A lesser-known porridge buffet compared to Coffee Lounge or Quality Cafe, Crystal Cafe deserves some attention too.
Located within Orchard Grand Court, Crystal Cafe’s Taiwan Porridge Buffet falls below S$25, even on weekends or public holidays, so hooray for an affordable deal!
Its Weekday Buffet is priced at S$20.80++ while its Weekend Buffet is S$22.80++, so you can eat your fill of sweet potato porridge, salted egg, braised pork dishes, chap chye and more.
131 Killiney Road, Orchard Grand Court, Singapore 239571
+65 6830 2020
Daily: 6am – 9pm
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8. GoroGoro Steamboat & Korean Buffet
Did you know that GoroGoro Steamboat & Korean Buffet’s name actually originated from the sound of a rumbling tummy, as well as the hot bubbling sound of a boiling steamboat pot?
Its Weekday Lunch Buffet is priced at S$18.90++ per person, making it a really affordable budget buffet if you’re ever craving Korean hotpot.
Its soup bases are pretty diverse, ranging from Korean Ginseng to even Pepper Bak Kut Teh, and you’ll be able to enjoy popular steamboat items such as Chicken and Beef Roll.
Other than the usual hotpot ingredients, they also have Korean dishes such as Tteobokki, Japchae and Korean Pancake.
176 Orchard Road, The Centrepoint, #03-43, Singapore 238843
+65 6385 7854
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 3.30pm & 5.30pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11.30am – 3.30pm & 5.30pm – 10.30pm
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9. Pot Addiction
Westies, this one’s for you.
For just S$21.90++ for its Weekday 90 Minutes Lunch Buffet, Pot Addiction’s budget buffet is incredibly hard to beat with the sheer amount of ingredients available at your convenience. Just make sure you take what you can eat as they have a wastage fee of S$20 per 100 grams.
The 90 Minutes buffet menu offers classic steamboat favourites such as Sliced Pork Belly, Hotpot Scallop and Luncheon Meat. As for the Korean BBQ, some highlights include Spicy Squid, Beef Bulgolgi and Thai Style Chicken.
30 Sembawang Drive, Sun Plaza, #02-14, Singapore 757713
+65 6592 2929
Sun to Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 10.30pm
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10. Dookki Singapore
Dookki Singapore’s Tteokbokki Buffet has got me going daebak because of its affordable pricing.
Its Weekday Lunch Buffet (available till 5pm) is priced at S$16.80++ per adult, while students enjoy it a dollar cheaper at S$15.80++. Not to mention, its usual buffet timings for weekends or dinner costs S$20.80++ per person, making it a great place to chill with friends over a hearty tteokbokki budget buffet.
For the uninitiated, tteokbokki buffets aren’t too different from regular steamboat buffets. The only differences lie in the free-flow tteokbokki (or rice cakes), as well as the ability to make use of the leftover sauce to cook fried rice. It’s certainly an overload of carbs, but I suppose indulging it occasionally won’t hurt.
3 Temasek Blvd, Suntec City, #B1-107, Singapore 038983
+65 6266 2425
Sun to Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 10.30am
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11. 90 Minutes
Picture this: neon signs, cute decor, and the smell of spicy rice cakes wafting through the air. That’s what 90 Minutes is all about. A quirky Korean joint in Dhoby Ghaut, their name is the exact duration you get for your hotpot buffet.
Starting from S$16.90, gorge on as many Eomuk (fishcake skewers), Ramyeon, Tteokbokki and Fried Rice as your heart desires. Not to mention there’s a smorgasbord of vegetables, meats, and seafood for you to toss into your bubbling hotpot – which comes in 5 different soup bases, by the way.
As you wait for your creation to cook, munch on their crispy fried finger foods such as the Cheese Ring (S$9.90) and the Crispy Cheese Corn Dog (S$4.50) that’ll have your tastebuds dancing. If it’s been a long morning for you, maybe even have a bottle (or 2) of Soju (S$15.90).
However, do take note that the pricing is only available during lunch hour. So go on and stuff your face with unlimited Korean tteokbokki and more for this worth-it experience.
9 Bras Basah Road, Rendezvous Hotel Singapore, #01-01, Singapore 189559
+65 6957 7778
Daily: 10.30am – 11pm
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