Some questions are tough to answer and the golden one has to be: where shall we go for lunch today?
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Singapore’s accommodating food culture already offers never-ending lunch choices. However, if you’re working in or near the Central Business District, affordable halal food options may not be as plentiful as you would have liked. No worries, we’ve rounded up some of the mouth-watering hot spots that you can take your lunch buddies to for a tummy-filling, wallet-friendly good time!
Telok Ayer
1. Nusantara Cuisine
You wouldn’t want to miss out dining at this casual diner for your next lunch break! There is a copious display of delicious Indonesian dishes by the counter, each worthy of a spot on your plate of nasi padang. Nusantara Cuisine also serves flavoursome classics like nasi goreng cabe hijau (green chili fried rice), lontong, mee soto and mee bakso. With their extensive menu, it seems you’ll still be asking “What to eat ah!” while seated at this wallet-friendly eatery! ?
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How about a bowl of beef noodles accompanied by a cup of sweet teh tarik for that winning lunch combo? ?
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You can never go wrong with a bowl of mee soto – a mild and delicious chicken broth served with either yellow noodles or bee hoon ? Anything you order here would satisfy your tummy and maybe even induced a post-lunch drowsiness hehe.
Price: From $4.50
Address: 171 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068621
Operation hours: Mon to Fri: 7am to 4pm. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
2. Aspirasi Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre
The curious would be happy to try this twist on a local delight: chicken rice but instead of roasted or steamed chicken, Aspirasi’s signature is their fried chicken! Fried to golden perfection, the chicken is still tender and robust with its distinctive crunchy coating glistering for a bite.
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And those crispy fried bits add more crunch for a superbly addictive meal.
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Your chicken rice experience with Aspirasi will indubitably be like no other; the stall features lip-smacking sauces like sambal, black pepper and sweet and sour to top off your chicken. With every component of the dish so tasty and well-balanced, this is where you’ll likely come back every day for the week ?
Price: From $3.50
Address: Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadyanallur Road #01-63, Singapore 069184
Operation hours: Tue – Sun: 10:30am to 9pm. Closed on Mondays.
3. Maxwell (Telok Ayer) Fish Soup
Formerly known as Maxwell (Kreta Ayer) Fish Soup, here is where you need to be for one of the best silky and milky halal fish soup noodles! The broth is light and mild, making it suitable for those looking for something easy on the stomach.
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The soup is topped with your choice of fried or sliced fish for a crunchy or tender bite with greens for that refreshing taste. Sprinkle in some potent chili padi for that kick of spice! This bowl is the perfect way to keep your stomach filled and happy without causing that post-lunch sleepiness we all know too well ?
Price: From $4.50
Address: 121 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068590
Tanjong Pagar
4. Akbar 24 Hour Restaurant
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Briyani for only $5? ? One for us please! Akbar 24 Hour Restaurant is a casual eatery and features a range of Indian-Muslim food like spicy bee hoon goreng and crispy prata. But of course, if you want a bang for your buck, their superbly affordable briyani is the way to go!
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An appetizing sight indeed – golden hued rice flavoured with your typical briyani spices with a side of fish curry and gravy.
Price: From $5
Address: 2 Lim Teck Kim Road, Singapore 088933
Bonus: Olive’s
Olive’s is a casual bistro that serves delicious Western comfort food that is a bang for your buck. For as low as $6, you get a protein main that comes with a generous heaping of two sides and one sauce. How satisfactory for both your tummy and your wallet!
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There are a few mains you can choose from that does not differ much in price like chicken chop, roast chicken, chicken cutlet, fish cutlet, and baked fish. You’ll also have an array of sides to choose from like sautéed pasta, butter rice, mashed potato and coleslaw along with many others. Olive’s also has pasta options and Asian specials if those are more up your alley.
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Price: From $5.50
Address: Shenton House, 3 Shenton Way #02-12, Singapore 068805
Operation hours: Mon - Fri: 7:30am to 4pm.
Marina Boulevard
5. Heavenly Wang (Halal certified)
What’s better than an all-day breakfast option? If said breakfast is the classic Singaporean set of toasted brown bread slathered with butter and kaya with an accompaniment of gooey soft-boiled eggs and hot milky the (or kopi, if you refer ?), YUM. You can’t go wrong with the familiar traditional flavours offered at Heavenly Wang.
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As a popular television chef once exclaimed: butter makes everything better! These toasts look crisp and sinful while that saucer of eggs with a dash of soy and pepper looks creamy and delicious. ? Heavenly Wang also has a selection of local delights of crowd favourites like mee rebus, mee siam, laksa and chicken curry ?.
Price: From $5 for toast sets to $8 for noodle dishes sets
Address: 12 Marina Boulevard, Marina Bay Link Mall (Tower 3), #02-01/04, Singapore 018982. For full list of locations, click here.
Operation hours: Mon – Fri: 7:30 am to 9pm; Sat: 7:30am to 2:30pm. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Raffles Place
6. Hongkong Beef King
Regardless of the weather outside, sometimes a bowl of comforting soup loaded with fork-tender beef chunks is all you need to feel energised. Slurp on their delicious signature soup that is brewed daily and sink your teeth into meaty goodness all at once. Hongkong Beef King features various types of beef to accompany either your noodle/rice: from beef balls to brisket, and tendons to tripe.
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If fat = flavour, you can be assured that every bowl is loaded with robust meaty goodness and this stall certainly does not skimp on that! Add a little chili for an awesome kick of spice and soon you’ll be addicted to this savoury broth.
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Price: From $4
Address: 24 Raffles Place, Clifford Centre, #B1-01/10 Mini Restaurant 3, Singapore 048621
Operation hours: Mon – Fri: 7am to 7pm; Sat: 10am to 2pm. Closed on Sundays.
7. Lee Wee & Brothers’ Foodstuff
Who could ever turn down a plate of fluffy and fragrant nasi lemak topped with yummy garnishes like spicy otah, crispy chicken wing and a dollop of sinful sambal? And if this description is enough to whet your appetite, head down to Lee Wee & Brothers’ to get your fix!
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An iconic name for affordable nasi lemak lunchboxes, Lee Wee & Brothers have put out quality and consistent food that has earned them loyal and repeated customers.
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For under $5, you can get a nasi lemak set that comes with the standard fried peanuts and anchovies, fresh cucumber slice, punch sambal on a bed of decadent coconut milk-infused rice plus a main protein of your choice like crispy fried chicken wing, honey glazed chicken wing, and ebi tempura. Don’t forget to add on their signature otah too!
Price: From $5
Address: 252 North Bridge Road #B1-57, Raffles City Shopping Centre Singapore 179103
Operation hours: Mon – Fri: 8am to 10pm; Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm.
8. Swee Heng 1989 Classic
For a grab-and-go option for those on a tighter schedule, head over to this bakery for a quick bite! Swee Heng features a wide variety of pastries, desserts and cakes from savoury buns to sweet breads. Swee Heng is also a great place to stop by to buy yourself something light for those 4 o’clock snack time ?
Credit: Swee Heng 1989 Classic on Facebook
Buttery rolls stuffed with sausage, fluffy sponges infused with aromatic pandan, sweet muffins topped with chocolate chips, simple sugar donuts – so many options to choose from!
Credit: Swee Heng 1989 Classic on Facebook
There are also Swee Heng outlets in Tanjong Pagar Centre and Aperia. Click here for full outlet listings!
Price range: From $1.20
Address: The Arcade, 11 Collyer Quay, #01-11 Singapore 049317
Operation hours: Mon – Fri: 7am to 8pm.
HarbourFront area
For those working in the southern tip of our tiny island-nation, there are scrumptious options at Seah Im Food Centre. Here are three stalls serving delectable dishes for $5 or below!
9. Thaksin Beef Noodle
For a hearty dish to lovingly warm you from the inside out, Thaksin Beef Noodle is the stall for you.
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This halal certified Thai stall specialises in beef noodles ($5/$6/$7); silky flat white noodles soaked in a steaming savoury broth and loaded with tantalising beef chunks.
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If Phad Thai or Thai-styled fried rice is more of your jam, Thaksin’s got you covered too. Sink your teeth into these glorious stir-fried dishes for some serious indulgence.
Price: From $4
Address: Seah Im Food Centre, 2 Seah Im Road #01-44 Singapore 099114
Operation hours: 10am to 9:30pm, daily.
10. Al Hajah Latiffa Muslim Food
Get a taste of authentic Indonesian cuisine over at Al Hajah Latiffa Muslim Food.
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Apart from the usual suspects like Mee Soto and Nasi Goreng, the stall also has affordable chicken-and-rice combi like ayam bakar, ayam masak merah (chicken in spicy tomato sauce), and ayam rendang (slow-cooked chicken in coconut milk and spices) - each selling at only $4!
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Such mouth-watering sauce over that chicken! With the generous quarter-sized chicken portions, we’ll definitely be struggling to survive that post-lunch drowsiness. ?
Price: From $3.50
Address: 2 Seah Im Road #01-43 Singapore 099114
Bonus: Farasha Muslim Food
Here is another unique twist on a crowd favourite. This popular stall has seen snaking lines just for their Tom Yam Maggi Goreng! The iconic springy Maggi noodles are fried in a special spicy and sour sauce topped with a juicy and crispy fried chicken.
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Every mouthful of this chewy noodle dish is an explosion of flavour fosho ?. To amp up the spiciness level, Farasha Muslim Food also has a black pepper version!
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If innovative treats scare you, there will always be the familiar fare of nasi lemak, nasi goreng and ayam penyet. Piping hot and crispy fried chicken marinated with rempah and topped with fried crumbs for added texture. And of course, let us not forget the sambal! Is it lunch time already?
Price: From $5.50
Address: 2 Seah Im Road #01-31 Singapore 099114
Operation hours: 10am to 8pm, daily.
With these eats around the CBD, you’ll have the answer at the palm of your hand the next time someone asks: “What’s for lunch today?” ? Share with us any halal hidden gems near your office that other hard-working office-goers should know so we can all delight in delicious food together! Meanwhile, is it lunch time yet?