3.5-minute read

February marks the start of Parliament’s national budget debates—a fitting time to reflect on managing our own budgets too, starting with meals! Whether you’re based in the Civic District, visiting town for meetings, or supporting your agency at Parliament House, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s our insiders’ guide to affordable lunch spots in the Civic District, perfect for keeping both your appetite and your wallet satisfied during this season of fiscal responsibility. From hearty local dishes to quick and tasty bites, these budget-friendly eateries with lunch options below $10 ensure you can enjoy a delicious meal without breaking the bank.

#1 Low carb? More greens? Healthy lunches don’t have to be exorbitant, really.

It’s often said that healthy food costs much more than junk. Well, here’s how to get plenty of fibre on the cheap!

Editor’s pick: Sukiya (Halal), Funan, B1-32: Take your pick of low-carb yet tasty gyudon with salad and tofu, kimchi, or okra toppings!

Mincheng Bibimbap, Funan, 01-13: Here’s a range of below $10 bibimbap with plenty of veggies. For those avoiding red meats, check out the tuna bibimbap.

Stuff’d (Halal), Funan, B2-K03: The chicken kebab, beef kebab, and veggie burrito give a boost to your daily fibre intake without breaking your budget.

#2 Miss those old school eateries with the no-frills vibes?

Even in the very gentrified Civic District, there are still such hidden eateries serving up home-cooked food at decent prices.

Editor’s pick: Tian Xin Wanton Noodles, The Adelphi, 02-07: An absolute throw-back complete with friendly folks, springy wanton noodles, and satisfying fried wanton.

King Umar Teh Tarik Café (Halal), The Adelphi, 01-08: Have a mee goreng craving? This is where you can get a plate of goreng stuff PLUS a drink PLUS goreng pisang and still have change left from a $10 note.

Makanan Bollywood (Halal), The Adelphi, B1-51: Sup kambing is an increasingly rare find nowadays and we are happy to spot it here for just a steal. Check out the biryani and chapati set too!

Moh Swee Kee, High Street Centre, B1-11: Foodies will know this eatery. For those not in the know, order the steamed chicken rice set.

Tony Café, The Adelphi, 02-23: The go-to economic rice eatery for office workers in the area, famed for its fried chicken wings.

#3 And for an Asian culinary tour on the cheap

Interesting eats don’t have to be pricey and the Civic District has offerings for the adventurous.

Editor’s pick: Mandalay Style Myanmar Restaurant, Peninsula Plaza, B1-01: If you are new to Burmese cuisine, here’s a good place to get started. We recommend the Shan rice noodle for the more cautious and pickled tea leaf rice for those who love spicy kicks.

Smile Murtabak (Halal), Funan, 02-34: If you wonder where in the city you can get authentic yet affordable Indonesian bakso (beef meatballs) soup or great soto, this is the place.

San Zab Thai, Peninsula Shopping Complex, B1-06: Get your Thai street food fix from phad thai to Thai milk tea here in this hidden little eatery.

Sichuan Alley, Capitol Singapore, B1-29: This surprising find offers three delicious iconic Sichuan dishes below $10: Sichuan cold noodles, Mala Chongqing spicy noodles, and hot and sour sweet potato noodles.

#4 Vegetarians, we’ve got you too

Veg finds are not always the easiest to find, so here’s our list in the city.

Editor’s pick: Kale by KangSu, The Adelphi, 02-20: This clean little eatery serves up Chinese vegan and vegetarian fare but with much more fresh greens and mushrooms. Our recommendations: Kale Guo Mian and Kale Signature Chicken Noodles.

Sai Kitchen (Halal), High Street Centre, 01-08A: A good range of freshly made South Indian vegetarian mains and dishes. We love the Masala Thosai!

NamNam, Raffles City, B1-47: The brown rice noodle vegetarian broth is wholesome, tasty, and comes with a medley of vegetables and shrooms.

#5 Elevated local eats without the elevated prices

Editor’s Pick: Five Senses Café & Restaurant, ODEON 333, B1-12: Authentic, really good Hainanese and hawker fare (think beef noodles and mutton soup) in air-conditioned comfort. Tip: The Hokkien prawn noodles and curry chicken are crowd favourites.

Chef Lai Café, The Adelphi, B1-16: Want a five-star chicken rice set cooked by a former chef from Orchard Mandarin Hotel? Here is where you can have your cake and eat it too. The price of chicken rice, curry chicken, and braised pork belly sets leave you enough change to get a calamansi juice too.

Coffee Addiction, Capitol Singapore, B2-25: Don’t let the name fool you. They serve a pretty decent herbal chicken soup with rice and prawn noodles below $10 on top of the standard kopi menu.

Lee Wee & Brothers (Halal), Raffles City, B1-57: Ebi tempura with your nasi lemak? Or a petai and anchovy otah? This take-out kiosk gives you bang for the buck with its wallet-friendly lunch boxes and varieties of otah that you didn’t know exist.