Bencoolen MRT food gems to fuel up at
The opening of the new Bencoolen MRT Downtown Line station means one thing: my favourite food stores in Sunshine Plaza are now super convenient to get to! Located near SMU, Lasalle, Kaplan, SOTA, and NAFA, the train station is set to be one of the busier stops along the blue line. Plus, the surrounding area is also quite a honeypot for tourism, with hotels, museums and historical churches situated just a stone’s throw away. From handcrafted ice-cream sandwiches to pocket-friendly nasi ambeng sets, here are 10 Bencoolen MRT food joints you need to visit ASAP before it gets too crowded.
1. Japanese Curry Express
Enjoy a decent Japanese meal without breaking the bank at Japanese Curry Express. Sure to satiate any donburi craving is their best-seller, the Salmon Mentai Don ($10/$13) showcasing slices of torched salmon doused in an addictive mentaiko sauce. If you love deep-fried food, order the Pork Katsu Curry Rice ($7) boasting a thick, fragrant curry that was not at all spicy.
Read our full review of Japanese Curry Express!
Address: 190 Middle Road, #03-04, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 3pm, 4:30pm to 8:30pm
Tel: 9689 6314
Website
2. Merely Ice Cream
Image credit: Merely Ice Cream’s Facebook Page
Merely Ice Cream’s treats are all crafted by hand and made using natural ingredients only. Take cover from the sweltering heat and enjoy a scoop of their uniquely flavoured ice-cream like the Nutty Root Beer ($4.90) or Gingerbread Chai ($4.90). But if you’re in a rush, fret not – just grab their zesty Lemon Earl Grey Messy Munchies ($4.90) ice-cream sandwich to go.
Address: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-13, Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 189652
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 11pm
Tel: 6238 0890
Website
3. Crossings Cafe
Image credit: Crossings Cafe’s Facebook Page
Eat for a good cause at Crossings Cafe, where all profits go to charity. Bringing you a taste of homely comfort is Chetra’s Curry ($13++), featuring a succulent chicken leg braised in their house-made curry sauce. Alternatively, treat yourself to Crossings Signature Chilli Crab Pasta ($17++). The tantalising dish sees fettuccine being tossed in a picante chilli crab sauce before being crowned with chunks of deep-fried soft shell crab.
Address: 55 Waterloo Street, Catholic Centre, Singapore 187954
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 10pm
Tel: 6338 2669
Website
Menu
4. PU3 Restaurant
Image credit: @raoufphotog
Share a plate of Nasi Ambeng ($7.50/$29.90/$50.80) with your squad at PU3 Restaurant. The generous platter is filled with a selection of scrummy Malay dishes including lemak curry chicken, begedil, sambal goreng, cuttlefish, chilli eggplant and ikan billis. The portions can be quite big too, and you can easily share a platter for two with four small eaters.
Address: 51 Bencoolen Street, #01-06, Singapore 189630
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 9pm, Sat 11am to 4pm, 5.30pm to 9pm
Tel: 6338 4419
Website
5. Oven Marvel
Image credit: @wentoh
Tide your way through your next lecture with these tasty bites from Oven Marvel. Helmed by an ex-pastry chef from Hilton hotel, their Chicken Pie ($4) is to die for and features a peppery, creamy filling that’s encased in a puff pastry so buttery we could eat it on its own. For a sweeter treat, take away their rich Chocolate Muffin ($2.50) boasting a fluffy consistency.
Address: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-51, Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 1896
Opening hours: Daily 12:30pm to 8pm (closed on the 8th, 18th and 28th of every month)
Tel: 9636 1503
6. The Mind Cafe
Image credit: @gracegan720
Give yourself a study break and chill out with your friends at The Mind Cafe. The board game cafe stocks over 500 games such as Risk and Exploding Kittens. From now till 8 January 2018, simply pay $8.80++ to enjoy an hour of games as well as free-flow beverages and snacks like chips and crackers. Or come during 12pm to 3pm on weekends for their Set Lunch & Gaming promotion ($17.80++) to enjoy a main course of your choice, as well as unlimited beverages and snacks.
Address: 60 Prinsep Street, Singapore 188664
Opening hours: Mon-Thur 2pm to 11pm, Fri 2pm to 6am, Sat 12pm to 6am, Sun 12pm to 11pm
Tel: 6334 4426
Website
7. Herbivore
Image credit: @vegan_xiguayong
Located in vegetarian food heaven Fortune Centre is Japanese vegetarian restaurant Herbivore. A great place for those on a green diet to bring their meat-eating friends, their mock meat dishes taste similar to the real deal. Be sure to order their Tonkatsu Bento Set ($24++), which comes together with Vietnamese spring rolls, fried “calamari”, mashed potato, miso soup and salad.
Address: 190 Middle Road, #01-13/14, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11.30am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm, Sat-Sun 11.30am to 10pm
Tel: 6333 1612
Website
8. I’m Kim Korean BBQ
Image credit: I’m Kim Korean BBQ’s Facebook Page
Celebrate the end of exams at I’m Kim Korean BBQ. Totally value-for-money is their weekday lunch buffet, which only costs $12.80++ if you flash your student card. Here, you can enjoy up to 10 types of meat including chicken, pork and beef, as well as a medley of vegetables and sides to go along. The only downside is that there’s a 90-minute time limit for the buffet.
Address: 1 Zubir Said Drive, #01-04/05/06/07, School of The Arts, Singapore 227968
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Buffet prices for adults: $14.80++ (weekdays lunch), $24.80++ (weekends lunch, Mon-Thur dinner), $25.80 (Fri-Sun dinner)
Buffets prices for students and senior citizens: $12.80++ (weekdays lunch), $21.80++ (weekends lunch), $22.80++ (Mon-Thur dinner), $23.80++ (Fri-Sun dinner)
Tel: 6238 7218
Website
9. Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar
Image credit: Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar’s Facebook Page
Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar teems with revelers once the sun sets thanks to their all-day happy hour prices. Celebrate the end of a hard day with a glass of Bordeaux ($6++) as well as with their signature 1 Meter Board ($54++) comprising a mix of cheeses, cold cuts and pate. Their hot food selection is also worth noting, with sumptuous delights like the Duck Gravy ($10++) featuring two sunny side-up eggs and crisp hash browns in slow-cooked duck gravy.
Address: 200 Middle Road, Hotel G Singapore, Singapore 188980
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 11.30pm
Tel: 6809 7989
Website
Menu
10. Parklane Zha Yun Tun Mee House
Image credit: @seashellseychelle
Parklane Zha Yun Tun Mee House ($4.50) is best known for their springy noodles and generously filled fried dumplings. The sauce is a little on the sweeter side, which may not appeal to those preferring a spicier kick. Bulk up your dish with a side order of their chicken karaage ($2) if you feel you need more protein in your meal.
Address: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-53, Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 189652
Opening hours: Daily 9:30am to 9pm
Tel: 6835 9212
Website
Putting the cool in Bencoolen
Act fast and visit these 10 Bencoolen MRT food gems before a queue starts to form. Then, take a quick stroll to these cheap SMU food gems or visit the nearby Sumo Bar Happy at Bras Basah for a feast!
Featured image taken from Merely Ice Cream’s Facebook Page.
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