My love for cai png—also known as cai fan and economic rice—was born out of necessity. It is affordable, has a wide variety and can be found almost everywhere in Singapore. Even though our city often ranks among the most expensive cities in the world, eating out doesn’t always have to burn a hole in your pocket. Dotted around our city, here is a list of the best cai png stalls in Singapore for a meal that’s $3 or less.
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At Lai Heng Economical Mixed Veg Rice, rice with two vegetables and a meat dish only costs $2.50, while two meat and one vegetable is just $2.90. These amazing prices have made the Toa Payoh stall an absolute favourite among residents in the area. As for what dishes to order, we recommend the diced chicken with chilli peppers. The chicken is tender, and the spiciness is extremely mild but still adds a small kick to each spoonful. Be prepared to queue when you visit!
Read our Lai Heng Economical Mixed Veg Rice feature.
Address: 22 Toa Payoh Lorong 7, #01-07, Kim Keat Palm Market and Food Centre, Singapore 310022
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6am to 8pm
Website
Lai Heng Economical Mixed Veg Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Wellcome Food is run by an amicable auntie, with the dishes also tasting like they were cooked at home.. Two vegetables and one meat dish can cost just below $3, depending type of meat chosen. We highly recommend the sliced potatoes. Even though they were sliced pretty thickly, every bite was savoury and soft. If you can’t decide what dishes to get, you can opt for the Curry Chicken Rice ($3), which stars piquant curry chicken, vegetables, and a generous serving of rice.
Address: 347 Jurong East Avenue 1, #01-216, Yuhua Market and Hawker Centre, Singapore 600347
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 8:30pm
Website
Wellcome Food is not a halal-certified eatery.
Goldhill Family Restaurant in Hougang serves nostalgic cai png from just $2 for one meat and one veg. Even with prices this low, they don’t skimp on taste—regulars rave about their juicy, crispy fried chicken wings, going at just $1.10 each. Queues often stretch past lunch hours, a testament to their popularity. The stall has an old-school vibe and limited seating, so most opt for takeaway. Either way, this is a reliable spot for a hearty and super affordable meal.
Check out our video above for the full scoop, or read our Goldhill Family Restaurant feature.
Address: 6 Hougang Avenue 3, #01-78, Singapore 530006
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm, Sat 8am to 7pm, Sun 8am to 2pm
Tel: 9025 2733
Goldhill Family Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
For almost two decades now, Xian Jin Mixed Vegetable Rice has offered its dishes at just $2, including its Economy Rice Set, which comes with one vegetable and two meat dishes. But that’s not all—they’ve also got Bak Kut Teh, Sliced Fish Soup, Century Egg Minced Meat Porridge and more for the exact same price. And these dishes aren’t just cheap—we hear that the stall is generous with the portions, and they taste pretty good!
Address: 216 Bedok North Street 1, #01-02, Bedok Food Centre and Market, Singapore 460216
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:15am to 2:30pm
Xian Jin Mixed Vegetable Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: S L via Google Maps
With a few outlets around Singapore all offering two veg and one meat cai png from just $2.50, Lady Boss is a good option to consider. If you prefer the two meat and one veg combo, that’s just $3.30, which is still a good price in this economy. Some online reviews have said that they were charged more than expected, however, so do double-check with the staff as to which dishes will get you the price point you want.
Address: 150 South Bridge Rd, Fook Hai Building, Singapore 058727 (check Google Maps for more outlets)
Opening hours: TBD
Xian Jin Mixed Vegetable Rice is not a halal-certified eatery.
Located within Bugis Cube is 470 Economic Mixed Veg Rice, offering two vegetables and one meat meals from just $2.50. Best of all, this combo comes with a free drink, making it extra value-for-money! The dishes here seem to be a mix of local and Sichuan delights—these include mapo tofu and even la zi ji (mala fried chicken). Long queues often form during peak hours, so it’s best to drop by early to avoid the wait.
Address: 470 North Bridge Road, #02-08, Bugis Cube, Singapore 188735
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 10am to 3:30pm
470 Economic Mixed Veg Rice is not a halal certified eatery.
These were some cheap cai png stalls in the country. For bang-for-your-buck restaurants, read our best cheap restaurants in Singapore guide. If you’re visiting JB anytime soon, read our best Johor Bahru food guide.
Featured image adapted from S L via Google Maps.