Call it what you want—economic rice, mixed rice, or cai png—cai fan is well-loved for being affordable, filling, and highly customisable. One mixed rice stall that’s fairly under the radar is Long Ji Cooked Food, hidden in Haig Road Market & Food Centre.
Image credit: Larry Lai FB
This humble hawker stall doesn’t have many reviews on Google, but they’re somewhat of an unspoken secret among those residing in the Joo Chiat hood. There seems to be a queue no matter the time of day. The spread of liao is impressive for a small stall, and prices here are incredibly affordable.
Image credit: @helloanthia
The cheapest option is $2, which comes with your choice of two types of vegetables on rice. There’s also a $2.50 set that includes one veggie and one meat on rice.
Image credit: @mixed_vegetable_rice
Another popular lunch choice is the $3 cai png that comes with two veggies, one meat, and rice.
Image credit: Larry Lai FB
Even if you’re extra hungry, you won’t break the bank with their priciest option: $4 for two veggies and two meat dishes on rice.
Do note that portions are said to be on the smaller side, so you might want to order more ingredients if you’re a big eater.
After filing up on cheap economic rice, head to the famous Haig Road Putu Piring, also in the same food centre! The Gula Melaka Putu Piring is a must-try; this delicious snack features freshly steamed rice flour cakes with a rich gula melaka filling within.
Another affordable cai png option is Fu Quan Mixed Vegetables Rice, a popular stall in Bendeemer with delicious sweet and sour pork. Otherwise, check out Ye Ji Cooked Food, a long-queue mixed rice stall in Chinatown with Cantonese-style cai png!
Address: 13 Haig Road, #01-66, Haig Road Market & Food Centre, Singapore 430013
Opening hours:Â Mon-Tue 10:30am to 8pm, Wed-Sat 9am to 9pm
Long Ji Cooked Food is not a halal-certified eatery.
Featured image adapted from Larry Lai FB and Jams Wong