SMU Food Guide: 10 Best Places For $4 Bibimbap, Biscoff Yaowarat Buns And More

26th July 2023

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Best SMU food places

Singapore Management University (SMU) is the epitome of a city campus as it’s right smack in town, and is surrounded by museums, retail outlets, and entertainment hubs. While many students know the best food in Plaza Singapura and City Hall, they might not necessarily know where to eat within their school compounds. Hence, we’ve compiled a list of the best SMU food places for a quick bite, a hearty lunch, and a night out with your friends if you’re in the area.

Table of Contents

Best SMU food places
Where to eat in SMU

1. ONALU Bagel Haus

Specialising in freshly prepared bagel sandwiches, ONALU Bagel Haus is a paradise for those with a penchant for bagels. You can either pick one from the menu, or build your own bagelwich simply by choosing the type of bagel, sauces, and meats you want.

If you want to kickstart your day with a simple yet hearty breakfast, their Hash Stack ($8) and Kaya Thyme ($9) sound ideal. The former features hashbrown, scrambled eggs, and house-made jam, while the latter is a unique take on the classic local kaya and butter toast. For a filling lunch, Somethin’ Fishy ($12) is a great option. It’s stuffed with delectable ingredients, such as Norwegian smoked salmon, scallion cream cheese, and capers. Don’t forget to flash your student card for a 10% discount!

Read our Onalu review!

Address: 60 Stamford Road, #01-11, Singapore 178900
Opening hours: Daily 9:30am to 5:45pm
Tel: 8268 5900
Website
ONALU Bagel Haus is not a halal-certified eatery.

Onalu Review: $10 House-made Bagel Sandwiches and Mochi Brownies At Dhoby Ghaut

2. Ima-Sushi

Ima-Sushi is a minimalist restaurant in the basement of SMU’s Li Ka Shing Library, and they are known for offering affordable Japanese cuisine that ranges from donburi to sashimi. Prices can go as low as $1.90++ for a piece of salmon sushi for SMU students and staff, whereas the most expensive item on the menu is their Kaisen Chirashi Don ($17.50++).

There are three different set meals to choose from if you want a bit of everything: IMA Set Meal ($3.90++), Executive Set Meal ($5.90++), and Signature Set Meal ($8.90++). Their Signature Set Meal comprises a salad, chawanmushi, miso soup, potato salad, and sashimi—talk about pocket-friendly deals. Alternatively, you can opt for their SMU Dragon Roll ($13.50++), a six-piece roll consisting of unagi, avocado, and epi tempura.

Read our Ima Sushi review!

Address: 70 Stamford Road, #B1-24 Singapore Management University, Li Ka Shing Library, Singapore 178901
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 6pm, Sat 7am to 3pm
Website
Ima-Sushi is not a halal-certified eatery.

Ima-Sushi Review: $1 Salmon Sushi And Affordable Chirashi Bowls In SMU

3. Khoon Coffeehouse Express

Khoon Coffeehouse Express is a homely kiosk that sells Yaowarat-style buns, where everything is priced below $10. There are six different Yaowarat Thai Sweet Buns available here: Lotus Biscoff ($2.50), Honey Butter ($2.40), Sweet Milk ($2.20), Peanut Butter ($2.20), Chocolate ($2.20), and Kaya Milk ($2.20). These buns make for a great snack for those looking to get a quick bite in between lectures.

For a proper meal to go, you can give their signature Tomato Seafood Baked Rice Set ($6.50) a shot, which primarily features prawns and scallops, and accompanied by a free drink. Don’t forget to flash your student ID or staff card to receive 10% off your total purchase.

Check out our Khoon Coffeehouse Express feature!

Address: 90 Stamford Road, #01-72 School of Social Sciences and Economics, Singapore 178903
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm, Sat 9:30am to 7:30pm
Tele: 8894 4855
Website
Khoon Coffeehouse Express is not a halal-certified eatery.

This SMU Kiosk Serves Honey Butter And Biscoff Yaowarat-Style Buns

4. Park’s Kitchen

Image credit: @parkskitchen.sg

Located on the first level of SMU Connexion, Park’s Kitchen is the place to go to for Korean rice bowls that won’t break the bank. With Bibimbap ($4) as the main base of every rice bowl, you get to pick a topping of your choice. Their Spicy Pork Rice Bowl is priced at $6.80, while their Salmon Rice Bowl is priced at $8.80. Also, each bowl is topped with a fried egg, and it comes with a side of well-marinated kimchi as well.

If the rice bowl doesn’t fill you up, you can consider getting add-ons, such as Mandu ($2 for two pieces), Pork ($1.50), or Chicken ($1.50). And for those heading down with your friends, we recommend getting their Kimchi Pancake ($5) or Japchae ($5) to share.

Address: 40 Stamford Rd, #01 02, Singapore 178908
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 7pm
Website
Park’s Kitchen is not a halal-certified eatery.

5. Bricklane

Image credit: @bricklane_sg

School’s out, and you’re looking for a spot to celebrate with your friends. Bricklane is second to none for one of those nights, as they serve donburi bowls and alcohol at nett prices till 12am.

Their donburi bowl offers a variety of toppings, such as Torched NZ Ribeye Beef Cubes ($10.90) and Grilled Teriyaki Chicken ($6.90). For the famished, you can add on more ingredients of your choice, ranging from Fish Roe ($1) to Salmon ($4). Aside from donburi bowls, the menu sees a selection of bar bites and snack platters to complement your alcoholic beverages. Their Torched Mentaiko Fries ($8.90) and Golden Fried Mantou ($8.90) are great for sharing among friends, and they make a good pairing with draught beer and cocktails too!

Address: 70 Stamford Road #01-22 Li Ka Shing Library, Singapore 178901
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 2:30pm, 4:30pm to 12am, Sat 5:30pm to 12am
Tele: 9484 3322
Website
Bricklane is not a halal-certified eatery.

6. Supergreen

Image credit: @supergreen.sg

Health is wealth, but maintaining a healthy diet is easier said than done. At Supergreen though, you can make an effort without having to burn a hole in your pocket.

Out of their signature bowls, the Teriyaki Chicken Rice ($7.20) and Smoked Duck Pasta ($8) are popular choices among SMU students. The former features organic brown rice, teriyaki chicken thigh, sweet corn, green pepper and a hard boiled egg, whereas the latter combines organic fusilli, seasoned smoked duck, cherry tomatoes, sauteed mushroom, and Japanese cucumber.

Address: 40 Stamford Rd, #01-06, Singapore 178908
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 7pm
Tele: 9484 3322
Website
Supergreen is not a halal-certified eatery.

7. Kuro Kare

Image credit: Kuro Kare

Kuro Kare is one of the latest additions to the campus as they recently opened their doors in June 2023. Their menu focuses on affordable Japanese curry dishes, with prices starting from just $4.90++. Plus, the SMU community gets a special discounted price of $2 per menu item. With dishes such as Tori Katsu ($9.90/$11.90) and Black Angus Shortribs ($14.90/$16.90), the options at this new-ish eatery will surely tickle the fancy of curry and meat lovers.

We recommend you get the set meal: for an additional $3.90, you get a drink and chicken bone broth soup, which is a thick chicken broth that will remind you of Japanese ramen. Otherwise, pay $4.90 more for an imported Japanese drink, and a side of chicken bone broth soup. Best believe the set meal is worth a shot as Kuro Kare takes pride in their broth, which is said to be simmered for more than six hours to get that rich and robust flavour.

Do note that their opening hours differ depending on whether it’s the school term or not.

Read our Kuro Kare review!

Address: 80 Stamford Road, #B1-65, SMU School of Information Systems, Singapore 178902
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 8pm (refer to Google for further updates)
Website
Kuro Kare is not a halal-certified eatery.

Kuro Kare Review: 36-Hour Japanese Curry And More By Ex-Fine Dining Chefs

8. Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang

Image credit: @cestlavieyy

Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang has several outlets across Singapore—their Yishun outlet is also Michelin-approved. You can get your hands on the popular nasi lemak to see if it’s a stronger candidate against OG contenders such as Changi Nasi Lemak and No. 1 Adam’s Nasi Lemak.

Their signature Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang ($6.50) features grilled chicken, unlike the regular fried chicken thigh found in most nasi lemak dishes. There’s a wide variety of value meal sets to choose from, which comprises a main and a drink. Some examples include Nasi Lemak Fish Fillet ($5.70), Nasi Lemak Chicken Fillet ($5.70), and Nasi Lemak Ayam Kecap Sambal ($7.30). Also, you can add on Mackerel Otah ($1.80), Hotdog ($1.20) or even Har Cheong Kai Boneless Chicken ($3) to upgrade your meal.

Address: 90 Stamford Road, #01-73 and Social Science, School of Social Sciences and Economics, Singapore 178903
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 10pm
Tele: 8750 5240
Website
Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang is a halal-certified eatery.

9. Daijoubu

Image credit: @winnie_the_fooood

Intertwining Japanese pop culture with Japanese food, Daijoubu is a cute spot to unwind with your friends after a long day of work or school.

One of their most popular items is the Mentaiko Cream Pasta ($9.90), which features an unami-filled creamy mentaiko cod roe sauce topped with tempura bits, bonito, ebiko, and an onsen egg. Alternatively, their Curry Katsu Don ($11.90) is a classic for fans of Japanese curry. To supplement your meal, we recommend getting their Mentaiko Fries ($6.90) and Takoyaki ($6.90 for six pieces). Some students have shared online that Daijoubu is really generous with the mentaiko sauce, which gets an instant nod of approval from us. Also, students and staff of SMU get a 10% discount!

Address: 80 Stamford Rd, B1-66 School of Computing and Information Systems Singapore Management University, Singapore 178902
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm to 9pm
Tele: 8761 5448
Website
Daijoubu is not a halal-certified eatery.

10. Pasta Express

Image credit: @pastaexpress.sg

Pasta Express checks off the box of what every student looks for: affordable, accessible, and delicious. Customising a bowl of pasta here is as easy as ABC as all you have to do is select a base and a minimum of three toppings.

There are three bases to choose from: Tomato Sauce, Cream Sauce, or Aglio Olio. Each base is priced at $3.80. Next, choose your meat and vegetable toppings to go with the base. Each meat topping costs $1.40, while a vegetable topping costs $0.80. There’s a good selection to choose from, such as minced beef, pepperoni, and smoked duck breast for your meat, while sweet corn, sous vide egg, and spinach are available for your veggies.

Check out our Pasta Express feature!

Address: 40 Stamford Road, Singapore 178900
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 7:30pm
Tele: 9025 8148
Website
Pasta Express is not a halal-certified eatery.

Pasta Express Has DIY Pasta Bowls from $5 In SMU, NUS, And NTU

Where to eat in SMU

Whether you’re an SMU student or someone who frequents the area, we hope this SMU food guide would point you at the right direction when you’re feeling peckish.

Now that you know where to eat in SMU, you can also check out our NUS food guide for delicious sashimi rice bowls, affordable roasted duck noodles and more in the campus. Alternatively, read our CHIJMES food guide for Michelin-starred restaurants, famous hakata ramen and more.