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.
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 ($9.50) and Kaya Thyme ($10) sound delicious. 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 ($16) 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.
Khoon Coffeehouse Express is a humble kiosk that sells Yaowarat-style buns, where everything is priced below $10. There are nine different Yaowarat Buns available here: Lotus Biscoff ($2.50), Honey Butter ($2.40), Sweet Milk ($2.20), Peanut Butter ($2.20), Chocolate ($2.20), and Truffle Egg Mayo ($4) are just some examples. 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 Seafood Baked Rice Set ($6.50) a shot, which primarily features prawns and scallops, and is accompanied by a free drink. Flash your student ID or staff card to receive 10% off your total purchase!
Read 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
Website
Khoon Coffeehouse Express is not a halal-certified eatery.
Kuro Kare 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 Melty Beef ($14.90+/$16.90+) and KFC: Kuro Fried Chicken ($9.90+/$11.90+), the options here will tickle the fancy of curry and meat lovers.
There are meat-free rice bowls too, with Eno-kiki, Do U Love Me? ($5.90+/$7.90+) being a crowd favourite. This one comes with enoki and corn tempura, alongside a vibrant variety of veggies atop a warm bed of rice. To share with your dining companions, opt for the Umami Tuna Belly ($13.90+/$15.90+), a winning combination of tuna belly tartare and deep-fried seaweed, or Prawn Toast ($7.90+/$9.90+).
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
Website
Kuro Kare is not a halal-certified eatery.
Our team stumbled upon Prince Noodles as it’s within walking distance from our office, and we were pleasantly surprised by how good their handmade KL ban mian was. There’s no need to think twice—just go straight for the Signature Handmade Noodles ($5.90), served dry or soup, with your choice of ban mian, you mian, or mee hoon kueh. We recommend the dry version, best paired with their spicy house-made chilli. If you’re heading down in a group, get some Chives & Pork Dumpling ($4.50) or Mushroom & Pork Dumpling ($4.50) to share with your dining companion(s).
Read our Prince Noodles review.
Address: 55 Armenian Street, #03-02, Singapore 179934
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am to 9pm
Website
Prince Noodles is not a halal-certified eatery.
Ah Nam Kopi is one of the few old-school breakfast spots on campus that opens at 8am on weekdays. For a hearty breakfast, consider the popular Yam Butter Toast ($3.50+), packed with creamy taro paste and a thick slab of butter. If yam isn’t your jam, consider the classic Egg Mayo Toast ($4.40+) or Crunchy Peanut Toast ($3+) instead. There are lunch options too, of course, such as Curry Chicken Noodle ($6.90+) and Fried Chicken Nasi Lemak ($6.90+).
Address: 50 Stamford Road, Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics, Singapore 178899
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm
Website
Ah Nam Kopi is not a halal-certified eatery.
Braek Acai & Coffee is a matcha and acai bowl cafe at SMU, popular among the it girls and boys looking for a sweet treat after an exhausting day of lectures and tutorials. There’s the signature Strawberry Matcha ($7), but their Genmaicha Einspanner ($6.50) caught our attention as we’ve not seen it elsewhere in Singapore. The latter is essentially a genmaicha latte topped with a thick layer of sweet cream! Matcha haters are in good hands, too, as there are other items to choose from—acai bowls, gelato, and waffles are just some examples. A scoop of their classic gelato costs $5, while the Mochi Waffle is priced at $8.
Address: 70 Stamford Road, #B1-25, Li Ka Shing Library, Singapore 178901
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 7pm
Website
Braek Acai & Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Nature Cafe has been specialising in vegetarian cuisine for over 20 years. Fun fact, they first started as a small cai png stall in Redhill! The menu is extensive here, ranging from rice and noodles to even pizzas and burgers. Many SMU students get the Soy Chicken Rice ($7), served with the eatery’s house-made chicken rice chilli sauce on the side. For something more filling, we recommend the Stone Pot Korean Bibimbap Rice ($12.90) or the comforting Stone Pot Fish Soup ($9.90). The former comes with a vibrant variety of veggies and kimchi, while the latter has yam, tofu, cabbage, tender fish fillets, and vermicelli noodles in a clear broth. It also comes with a bowl of rice to enjoy with the soup!
Address: 70 Stamford Road, #01 22, SMU Li Ka Shing Library, Singapore 178901
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 9pm
Website
Nature Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
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. Next, choose your meat and vegetable toppings to go with the base. 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. Do note that prices vary depending on the ingredients you choose!
Address: 40 Stamford Road, Singapore 178908
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 7:30pm
Website
Pasta Express is not a halal-certified eatery.
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 ($8) features grilled chicken, unlike the regular fried chicken thigh found in most nasi lemak dishes. There are other choices too, such as Fish Fillet Curry Rice ($6.80) and Double Wings Set ($7.90).
Address: 90 Stamford Road, #01-73, School of Social Sciences and Economics, Singapore 178903
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 9pm
Tel: 8089 1465
Website
Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang is a halal-certified eatery.
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 Bowl ($12.30) and Smoked Duck Bowl ($12.30) are popular choices among SMU students. The former features organic brown rice, teriyaki chicken thigh, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, ginger soy dressing, and a sous vide egg, while the latter combines seasoned smoked duck, kimchi, sesame tofu, roasted baby corns, and honey lime dressing.
Address: 40 Stamford Road, #01-06, Singapore 178908
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 2:30pm, 3:30pm to 6:45pm
Website
Supergreen is not a halal-certified eatery.
Whether you’re an SMU student or someone who frequents the area, we hope this SMU food guide will point you in 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 on campus. Alternatively, read our Raffles Place food guide for Taiwan-famous BBT, Wagyu hamburg and more.