Most people who spend loads of time in town would probably agree that, more often than not, eating in town will burn a hole in your pocket, unless you #balling. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Aside from succumbing to fast food to save money on food in town, you can check out more budget-friendly spots instead. They might not be the most comfortable or atas, but they sure dish out good meals. Check out these Somerset food places the next time you hit town!
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Morinaga Izakaya is a hole-in-the-wall, no-frills eatery hidden in the basement of Midpoint Orchard, which is directly opposite Somerset MRT Station. Their Truffle Somen ($14++), is a popular pick for good reason. Spiked with truffle oil and topped with savoury ikura, this cold noodle dish serves as the perfect respite from the humid weather. For something to share with the table, consider the Mentai Mayo Omelette ($11++), which features dashi-infused tamagoyaki with a generous drizzle of creamy mentaiko mayo.
Read our Morinaga Izakaya review!
Address: 220 Orchard Road, #B1-08, Midpoint Orchard, Singapore 238852
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 9101 3016
Website
Morinaga Izakaya Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you want a meal that is affordable and hearty, look no further than My Favourite Cafe in Lucky Plaza. Get a bowl of your favourite carb with six ingredients from their wide selection at $7. Alternatively, there’s a seven-ingredient option without carbs, at the same price. For its location, the food here offers a bang for your buck. Remember to get their deep-fried pork meatballs and mushrooms; those are their bestsellers for a reason!
Address: 304 Orchard Road, #06-046, Lucky Plaza, Singapore 238863
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 6pm
Tel: 6734 6935
My Favourite Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Da Shi Jia has changed the game by serving up Wok-fried Big Prawn White Bee Hoon ($19.40) instead of the typical seafood white bee hoon. This dish is filled with wok hei, which makes every bite oh-so-addictive. Soaking in the prawn broth were three fresh and chewy prawns. If you want something cheaper, get their Prawn Noodle (from $7.40). Tip: ask for pork lard to add to your dish for that extra oomph!
Check out our full Da Shi Jia review!
Address: 89 Killiney Road, Singapore 239534
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 8908 6949
Website
Da Shi Jia is not a halal-certified eatery.
My Indonesian friends love Jtown Cafe. I was recommended their Bakmie Ayam ($7.90), which is basically Indonesian chicken noodles. Made from scratch daily, their noodles are cooked al dente and tossed in a secret savoury concoction before being topped off with chicken cubes. Their Bihun Bakso ($6.90), which stars beef balls, is also popular!
Though their noodle dishes are delicious, the star of the show is truly their martabak. Served in five different flavours, their martabak is so popular among regulars that they usually sell out by 1pm. Make the effort to rush down for those delicious pancakes.
Read our Jtown Cafe review!
Address: 220 Orchard Road, #B1-04/05, Midpoint Orchard, Singapore 238852
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs, Sun 11:45am to 8pm, Fri-Sat 11:45am to 8:15pm
Tel: 9230 5040
Website
Jtown Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery, but is Muslim-owned.
Helmed by a deaf couple, Anthony and Angela, Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho has captured many people’s attention since its opening. Go for their Beef Feast Combo Pho ($13). Brimming with their clear and tantalising broth, this bowl is packed with silky smooth pho noodles, tender beef slices, and bouncy beef balls. It sure makes for an affordable and comforting meal in town! Other popular items include their Fresh Pork With Prawn Rolls ($7) and Grilled Chicken Banh Mi ($10).
Check out our Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho review.
Address: 277 Orchard Road, #B2-15, Orchard Gateway, Singapore 238858
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8:30pm
Tel: 8685 4838
Website
Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho is not a halal-certified eatery.
Doran Chicken is a popular Korean eatery at Orchard Gateway with an impressive 4.8-star rating from over 900 Google reviews. They specialise in Daegu-style fried chicken, where the meat is first aged with seasonings and herbs in a traditional Korean earthen pot to enhance its flavour. Choose from four seasonings: Original Fried, 1978 Soy Sauce, Dalcom Spicy, and Sweet Volcano. Prices start from $20.80++ for a 300g portion, which you can share with a friend or two. The eatery also offers set meals, priced from $52.80++ for two to three diners!
Read our Doran Chicken feature.
Address: 277 Orchard Road, #04-19, Orchard Gateway, Singapore 238858
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 9:30pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 9:30pm
Website
Doran Chicken is not a halal-certified eatery.
For affordable Hainanese fare in an air-conditioned setting, head to Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe at 111 Somerset! The popular homegrown cafe offers hearty mains ranging from Chicken Berempah Leg Nasi Lemak ($8.90++) and Moonlight Hor Fun ($8.90++) to Claypot Mee Tai Mak ($9.90), an outlet-exclusive comprising chewy rice noodles with prawns, minced meat, and mushrooms in a piping-hot claypot. If you’re here for tea time, order their Milo Toast ($4++) and Sai Ka Hor (from $3++), an addictive mix of Milo and tea.
Check out our Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe feature.
Address: 111 Somerset Road, #01-09, Singapore 23816
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 8.30pm
Website
Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
49 Seats’ Tom Yum Seafood Pasta ($20.90+) is no new player in town. Many people have raved about this dish, talking about how consistently creamy, tangy, and spicy it is. Each plate of Tom Yum Seafood Pasta is topped with a couple of prawns, mussels, and loads of baby clams. If you can handle your spice, challenge yourself by requesting for an extra spicy plate! Alternatively, go for the Seafood Carbonara ($19.90++), which some have claimed to be the best in Singapore. If you’re on a budget, visit for their weekday lunch set deal, where you can get a pasta, a soup, and a drink for just $17.90++.
They close at 2am too, so night owls can get their pasta fix for supper.
Address: 176 Orchard Road, #01-49, The Centrepoint, Singapore 238843
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 2am, Sun 11:30am to 11:30pm
Tel: 6225 4332
Website
49 Seats is not a halal-certified eatery.
La Pona Snack Bar is a hidden gem nestled in Orchard Plaza, a three-minute walk from Somerset MRT Station. The casual eatery is popular among night owls, as they open till 4am on most days. BTW, they’ve been around since 1986! La Pona specialises in nasi lemak; you get to choose your favourite toppings, customising your meal to your liking. The final price of your plate depends on what ingredients you pick, though patrons have commented that each serving usually costs $7 to $12.
Check out our La Pona Snack Bar feature.
Address: 150 Orchard Road, #04-53, Orchard Plaza, Singapore 238841
Opening hours: Wed-Sat 10.30pm to 4am
Website
La Pona Snack Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
Located on the ground floor of Cuppage Plaza is a hole-in-the-wall eatery by the name of Gyoza no Ohsho. This hidden joint is known for its Gyoza ($6+), served pan-fried or deep-fried. Regulars say the dumpling wrapper is the perfect thickness, complementing the juicy and savoury pork filling within. If you want something more substantial, the eatery offers a great range of ramen and rice dishes too. Popular picks include Katsu Curry Rice ($17+), Mabo Donburi ($12+), and Tokyo Shoyu Ramen ($17+).
FYI, Gyoza no Ohsho opens till 1:30am on most days!
Read our Gyoza no Ohsho review.
Address: 5 Koek Road, #01-10, Cuppage Plaza, Singapore 228796
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 1:30pm, Sun 11:30am to 11:30pm
Tel: 6735 7068
Website
Gyoza no Ohsho is not a halal-certified eatery.
You don’t have to break the bank for a good meal in town: just head to So Good Char Chan Tang, a popular Hong Kong eatery at 111 Somerset. If you’re here for yum cha, order their signature French Toast ($3.60), served with a slab of cold salted butter and golden syrup. For something more substantial, visit after 11am to try their Hong Kong-style mains: Baked Tomato Pork Chop Rice ($9.90), Shrimp Dumpling Noodle ($7.80) and more.
Read our So Good Char Chan Tang review.
Address: 111 Somerset Road, #01-16, TripleOne Somerset, Singapore 238164
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 9pm
Tel: 6493 0338
Website
So Good Char Chan Tang is not a halal-certified eatery.
Here’s another Orchard Central food spot to add to your list: FYP Cafe is a camping-themed cafe serving loaded bagels and hearty rice bowls, mostly priced under $20! Their Classic Beef Bagel ($15+) is a must-try; this bagelwich stars a house-made bagel packed with sliced ribeye, caramelised onions, and your choice of sauce. They’ve also got affordable don bowls such as Mentaiko Chicken ($17+) and Truffle Beef ($17+). Don’t miss out on their lava brownies and cookies, and XL fries, too!
Check out our FYP Cafe review!
Address: 181 Orchard Road, #04-22, Orchard Central, Singapore 238896
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 12pm to 9:30pm, Fri 12pm to 10:30pm, Sat 11am to 10:30pm, Sun 11am to 9:30pm
Website
FYP Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @tripntravelms
For affordable noodles in town, visit Hi Noodle, located at Basement 3 of 313 Somerset. Here you’ll find hearty mains from just $6.90+, which is a steal in this economy. Highlights include Hot & Sour Vermicelli ($6.90+), Pickled Vegetable Fish Noodle ($10.90+), and Scallion Oil Shrimp Noodle ($9.90+). The most expensive item on the menu is the Spicy Crayfish Noodle ($18.90+), featuring a sweet, tangy, and spicy mix of peppers and juicy crayfish, atop a bed of springy noodles.
That’s not all: diners get a free ice cream cone when they return their tray! Accordingly to online reviews, service is said to be excellent here, too.
Check out our Hi Noodle feature.
Address: 313 Orchard Road, #B3-19, 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Rd, B3-19, Singapore 238895
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Hi Noodle is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you love prawn mee, you need to check out Ebi Bar, another hidden gem in Cuppage Plaza. This casual eatery is known for their Modern Prawn Noodles ($15.90+), starring springy ramen-style noodles and charred prawns doused in a rich and umami-laden prawn broth. The Ebi Bar Hokkien Noodles ($19.80+), served with their signature chao ta prawns, are equally popular. Alternatively, if you’d like something lighter on the palate, consider their Pan-Seared Chicken Noodles ($10.80+) instead.
Read our Ebi Bar review!
Address: 5 Koek Road, #B1-21 Cuppage Plaza, Singapore 228796
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 9pm, Sun 11am to 6pm
Tel: 8922 1284
Website
Ebi Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you ever find yourself in Somerset in the wee hours of the morning, hankering for Vietnamese fare, you’re in luck. Miss Saigon is a 24-hour eatery in Orchard Plaza serving legit Vietnamese food, including Banh Mi Chao ($12): tomato-based sauce with egg, sardine, meatball, and onions, served on a hot skillet with a crusty baguette loaf. The casual eatery also offers a wide range of banh mi flavours, such as Roasted Pork ($9.90) and Fried Fish Cake ($8.90), alongside rice and noodle dishes.
Check out our Miss Saigon review!
Address: 150 Orchard Road, #02-56, Orchard Plaza, Singapore 238841
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours
Tel: 8925 3959
Website
Miss Saigon is not a halal-certified eatery
Who says that you can’t be budget in town? Indulge in these affordable dishes and save the extra cash for shopping! For more grub in the area, check out our guide to the best food places in Orchard. We’ve also got our Orchard Central food guide as an alternative!