15 mains under S$10 at Orchard/Somerset so you can splurge on dessert

COVID-19 may have crashed our financial economy but truth be told, it’s always a hard time for CBD office workers and people who frequent the town. For a long time, Orchard has been known as a tourist destination and a shopper’s hub, so with premium treatment comes exorbitant food prices. 

If you’re tired of paying for food that’s more than your hourly rate, we’ve got you covered. Here are 15 mains under S$10 at Orchard and Somerset, so you’ll at least have enough money for retirement. 

Affordable mains under S$10 at Orchard & Somerset

So Good Char Chan Tang 

Many of us are familiar with the shopping mall 313@Somerset but mention TripleOne Somerset and you’ll probably raise a few eyebrows. Situated just opposite of 313@Somerset, the lesser-known mall conceals a variety of food gems — one of them being a modern Hong Kong Cafe, serving traditional dishes and drinks.

At So Good Char Chan Tang, expect to be wowed by quality food at affordable prices. Specialising in roast delicacies, their Roasted Duck Rice (S$7) boasts tender slices of duck meat, each covered with a crisp, fatty skin. 

You can also opt to change the rice to hor fun or noodles at no extra cost.

If you prefer something soupy, there’s also the simple but flavourful Instant Noodle with any 2 (ham/luncheon meat/sausage/fried egg), priced at S$4.50. 

For a lighter meal, the Scrambled Egg Thick Toast (S$3.50) will do just the trick. Fluffy eggs are placed on a buttered toast, delivering a richness of flavour that’ll melt in your mouth.

Drinks are priced from S$1.80, making this one of the rarer finds at Orchard/Somerset for decent mains under S$10.

So Good Char Chan Tang (TripleOne Somerset outlet)
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???? 111 Somerset Rd, #01-16 TripleOne Somerset, Singapore 238164
????️ 8am–9pm (Mon–Fri), 9am–9pm (Sat, Sun)

Hong Tang Mala Tang 

It just hits different when you’re sharing a bowl of mala with your friends. Topped with a bounty of ingredients, the joy of slurping spicily numbing noodles as a squad remains unbeaten — that is, until you see its price tag. 

Hong Tang Mala Tang solves that problem. Over here, the prices of the ingredients are standardised at $2.80 per 100g. You will not be able to share a bowl, but whether it’s meat, vegetables or seafood that you crave, you’ll be able to gauge the price of your bowl easily. 

Hong Tang Mala Tang
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???? 8 Grange Rd, #B1-02, Singapore 239695
????️ 11.30am–9pm (Daily)

Old Airport Road Wanton Mee

Old Airport Road Wanton Mee is famous for using a homemade recipe since 1986, drawing customers in with their savoury wanton noodles. Located in the unassuming Midpoint Orchard, the Signature Wanton Noodles (S$4.50) here is simmered till stringy and coated with a robust sauce.

Serve with plump minced pork dumplings and caramelised char siew, it’s guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds.

Old Airport Road Wanton Mee
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???? Midpoint Orchard, 220 Orchard Rd, #B1-01 to 05, Singapore 238852
????️ 9am–7pm (Mon–Sat), Closed Sun

New Station Snack Bar

For a main course under S$10 at Orchard, Far East Plaza would be the place to go. The building is a plethora of food places, but ask anyone that works around the area and you’ll find that New Station Snack Bar is the crowd’s favourite.

The no-frills tze char stall sells a variety of dishes such as Prawn omelette, Claypot Chicken Rice, and Hotplate Black Pepper Beef, but its most popular dish would be the Salted Egg Pork Ribs Rice (S$6.50)

Boneless and tender pork ribs are drenched in a creamy salted egg sauce and stir-fried till fragrant with a consistency that’s not too cloying.

Served with a sunny side up, this is one of the mains under S$10 at Orchard that’s worth way more than its price.

New Station Snack Bar
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???? Far East Plaza 14 Scotts Road #05-95 Singapore, 228213
????️ 11.30am–9pm (Mon–Fri, Sun) 11.30am–9.30pm (Sat)

RedRing Treasures 

It’s safe to say that most air-conditioned food courts in shopping malls are associated with serving subpar food, but visit Wisma Atria Food Republic and you just might change your mind.

Mains under S$10 at Orchard is not just a dream with RedRing Treasures. Try the Red Ring Chicken Cutlet Noodle (S$5.50) where egg noodles are cooked till slightly al dente, drenched in a spicy red sauce and served with a generous portion of succulent and crispy chicken cutlet. 

The best part of all? You’ll only have to top-up S$1 for double the portion of chicken cutlet.

RedRing Treasures
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???? Food Republic Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Rd, Stall 6, Singapore 238877
????️ 10am–10pm (Daily)

Kim Dae Mun

K-dramas have a pattern of advertising pretty Korean cafes with romantic scenes, and while these cafes do pique our interests, we have to give credit to humble, authentic Korean food. 

As a homage to the land where all Oppas are born, try Kim Dae Mun, an authentic Korean eatery with mains under S$10 at Orchard. 

There are Korean staples such as Kimchi Soup (pork), Bibimbap, and Fried Saba — all affordably priced at S$8.50. 

For those on a tight budget, opt for the filling Garlic Chives Pancakes (S$4.50) instead.

Kim Dae Mun 
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???? 100 Orchard Rd, #01-03D Concorde Shopping Mall, Singapore 238840
????️ 11am–8pm (Tues–Sun)

Orchard Yong Tau Fu

Cuppage Plaza may be peppered with KTV lounges at every twist and corner, but besides the pretty girls and alcohol, there’s Orchard Yong Tau Fu to drive your insatiable desire and appetite.

Always packed with a snaking long queue, the stall sells a great variety of yong tau foo ingredients such as crabmeat, eggplant, tofu, button mushrooms and more. Each bowl is affordably priced at 7 items for S$5.60, but what customers are raving about is their special soybean-based broth, a robust base that pairs well with any ingredient.

Take note that the price for 7 items (S$5.60) does not include noodles and rice!

Orchard Yong Tau Fu 
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???? 5 Koek Rd, #01-09 Cuppage Plaza, Singapore 228796
????️ 8am–4.30pm (Mon–Sat), Closed Sun 

Riverside Indonesian BBQ

It’s difficult to imagine mains with proper portions under S$10 at Orchard, but you better believe it now.

Located at Basement Three of 313@Somerset. Riverside Indonesian BBQ has been known to provide generous portions that’ll keep you full for hours. 

The Ayam Panggang Set (S$5.50) includes a marinated and grilled chicken leg, served with an egg omelette, curry vegetables and a whole lot of sauce. There are also other options such as the Ayam Goreng (S$5.50) and Ikan Sotong Panggang Set (S$7.50), which’ll definitely save you some money for a cup of bubble tea.

Riverside Indonesian BBQ 
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???? 313 Orchard Rd, #B3-44, Singapore 238895
????️ 10am–10pm (Daily)

Greenview Cafe 

We’ve heard of mee hoon kueh in soup, but Fried Mee Hoon Kueh (S$5.50)? That’s something that only Greenview Cafe offers. Think char kway teow but with mee hoon kueh — a smokey wok hei flavour with the noodles drenched in a sweet sauce, served with a complimentary bowl of herbal soup. 

If that’s not enough, get the fried fritters as a side dish. There’s the Prawn Fried Fritter with Corn (S$1.80) and other favourites such as the Trio Sticky Rice with Yam and Sweet Potato Fried Fritter (S$1.80), which are all huge in size. 

Greenview Cafe
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???? 14 Scotts Rd, #04-96, Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213
????️ 10am–8pm (Mon–Sat), Closed Sun 

Thai Tantric

The Land of Smiles remains out of reach as long as COVID-19 refuses to back down. But to curb your Thai food cravings, you can visit Thai Tantric, a Thai eatery with mains under S$10 at Orchard.

The humble restaurant serves authentic Thai dishes, with staples such as Pad Thai Seafood (S$8) and the very sinful-but-worth-the-calories Deep Fried Pork Belly with Rice (S$8).

For a spicier kick, opt for the Stir-fried Chili and Basil with Minced Chicken/Pork/Beef (S$7) instead.

There are drinks such as Thai Iced Tea, Thai Green Tea, and Thai Coffee, all priced at S$2. How’s that for a complete meal?

Thai Tantric
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???? 400 Orchard Rd, #03-44 Orchard Tower, Singapore 238875
????️ 11.30am–10.30pm (Mon–Sat), Closed Sun 

Tsuru-Koshi

It’s no secret that Takashimaya’s basement is a Japanese food haven, but finding an affordable Japanese restaurant is like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Well, we’ve found the needle. Tsuru-Koshi offers hand-stretched udon that’s both silky and smooth, a texture that’s difficult to nail.

Niku Udon (sliced pork with onions, S$9) and Kitsune Udon (S$7) are served with a delectable soup base, but for a change, try the Atsu Atsu Tan Tan Udon (S$9), a dry udon coated with spicy sauce and served with minced meat and an onsen egg. 

You can also add on extra sides such as Char Siew or Yasai Tempura for a mere S$2.50.

Tsuru-Koshi
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???? 391 Orchard Rd, Takashimaya, #B2-01/02/03, Singapore 238873
????️ 9am–10pm (Tues–Sun), 9am–9pm (Mon)

Ayam Penyet Ria

Ayam Penyet is one of Indonesia’s most popular traditional dishes and it seems like Ayam Penyet Ria has perfected this recipe.

Their chicken is boiled along with a secret blend of traditional herbs and spices, then fried to perfection and smashed with a wooden mallet to loosen the flesh from bones, making it softer and easier to pull apart. 

Served with their signature sambal chili, their Ayam Penyet + Nasi (S$7.90) is definitely a main under S$10 at Orchard that you should try. 

Of course, don’t miss out on side dishes such as Tahu-Telur (S$6.70), which is fluffy fried eggs and tofu served with a creamy peanut sauce. 

Ayam Penyet Ria
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????  Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Road, #01-45/46/47 & #04-25/26, Singapore 238863
????️ 11.30am–9.30pm (Mon–Sat), 10am–9pm (Sun)

Hainanese Delicacy

If you can’t decide on what to have, chicken rice is always the safest bet. But don’t go to just any chicken rice stall — if you’re already settling for something, make sure that it’s the cream of the crop you’re going for.

Hainanese Delicacy is one of the most well-known chicken rice eateries in Singapore with over 30 years of history. The place attracts hundreds of crowds daily due to its competitive pricing and tenderly roasted chicken.

A generous portion of Chicken Rice here will only set you back S$4.80, and you can choose to add on a Braised egg (S$0.60) or more rice (S$0.80). Be it boiled or roasted, the chicken here is moist, supple and plump, everything a chicken rice lover could ask for. 

Complete the set by ordering the old school Salted Vegetable Duck Soup (S$5) as well. Served in a steel bowl, the duck, salted vegetables, and tomatoes are boiled till soft. 

Hainanese Delicacy
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???? Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd,  #05-116, Singapore 228213
????️ 11am–8pm (Daily)

Fish & Chicks 

A plate of good ol’ fish and chips never hurts anybody — how can we say no to fish in a crispy batter, fried till golden brown?

At Fish & Chicks, you’ll get a huge piece of fish served with coleslaw and fries when you order their basic Fish & Chips (S$7.90).

The dish itself is great, but you can elevate the taste by opting for the Salted Egg Fish & Chips (S$9.90), which gives the fish a luscious coating of salted egg sauce. 

If you prefer your fish grilled, there’s also the tangy Lemon Butter Grilled Fish (S$8.90).

Fish & Chicks
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???? Cathay Cineleisure, 8 Grange Road, #B1-01, Koufu Food Court, 239695
????️ 11am–9.30pm (Daily)

BONUS* Spuds

French fries can’t be considered as a main course, but at Spuds, it’s something that’ll still grant you a full tummy for under S$10. 

The place is known for its IG-worthy Unicorn Fries (S$7.90), a huge portion of perfectly fried fries with rainbow nacho cheese sauce — basically cheese fries on steroids.

However, the one to note would be their Bolobolo (S$7.90), a marriage between Nasi Lemak and fries. The fries are coated with sambal chili and served together with ikan bilis, quail eggs, toasted peanuts, and cube-sized cucumbers, providing a touch of crunchiness while cutting the greasiness.

Spuds
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???? 220 Orchard Road, Midpoint Orchard, #B1-07, Singapore 238852
????️ 11.30am–9pm (Daily)

We hope that this article on 15 mains under S$10 at Orchard and Somerset finds you well. Seriously.

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