Dhoby Ghaut
[FOOD TOUR] AFFORDABLE PLACES TO EAT AROUND DHOBY GHAUT & BENCOOLEN STREET
Friday, February 10, 2017
Dhoby Ghaut is one of the most popular hangout spots in town, especially among youngsters. This comes at no surprise as there are a couple of schools within the vicinity (SMU, SOTA, Kaplan...). Being located at the end of Orchard Road, Dhoby Ghaut boasts endless food options of various cuisines and price ranges. Often, deciding where to eat can be a huge headache! Here's a list of the good and more affordable food options around this area of town!
1. AL-JILANI RESTAURANT
Al-Jilani Restaurant is an Indian eatery located along Bencoolen Street and it opens all 24 hours a day! The prata here is decent (wouldn't consider it great in my opinion but some might disagree- would prefer slightly crispier prata) but the curry's one of the better one's I've tried in recent times! A good amount of chicken meat in the curry to my delight. Other popular dishes include their Briyani, Roti John, and Mee Goreng.
Again, not one of the best prata options in Singapore but being located in town and operating 24-hours makes it very popular especially among youngsters who don't ever go home early.
Address: 127 Bencoolen St, 189637
Open 24 Hours
2. CURIOUS PALETTE
Peach & Raisin Ricotta Hotcake ($14.90)
Salted Egg Wings ($12.90)
Opened by the same people from Stranger's Reunion around 2 years ago, Curious Palette has gained so much popularity since then. They not only serve great cafe food but also have an excellent ambience as well.
Curious Palette has an all day Brunch menu from 9am-6pm featuring unique dishes such as their Soft Shell Crab Burger ($19.80).
They have a separate dinner menu from 6pm onwards.
To be honest, most people visit Curious Palette to try out their highly raved about Ricotta Hotcakes ($14.90) that come in either Berry, Peach & Raisin, or Bacon flavour. Verdict? Very yummy and portion is huge! Also looks exactly like what you see on Instagram.
Riding on the salted egg hype, Curious Palette also recently launched a new side dish- Salted Egg Wings ($12.90). I thought that it was actually pretty well done, so salted egg fans can give it a try!
Address: 64 Prinsep Street, 188667
Phone: 6238 1068
Open Daily: 9am-10pm, Sat: 9am-12am (Closed on Tuesdays)
3. HOSHINO COFFEE
Lobster Bisque Spaghetti ($16), Hoshino Pot-Baked Curry Rice ($15)
Originating from Japan, Hoshino Coffee serves Japanese-Western fusion food in a cafe-restaurant setting. Being one of the most popular eating places at Plaza Singapura (one of my fave places as well), long queues are a common sight especially during meal times. On a typical Friday evening, expect to wait up to half an hour just to get into the restaurant!
The food and dessert at Hoshino are indeed good and value-for-money. Popular must-try mains include the Lobster Bisque Spaghetti ($16) and Hoshino Pot-Baked Curry Rice ($15). Best selling desserts include their Pancake Souffle ($9.80), Pot-Baked Vanilla/Matcha Souffle ($10.80), and French Toast ($10.80).
Of course, not to forget their signature Hoshino hand-dripped coffee!
The place is really cosy with many cushioned booths and it's also conveniently located at level 2 of the new wing of Plaza Sing. A great place to hang and chill with friends!
Address: 68 Orchard Rd, #03-84, Plaza Singapura, 238839
Phone: 6338 3277
Open Mon-Fri: 1130am-930pm, Sat-Sun: 10am-930pm
4. I'M KIM KOREAN BBQ
I'm KIM Korean BBQ is located at School Of The Arts (SOTA) right next to The Cathay building. In recent years, quite a number of eateries and restaurants have been opening at the school to cater to the public. The most prominent one is still I'm KIM Korean BBQ, not just because of their huge signboard, but also the crowd and queues especially on weekends.
The restaurant adopts a buffet bar concept, allowing you to select from a range of BBQ meat, cooked food such as pajjeon and japchae, as well as Korean soju and beer.
The standard of the food is pretty decent I must say, and the buffets are very reasonably priced! Ambience is also good, making it a popular hang out dinner-place for friends and family.
Buffet Lunch:
Mon-Fri: $14++ (Adult); $9++ (Kid)
Sat, Sun & PH: $24++ (Adult); $18++ (Kid)
Buffet Dinner:
Mon-Fri: $22++ (Adult); $18++ (Kid)
Sat, Sun, Eves & PH: $24++ (Adult); $18++ (Kid)
Address: 1 Zubir Said Drive, School of The Arts,01-04/05/06/07, 227968
Phone: 6238 7218
Open Daily: 1130am-330pm, 530-1030pm
5. MONTANA CAFE
Red Velvet Waffle ($14.50)
Montana Cafe, located at level 2 of POMO along Selegie Road, is hands down the best waffle place around the Dhoby Ghaut area. Hands Down.
Previously better known as Montana Brew Bar, the rebranded Montana now serves an even wider range of cafe food with burger, waffle, and coffee specialities.
I was most impressed with their waffle menu, with the likes of their Signature Mac & Cheese Waffle ($13.80) as well as Red Velvet Waffle ($14.50). Visit Montana once and you'll def be back for more!
Read my full review on Montana here.
Address: 1 Selegie Road, #02-25 POMO, 188306
Phone: 6334 3137
Open Mon-Thurs: 11am-10pm
Fri: 11am-11pm
Sat: 9am-11pm
Sun: 9am-930pm
6. PARKLANE ZHA YUN TUN MEE HOUSE
Fried Yun Tun Noodle ($4)
Parklane Zha Yun Tun Mee House is actually located at Sunshine Plaza and they serve really good and cheap wanton mee! It's a pity not many people know of this place unless you work or study around the area.
What makes the dish really good (other than the price) is the extremely crispy wanton and large portion. The sweet mayo dip and chilli makes it even tastier. Double thumbs ups!
Address: 91 Bencoolen Street, 189652
Phone: 6835 9212
Open Daily: 930am-9pm
Salted Egg Ice Cream
Rayz Bistro is a Halal Restaurant that serves Western food as well as a whole range of very unique desserts. The whole atmosphere of the place is pretty atas-y, when you take a look at their prices it'll probably make sense as well.
Dishes include Fish and Chips ($15), Chilli Crab Pasta ($26), and Rib Eye Steak ($35).
I first noticed the place because it's located right opposite the popular Rochor Beancurd dessert place where most of us frequent.
Rayz has a really prominent dessert counter facing the road displaying their ice ream and cakes. On my first visit to Rayz, I got to try their Cake In A Cup ($5.90) as well as Gelato Ice Cream (single scoop $3, double scoop $4.80, triple scoop $6.50). They recently launched a new flavour: Salted Egg Ice Cream!!
To be honest, the food's pretty pricey and I haven't really heard many good reviews about it, BUT their Gelato Ice Cream here is really good! A quality 8/10 at least and a must-try ice cream place around the area. I was surprised at the quality as the price per scoop here is considerably cheap.
Their new salted egg flavour was also really interesting because it tasted a little savoury yet a little sweet, throwing you into a mini confusion whether you're appreciating the taste. You could be adventurous and just give it a try!
Address: 100 Selegie Road, 188308
Phone: 6352 6651
Open Sunday-Thurs: 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-12am (Closed on Mondays)
8. ROCHOR BEANCURD HOUSE
Hot/Cold Beancurd ($1.50)
Rochor Beancurd- Best Tauhuay in Singapore? That's debatable, but it'll always be my number 1 Tauhauy supper place! Thank God for the multiple outlets available around the island, with others located along Upp Thomson Road, Balestier, and Geylang.
With most malls and cafes closing before midnight, Rochor Beancurd opens till 1am on most days and I'm glad to say that the standard of their snacks and drinks have been maintained over the years! One thing that hasn't changed as well is the weekend crowd, especially at night. Almost impossible to get a table.
Still, really thankful we have such good and cheap options here in Singapore.
Address: 2 Short St, 188211
Phone: 6334 1138
Open: Mon-Thurs: 11am-1am
Friday: 11am-3am
Saturday: 12pm-3am
Sunday: 12pm-1am
9. SING HO HAINAN CHICKEN RICE
Chicken Rice ($3.50)
I don't know anyone who doesn't love Chicken Rice. Day or night, rain or shine, feeling rich or poor, chicken rice always makes your day.
The chicken rice at Sing Ho is both cheap and good: The chicken is soft and tender, very tasty with the dark sauce. Personally tried better chicken rice like the one at Yishun (Bias heh) but hey I think $3.50 for a plate of chicken rice here is considered reasonable. Half a chicken would cost you $14.50 while you can get a set meal at only $6.80.
Personally, I find the $3.50 portion small (again it's just my opinion, I'm a big eater) so you will probably want to upsize it if you're a guy.
The coffee shop is located at the corner of middle road (facing KAPLAN) just a few units away from Rochor Beancurd. It's often crowded during meal times and the place isn't air conditioned so you wouldn't want to stay in there for too long.
Address: 270 Middle Road, 188993
Phone: 6336 7579
Open Daily: 11am-11pm
10. THAI GOLD FOOD
Pineapple Rice ($6)
Don't let the run-down interior of the restaurant fool you! Located at Sunshine Plaza along Bencoolen Street, Thai Gold Food serves really authentic Thai food at extremely affordable prices! Most of the dishes such as their Pad Thai and Pineapple Rice come in sizes (small, medium, large). I remember when I first visited the restaurant years ago, I assumed that the portions were proportionate to the prices and ordered a Medium-sized dish (supposed to be a sharing portion). Was really shocked when the food arrived because a Small would have sufficed.
Love the place because their portions are so generous and the food never disappoints.
Downside is that the service and ambience of the place is pretty bad. Tables are really close to each other and place can get stuffy at times.
Well, you'll probably forget all that once you dig into the food!
Address: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-14/22, Sunshine Plaza, 189652
Phone: 6883 1575
Open Daily: 1130am-330pm, 5-1015pm
Isn't it amazing how we can have such a variety of good food all in one vicinity! Only in Singapore!
Have a great food tour around Dhoby Ghaut for now as I continue to update you on good food places to eat around the island! Stay tuned!
Have a great food tour around Dhoby Ghaut for now as I continue to update you on good food places to eat around the island! Stay tuned!
Cheers
Gabs
