Holland Village’s bustling food streets are clad with an abundance of upscale cafés, restaurants, and bars, which is why we’re often ready to spend extra whenever we hit this popular dining destination with our friends.
But nestled amidst the rows of fancy eateries are ones that offer delectable yet affordable options, perfect for the ones who’re looking to enjoy buzzy, hipster vibes without too much damage to their wallets.
Here, we’ve rounded up the 15 cheap and good food you can find at Holland Village, including dishes and desserts priced under S$10, from S$10 to S$15, and S$16 to S$20!
Cheap and good food at Holland Village: under S$10
363 Katong Laksa
Located within the Holland Village Market & Food Centre, this store’s the one to go to if you’re searching for a cheap dish to savour – no compromises on taste.
To each their own, 363 Katong Laksa lets you customise your laksa order from iPads stationed at the store. One bowl of laksa costs S$4, and you can add cockles (S$1), prawns (S$1), fish cake (S$1), and noodles (S$0.30). Or, cut out ingredients you don’t like and dial down the spice level too.
While not the original Katong Laksa, 363 Katong Laksa earns raving reviews from customers who relish the Peranakan dish’s rich and flavourful gravy!
363 Katong Laksa’s fragrant laksa is cheap and good, for sure.
Daily Scoop
For cheerful vibes and a whole lot of ice cream flavours, make Daily Scoop your go-to dessert destination at Holland Village!
A single scoop of ice cream costs S$3.80 and a double scoop is priced at S$6.80. You’ll be spoilt for choice with the assortment of fun flavours available, including fan favourites like Salted Mister Brown, Utterly Avocado, and fragrant Mao Shan Wang, which is a special treat for our Singaporean tastebuds.
Since there’s always room for dessert, why not pair a scoop of ice cream with fluffy waffles too? A waffle-ice-cream pairing costs just S$7.80, and you can top up extra for one more creamy scoop too.
Project Acai
Sweet and cool on the tongue and healthier than milky ice cream, açai bowls have risen to the top of the dessert charts in Singapore.
At Project Acai, you can get a decent portion of acai for under S$10 when you order any of the three medium bowls: Original Flower Bowl, Nuts for Acai Bowl, and Coconut Yoghurt Acai Bowl (S$9.80 each).
And, if you’re hoping to pair your sweet snack with something savoury, opt for the Avocado Toast (S$8.90), which is spread with creamy avocado and sprinkled with cherry tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, and a dash of Pink Himalayan salt – yummy.
See Project Acai’s menu here.
Tai Cheong Bakery
Much more than its signature egg tarts, Tai Cheong Bakery also offers a range of yummy Hong Kong cha-chaan-teng-style main dishes on its dine-in menu.
Crowd favourites include the Scrambled Egg Toast Stack with Chicken Chop (S$9.50), Three-Egg Macaroni Soup with Luncheon Meat (S$8.50), and Beef Brisket Curry Rice (S$10.90). You’ll likely have to get in line though, because the mains are available only at two big-crowd timeslots: 11am – 2.30pm and 5.30pm – 9.30pm.
Be sure not to leave Tai Cheong Bakery empty-handed. Instead, take away its egg tarts (S$2) to save for a tea-time snack or share with your loved ones. Smooth centres and crumbly crusts – what’s not to love?
See Tai Cheong Bakery’s menu here.
Cheap and good food at Holland Village: S$10 to S$15
Umi Nami
Those who love a good salmon don have to visit Umi Nami for delicious Japanese donburi at truly affordable prices!
Nestled right in the heart of Holland Village, Umi Nami lets you chow down on Bara Chirashi Don for just S$10 and Aburi Salmon Don for just S$13. The best part is that prices listed on the restaurant’s menu are all NETT, so you don’t have to sweat it extra when you’re footing the bill.
Besides the two classic donburi dishes, there are also other special flavours like the Special Salmon Don (S$14), which features tender cubes of salmon drenched in a sinful mayonnaise sauce and torched to perfection.
Cheap and good? We think so.
Get a Umi Nami Japanese Rice Bowl + Drink Set Japanese cuisine at Holland Village for S$12 with a Chope voucher, on Chope or Shopee.
La Nonna
This homely Italian restaurant isn’t what we’d normally call affordable, but it’s earned a spot on our list because of its special Weekday 1-For-1 Lunch Special; this deal lets you order any pizza, pasta, and main dishes in La Nonna’s ala carte menu!
The La Nonna Pizza (S$23) is an authentic wood-fired pizza that’s topped with asparagus, black truffle, tomatoes, mozzarella, and parmesan, and complete with a runny egg in the centre – it’s no wonder that this one’s a signature dish that’s also great for sharing.
You should also try the Linguine with Crab Meat Pasta (S$26) that’s tossed with creamy tomato sauce and basil.
The weekday one-for-one promotion applies only between 11.30am – 2.30pm from Monday to Saturday, except on the eves of and Public Holidays.
Make a reservation at La Nonna or get 10% off cash vouchers on Chope.
Nakhon Kitchen
Savour spicy, piquant flavours alongside your loved ones at Nakhon Kitchen, best loved for its authentic Thai dishes and sharing-friendly portions.
One meal at this casual eatery costs between S$10 to S$15, and you won’t go wrong ordering classic Thai dishes like tangy Tom Yam Soup (S$6), sweet Honey Chicken (S$8), and savoury Stir-Fried Minced Pork with Hot Basil Leaves (S$8).
Those looking for a supper spot in Holland Village will also find it here, because Nakhon Kitchen is also serving skewers, just like the ones you would find at street food stores in Thailand. These, you can get from 6pm to 11pm daily.
Mian Jia Noodle Bar
This rather hipster noodle bar (think: neon words decorating the ceiling) is where you can retreat to in Holland Village for a cheap and good bowl of springy Chinese noodles.
Here, you have plenty of under-15-dollars options, like the Singapore-Style Crispy Crusted Chicken Cutlet Tonkotsu Broth Noodle (S$12.90), which reviewers give high praise for its savoury soup, and the Homemade Wanton With Special Sauce Dry Noodle (S$10.90), best loved for its specially seasoned chewy noodles.
If, just this time, you don’t mind busting your budget, be sure to try the Live Boston Lobster Supreme Broth Noodle (S$29.90). This one boasts fresh lobsters and a broth that’s thick with fragrant seafood-y goodness.
See Mian Jia Noodle Bar’s menu here.
Sunday Folks
The tall swirls of soft serve at Sunday Folks taste as good as they are Instagrammable!
Of course, you have to try a classic waffle-ice-cream pairing, which includes freshly baked Belgian waffles topped with a delicate swirl of soft serve, plus, warmly drizzled with maple syrup and chocolate hazelnut sauce.
You can choose from artisan flavours like Seasalt Gula Melaka, Dark Chocolate, or Earl Grey Lavendar (S$10.50), or premium options like Roasted Pistachio, Madagascar Vanilla, or Summer Strawberries (S$11.50).
Since Sunday Folks boasts a spacious, wood-furnished café space, it’s also the ideal place in Holland Village to chill over coffee and cakes with your friends.
Make a reservation at Sunday Folks on Chope.
Cheap and good food at Holland Village: S$16 to S$20
Two Men Bagel House
Break a warm bagel freshly in half and you’ll get to savour still-oozing cheeses, spilling sauces, and tender meats. This sumptuous sight is enough reason to make a trip to the Two Men Bagel House at Holland Village!
More than that, however, the popular bagels at this hipster joint are priced between about S$15 to S$18 – we count this as affordable for food this good.
The B.E.C. (S$15) is stuffed with crispy bacon, creamy egg, and melty cheese, which is a combination that’s absolutely breakfast-worthy and a divine delight to the tastebuds.
If you’re ready to spend a little more, try the Lox (S$17), which features layers of smoked salmon, sweet onions, and scallion cream cheese. Surely, you can’t go wrong with that.
Sanpoutei Ramen
Ramen lovers rejoice, because you get to slurp on full-flavoured broths and chewy ramen noodles at Sanpoutei Ramen!
Ask us about cheap and good food at Holland Village and we just can’t miss talking about this authentic ramen restaurant, an offshoot of the original Sanpou restaurant in Niigata, Japan.
This restaurant’s signature dish is the Niigata Shoyu Ramen (S$15), which stars a refreshingly light fish-based broth that’s brewed with two types of sardine from Japan, melt-in-your-mouth chashu slices, and a soft-boiled egg.
The noodles here are freshly handmade; it’s no wonder that so many customers praise their springy texture, which is so central to a tantalising bowl of hot ramen.
Chir Cafe + Bar
Chir Chir but with a cosy café twist, the Chir Cafe + Bar doesn’t just boast an aesthetic interior fitting of Holland Village’s hipster streets, it also features a modern Korean-meets-Western menu with brunch classics like burgers, pastas, and croffles.
Sink your teeth into the cafe’s Fondue Chicken Burger (S$15.50), which features a Chir Chir-esque chicken thigh sandwiched between buttery buns and topped with a thick nacho cheese sauce.
Since croffles are every Korean café’s starring dish, go for the Chir Chicken Croffle (S$17.50), which stars crispy chicken and croffles – croissants pressed between a waffle iron – drizzled with sticky maple syrup and topped with light whipped cream.
See more from Chir Cafe + Bar here.
Chimichanga
Get your Mexican food fix at Chimichanga, arguably one of the best cheap and good Mexican bars at Holland Village.
How could you step into Chimichanga without trying the bar’s chimichanga dish, which is a deep-fried wheat tortilla wrap that’s stuffed with Amarillo rice, salsa verde, pico de gallo, crema, and cheese? We say, order the Chimichanga Shredded Ancho Beef (S$18) for a perfect balance between light, crisp tortilla wrap and juicy, tender strips of beef inside.
When day turns into night, sip on cool cocktails whilst vibing to sweet, sweet tunes alongside your besties.
See Chimichanga’s menu here.
Cha Cha Cha
This small, unsuspecting restaurant at Holland Village has been serving up a delightful spread of authentic Mexican food since 1990.
Here, you can munch on crispy Calamari Mexicano (S$14) or sweet Tequila Honey Wings (S$15), which are perfect for sharing or as a tea-time snack.
Or, fill your tummy with mains like the Burrito Bowl (S$16), which has cilantro rice, sliced jalapenos, kidney beans, cheese, green salsa, black olives, guacamole, and sour cream tossed within a big tortilla flour bowl.
See Cha Cha Cha’s menu here.
Lola’s Cafe
Lola’s Cafe’s contemporary Scandinavian interior makes for the ideal spot to enjoy brunch with your best friends, not to mention, snap plenty of café-style photos for the ‘gram!
Although the prices for mains go up to S$23, you can still find cheap(er) and good food here, like the Bacon Carbonara.
Featuring handmade fettuccine, smoked bacon, and parmesan, tossed with cream and wine, the Bacon Carbonara (S$18) is a top pick – especially for fervent carbonara lovers.
You’ll also be able to find more affordable brunch options on the menu, including the Pulled Pork & Avocado Eggs Benedict (S$18), six-hour smoked chipotle pulled pork, creamy avocado, and poached eggs on chewy sourdough bread.
See Lola’s Cafe menu here.
Featured image credit: Lola’s Cafe, Sunday Folks
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