1. Koh Grill & Sushi Bar
Address: Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, Level 4, Food Republic #04-21, Tel: +65 91803805, Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10.30pm daily, Price Range: $29 on average
Tucked away in a corner of Food Republic at Wisma Atria, Koh Grill & Sushi Bar serves quality Japanese food at pretty affordable prices. The extensive menu includes everything from Yakitori to Udon, but the Shiok Maki comes highly recommended. Already a popular find on Instagram, the Shiok Maki is a combination of charcoal-grilled eel and torched salmon, topped with a generous helping of mayonnaise and roe.
Koh Grill & Sushi Bar gets pretty crowded during peak hours though, so be sure to pop by for dinner a little earlier.
Best for: Affordable dinner dates and/or Japanese food cravings.
The Shiok Maki at Koh Grill & Sushi Bar (Source: katechiclove.blogspot.com)
2. Hua Yi Kitchen
Address: 360 Orchard Road, International Building #02-11, Tel: +65 62353156, Opening Hours: 11.30am – 3pm and 5.30pm – 9.30pm daily, Price Range: $14 on average
If you’re tired of the long wait for a table at Paradise Dynasty (we’re not going to wait two hours for xiao long baos, not even if they’re colourful ones), then Hua Yi Kitchen is the place for you. The Chinese restaurant specialises in Shanghainese cuisine, with signature favourites like Xiao Long Bao (dumplings) and Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with meat sauce) on the menu. The best part of it all? No noisy crowds or long lines.
The restaurant is located in an inconspicuous corner on the second level of International Building (the building next to Isetan Scotts), right next to the escalators.
Best for: A quick and satisfying meal away from the hustle and bustle of Orchard Road.
Zha Jiang Mian at Hua Yi Kitchen
3. Wasabi Tei Japanese Cuisine
Address: 14 Scotts Road, Far East Plaza #05-70, Tel: +65 62388216, Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm and 5.30pm – 9.30pm (Mon to Fri), 12pm – 9.30pm (Sat), Price Range: $23 on average
Wasabi Tei is a hole-in-the-wall joint hidden amongst the nail and hair salons at Far East Plaza – and the perfect place to satisfy your sashimi cravings after a long day of shopping at Orchard Road. Seriously, forget waiting ages for a dinner table at some fancy Japanese restaurant in Orchard Road.
Although the restaurant itself is fairly small and simple, the Japanese food there is still pretty good. In fact, the sashimi is generously thick and juicy – even better than some of the other fancier Japanese restaurants in Orchard Road. The maki and udon bowls there are worth a try too.
Wasabi Tei only has counter seating, but the chefs there are quite efficient so seats usually open up quite quickly.
Best for: Chirashi-lovers or when you’re having lunch alone.
Chirashi Don at Wasabi Tei (Source: omgsohungry.files.wordpress.com)
4. NamNam Noodle Bar
Address: 501 Orchard Road, Wheelock Place #B2-02, Tel: +65 6735 1488, Opening Hours: 10am to 9.30pm daily, Price Range: $7.90 to $17.90 for Vietnamese Pho, $5.90 to $6.90 for Banh Mi, $9.90 to $10.90 for other noodle dishes
Yes, this is that noodle place that always has a long line, but hear us out. When we first saw the snaking queues at NamNam Noodle Bar at Wheelock Place, we were pretty turned off. However, the variety of affordable and tasty Vietnamese food here somehow always has us coming back. And to be fair, the line moves fairly quickly.
We like the Banh Mi (toasted baguette sandwiches), which are great for those on a budget because they are cheap, tasty and filling. The only gripe we have about eating here (besides the long queue) is that you tend to smell like beef noodles after…but that’s nothing a little Febreze can’t fix right?
Best for: Lunch on a budget, or people who love sandwiches.
Banh Mi selection at NamNam Noodle Bar (Source: namnamnoodlebar.com.sg)
5. William’s Rojak
Address: 14 Scotts Road, Far East Plaza #05-112, Tel: +65 6734 8434, Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm daily (their hours are slightly erratic though, call before heading down to be safe), Price Range: Under $10 on average
William’s Rojak at Far East Plaza has been around for ages, so it’s no surprise that it serves up a mean Rojak. Think crispy You Tiao, tart fruit and crunchy veggies, covered in a fragrant sauce made by the owner William himself (or his wife). The place also has a decent selection of fruit juice, which are slightly cheaper than the other stalls in the area.
Best for: Mid-day hunger pangs, or when you’re craving for a cup of milky avocado juice.
Rojak at William’s Rojak (Source: burpple.com)
6. Alison Eating House
Address: 304 Orchard Road, Lucky Plaza #02-66, Tel: +65 67324534, Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm daily, Price Range: Under $10 on average
OK so maybe Lucky Plaza isn’t exactly the most glamorous of places to have dinner, but Alison Eating House does have some kick-ass Char Siew rice (Roasted Meat rice) – even if you’re dinner is somewhat interrupted by the warbling from the karaoke lounges nearby.
The place also has some traditional Chinese desserts like tau suan (mung beans) and cheng tng, so you can end your meal on a sweet note.
Best for: When you’re craving char siew. Or when you’re on a tight lunch/dinner budget.
Rice with Roasted Duck and Roasted Pork Belly at Alison Eating House (Source: burpple.com)
7. My Favourite Cafe
Address: 304 Orchard Road, Lucky Plaza #06-46/47, Tel: +65 6734 6935, Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon to Sat), Price Range: $6 on average
Good and cheap Yong Tau Foo is hard to come by in Orchard Road, especially when most stalls have a limited selection and a minimum charge for Yong Tau Foo. My Favourite Cafe though, is a real gem hidden among the row of food stalls at Lucky Plaza. The Yong Tau Foo selection there is much wider than other stalls, and the soup is so fragrant that you’ll forget how much healthier it is than laksa. We hear the Korean Mushrooms and Meatballs are highly recommended, so don’t forget to try those too.
The place gets quite crowded during lunchtime though, so try to go down before 12pm or after 2pm.
Best for: When you’re feeling guilty about indulging in too much hawker food, and need a healthier lunch option instead.
