An NUS Freshman’s Guide : 17 Memorable Food Stores in NUS

This is it. The article that best summarises my journey in the National University of Singapore. Before, during and after classes, I’d dashed straight for the canteens no matter where I was. School food played a grand part in my academic journey, for sure. I wasn’t the best performing student, but I hope I did my best in bringing you some of the best food places that might become your new favourites. 

Tai Feng Wei

For the later half in NUS, I moved into Prince George Park Residence (which is opposite King Edward VII Hall). Prior to living here, my impression of the food choices here wasn’t positive. Turns out, it really isn’t so bad. For one, the Taiwan Popcorn Chicken Rice Box ($4.50) at Tai Feng Wei (Taiwanese) is pretty decent. Each of the components is decent, and the chicken is nicely seasoned. If you’re famished, the portion here is guaranteed to fill your tummy.

Fiesta Restaurant

Fiesta opened about 4 months ago, just before the start of the 2017 summer holidays. Fiesta is essentially a Chinese restaurant serving tze char dishes, and express lunch sets that are wallet friendly. I went for the Black Pepper Beef Fried Rice ($6.90) which sees beef slices coated in a black pepper sauce that is cooked with tomatoes, green peppers and onions. I loved the sweet and savoury notes!

Chinese Noodles @ Frontier, Faculty of Science

I remember taking Darwin & Evolution, and Global Health –  both were mentally draining. Thankfully, I was able to restore my energy with a comforting plate of Chinese noodles from the Science Canteen, the Frontier. There appears to be a never ending queue at the stall, but you won’t have to queue for more than 20 minutes. You can look forward to dumpling noodles, chicken noodles, and wanton noodles. Pro tip : Ask for Chan Chan (mix) and you’ll be given a plate of noodles with all the ingredients – dumpling, fried wanton, fishball, mushrooms, sliced chicken, minced meat, as well as a slice of ngoh hiang. Best part? This ultimate plate of noodles costs only $2.30! 

Yong Tau Foo & Laksa

The Yong Tau Foo at FASS is crazy popular. Be prepared to queue for at least 10-15 minutes before you can pick your ingredients, and another 15-20 minutes before you receive your food. Regardless, it’s worth it because you’re really getting your money’s worth. For just $3.50, you get 9 pieces of ingredients, and bee hoon, noodles or laksa soup! My go-to ingredients would have to be the seaweed chicken and crabstick! I liked that the laksa soup has a good balance of coconut milk and spices. During exam periods, I usually switch to clear soup and opt for more greens, for a lighter meal. 

Liang Ban Kung Fu @ The Deck, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

For just $7, we scored a serving of broccoli, raw chicken slices, pork balls, tau kwah, and enoki mushrooms. If this is your first time trying the ma la xiang guo, ask for mild spice (小 辣). If you need a loud awakening, go for medium（中辣）or hot spice（大辣). I find the 小 or 中 辣 still manageable especially if you can take the heat. This ma la xiang guo is fragrant, and very much comparable to those found in restaurants. Super value for money, isn’t it?

Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice @ The Deck, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The chicken rice ($2.80) from The Deck, is undoubtedly, one of my favourite dishes. The rice pairs extremely well with the flavourful chilli sauce. I would always order the chicken thigh as it is more tender. Soaked in soy sauce, the flavourful chicken can be eaten on its own. 

Kaneda Japanese Cuisine @ Technoedge, Faculty of Engineering

One of the must haves in Technoedge is the Fried Chicken Tama ($4)! You’ll be served a hotplate filled with chicken chunks swimming in a savoury egg and sweet gravy mix. They also serve wakame, which I love!

Hougang Fishball Minced Meat Noodles @ Technoedge, Faculty of Engineering

Sometimes, my friends and I get caught up in study sessions that endure till night falls. Fortunately, Hougang Fishball Minced Meat Noodles opens till 8pm. I was introduced to the Fried Minced Meat Ball Noodles ($2.80) in year 2, and I’ve loved it ever since. The handmade meatball is oil, but succulent. Though I find the noodles just alright, the soft pieces of pork lard elevate the taste of the noodles. If you like, you can even get the meatballs without the noodles, as a snack. The cook puts chilli into your noodles by default, so remember to alert him should you prefer otherwise. 

Western Food @ Technoedge, Faculty of Engineering

A couple of my peers in the engineering faculty recommended this stall so I had a go at the Black Pepper Grilled Chicken Chop ($3.20), which comes with a set of side dishes. I opted for coleslaw, sausage, and thick cut fries to pair with the grilled chicken which was pretty well executed. This is a good beginner set if you’re craving for some western food. 

Indonesian Panggang @ Technoedge, Faculty of Engineering

A fan of ayam panggang? You will be pleased to know that you don’t have to venture out of school to get it then! The ayam panggang is priced very reasonably, and features tender chicken flavoured with kecap manis (sweet sauce). The chicken skin sports a nice char and smokiness. You can opt to have your rice drenched in a rich curry gravy.. For only $3.50, you’re really getting your money’s worth.

The Spread @ NUS Business School

Nestled in a corner of the Mochtar Riady building is this pretty cafe selling Asian cuisine. The Spread is perfect for lunch if you ever need to escape the heat. The Japanese Beef Bowl / Gyudon with Sunny Side Up ($8.80) is made up of rice, a sunny side up egg, sliced beef and onion. I love the sweet and savoury marinate on the beef, but I did find the beef a tad dry. The cafe also offers do-it-yourself salad bowls, desserts, and beverages. 

Dickson’s North Indian Halal Food

The Terrace canteen, in the School of Computing, is a place I hardly visit. However, it is home to a number of international cuisine – Western, Indian and Vietnamese. If you’re heading to Dickson’s, you have to get the Steamed Briyani Rice, Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, and Cauliflower ($6). I couldn’t stop slurping up the curry of the butter chicken, which was robust and highly addictive. The chicken itself is well marinated, though slightly fibrous. Equally flavourful is the tandoori chicken, which has a strong charred taste.  

Café on the Ridge @ NUSS The Graduate Club

Previously accessible to students, this eatery now allows only members of the NUSS graduate club. Pro tip : register for the NUSS graduate club 90-days trial membership to gain access to the graduate club’s swimming pool and gym. After a workout session, you can drop by Café on the Ridge for a good lunch. Just remember to wear covered shoes and long pants. A highly recommended dish is the Nasi Goreng ($9.90), which consists of sambal prawns, chilli chicken, mutton rendang, as well as keropok, achar, fried anchovies, and rice. The sambal prawns are delish! I also enjoyed the chilli chicken and mutton rendang which were both very savoury. However, the meats were a little too tough. 

Indian Food @ Food Clique, University Town

This stall is super popular. The queue is unbelievable, especially during lunch hour. Reviews from my lecturers and peers about this place have been largely positive. For $3.30, I got a Mushroom Prata and Plaster Prata. The plaster prata was a tad disappointing, because the yolk of the egg was cooked through instead of being runny. The mushroom prata, on the other hand, was decent and comes with a generous amount of cut mushroom. The prata was not as crispy as I would have like, but I thought the curry was decently thick and well spiced.

Ban Mian / Fish Soup @ Food Clique, University Town

Week 13 is the most stressful week, and also the most exhausting time of my academic life. If I get too sleepy or restless while studying in UTown, I’ll go for a bowl of Tom Yum Fish Soup Noodles ($3.20) and request for a spicier version to wake myself up. The thick-cut and chewy noodles are topped with minced meat, crab sticks, egg, vegetables, anchovies, and sliced fish. It might be too spicy for some, but it’s excellent comfort food for me. 

Astons Express @ Food Clique, University Town

When I was still a freshman living in UTown, one of the first things I ate was Aston’s. Quality wise, the dishes are adequate, but what really makes it stand out is the affordable pricing. For $6.90, I get to savour the Chargrill Chicken which comes with 2 complimentary sides of your choice. I opted for the garden veggie and pasta salad, both of which were yummy. Be prepared to wait up to an hour during peak hours.

Hwang’s Korean Restaurant @ University Town

For a fuss-free Korean food fix, try the Doeji Bulgogi ($5.50) –  a basic assembly of spicy marinated pork, rice, and side dishes, on a hotplate. You can always add an egg for just 50 cents! The pork is nicely marinated, and carries a slight fire. While the pork isn’t too oily, it can be slightly dry. The onions add a sweet crunch to the dish. Scoop a mouthful and eat it while it’s hot!

There is something for every student in almost every part of NUS. Apart from the wide variety of food choices, there are also beverages that you must try – soya milk from Technoedge, and fruit juices from the Deck. There is also McDonald’s near the School of Engineering. I hope you discover more delicious food in your 3 or 4 years here!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!