Sick of living off instant ramen because of your student budget? Here are some relatively affordable South East Asian eateries that really give you a bang for your buck if you’re after something filling. They probably average around $12 a dish – which sounds like a lot, but let’s be honest, one plastic tooth costs $8.
In no particular order:
Pondok Daun
Overall: technically Indonesian food, but very similar to Malay food nonetheless. All-round great tasting food with large portions
Best for:
Mi/mihoon/nasi goreng (wok tossed noodles and rice)
Crispy fried whole Tilapia fish topped with sweet-sour tomato Balado sauce (Ikan Nila Balado) – served with rice and complimentary “MSG” soup
Smoky, tender grilled meat – skewered satay or in thick slabs
Bonus (for Malaysians): opportunity to practice your rusty Malay with the super-friendly staff that runs the place
NanYang Café @ Renaissance Arcade
Overall: dishes are more Chinese-based but everything there tastes amazing – most of you would have been here
Best for:
Flat rice noodles in egg gravy (wat tan hor)
Wok-tossed flat rice-noodles (char kway teow) – this is so good that I’ve had this at least once a month for the past three years
Note: cash only! (and ATMs aren’t that close)
Thanh Thanh
Overall: ok, this is just full-on Vietnamese, but it’s good anyway! Prices are decent with loads of seating – come when you’re a group of fifteen and you haven’t made a reservation elsewhere on a Friday night
Best for:
Durian/custard apples smoothie – guys this is some legit stuff. Hands down the most realistic durian or custard-apple smoothie I’ve ever had, much better than the ones at Pondok Daun
Star of Siam
Café Michael 2
Overall: both are Thai places
Best for:
Tom yum soup – closely resembles the Malaysian experience
PappaRich
Overall: probably serves the broadest range of Malaysian food. I know the Malaysians are scoffing, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers
Come for:
ABC (air batu campur, shaved ice desert) – this is the only restaurant that I have found to serve it satisfactorily
Chicken curry with roti canai/prata (crispy Indian flatbread)
Warong @ Lower Ground Floor Rundle Place
Overall: a food stall at Rundle Place food court which is super conveniently located
Best for
Location – I’m serious, it’s great for a quick bite during shorter lunch breaks
Ming’s Steamboat (or Hong Kee, which is right across the road)
Overall: ironically, I’ve never actually tried their steamboat, but all the other Chinese dishes are amazing with generous portions
Best for:
Salt and pepper pork trotters – crispy, fatty and tender, this is honestly pretty much magic on a plate
Chef Lai
Overall: general Malaysian food paired with their decent prices and authenticity
Best for
Ambience: the place looks pretty run down from near and afar, and while that might put some people off, it just adds to the feeling of a real kopitiam back home.
Reviewed by Kit a.k.a Lim Ee Ling