Ntu what to eat?

Spending over 120 hours a week in school, I have eaten my way through NTU, so trust me when I say that these are the 10 best places to eat at in NTU.

NTU has plenty of food places (with over 9 mala places in NTU alone), so do note that this list is not in any shape or form exhaustive!

Some say that the best mala xiang guo in Singapore can be found at NTU’s A Hot Hideout. As an NTU student and avid mala lover myself, I must certainly agree.

This mala xiang guo joint, located within North Hill, always has a queue during lunch hour and dinner hour, so if you don’t go down an hour before peak hour, you’ll definitely be hard pressed to find a seat.

A Hot Hideout’s specialty is their deep fried ingredients, such as potato crisps, lotus roots, fish and luncheon meat. Having a bite of crisp potato with the numbing spice of the noodles is truly luxurious.

To top it all off, be sure to get an egg as it’ll be scrambled till it’s soft and fluffy, and placed on top of the mountain of ingredients. The ingredients are measured by weight, S$2.28 per 100g regardless of whether it is a meat, vegetable, or a fishball.

You will find me here bi-weekly, chowing down on a bowl of da la (big spice) with my companions.

62 Nanyang Crescent, #03-02, Singapore 636958 Daily: 11am – 2.30pm & 4.30 – 9pm Instagram

I have a serious confession to make—I’d never eaten Mookata before entering NTU. I made up for it by patronising Make Your Sunday Thai at Crespion (Crescent and Pioneer Hall) pretty often. The combination of barbeque and steamboat is actually pretty ingenious, and I can’t believe it took me this long to try it.

The grill is set up in such a way that the oil from the grilled meats drip into the soup, giving the soup extra flavour.

Here, you can order in sets: Set 1 – two to three persons (S$20), Set 2 – three to four persons (S$26), and Set 3 – four to five persons (S$30). Usually, the portions are generous enough to have four people sharing Set 1.

Additionally, they also have set meals for Thai dishes. They have different sets, such as Set 1 – two to three pax (S$15), Set 2 – three to four pax (S$22), Set 3 – four to five pax (S$28). There are pre-chosen dishes for each set, but menu items of the same price can be exchanged.

Shrimp Omelette (S$6.50), Sambal Kang Kong (S$6.50) and Thai Honey Chicken (S$5.80) are staples that I always order.

The Shrimp Omelette comes with a Thai green chilli which is to die for, and really pairs well. The Thai Honey Chicken is coated in a savoury coat of sauce, and is fried till it’s crispy.

The presence of sets makes it easy to share meals with friends, and due to their generous portions, Set 2 can easily feed five people, making it S$4.40 per person for a hearty meal.

162 Nanyang Crescent, Pioneer Hall, Singapore 637033 4 Nanyang Crescent, Canteen 14, Singapore 637634 Daily: 11am – 8.30pm

Canteen 14’s Ban Mian is famous throughout NTU for good, cheap and filling noodles.

Nestled within the humble Canteen 14, there’s usually a queue during peak lunch hours, but rest assured that your noodles should be served within fifteen minutes, given the speed that the canteen uncle and aunty take orders and cook.

One of the most ordered dishes here is the Dry Ramen (S$3.30), which turned me into a Ban Mian lover. It comes with a savoury dark soy sauce, and is topped with minced meat, ikan bilis, and an egg with a runny yolk. Within it there are also some pork lard bits that completely spruce up the meal.

This was always my go-to if I were rushing an assignment and needed a quick bite.

4 Nanyang Crescent, Canteen 14, Singapore 637634 Daily: 8.30am – 8.30pm

The Hive, affectionately known as ‘The Dim-sum Building’, is home to the Co-op Cafe on Basement 5, which is actually the first floor if you enter the hive from the main entrance. As confusing as that is, Co-op Cafe has some delicious fusion western food that always satisfies my cravings.

Every time I eat at Co-op Cafe, I get one thing – Tom Yum Seafood Pasta (S$6.50). It is the perfect meal for me as it’s spicy, savoury, has seafood, and is pasta. The seafood is always served in generous portions, with numerous prawns and squid rings found inside. The tom yum has a slight sour kick, which complements the fresh seafood well. I can’t stress this enough that this is a must-try at NTU.

52 Nanyang Avenue, Basement 5, The Hive, Singapore 639816 Mon to Fri: 9.30am – 6.30pm Closed on Sat & Sun Facebook | Instagram

Canteen 11 is home to some of the better foods on campus – cai fan, Japanese, sichuan food… the list is endless. I have patronised the Japanese stall, Kiso Japanese Cuisine, many times, and the food here is affordable and good.

Tonkotsu Ramen (S$4.50) comes with a savoury broth that soothes one’s soul. The noodles are cooked al dente, and are topped with chopped spring onions and thinly sliced black fungus. Served with a decent slice of charred cha shu, the cha shu is meaty and smoky, and goes well with the noodles.

20 Nanyang Ave, Canteen 11, Singapore 639809 Daily: 10.30am – 8.30pm, Closed on alternate Sat

The Beverages stall at Fine Food sells breakfast sets too, which is convenient for me as I study at the Hive and usually have morning classes there. At 8.45am, I will be in the queue for my breakfast staple – kaya toast, soft boiled eggs and a cup of teh peng.

Set A – Kaya Butter Toast Set (S$2.20) consists of two soft boiled eggs, two slices of kaya toast, and coffee or tea. I usually top up S$0.30 to upgrade my drink to a small teh peng.

The pepper and soy sauce come in a basket, which is self-service. After trying numerous breakfast sets around campus, I have come to the conclusion that the breakfast set at Fine Food is the best.

The kaya toasts are appropriately toasted, and are slightly crunchy while the soft boiled eggs are always boiled to perfection.

Meanwhile in some other canteens, we play “how cooked is the egg?” on a daily basis. More often than not, the egg is undercooked, which is worse due to the primal fear of getting salmonella.

If you find yourself needing to be awake at 7am for morning classes, this breakfast is a great pick-me-up.

50 Nanyang Avenue, South Spine, B Food Court Canteen, Singapore 639798 Mon to Fri: 7am – 9pm Sat: 7am – 3pm Closed on Sun

Some consider Canteen 11’s Mixed Veg Rice to be the best cai fan in NTU, and I agree. Their dishes are always delicious and affordable, and there’s always plenty of choices to choose from.

A plate of cai fan with two meat and two vegetables cost S$4.50, so one can get a generous meal that is scrumptious and cheap. With their large selection of food choices, one can eat at the stall everyday without getting tired of the food.

20 Nanyang Ave, Canteen 11, Singapore 639809 Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 8.30pm Closed on Sun

There are many Korean stalls in NTU, but Saraca’s Korean Cuisine is one of the more notable ones. During peak lunch and dinner crowds, you’ll be sure to find long snaking queues at the cashier.

The Chicken Kimchi Fried Rice (S$5.60) has generous portions of chicken within the fried rice, and the rice are fried to perfection. The egg on top is a sunny side up, with a runny yolk. It is a great fix if you’re craving Korean food in Pulau NTU.

There’s a breaktime from 2.30pm to 5pm, so do not come down during this time period if you don’t want to be disappointed!

38 Nanyang Crescent, Saraca, Singapore 637121 Daily: 11.15am – 2.30pm & 5pm – 8.30pm

It has been said that Xiao Guan Zi at Koufu sells North Korean-style noodles, which was why I tried it in the first place. Turns out, it sells Chinese food from an area in China that borders North Korea.

It is found on the other side of the bridge of the North Spine Canteen. The people manning the counter speak Chinese, so I had to bring out my non-existent Chinese skills and put them to the test.

Spicy Beef Mi Xian (S$7.80) consists of mala-esque spice with many different toppings such as fried chickpeas, beef slices, strips of beancurd skin, quail eggs, beansprouts, and parsley. If your nose runs while eating spicy food, this spicy bowl of noodles will guarantee you’ll need a whole lot of tissues.

Nevertheless, if you’re a mala lover, this will definitely satisfy you.

76 Nanyang Drive, North Spine Food Court, N2.1, #02-03, Singapore 637331 Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 9pm Closed on Sun Website

The Tea Party is a cute little cafe found on the first floor of The Arc, and sells mainly western food. My friends and I always come down to The Tea Party after a certain professor’s class and it has been our tradition ever since.

I am a woman of consistency and I usually get only one item on the menu, Pinky Pasta (S$6.50). All mains come with a drink, either Lemonade or Ice Lemon Tea, which is perfect to wash down the greasiness of the main.

Pinky Pasta is a kind of rose pasta, where the sauce is a combination of cream and tomato sauce. It is topped with minced beef, so take note for non-beef eaters. While the pasta is definitely creamy, it is not at all cloying which is what I love about it.

When I’m feeling fancy, I occasionally opt for the Steak Pasta (S$7.50) which has pepper flakes and some chunks of beef scattered within. It is on the oiler side, and guarantees a full meal.

63 Nanyang Drive, The Arc, Singapore 636922 +65 9180 9691 Mon to Sat: 9am – 9pm Closed on Sun Facebook | Instagram | Website

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For all you night owls out there studying till late, there are days when you feel hungry in the middle of the night.

If you ever want to know how long it takes to walk (or drive) to eateries near your university, or what are the alternatives if you are lazy to go out, here’s a compiled list for you.

#1 S11 Eating House Beside Nanyang Community Club

Photo: The Nanyang Chronicle

A 10-minutes’ walk from the entrance of NTU, this 24-hour coffee shop next to the Nanyang Community Club sells an array of local cuisine. Highly popular items include oyster omelette, fishball noodles, and fried carrot cake, which are all priced affordably for a student.

Price: $3 to $7 per person Postal Code: 640964

#2 Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak

Photo: Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak

Located at the hawker centre near Blocks 221A/B Boon Lay Place, this humble stall that opens till 3.30 am every day has been featured in many food blogs for its fragrant rice and crispy chicken wings. Each nasi lemak set costs only $3.50 and you can choose between chicken, fish fillet, or otah. This place takes only a 10-minutes’ drive from the entrance of NTU.

Price: $3.50 and up Postal Code: 642221

#3 2211 Mookata (Jurong West)

Photo: 2211 Mookata – Jurong

Located at Jurong West Street 91, 2211 Mookata is opened from 5 pm to 3 am daily. The place is well-ventilated and suitable for big groups of students after studying or CCA sessions. A large variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables are available from only $1.90 per plate. It takes a 7 minutes’ drive or 15 to 20 minutes’ walk to get here.

Price: About $10 per person Postal Code: 640907

#4 Coffeeshop Next To Pioneer MRT

Photo: Gin Was Here

This coffee shop is located at Block 651 Jurong West Street 63. To get there, it takes an 8 minutes’ drive or 20 minutes by foot.

The chicken rice, dim sum, and mixed vegetable rice are all popular options among residents living nearby, but the most favoured stall would be the economic bee hoon stall, also affectionally known as “Ah Lian Bee Hoon”. Besides fried bee hoon, the stall sells an assortment of sides ranging from fried chicken wings to stir-fried beans.

Price: $2 and up Postal Code: 640651

Read Also: 18 Platforms University Students Should Be Using To Find Internships, Part-Time/Temp Jobs, Freelance Gigs

#5 Al Amaan Restaurant

Photo: Al Amaan Restaurant Pte Ltd

Located along Clementi Road behind Eusoff Hall, the restaurant has an extensive menu serving up Indian, Western, and Thai dishes. The restaurant operates from 11 am to 3 am daily. Popular food items are butter chicken masala, naan, and not forgetting the avocado milkshake, which is priced at a reasonable $3. Al Amaan offers a delivery service for orders above $10, so you can combine your order with other hungry friends. From Eusoff Hall, it takes only 5 to 10 minutes to walk, or a 7 minutes’ drive from U-Town.

Price: $4 and up per person Postal code: 129742

#6 Fong Seng Nasi Lemak

Credits: Joanne Moon on Facebook

Just a 7 minutes’ drive from U-Town, this highly raved nasi lemak stall at Clementi Road is opened till 4 am daily. The rice is fluffy and fragrant, with many sides to choose from.

Price: $4 and up Postal Code: 129757

#7 SuperSnacks

Photo: SuperSnacks

SuperSnacks is located within Prince George Residences and is opened till 1 am, from Mondays to Sundays. This popular stall sells everything from waffles to salads, and finger food to fried rice.

Price: Approx. $2 – $4 per person Postal Code: 118425

#8 Fengshan Food Centre Bedok

Photo: Bedok 85 Xing Ji Rou Cuo Mian

Also known as Bedok 85, stalls in this hawker centre close as late as 3 am. The minced meat noodles, pork porridge, sambal stingray, and satay bee hoon are popular items among residents living in the area. From the SUTD hostel, it takes an 8 minutes’ drive to get here.

Price: $3 and up Postal Code: 460085

#9 89.7FM Supper Club

Photo: 89.7 Supper Club

Located at Changi Village Road, this restaurant specialises in local street food. The kampong fried rice and pan-fried carrot cake are the must-tries.  Besides local cuisine, western food is also highly rated among residents living in the area. Try the beef burger for $8, or if you are feeling rich, the bullet steak for $13. It takes a 12-minute journey by car to get here from the SUTD hostel. The best part? This place is open 24 hours.

Price: $1.50 and up for dim sum, $4.50 and up for mains Postal Code: 500005

#10 Five Star Chicken Rice

Photo: Five Star Kampung Chicken Rice

Located at East Coast Road and open for 24 hours, 5 star serves juicy chicken with fragrant rice. This place is open every day till 3 am, so if you are ever craving for chicken, here’s the place to go. But do take note, this place is slightly further, and it takes a 13 minutes’ drive to get here.

Price: Approx. $5 and up Postal Code: 428897

#11 Seng Kee Black Herbal Chicken Soup

Photo: Seng Kee Black Chicken Herbal Soup

If you are feeling under the weather yet hungry, this humble place serves delicious herbal soup. The mee sua herbal soup, also known as wheat vermicelli soup, has a generous portion of ingredients. If you are coming with a group of friends, consider ordering their meat or vegetable dishes which can be shared. This restaurant is open 24 hours. It takes 11 minutes’ drive to get here.

Price: Approx. $7 per person Postal Code: 419893

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#12 PoMo Mall

Photo: Gu Thai Noodle Cafe

Tucked within PoMo Mall at Selegie Road is Gu Thai Noodle Café (#01-04), which is open from 11 am to 5 am daily. This cafe is famous for its phad thai and pork boat noodles. Furthermore, a large mason jar of Thai milk tea only costs $2.80, which is a very affordable option for any student. If you order a main dish and a drink, it will set you back at only $5 to $10, which is rare for a cafe located within the CBD area.

To get here, it will take 4 minutes if you drive or 10 to 15 minutes if you walk. There are also many other eateries inside PoMo, so do check them out!

Price: Approx. $7 per person Postal Code: 188306

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If you are too lazy to walk or drive, other alternatives include McDelivery and GrabFood. Check out the latest GrabFood promo codes here.

For SUTD students, you can consider heading to Changi Airport where most stalls are open 24 hours, including Starbucks at all 4 terminals.

There are also a variety of peer-to-peer telegram platforms for students to send in their order requests. Other students will then help these students buy food and deliver it to them for a small delivery fee. The respective telegram groups are Food Kakis (NTU), Food Buddy (NUS), and Food Buddy (SMU).

And if you’ll like to be in touch with the latest personal finance content, delivered daily to your phone, you can also join our growing DollarsAndSense Telegram community!

Read Also: GrabFood VS Foodpanda VS Honestbee VS Deliveroo: How You End Up Paying Different Prices For The Same Food Order

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• #1 S11 Eating House Beside Nanyang Community Club.
• #2 Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak.
• #3 2211 Mookata (Jurong West)
• #4 Coffeeshop Next To Pioneer MRT.
• #5 Al Amaan Restaurant.
• #6 Fong Seng Nasi Lemak.
• #7 SuperSnacks.
• #8 Fengshan Food Centre Bedok.