I Can't Believe It's Not Koufu: Affordable AND Delicious Food Around SMU
Ah, the age-old question that SMU students ask everyday.
“Where shall we go eat today?”
It would be remiss of us say other school students don’t ask this question, but when you are a city campus surrounded by at least 100 eateries and restaurants, it isn’t exactly the same as choosing between Science canteen or the Arts canteen.
We attempt to do justice to the smorgasbord of choices SMU students are spoilt silly with everyday. And the best part? Most of the featured dishes fall within the magical $5-$10 range!
Isle Café (Parklane/POMO)
Affectionately known among SMU students as “POMO caifan”, Isle Café isn’t actually located at POMO but in the building next to POMO, Parklane. Isle Café serves up caifan, or economical rice, for cheap – two meats and one vegetable only sets you back $3.70! Given that the only other caifan places in the area (not counting Koufu, of course) are FoodRepublic (which is pricier) and the kopitiam along Waterloo Street (which increased its prices recently), POMO caifan is sure to be an increasingly popular haunt for SMU students this academic year.
Source: Burpple
Personally, POMO caifan is best for its curries, including the chicken rendang. If caifan isn’t for you, however, fret not – Isle Café also serves up noodle dishes such as hor fun and stir-fried bee hoon, and also boasts a Western stall and a fish soup stall besides.
Average price: Under $5
Thai Noodle Café (POMO)
Looking for somewhere to dine with your group after spending most of your day (and night) rushing to meet a project deadline? Craving a warm bowl of soup after long day spent mugging for finals? Or perhaps you are just Thai-red (tired)?
Then you will want to visit the Thai Noodle Café which serves anything from Pork Boat Noodles and Tom Yum Soup to Phad Thai and Braised Duck Rice! For the smaller eaters amongst us, their noodles also come in smaller portions, only going at $1.90 per serving. Be warned though, the smaller serving can and will be gone in two gulps.
Separately, the drinks themselves are a treat as well – a large mason jar of Thai Milk Tea will only set you back by $2.20, and their Thai Lemongrass drink comes in an Insta-worthy light-bulb glass!
Average price: $5-$10
The Cup (POMO)
A relatively new eatery at POMO is a Korean takeaway-inspired joint that serves their food in white paper takeaway cups. And that is exactly what they named themselves after: The Cup! However, unlike the usual chow mien and sweet and sour pork you see in American sitcoms, The Cup serves, as their slogan depicts, slim, stylish and simple food.
According to a waitress we spoke to, their Steamed Squash and Tomato Cheese Rice and Nagasaki Udon are both customer favourites. Their menu also boasts different types of dokgangjeong (Korean fried chicken), a variety of salad dishes and of course, the increasingly popular bingsu.
With all of their main dishes under $10, I know that I’ll be visiting The Cup more frequently this semester, be it to the detriment of my wallet or waistline or not.
Average price: $5-$10
Density Frozen Custard (Short St)
Need a pick-me-up at 11pm whilst lamenting your late nights away in the library? Density Frozen Custard, located just some ways past POMO, is open till 1am every day! Density prides itself on its frozen custard – which is somewhat like ice cream, but with added egg yolks for a fuller, richer taste – which is made fresh every day. The premises of Density is like a hole in the wall, but it is relatively easy to get seats there, even late at night.
We recommend getting the freshly-made flavours – but do take note that there are only three fresh flavours available each day. You can, however, choose from the wider selection of pre-made flavours. Density also offers a ‘Tornado’, which blends together ice cream, sauce, and toppings for a liquid version of an ice cream sundae.
Average price: $5-$10
FoodRepublic (Manulife Centre)
To many on the western side of the campus, FoodRepublic is the closest food court our legs can carry us to during 15 minute breaks. This is where everyone flocks to when they need a quick meal in between lessons, and don’t mind spending a little extra for decent food. FoodRepublic sits prominently next to the Din Tai Fung at Manulife Centre, and offers SMU students a 10% discount off all their dishes.
Source: Tripadvisor
Though FoodRepublic is admittedly pricey for kopitiam food, there are several stalls in the eating place that sell food worthy of their price tags. The Japanese store serves a fairly cheap chirashi don (chopped, marinated cubes of sashimi on rice), and the Korean store offers a generous free-flow of kimchi at every table! The caifan stall at FoodRepublic also serves a mean lamb curry, and the ayam penyet (fried chicken rice) is pretty delicious. If possible, however, do try to avoid the lunch rush hour because the working population from the surrounding offices consider FoodRepublic their regular haunt!
Average price: $5-$10
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill (Rendezvous Hotel)
Who says that affordable food around school has to be limited to the usual Koufu foodcourt, Tea Party shop or Curry Rice booth? Baja Fresh Mexican Grill is just across the road from SOE and around the corner of Rendezvous Hotel. Though surrounded by lavish establishments, Baja Fresh actually serves affordable Mexican food. From burritos and quesadillas to nachos and churros, Baja Fresh is a lunch hotspot for both office workers and students alike.
Their $9.95 lunch set allows one to choose from their six main courses that range from burritos to enchiladas and includes nachos and salsa. What’s even more exciting (at least for us) is additional 10% discount for students all day, on top of an additional 20% discount if you dine between 2.30-5.30pm! You know what this means – it is time for you to jio your mates who have no afternoon classes for a late lunch!
Average price: $5-$10
Chef’s Kitchen (Waterloo St)
Chicken rice stall by day and zi char (assorted dishes served with rice) stall by night, Chef’s Kitchen is more popularly known by SMU students as “Waterloo Zi Char”. This is the place you go to if your dinner party is huge, or if you have an event worth celebrating such as the end of midterms, or an A on your latest project.
Source: Yelp
Chef’s Kitchen only opens for dinner (a different operator runs the chicken rice stall in the day), and you may want to call ahead to reserve a table if you are heading there with a large group. Popular dishes include the prawn paste chicken wings, hotplate tofu, and salted egg pork ribs, which are – in our opinion – to die for.
Average price: $10-$15 (per person)
Asanoya (Waterloo St)
A relatively unknown gem, Asanoya is a Japanese bakery located in Wilby Central along Waterloo Street. Though it offers set lunches, its true strength lies in its breads and pastries that would complement an afternoon tea well enough to win British person over.
Source: Burpple
Among the crowd that does know of this shop’s existence, Asanoya is well-known for its matcha liu sha (salted egg yolk) croissants. The shop also has other delicious baked goods on offer that include the maple walnut bread, and the Karuizawa green-tea-and-white-chocolate bread. They have also recently taken to serving matcha soft serve ice cream as well, lucky us.
Average price: $5-$10
Ichi Tei (Sunshine Plaza)
We haven’t eaten at Ichi Tei ourselves, but we had to add it to the list after hearing countless accounts from office workers and NAFA students about this hidden gem. Although it sees a large volume of customers during lunchtime, and is on the pricier side as far as Japanese dining goes, the quality of food has been known to match that of authentic top-notch Japanese restaurants.
When we actually went to Ichi Tei to see what the hype was all about, we found ourselves struggling to take a picture with our hands full of so much food that another customer sitting outside had to approach us to ask if we needed help. When we told her that about this food focused article, she candidly told us she has eaten at Ichi Tei almost every day, for the past six years! Now that’s a loyal customer.
Average price: $10-$15
Merely Ice Cream (Sunshine Plaza)
If you’re looking for a more substantial pick-me-up that isn’t a huge bowl of something savoury, look no further than Merely. Open the door and you are instantly greeted by the saccharine smell of freshly-baked waffles – something that Merely is very well known for. Had a bad paper? Don’t fear – troop yourself and your downtrodden classmates down a 10 minute walk from the School of Social Sciences, and order two scoops of ice cream and a waffle. You’ll be feeling better in no time.
Merely is also well known for its wide range of ice cream flavours, with its famous flavours that include the delectable Sea Salt Gula Melaka. Other flavours such as the White Chocolate Speculoos and Thai Ice Tea are delicious as well. A favoured haunt by students from both SMU and NAFA, you may get turned away if you come here in a large group!
Average price: $5-$10
Kokomama (SOTA)
Located right next to the popular ‘I’m Kim’ Korean BBQ, Kokomama serves up an impressive range of dishes from creamy baked pasta to matcha pastries. The place is divided into two portions: the café, and the main restaurant. While you can dine at either areas, the main restaurant caters to larger groups and those who would like to have a quick meal. The café, on the other hand, with its slightly vintage wooden furnishings, is more suited for those looking for a spot of afternoon tea with a book (or reading) in hand.
The ongoing student promotion at Kokomama is probably one of the best you will find in town: For $7.90, you get one of the two pasta dishes, a mocktail-like drink and a scoop of ice cream. What a deal!
If you are just looking for somewhere to have tea, Kokomama delivers too. Its Happy Hour promotion from 2-6pm includes a pastry and tea or coffee at only $5.90. Kokomama’s bingsus have also garnered many positive reviews from the public and food critics alike, so don’t forget to give one a try. If you have finally grown bored of the usual Tea Party or Ya Kun Kaya Toast, hit Kokomama up.
Average price: $5-$10